The N64's lasting impact on gaming
When compared to other 90s consoles, the Nintendo 64 (N64) might seem less successful. Its main competitor, Sony's PlayStation, sold 102.49 million units, while the N64 sold 32.93 million. Yet the N64 was highly profitable and a technical marvel. The leap from 2D to 3D was revolutionary, and the N64's superior power allowed Nintendo to pioneer 3D techniques that became industry standards.
Super Mario 64: the template for 3D platformers
Super Mario 64 is one of the most important games ever made. It set the template for 3D titles with full 360° control, large sandboxes, and multiple objectives. Its camera system remained the gold standard for years. The analogue stick on the N64 controller popularised analogue controls on consoles. Nintendo's subsequent 3D Mario games built on this formula, and Super Mario Odyssey inspired Donkey Kong Bananza. With nearly 10 years since Odyssey, expectations are high for the Switch 2's main Mario game, rumoured for 2027.
The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time: a timeless classic
Ocarina of Time was long considered the best game ever. It translated Zelda's 2D world into 3D and influenced Dark Souls, The Witcher, and Grand Theft Auto 3. Final Fantasy 15's open world took cues from Hyrule Field. Games like Ōkami and Darksiders 2 copied its formula. Nintendo itself used it until Breath of the Wild in 2017. A full remake was announced for Christmas 2026.
GoldenEye 007: pioneering console shooters
GoldenEye 007 popularised first-person shooters on consoles before Halo. Its campaign influenced stealth gameplay, arriving before Thief and Metal Gear Solid. Its split-screen multiplayer, with unique modes and modifiers, was unmatched. Spiritual successor Perfect Dark and TimeSplitters are now dead franchises. GoldenEye's low frame rate and controls have aged poorly, risking its innovations being forgotten.
Pokémon Stadium: 3D battles and data sharing
The Pokémon Stadium games allowed players to transfer teams from Game Boy, a precursor to Pokémon Home. They were the first to depict Pokémon in 3D, with fully animated characters, and had more voice-acting than many modern Pokémon titles. The formula didn't persist past the N64, but a spiritual successor, Pokémon Champions, launched in 2026.
Super Smash Bros.: the birth of platform fighters
The original Super Smash Bros. introduced an accessible fighting game with simple commands and free movement. It popularised the platform fighter genre, inspiring crossovers from Cartoon Network, Nickelodeon, Sony, and indie devs. After Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, the series' future is uncertain, with no Switch 2 Edition announced.
Mario Party: local multiplayer staple
Mario Party combined a board game with four-player minigames and random chaos. It filled a gap for party video games and remains a staple for Nintendo consoles. The latest entry is Super Mario Party Jamboree, while Mario Party Superstars includes remade N64 boards.
Star Fox 64: the Rumble Pak revolution
Star Fox 64 reimagined 2D shooters in 3D and was bundled with the Rumble Pak, the first force feedback peripheral. This innovation became standard for all controllers, leading to modern haptic feedback. Sony and Microsoft added rumble after the N64's debut.
Honourable mentions
The Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask is beloved for its darker atmosphere and three-day time limit, inspiring creepypasta Ben Drowned and a short film by Ember Lab. F-Zero X and Wipeout 64 are neglected futuristic racers, with indie studios filling the niche. Star Wars Episode I: Racer is getting a spiritual follow-up in Star Wars: Galactic Racer. Space Station Silicon Valley and Body Harvest from DMA Design (later Rockstar) are overlooked gems, with Body Harvest a prototype for GTA 3. Banjo-Kazooie established a collectathon framework emulated by indies like Yooka-Laylee. Operation WinBack is an early cover-based shooter that influenced Gears of War.
