Famicom game reviews

50 classic Famicom games, each with our score, pros and cons. Updated 2026-10-22.

The Famicom (Nintendo Family Computer) gave Japan many of the games that shaped the medium. These reviews cover the platformers, RPGs, shooters and puzzle games that still matter today, with honest scores for each one.

• 9.5

  Super Mario Bros.

  1985 · Nintendo · 9.5/10

  The game that defined the side-scrolling platformer and taught a generation how to jump.

• 9

  The Legend of Zelda

  1986 · Nintendo · 9/10

  An open world of dungeons, secrets and a map you have to draw yourself.

• 8.5

  Metroid

  1986 · Nintendo · 8.5/10

  Samus Aran explores a silent, interconnected planet in one of the first games to reward backtracking.

• 9.5

  Mega Man 2

  1988 · Capcom · 9.5/10

  The best-known Mega Man game on the Famicom, with eight robot masters and a well-judged difficulty curve.

• 8

  Castlevania

  1986 · Konami · 8/10

  Simon Belmont whips his way through Dracula's castle in a tough, rhythmic action game.

• 8.5

  Contra

  1987 · Konami · 8.5/10

  A relentless co-op shooter with the Konami code that became part of gaming folklore.

• 8

  Final Fantasy

  1987 · Square · 8/10

  The original Final Fantasy: four heroes, a world map and the start of a long series.

• 9

  Dragon Quest III

  1988 · Enix · 9/10

  A hero, a class system and a world that show the best of old-school RPG design.

• 9.5

  Super Mario Bros. 3

  1988 · Nintendo · 9.5/10

  Mario's greatest Famicom adventure, with power-ups, world maps and a huge sense of freedom.

• 8.5

  Ninja Gaiden

  1988 · Tecmo · 8.5/10

  Ryu Hayabusa climbs walls and slashes through cutscenes in a fast, demanding action game.

• 7.5

  Double Dragon

  1988 · Technos · 7.5/10

  Two brothers fight through the streets in one of the defining co-op brawlers of the era.

• 8

  Bionic Commando

  1988 · Capcom · 8/10

  A soldier swings through enemy territory with a grappling arm in a unique action game.

• 7.5

  Strider

  1989 · Capcom · 7.5/10

  A ninja cuts through enemies with a fast blade in a stylish, demanding action game.

• 7.5

  Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles

  1989 · Konami · 7.5/10

  The turtles fight through the city in an action-packed adaptation of the popular franchise.

• 8.5

  Blaster Master

  1988 · Sunsoft · 8.5/10

  A tank and a pilot explore a mutant world in one of the Famicom's best hybrid adventures.

• 8

  Gradius

  1986 · Konami · 8/10

  A space shooter with a power-up gauge that lets you choose how to build your ship.

• 8.5

  Bubble Bobble

  1987 · Taito · 8.5/10

  Two dragons blow bubbles to trap monsters in a cheerful and addictive arcade classic.

• 8

  Dragon Quest

  1986 · Enix · 8/10

  The first Dragon Quest: a simple, charming RPG that started one of Japan's biggest series.

• 8

  Castlevania III: Dracula's Curse

  1989 · Konami · 8/10

  Trevor Belmont and friends explore a vast castle with multiple paths and endings.

• 8

  Donkey Kong

  1983 · Nintendo · 8/10

  Jumpman climbs construction girders to rescue Pauline from a giant ape, the game that launched Mario.

• 8

  Pac-Man

  1984 · Namco · 8/10

  Eat every dot, avoid the ghosts, and grab power pellets in the maze that started a worldwide phenomenon.

• 7.5

  Balloon Fight

  1984 · Nintendo · 7.5/10

  Fly with balloons, pop enemies and stay aloft in a cheerful flying challenge.

• 8

  Battle City

  1985 · Namco · 8/10

  Defend your base in a tight, tank-filled maze of brick walls and steel.

• 7.5

  Adventure Island

  1986 · Hudson · 7.5/10

  Master Higgins races through islands collecting fruit before his energy runs out.

