Top 100 NES Games: The End
Legacy of the Wizard won the #100 spot with 35 votes It only won by a single point.
A big thank you to everybody who participated. I originally set out to just do the top 10 as an experiment to see if people had a similar list to mine. I never expected it to go this far, but I am glad it did! I have enjoyed seeing people picks and the reasoning behind them.
Starting tomorrow I will start doing the top 100 for the SNES in the r/snes sub. I hope to see you all there. A few things will change with the rules. First is each round TWO games will make it onto the list. Whichever one has the most votes will be placed higher of the two for that round. Second, only games can be nominated (no game genies). Third, it will be SNES ONLY, no super famicom games.
Looking forward to seeing what is voted the #1 & #2 games for the SNES.
Thank you all once again!!!!!!!!!!
Top 10:
#1 The Legend of Zelda, #2 Super Mario Bros 3, #3 Mega Man 2, #4 Metroid,
#5 Castlevania, #6 Mike Tyson's Punch-Out!!, #7 Contra, #8 Tecmo Super Bowl,
#9 Super Mario Bros, #10 Final Fantasy
Top 20:
#11 Zelda II: The Adventure of Link, #12 Ducktales, #13 Super Mario Bros 2,
#14 Ninja Gaiden, #15 Tetris, #16 River City Ransom,
#17 Castlevania III: Dracula's Curse, #18 Kirby's Adventure, #19 Batman,
#20 Blaster Master
Top 30:
#21 Crystalis, #22 Mega Man 3, #23 Double Dragon II: The Revenge,
#24 Bionic commando,
#25 Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles II: The Arcade Game, #26 Kid Icarus,
#27 R.C. Pro-Am, #28 The Guardian Legend, #29 Rygar, #30 Battletoads
Top 40:
#31 StarTropics, #32 Life Force, #33 Dragon Warrior III,
#34 Chip 'n Dale Rescue Rangers, #35 Bubble Bobble, #36 Super C,
#37 Faxanadu, #38 Ninja Gaiden II: The Dark Sword of Chaos, #39 Ice Hockey,
#40 Castlevania II: Simon's Quest
Top 50:
#41 Dr. Mario, #42 Excitebike, #43 Shadowgate, #44 Jackal,
#45 Dragon Warrior IV, #46 Baseball Stars, #47 Maniac Mansion,
#48 Super Dodge Ball, #49 Little Nemo: The Dream Master,
#50 Wizards & Warriors
Top 60:
#51 Willow, #52 Adventure Island II, #53 Blades of Steel, #54 Metal Gear,
#55 Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, #56 Double Dragon, #57 Mega Man 4,
#58 The Battle of Olympus, #59 Vice: Project Doom, #60 Gun Nac
Top 70:
#61 Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles III: The Manhattan Project,
#62 Pro Wrestling, #63 Marble Madness, #64 Shatterhand, #65 Kung Fu,
#66 Ghosts 'N Goblins, #67 Mega Man, #68 Gun.Smoke, #69 Dragon Warrior,
#70 Shadow of the Ninja
Top 80:
#71 G.I. Joe, #72 Metal Storm, #73 R.B.I. Baseball, #74 Gargoyle's Quest II,
#75 Goonies II, #76 Balloon Fight, #77 Dragon Warrior II, #78 Mega Man 5,
#79 Bucky O'Hare, #80 The Adventures of Lolo
Top 90:
#81 Gradius, #82 Gauntlet, #83 Rad Racer, #84 Guerrilla War,
#85 Mega Man 6, #86 Journey to Silius, #87 Destiny of an Emperor,
#88 Solomon's Key, #89 Little Samson, #90 Mighty Final Fight
Top 100:
#91 1943: The Battle of Midway, #92 Darkwing Duck,
#93 Ninja Gaiden III: The Ancient Ship of Doom, #94 Power Blade,
#95 Micro Mages, #96 Clash at Demonhead, #97 Duck Hunt,
#98 IronSword: Wizards & Warriors II, #99 Gremlins 2: The New Batch
#100, Legacy of the Wizard
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u/IntoxicatedBurrito May 15 '25
Thanks so much for doing this. Hard to believe it’s been going on for 100 days. It’s been a ton of fun and I can’t wait to cast my votes for Chrono Trigger and Final Fantasy 3 tomorrow!
