Nintendo has been pretty slow in releasing N64 games on the Nintendo Switch Online Expansion Pass, but the offerings so far have at least been consistently good, covering some really important stuff from the platform’s relatively small but well-formed software library.

With any luck, we’ll see more Nintendo 64 games over time – we already know GoldenEye is on the way, for example – but for now there’s still plenty to discover, including some fairly substantial games that will take you a few hours will last long . So let’s take a closer look!

Don’t forget to also check out our guides to the NES and SNES games available on the Nintendo Switch Online service!

Banjo Kazooie

One of the best 3D platformers on the N64, this is a classic from Rare that will keep you busy and challenging for quite some time. Great music too.

dr mario 64

Nintendo’s classic puzzler returns to N64 with a visual overhaul and a host of new modes, including four-player simultaneous play. Difficult but fun!

F-Zero X

Although the graphic details are intentionally thin to keep the frame rate high, this remains an excellent fast technical racer for N64.

Kirby 64

Kirby’s considerable charm remained fully intact when he first switched to polygonal 3D on N64. A delightful platformer.

The Legend of Zelda: Majora’s Mask

One of the darkest and most interesting Zelda games – although its time-centric mechanics and structure divide it.

The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time

The N64 game that brought Zelda to 3D. Holding up well to this day and continuing the series formula through Breath of the Wild.

MarioGolf

One of the best arcade style golf games ever made. Accessible but deep, lots of different game modes and an absolute blast in multiplayer.

Mariokart64

The visuals may be a bit dated, but for many this is still a popular part of the series due to its relatively unfussy simplicity.

Mario Tennis

The arcade sports action here, which clearly takes some strong cues from Sega’s excellent Virtua Tennis, is second to none – although the solo offering is a little thin.

Paper Mario

The spiritual successor to the N64 of the SNES role-playing game Super Mario, it quickly became known for its good humor and excellent gameplay.

Pokémon Puzzle League

It’s Tetris Attack/Panel de Pon with a Pokemon theme. Plenty of ways to play for both solo players and groups of friends, and excellent puzzle action to enjoy.

Pokemon Snap

This unusual, non-violent twist on the rail shooter has become a cult classic. Although the graphics are a bit rough in places, the gameplay remains entertaining.

sin and punishment

This mix of rail and cabal shooters from Treasure offers fast-paced action and a real sense of spectacle – plus English voice acting despite being a JP release.

Star fox 64

Still the best entry point into the Star Fox series for many, although some of the N64’s original controls are somewhat awkwardly mapped onto the Switch’s controllers.

Super Mario 64

The game that defined what 3D platformers would be. Still holding up well today, although modern games will take time to get used to the limited camera!

wave race 64

A fun take on the racing genre, with the added consideration of dynamic water affecting how your boat handles. Have fun,

WinBack: Covert operations

Metal Gear Solid isn’t, but this is still a solid third-person action game with lots of sneaking around – plus a surprisingly fun multiplayer mode.

Yoshi’s story

Building on the childlike aesthetic of Yoshi’s Island, this cute platformer has some interesting mechanics despite being known for being fairly simple.

The Nintendo 64 app for Nintendo Switch Online is available free of charge for subscribers to the Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack service.

^{Disclosure: Some links in this article may be affiliate links, which means we may earn a small commission if you make a purchase after clicking on it. This is at no additional cost to you and helps support Rice Digital!}