• 7.5

  Star Soldier

  1986 · Hudson · 7.5/10

  A vertical shooter with a flexible weapon system and a strong sense of progression.

• 8

  Faxanadu

  1987 · Hudson · 8/10

  A hero explores a dark world, buys equipment and battles monsters in a moody action RPG.

• 8

  Metal Gear

  1987 · Konami · 8/10

  Solid Snake infiltrates a nuclear facility in the stealth game that started a legendary series.

• 7.5

  Ganbare Goemon

  1986 · Konami · 7.5/10

  Goemon and friends travel across Japan in a playful, colourful adventure.

• 8

  Solomon's Key

  1986 · Tecmo · 8/10

  Create and destroy blocks to reach the key in a clever puzzle platformer.

• 8

  Mega Man

  1987 · Capcom · 8/10

  The first Mega Man: six robot masters, one weapon each, and the start of a famous series.

• 8.5

  Mega Man 3

  1990 · Capcom · 8.5/10

  Mega Man adds a slide and a robot dog to a well-polished, tightly designed sequel.

• 8

  Mega Man 4

  1991 · Capcom · 8/10

  Mega Man returns with charged shots and a new set of robot masters.

• 8.5

  Final Fantasy III

  1990 · Square · 8.5/10

  A deep job system, a large world and a story that opens up as you explore.

• 8.5

  Dragon Quest IV

  1990 · Enix · 8.5/10

  Four chapters, a rich cast and a story that ties the whole series together.

• 8

  Dr. Mario

  1990 · Nintendo · 8/10

  Match colours and clear viruses in a puzzle game that is easy to learn and hard to put down.

• 7.5

  Chip 'n Dale: Rescue Rangers

  1990 · Capcom · 7.5/10

  Chip and Dale fight through toy-filled stages in a lively co-op platformer.

• 8.5

  DuckTales

  1989 · Capcom · 8.5/10

  Scrooge McDuck uses his cane to bounce through treasure-filled levels in a beloved platformer.

• 7.5

  Darkwing Duck

  1992 · Capcom · 7.5/10

  A masked hero fights crime across the city in a fun, stylish action game.

• 8.5

  Ninja Gaiden II: The Dark Sword of Chaos

  1990 · Tecmo · 8.5/10

  Ryu returns with new moves and a darker, more challenging story.

• 7.5

  Mega Man 5

  1992 · Capcom · 7.5/10

  A familiar Mega Man formula with new robot masters and fresh stage ideas.

• 7.5

  Mega Man 6

  1993 · Capcom · 7.5/10

  The last Mega Man on the Famicom, with new Rush items and a classic structure.

• 6.5

  Hogan's Alley

  1984 · Nintendo · 6.5/10

  A light gun game where you shoot targets and avoid innocents in a shooting gallery.

• 7.5

  Zelda II: The Adventure of Link

  1987 · Nintendo · 7.5/10

  Link explores a side-scrolling world with towns, experience points and tough battles.

• 7.5

  Kid Icarus

  1986 · Nintendo · 7.5/10

  Pit flies and fights through a series of challenging worlds in one of the Famicom's odd adventures.

• 7.5

  Excitebike

  1984 · Nintendo · 7.5/10

  Motocross racing with a track editor, one of the first games to let players build their own courses.

• 7

  Ice Climber

  1985 · Nintendo · 7/10

  Two climbers break ice blocks to reach the summit of a mountain in a cheerful co-op challenge.

• 7

  Duck Hunt

  1984 · Nintendo · 7/10

  The light gun classic that shipped with the Famicom's Zapper and taught players to shoot at the screen.

• 6.5

  Pro Wrestling

  1984 · Nintendo · 6.5/10

  An early wrestling game with simple moves, a ring and a tournament to win.

• 6.5

  Golf

  1984 · Nintendo · 6.5/10

  One of the first Famicom sports games, with course design, club choice and wind to consider.

• 7.5

  Batman: Return of the Joker

  1991 · Sunsoft · 7.5/10

  Batman fights through Gotham against the Joker's gangs in a moody, action-packed Famicom game.