The Nintendo 64 is considered one of the greatest video game consoles of all time because of its extensive library of games. This revolutionary platform set a new standard for 3D games, bringing instant classics likeThe Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of TimeandSuper Mario 64.
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The console is renowned for its games, but which of them has the best graphics? Thisretro consolemay have had many hits back in the day, but not all have stood the test of time. Phenomenal art direction can add to a game’s longevity. These are ten Nintendo 64 games with the best graphics.
Updated August 1st, 2022 by Russ Boswell: The Nintendo 64 remains one of the greatest consoles of all time thanks to its impressive list of iconic games and its unique position in allowing Nintendo to make the jump to 3D. There were a lot of great releases that took advantage of the new technology and created some truly unique experiences, allowing gamers to explore 3D spaces. But some of these games looked much better than others, featuring beautiful visuals for the time that still hold up well today. To better showcase thebest-looking Nintendo 64 games, and theNintendo 64 games with the best graphics, the following list has been updated to include even more entries.
13Turok 2: Seeds of Evil
The Nintendo 64 featured a wide array of engaging and entertaining games that explored the jump to 3D pretty well. Although there were many platformers and adventure games that capitalized on the increase in technology, First-Person Shooters saw a huge boost in their mechanics and capabilities. As a product, there were many FPS titles on the Nintendo 64 that did exceedingly well, with many fans pointing towards 007 GoldenEye and Perfect Dark as two of the best examples.
But the franchise Turok also managed to carve out its own cult following thanks to its unique premise. The second release in the series, Turok 2, was exceptionally beautiful for its time thanks to the use of the Expansion Pak.
12Yoshi’s Story
Nintendo has a penchant for creating “timeless” games that seemingly hold up in any era and the Nintendo 64 days are no exception. Super Mario 64 was a step up for the company thanks to the introduction of 3D, but it also managed to produce a fantastic 2D side-scrolling adventure with Yoshi’s Story. Capitalizing on the Nintendo 64’s increased power, Yoshi’s story featured superb graphics for the time, with a beautiful storybook aesthetic that still looks good even in the modern age.
It’s got a hint of 3D that encapsulates the 2D graphics and backdrops, helping the platforming adventure to stand out on the console while still maintaining its charm.
11Glover
A lot of game studios attempted to capitalize on the success of Super Mario 64 during the Nintendo 64’s era. The 3D Platformer had become a beloved genre during the console’s heyday, with classics like Banjo-Kazooie and Donkey Kong Country reaping the benefits. In 1998, a new contender from developer Interactive Studios attempted to take its own slice of the seemingly growing pie.
Glover had the same “look and feel” as many other 3D Platformers of the time but featured some unique mechanics that used a ball to attack enemies and solve puzzles. Overall, the game is incredibly aesthetically pleasing, placing it right up there visually with the iconic adventures that inspired it.
10Star Wars: Rogue Squadron
Star Wars: Rogue Squadronreleased at a time when interest inStar Warswas piquing.Theatrical re-releases of oldStar Warsmovies had just happened, andStar Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menacewas months away. As a result, this game was a commercial success.
The scale ofStar Wars: Rogue Squadron’sworlds led to less consistency concerning detail, yet worlds like Tatooine and Hoth are stunning. Using an Expansion Pak increases the resolution of the game to 400x440i.
9Paper Mario
The graphics ofPaper Mariohave come a long way since the series' inception. WhileSuper Mario 64leaped the series into 3D for the first time,Paper Mariowas testing innovative technology.
It introduced flat model paper characters who were surrounded by a 3D world. The result was contrasting visual elements that looked remarkable. Despite being a game based on paper,Paper Mariois one of the leading Nintendo 64 games with the best graphics.
8The Legend of Zelda: Majora’s Mask
AlthoughThe Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Timecasts a shadow over its sequel,The Legend of Zelda: Majora’s Maskhas better graphics. Naturally, as a game that released later, it has more vibrant artwork with vivid detail. It’s a game that requires the Expansion Pak to be playable.
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The Legend of Zelda: Majora’s Maskwas remade for the Nintendo 3DS with improvements to graphics. Still, the original is enchanting and has a style unique to games from the Nintendo 64 era.
7Rayman 2: The Great Escape
Playing the vast library of games that the Nintendo 64 offers, it becomes abundantly clear that the console suffered from low resolutions and poor texture qualities. However, there are exceptions since games likeRayman 2: The Great Escapehave high-resolution modes with an Expansion Pak.
This game is credited with raising the standards for 3D gaming. If you’re looking for good graphics on the Nintendo 64,Rayman 2’s sprawling Glade of Dreams world is a great place to start.
6Jet Force Gemini
This is a game that praised for its vivid detail, even if the game could be criticized for its counterintuitive control scheme. CompletingJet Force Geminiproves to be a daunting task as you have to save every Tribal.
A high-definition remaster ofJet Force Geminiwas released for the Xbox One as part of theRare Replaycollection.Rare Replayis the best way to experience this retro Nintendo 64 classic.
5Donkey Kong 64
As the first game to make use of the Nintendo 64’s Expansion Pak accessory,Donkey Kong 64is one of the system’s most beautiful games.
A handful of the Nintendo 64’s games supported the Expansion Pak, which is used to boost random access memory (RAM).Donkey Kong 64wascriticized for its backtracking throughout the game,but it was praised for its vivid detail and platforming mechanics.
4Banjo-Tooie
The sequel toBanjo-Kazooiewas an ambitious project that expanded on the world in many ways. Arguably,Banjo-Kazooieis the stronger entry of the two Nintendo 64 platformers, yetBanjo-Tooieis unquestionably a more beautiful game.
Banjo-Kazooiehad small, focused level designs that were too fun.The scale ofBanjo-Tooiemade completing tasks arduous, but it is a superb looking game, nevertheless.
