Top 10 Nintendo Games Worth Playing from Start to Finish
Games from 1987–1993, including Super Mario Bros. 3, DuckTales, and Mike Tyson’s Punch-Out!!
The ranking, compiled by Polygon, begins with Ninja Gaiden, Castlevania 3: Dracula’s Curse, and The Legend of Zelda. The authors highlight the high difficulty, varied routes, and the ability to explore dungeons in any order in these games.
Dragon Warrior 4 stands out for its expansive world and unusual story structure, while Kirby’s Adventure is noted for its exploration of Dream Land and the abilities of enemies.
Contra made the list due to its short playthrough and the option to play solo or with a friend, while Mega Man 2 is praised for its compactness and high replay value.
Mike Tyson’s Punch-Out!! offers memorable opponents with unique attacks, whereas DuckTales allows players to choose the order of completing main levels. Among the game’s locations are the Amazon, the Himalayas, and the Moon; the original version is also available as part of The Disney Afternoon Collection on consoles and PC.
Super Mario Bros. 3 tops the ranking: the game features eight worlds, secret houses, whistles for teleportation, and airships. The authors consider its adventure equally appealing for a first playthrough and for revisiting years later.
