Nintendo 64 Game Checklist for Collectors

The N64 collection that gets played is often more satisfying than the one built around the priciest cartridge in a display case. A good Nintendo 64 game checklist should give you both: the landmark games that define the console, the local multiplayer staples that still earn a slot on the telly, and the personal finds that make your shelf feel like yours.

For UK collectors, that also means deciding early whether you are building a PAL-only set, mixing in NTSC imports, or simply buying the best version you can reasonably find. Cartridge labels, box art, language variants, condition and completeness all affect what belongs on your list.

Start Your Nintendo 64 Game Checklist With a Goal

There is no single correct N64 collection. A full regional set is a serious long-term project, while a 20-game nostalgia shelf can cover an enormous amount of the console's best software. The mistake is buying randomly, then discovering that half your collection is made up of games you do not want to revisit.

Choose a collecting lane before you start ticking boxes. You might prioritise games you owned as a child, first-party Nintendo releases, four-player titles, Rareware favourites, RPGs and oddities, or complete PAL copies with manuals. If you mainly want to play, loose cartridges in clean condition offer better value. If your aim is a display-worthy archive, boxed copies and matching inserts matter more.

Set a condition standard as well. “Working cartridge with a decent label” is a perfectly respectable rule. For boxed collecting, look for an unfaded spine, intact tabs, no crushed corners and a tray that has not been replaced with a generic insert. Original manuals, registration cards and promotional leaflets can add collector appeal, but they should be a bonus unless you are specifically pursuing complete-in-box copies.

The Essential N64 Games to Tick Off First

These are not necessarily the rarest games, nor are they the only great ones. They are the foundation titles that show why the N64 still has such a devoted following.

• [ ] Super Mario 64 - The console's defining platformer. Its analogue movement still feels remarkably direct, and it remains the obvious first cartridge for a new N64 owner.
• [ ] The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time - A landmark adventure with enduring atmosphere, dungeons and music. PAL copies are plentiful, so take time to find a tidy label and save some budget for condition.
• [ ] Mario Kart 64 - Four-player mayhem, blue shells and tracks everyone remembers. It is a social essential rather than the most technically polished racer on the system.
• [ ] GoldenEye 007 - The split-screen shooter that defined a generation of living-room multiplayer. Solo play is still worthwhile, but this one shines with friends and four controllers.
• [ ] Super Smash Bros. - Smaller in roster than later entries, but brilliantly focused. It belongs in any collection built around local competition.
• [ ] Star Fox 64 / Lylat Wars - UK PAL copies use the title Lylat Wars. It is fast, replayable and one of the best reasons to own an original N64 controller with a firm analogue stick.
• [ ] F-Zero X - A wonderfully quick futuristic racer with a huge track count and a very different feel from Mario Kart.
• [ ] Banjo-Kazooie - Rare at its most charming: dense worlds, memorable characters and a collectathon structure that still holds together.
• [ ] Perfect Dark - A deeper, more demanding follow-up to GoldenEye. It benefits from an Expansion Pak, particularly for multiplayer and later missions.
• [ ] Paper Mario - A smart, colourful RPG that offers something gentler and more tactical than the console's action-heavy reputation suggests.
• [ ] Pokémon Stadium 2 - A strong choice for Pokémon fans, especially if you have compatible Game Boy Pokémon cartridges and the Transfer Pak.
• [ ] WWF No Mercy - Still a favourite with wrestling-game fans because of its flexible modes, creation options and satisfyingly weighty matches.

That list covers the famous names, but do not treat it as a shopping command. If racing games leave you cold, swap F-Zero X for Wave Race 64. If you prefer sports titles, International Superstar Soccer 98 or 2000 may mean more to you than another platformer. A checklist should direct your money towards games you will actually load up.

Build Around the N64's Best Strength: Multiplayer

The N64 was built for the sofa. Four controller ports made it the console of birthday parties, student flats and rainy weekends, and the right multiplayer selection makes an original system feel immediately worthwhile.