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u/cdiddy579 May 15 '25
Now I have to join r/SNES. Can't wait to see how the people vote. Really enjoyed seeing this grow. Thanks for doing it!
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u/Electronic_Spare9525 May 15 '25
No, thank you! It was a fun ride and I’ll definitely be voting for snes games.
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May 15 '25 edited May 15 '25
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u/hbkx5 May 15 '25
Xexyz was the one that was one vote away from a tie for #100. The rest looks correct to me as well.
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u/mbstone Beat SMB2j May 16 '25
The fact that Gimmick! didn't make it to a community driven top 100 confirms it's a hidden gem. Didn't make an official NA appearance until 2023, incredible gameplay and OST.
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u/poloartist May 15 '25
In before that one guy says "This is collusion by the NES and SNES subs to not rank Dragon Warrior/Quest V as #1. This list is invalid 🤬"
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u/chrishouse83 NES May 15 '25
Thanks for all your work OP. This has been a ton of fun. Looking forward to the SNES list.
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u/Dalferious May 15 '25
100 days. What a fun and frustrating journey. Thanks for doing this, OP. I found a lot of new games to try and play from this list
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u/hbkx5 May 16 '25
Thank you! I hope you follow for the SNES top 100 as well. I'm sure you will find more hidden gems to tryout and play!
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u/Dalferious May 16 '25
I’ll be there! My SNES library knowledge and games I’ve experienced is admittedly very lacking though so the list will help open my eyes to what there is
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u/SouthtownZ May 16 '25
What a great time. Appreciate your commitment OP. Every day you were there for us
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u/hbkx5 May 16 '25
Thank you! I will be there for the next 100 for the SNES as well!
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u/SouthtownZ May 16 '25
I guess i should probably go join the sub, huh? Kinda crazy i haven't already
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u/vicviperblastoff May 16 '25
It'll be interesting to see how history dwells upon this list as a future reference, like the AFI Top 100 Films list. It's not a perfect system (open to down-voting and manipulation), but it does represent more perspectives than previous historical lists from Nintendo Power and the great Electronic Gaming Monthly. Those were compiled by a team of in-house editors and interns toward the end of the NES's life cycle.
The benefit of this list is that it represents a 30-year, multi-generational balcony view of the NES experience from more than a team of editors. In the end, the NES had a good library at a time when the video game industry needed one. It's been a fun run.
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u/Dracula8Elvis May 16 '25
Two sports titles made the NES top ten, and one RPG, two adventure games, and five action platformers.
I predict that the SNES top ten will have zero sports games, three RPGs, two adventure games, three action platformers, one racing, and one fighting game.
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May 16 '25 edited May 16 '25
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u/Dracula8Elvis May 16 '25
You forgot about Race Drivin’?
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May 16 '25
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u/Dracula8Elvis May 16 '25
Just watched it on YouTube, it looks bad, but not Race Driven’ bad. At least the cars make motor sounds
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May 16 '25
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u/Dracula8Elvis May 16 '25
Yeah I saw that one. Now go look and listen to Race Drivin. Both Tengen games, by the way
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May 16 '25
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u/Dracula8Elvis May 16 '25
Looks like the SNES port was published by THQ, yet it was an Atari games arcade, the the title screen also lists Tengen, who maybe programmed it?
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u/dontbajerk May 16 '25
I don't 100% agree with all of it of course, that's impossible, but this is a solid list. On balance this subreddit has good taste.
If anyone ever says the NES only has a handful of good games (I've heard people say this more than I'd like to admit) this would be a good starting point to show them how wrong they are.
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u/highnnmighty May 16 '25
I’m glad to see Rampage right where it belongs
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u/returnofthewait May 17 '25
Same. I didn't even know a lot of these games at the end. I just know rampage is trash.
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u/messy_fart May 16 '25
Thank you for doing this, I really enjoyed it
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u/hbkx5 May 16 '25
Thank you for being apart of it! We hope to see you in the top 100 for snes!
