Shacknews’ best N64 multiplayer games

Posted 22 Jul 2014 by Squid

I was having a look through the interwebs and I found this post by Robert Workman at shacknews.com talking about the best multiplayer games to have on the Nintendo 64. Let’s get right to it.

The list of multiplayer games listed (in no particular order):

Goldeneye 007
Mario Kart 64
Star Fox 64 (Lylat Wars)
Mario Golf
Gauntlet Legends
The New Tetris
WCW/NWO World Tour & WWF: No Mercy
Super Smash Bros

A look through the list

Now, the thing that keeps the Nintendo 64 relevant in today’s world is that it still has some of the best local multiplayer around. Newer consoles like the Xbox or PS4 might have an edge with online gaming and the Wii and Wii U have the motion control / asymmetric gameplay nailed down, but the Nintendo 64 is still king when it comes to classic gaming on the couch with your buddies.

Now, you have some of the iconic N64 multiplayer games listed here, Goldeneye, SSB, Mario Kart and such, but there are a few more that are a blast to play multiplayer. Though I must admit that they cover all genres pretty well, there is still a bit of room for a few more entries. In my opinion, I’d change Goldeneye for Perfect Dark, Mario Golf for Mario Tennis and I’d add a Mario Party game in there for good measure. If I wanted to take it a step further, I’d also put in Rampage, Custom Robo, Conker’s Bad Fur Day and Diddy Kong racing in there.

If you’re looking for a list of a few games you’d want to use with the Nintendo 64 as the basic set of game you’d like to play multiplayer, these are the ones to go to.

A few points of note

In the Mario Kart 64 review, Robert mentions that MK8 has spoiled us. I’d say that this is true, but I’d also say that Mario Kart 64 is the biggest step forward in the series, moving from pseudo-3D to real 3D. It’s still way old in terms of how the controls play out though so I’d still recommend a newer Mario Kart for anyone interested.

Gauntlet Legends is a game that I played quite a bit, but for multiplayer it’s a bit clunky because the whole team needs to move together or else the screen will get stuck or you will have no idea where you’re heading.

With Smash Bros, just like Mario Kart, the newer games surpass it in terms of graphics, speed and playing options so I wouldn’t recommend it too much if you have the option.

Most of these games have been upgraded in recent generations so the Nintendo 64 versions seem a bit out of date, but the system remains a favourite as an overall experience.