After Mario Kart 64, GoldenEye and Smash Bros., consider Mario Party 2 for a more polished board-game session, Diddy Kong Racing for adventure-racing variety, Mario Tennis for accessible competitive play, and Mario Golf for surprisingly addictive rounds. Snowboard Kids 2, Micro Machines 64 Turbo, Bomberman 64 and PGA European Tour are worth considering depending on taste and budget.

There are trade-offs. Some party games can be hard on analogue sticks, while Mario Party's rotation-heavy mini-games have a notorious reputation for punishing palms. Cheap third-party controllers can keep costs down, but for games that rely on precise movement, genuine Nintendo pads in good condition remain the safer buy. Check that the stick springs back close to centre and does not feel loose or gritty.

Do Not Skip the Single-Player Shelf

A checklist made entirely of multiplayer cartridges can look impressive but leave little to play when the house is quiet. The N64 has fewer huge RPGs than the PlayStation, yet it offers excellent solo games across platforming, adventure, racing and shooters.

For platform fans, Banjo-Tooie, Donkey Kong 64, Rayman 2: The Great Escape and Mystical Ninja Starring Goemon are worthwhile additions. Donkey Kong 64 is historically significant and packed with content, although its backtracking is not for everyone. It also requires the Expansion Pak, which was included with many original copies but may be missing from second-hand listings.

For a darker adventure shelf, add The Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask, Castlevania: Legacy of Darkness and Shadow Man. Majora's Mask is more unusual and time-driven than Ocarina of Time, so it is not automatically the better first Zelda purchase. It is, however, one of the most distinctive games in the library.

Racing collectors should look beyond Mario Kart. Wave Race 64 remains exceptional for water physics and time trials, Beetle Adventure Racing has inventive tracks and shortcuts, and Excitebike 64 delivers a tougher arcade-style challenge. These are excellent examples of games that can be less expensive and more replayable than a headline collectible.

PAL, NTSC and Hardware Checks Before You Buy

For a UK-based collection, PAL cartridges are the natural starting point. They work in a standard UK N64 and carry familiar regional packaging. Some PAL games differ from their North American equivalents through title changes, language options, packaging or 50Hz presentation. Lylat Wars is the best-known naming difference, but collectors will spot many smaller regional details over time.

NTSC imports can expand your options, particularly where a game had no PAL release or where you prefer a different version. However, an unmodified PAL N64 will not simply accept an NTSC cartridge. The cartridge shell and console region lockout need addressing through appropriate hardware modifications or an import-capable setup. Factor that cost in before assuming an import is a bargain.

Also check accessory requirements on every listing. The N64's Expansion Pak is needed by Donkey Kong 64 and Majora's Mask, and improves or enables features in Perfect Dark and several other titles. Pokémon Stadium games are far more rewarding with a Transfer Pak if you have compatible Game Boy games. A Controller Pak is useful for certain save systems, but it uses a battery that may no longer hold data after decades of storage.

Make Room for the Overlooked and the Expensive

Once the core shelf is covered, your checklist becomes more personal. Blast Corps, Jet Force Gemini, 1080° Snowboarding, Pilotwings 64, Body Harvest and Sin and Punishment all offer a different route into the library. Some will be instant favourites; others are better appreciated as fascinating products of the era.

High-value titles deserve patience. Games such as Conker's Bad Fur Day, Worms Armageddon, Bomberman 64: The Second Attack!, Harvest Moon 64 and certain late PAL releases can command serious money, particularly complete copies. Prices reflect demand, condition and scarcity, but expensive does not always mean essential. Watch for damaged labels, reproduction cartridges, mismatched manuals and boxes described vaguely as “original”. Clear photographs and precise condition notes are worth more than a tempting headline price.

If you are buying for play rather than investment, a clean loose cartridge can be the sensible move. If you are buying a rare boxed game, take your time. A better copy appearing later is common; overpaying for one with water damage or a crushed box is much harder to undo.

A carefully built N64 shelf does not need to chase every cartridge at once. Start with the games that bring people back to the console, leave space for the strange favourites, and let each new tick on the checklist earn its place.