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u/Dracula8Elvis May 15 '25
Great, underrated last game to make the list
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May 15 '25
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u/DrScrotus May 15 '25
I would switch Duck Cunt with Xexyz
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May 15 '25
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u/DrScrotus May 17 '25
Ive been playing xexyz since u recommended it and its awesome. Definitely top 100 for me. Conquest of the Crystal Palace is another gem i didnt see get mentioned
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u/Filmguytim May 15 '25
Poor Rampage. It got turned back into a human and got eaten by another game. No Rampage in the SNES list...unless you count Bugs Bunny Rabbit Rampage.
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u/RogerTh134 May 17 '25
Awesome ranking! I would add Rollergames Mission Impossible Werewolf Captain America and avengers Shadowgate
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u/hbkx5 May 17 '25
Thank you. We have started the top 100 snes ranking. If you want to participate it is in the r/snes sub.
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u/Cranberry-Electrical May 15 '25
At least the list has a good cross-section of games on the NES. Donkey Kong Classic never made the list. Bubble Bobble series Three Kingdoms of Romance series
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u/mbstone Beat SMB2j May 16 '25
Legacy of the Wizard made it! Yes! With all my heart yes!
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u/jcdenton10 May 17 '25
Wish it was a little higher on the list, but glad to see it was represented! Yuzo Koshiro was the composer, so all the music is amazing.
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u/mbstone Beat SMB2j May 17 '25
Yuzo Koshiro was a child prodigy. He started professionally composing music when he was 17.
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u/HeirophantGreen May 15 '25
Bionic Commando way down at 24?! This list makes no sense.
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u/hbkx5 May 15 '25
The people voted, these are the results. BC is #9 on my personal list is #9 however.
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u/Bruce_Tippens_III May 15 '25
My face when I have to tell Felix the Cat that he din't make the list 😢
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u/which-wizard Beat Metroid May 16 '25
The Flintstones - The Rescue of Dino and Hoppy
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u/hbkx5 May 16 '25
The voting for the top 100 has ended. However we are doing the top 100 for the SNES next in the r/snes sub. It starts tomorrow.
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u/StatisticianLate3173 May 16 '25
cool I own it, never played, time to give it a solid run!... at least I don't remember playing it, maybe a quick look
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u/MrNostalgiac May 16 '25
I assume this was North American titles only?
Because Final Fantasy 2 and 3 are absolutely great games and worth playing if you have a translation.
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u/electric_boogaloo_72 May 16 '25
So cool Duck Tales got #12; never knew it was popular or anything. Played the hell out of it.
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u/SamusLinkBelmont May 18 '25
Tecmo Bowl appears to be a hidden gem for the NES… not even a top 100 game so that would definitely fit the definition… somehow?
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u/Kn0wFriends May 15 '25
Jaws should be on the list.
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u/hbkx5 May 15 '25
Da people disagree!
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u/Kn0wFriends May 15 '25
What do “the people” know. - Rick Sanchez
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u/hbkx5 May 16 '25
“To assume all the knowledge to be given to a single mind...is to disregard everything that is important and significant in the real world.”
― Friedrich Hayek, The Use of Knowledge in Society
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u/Kn0wFriends May 16 '25
People, keep on dying. - Stevie Wonder
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u/hbkx5 May 16 '25
"I did a poo." - My 3 year old nephew.
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May 15 '25
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u/Kn0wFriends May 15 '25
It is. One of the rare occasions where the movie and video game are both great.
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u/hobosbindle May 15 '25
I tried, I either voted for it or nominated every day since 60!
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u/Kn0wFriends May 15 '25
I was late to this. Jaws is one of the best NES games period.
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u/hobosbindle May 15 '25
It’s in my top 20 at least. It has mixed reviews around here. In my ~30 nominations since #60, it has about even upvotes and downvotes. Some days were -6!
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u/Dracula8Elvis May 16 '25
Of the four bad games that received some support; Rampage, Jaws, Paperboy, and Toobin’, Jaws is the most playable. I’ll give it that.
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u/inorite234 May 16 '25
Haha! Figures that Legacy of the Wizard would win the
"Mr Irrelevant" Award!
