The NES Classic has been out for a while now. Bringing 30 games from Nintendo’s first console in one, compact package, many people have been able to relive the glory days of the NES. The big characters like Mario, Link, and Kirby are all represented on top of some more obscure Nintendo and third-party properties.
However, 30 games aren’t all that much in the grand scheme of things. With so many NES games released, there are plenty that didn’t make the cut in the NES Classic, and some fans are a bit disappointed. Here are 10 games that should’ve been on the NES Classic that you can buy today.
10 WARIO’S WOODS
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Wario’s Woods isn’t the most memorable game on the NES, but it was important for giving Mario’s rival a foundation to get his own series of games. In Wario’s Woods, players would be competing in a puzzle format to defeat a host of characters from the Super Mario franchise.
With Dr. Mario being the only big puzzle game represented on the NES Classic, omitting such an important character from it seems like an odd choice. Wario has a long history with Nintendo and is more than just a spin-off character. By all means, he should’ve been on the NES Classic.
9 BATTLETOADS
A game known for being extremely difficult, Battletoads has gained a cult following since its release. Being released by Rare, a company now owned by Microsoft, Battletoads appearing on the NES Classic was always a long shot.
That said, players have iconic memories of busting through foes and overcoming tough challenges with their friends. Such a beloved game of the era would’ve been a perfect choice to include on the NES Classic. Unfortunately, it seems that the Battletoads are at the mercy of Microsoft, whether that be guest appearances in Killer Instinct or their own new game that has yet to get more information.
8 MOTHER
A lot of characters in Super Smash Bros only have a couple of retro games at most to their names. Some of them are represented on the NES Classic, such as Kid Icarus and Ice Climber.
However, despite Ness being a character in the franchise since the very beginning, Mother was not included on it. This franchise is already a bit complicated in terms of localization and getting copies. That’s why including it on the NES Classic would’ve been a great motivation for many collectors to get one for themselves. Alas, it was omitted, leaving people to pursue other means to experience this fantastic RPG once more.
7 CONTRA
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Konami had some great franchises back in the day. They already have Castlevania represented on the NES Classic, but they didn’t have Contra on it for some reason. Contra was a run and gun game where two players would work together to take down enemies, machines, and more.
It was a tough as nails game that only the strong could get through. However, this difficulty was backed up by solid gameplay where players could learn how to overcome even the strongest of enemies. It was even the game that included the famous Konami Code, so it’s weird that it would be absent from the NES Classic.
6 CASTLEVANIA 3: DRACULA’S CURSE
Unlike some of Konami’s other franchises, Castlevania got a spot on the NES Classic, which makes sense considering Simon Belmont earning a place in Super Smash Bros Ultimate. However, only the first game made it in. There are many other Castlevania games that improved on the mechanics of the first one, even on the NES. Castlevania 3: Dracula’s Curse is every bit as memorable as they come.
The gameplay was a bit tighter, and players had to make take the fight straight to Dracula for a final showdown. This game was also the foundation for the Castlevania Netflix series, which would’ve been a perfect reason to include it on the NES Classic.
5 MEGA MAN
Mega Man was one of the most iconic characters on the NES. Having a bit of a revival thanks to Mega Man 11 and Super Smash Bros, this character is starting to come back. It makes sense that he would have representation on the NES Classic, which he does, in the form of Mega Man 2.
While that’s arguably the best of the NES Mega Man games, that means there are a few others that are absent from the system altogether. It would’ve been a great opportunity for Nintendo to include the series at the time and give players a chance to go through it. The first game is entirely absent.
4 TETRIS
Tetris is one of the most popular games ever made. Its presence on Nintendo platforms helped it to achieve that status. Despite being such a phenomenon in the gaming industry, Tetris is absent from the NES Classic. This is strange because if any puzzle game deserved to be on that system, it was Tetris.
Dr. Mario was put on the system instead likely because it was a Nintendo first party title. The game has one of the most iconic gameplay styles in history. It was designed so well that the core mechanics hold up today with new entries in the franchise still being released.
3 DUCKTALES
Licensed games were always going to be difficult to get on the NES Classic. That said, it’s hard not to miss some of them, as they were some of the best games on the NES. Perhaps the saddest absence is DuckTales.
While the game was essentially designed in the same style of Mega Man, there were enough differences in gameplay that it became one of the most memorable games on the platform. It also stood the test of time as one of the best licensed games ever made. With Disney involved, though, getting that game was never going to be an easy process.
2 TEENAGE MUTANT NINJA TURTLES
Back when the NES was popular, the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles were some of the biggest characters for kids. That made them a prime target for licensed games. Believe it or not, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles on the NES ended up being one of the toughest games on the system. If you beat this game, you were the talk of the town.
However, despite how integral those characters were to older game consoles, none of their games made it to the NES Classic. This is probably because of licensing issues, which makes sense, but the game is still hard not to miss.
1 BLASTER MASTER
Blaster Master was an obscure property back on the NES. However, its tank combat made it one of the more unique games on the system. It would later get some love on the Nintendo Switch thanks to Inti Creates’ Blaster Master Zero and Blaster Master Zero 2.
With these games coming to the Switch, it would’ve been a no brainer to include the original Blaster Master on the NES Classic so new fans could see where it all began. However, this game was absent, leaving an unnatural hole in the console’s lineup. People that want to play it will have to settle for the Nintendo Switch Online.
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