While video games had already begun the transition to 3D graphics with the PlayStation and Sega Saturn in 1994, it was the release of the Nintendo 64 (N64) in 1996 that changed the course of games forever. With the highest quality graphics for the time and multiple titles that are still considered some of the best, the console's impact can be felt to this day.
Although the N64 didn't have as many games as its competitors, games like Super Mario 64 prove that quality is better than quantity. But there are some great N64 games out of the console's relatively smaller title library that are still unjustly forgotten due to their low profile IP or being overshadowed by more popular games like Star Fox 64.
Snowboard Kids
Even though racing games such as Mario Kart 64 and Diddy Kong Racing are still often talked about to this day, one great N64 racing series that needs some more love is the Snowboard Kids series. Published by Atlus, a company known for developing the Persona franchise, the original game follows several friends as they compete against each other to see who is the best at snowboarding.
Unlike other snowboarding games, however, the kid's race in valleys, deserts, amusement parks, and other places besides just the regular snowy mountains, and they can use various items like in kart racing games. A couple of years later, Snowboard Kids 2 was also released, which added more characters and tracks. With colorful graphics and catchy soundtracks, these games are perfect for some chill fun.
San Francisco Rush 2049
Originally released in 1999 in arcades, San Francisco Rush 2049 is the third game in the classic racing series Rush and the last game in the series to take place in San Francisco. This port is also the last Rush game to be made available on a Nintendo console, and, since this game was released in the latter half of the N64 life cycle, it did not reach as wide an audience as the previous entries. But, its late arrival made it arguably the best game in the original trilogy.
Unlike other Rush games, this entry takes place in a futuristic setting with plenty of interesting science fiction elements. The game has several different gameplay modes, unique shortcuts, innovative hazards, and some of the best graphics available on N64 hardware.
Mischief Makers
Developed by the game studio Treasure, who is known for several cult classics such as the run-and-gun shooter Gunstar Heroes and the platformer Dynamite Headdy, Mischief Makers is a 1997 2.5D platformer where players control a robot maid named Marina who is trying to rescue her creator from an evil emperor. The game is unique because Marina can grab, shake, and throw almost anything in each of the levels, which not only helps Marina navigate across hazards but also allows her to create multiple different items by shaking several things together.
Overall, the game has 52 levels, and many of these utilize different gameplay mechanics that make the entire experience engaging from start to finish. With the vibrant art style and the wide selection of possible weapons, this game is still a special hidden gem that has yet to be found anywhere else.
Body Harvest
Before DMA Design, now known as Rockstar North, began working on the first entry of the widely popular Grand Theft Auto franchise which has recently been remastered, the company was working with Nintendo to create a science fiction open-world action game called Body Harvest that was planned to be released as a launch title for the console. Although Nintendo ended up leaving the project after a fraught production period, the game was completed and published by Midway Games and Gremlin Interactive, and it has since become a cult classic.
The game follows Adam Drake, who is a genetically engineered soldier, as he travels through various points in time to stop an alien race from eating humans. Similar to the GTA series, the player is free to explore the world and play the game however they want, and there is a large selection of vehicles to choose from.
Space Station Silicon Valley
Another early title from Rockstar North is the 1998 puzzle platformer Space Station Silicon Valley, which follows a robot named Evo who crash lands on a giant space zoo. Since the crash destroyed most of Evo's body, Evo must control the other zoo animals on the spaceship to solve puzzles.
Despite seeming like another wacky 3D '90s platformer at first glance, this game is actually different because the player is expected to use the various abilities of all the animals to open up new areas. This includes using a dog to round up a group of sheep and using a mouse to crawl through small places.
Ogre Battle 64: Person of Lordly Caliber
Before the Fire Emblem series started getting officially localized, the Ogre Battle series introduced tactical JRPGs on Nintendo consoles to western audiences. The third entry in this series, Ogre Battle 64: Person of Lordly Caliber, was released in 1999 for the N64 and follows Magnus Gallant as he commands an army in a civil war that eventually progresses to an all-out war against other empires and even supernatural creatures.
Depending on who the player recruits and the choices the player makes, the game has three main endings with multiple slight variations based on who is in the cast. Even though the N64 only had a few RPGs, this game shows that the ones on the system are worth a look.
Castlevania 64
While many fans consider Castlevania: Legacy of Darkness to be the better Castlevania game on the N64, the first entry on the console, simply titled Castlevania, still has some interesting aspects on its own and is significant for being the first 3D game in the series. Retroactively known as Castlevania 64, the player controls either the whip-wielding Belmont, Reinhardt, or the magic-wielding orphan, Carrie, as they make their way through Dracula's castle to battle Castlevania's version of Death and Dracula himself.
The player must reach Dracula within a certain in-game time limit or they will get a bad ending and miss the final boss. Although many parts from this game were carried on to Legacy of Darkness, the original level designs and other aspects are lost, which makes this version still worth a playthrough.
Shadow Man
Although Shadow Man: 2econd Coming had many issues including a terrible video game marketing campaign, the original 1999 action-adventure Shadow Man is an absolute hidden gem. Based on the Shadowman comic book series, the player controls a man named Michael LeRoi who is a Shadow Man, which is a voodoo warrior that protects the living from the dead, as he tries to stop a man named Legion from creating an immortal army that will cause the apocalypse.
With challenging gameplay, large levels, and plenty of hidden parts, this game has a surprising amount of replayability. On a console that doesn't have many bloody and grim titles, Shadow Man is a game that definitely stands out.
Mace: The Dark Age
Considered by some to be the Soulcalibur of the N64 console, Mace: The Dark Age is a 1997 weapons-based fighting game that centers around a group of warriors trying to defeat the evil Asmodeus who has gained the powerful Mace of Tanis. Instead of ring-outs, the arenas are surrounded by dangerous terrain that hurt the characters, and, similar to the Mortal Kombat franchise, the character performs a special execution after winning two rounds.
The game's high-tech hardware for the time led to incredible graphics, but it was hampered by its sluggish gameplay. Despite this, the game is still great for its characters, animations, and overall heart.
Mystical Ninja Starring Goemon
Released in 1997, the action-adventure game Mystical Ninja Starring Goemon is the fifth entry in the Ganbare Goemon series and possibly one of the most unique 3D platformers on the console. The game follows the titular character Goemon and his friends as they try to stop the Peach Mountain Shoguns from transforming Japan into their own theatre.
Although not as well known, the gameplay and graphics are at the same level as other classics such as The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time. While the humor in the game may not be for everyone, the colorful art style and interesting game mechanics make the experience worth it regardless.