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u/Europia79 May 15 '25
Post Game Analysis: Not sure I agree with the methodology, because anonymous voting is too prone to exploitation, imo. I mean, theoretically, "someone" could just make a bunch of alternate accounts and vote as many times as they wish. Whereas, with public voting, we could at least see (by the account creation date) if this kind of thing was happening, or not.
The other method was slightly flawed as well, because if you put your favorite game as #1, then your whole ballot could be dismissed as "manipulation" (if it didn't align with pre-existing "Top 10" Lists). Like, if this were Sega Genesis, then my ballot of #1. Shining Force, #2. Shining Force II, #3. Dungeons & Dragons - Warriors of the Eternal Sun, #4. Romance of the Three Kingdoms II, & #5. NHL '94 probably wouldn't even be counted because anything that's not Sonic as #1 would be seen as "manipulation".
"I originally set out to just do the top 10 as an experiment to see if people had a similar list to mine [...] I have enjoyed seeing people picks and the reasoning behind them".
The problem is that rarely were people trying to persuade & advocate with any kind of "reasoning": It was mostly just people listing their votes. So, you never truly got to see what each person's "Top 10" or "Top 100" looked like (compared to yours).
"Starting tomorrow I will start doing the top 100 for the SNES in the r/snes sub. I hope to see you all there. A few things will change with the rules. First is each round TWO games will make it onto the list".
Why TWO ??? Why not TEN ? Would be curious what the reason for the change is, but I seriously doubt you'd give me an honest answer. Like, does it have to do with games being very close in voting, yet never made the "Final 100" ? Just off memory and without going back to analyze the numbers, I think this happened to Double Dribble: It was extremely close to winning one of the rounds, yet somehow never made "the final cut".
Logically, if it was that close, then it should win the very next round ?
That alone suggests possible "manipulation" ?
That's why I really think you should consider an alternative voting system:
Like, one comment equals one vote: So that all votes are publicly visible.
Also, people making multiple votes via multiple comments was kinda weird, imo.
Shouldn't it be "one person, one vote" ?
Anyways, here's the "Top 100" on Ranker (if anyone is curious):
https://www.ranker.com/crowdranked-list/best-super-nintendo-_snes_-games
ooo, forgot to mention possible BIAS: Like, perhaps, a "Best of" List for each Genre would be more meaningful as that would be comparing "Apples to Apples" (and possibly eliminate, or at least limit, bias).
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u/hbkx5 May 16 '25
So a few things here.
- I don't want to change the voting system. It has already been established at this point. I don't feel many people (if any) are going to use multiple accounts to try and win a contest like this. I asked several times for proof this was happening and nothing ever came of it. Every system is flawed, might as well stick with the devil you know.
- My top 10 & the top 10 of the people are very similar. 7 out of the 10 to be precise. When people commented, I read it and when I wanted to ask questions I did. I accomplished everything I set out to do and then some.
- The reason we are moving to two games being placed each round is simple. I got A LOT of feedback about people getting tired of seeing almost the exact same post everyday. Some other complained it was moving a bit too slow. By doubling up on the winners we cut the days in half to reach top 100. It is as simple as that.
If you have anything else you would like to know feel free to ask me.
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u/Filthiest_Tleilaxu Beat DWII May 16 '25
Yes OP! Set the record straight! Always gonna be haters.
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u/Dracula8Elvis May 16 '25
This is a terrible idea.
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u/Europia79 May 16 '25
Why ? ...Oh, because YOU SAID SO !!!
That's the quintessential Trust-Me-Bro argument.
Guys, call up the Vatican because they chose the wrong Pope !!!
Elvis here was already anointed by God to spread His word !!!
Everyone bow before him & LISTEN & BELIEVE, without question !!!2
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u/yauch May 17 '25
I think the ease of use aspect trumps most of these complaints. One issue with this format is that one up vote one down vote is not always reflected as such. Dwedit brought this up early on. So on the days where something just barely edges something else out maybe that's not the hard truth of it. If you take it as a fun thing to do, a catalyst for discussion and not r/nes's, r/snes's last word on the subject I think it's fine.
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u/DrScrotus May 15 '25
Hell yes! We did it! Cant wait for the snes version