let’s travel back to a simpler time in gaming history and bring a friend
welcome to watchmojo.com and today we’ll
welcome to watchmojo.com and today we’ll be counting down our picks for the top
be counting down our picks for the top
be counting down our picks for the top 10 multiplayer nes games for this list
10 multiplayer nes games for this list
10 multiplayer nes games for this list we’re looking at the best titles ever
we’re looking at the best titles ever
we’re looking at the best titles ever released for the NES console that were
released for the NES console that were
released for the NES console that were best enjoyed in simultaneous play
best enjoyed in simultaneous play
best enjoyed in simultaneous play between two or more friends that means
between two or more friends that means
between two or more friends that means we’re excluding multiplayer games that
we’re excluding multiplayer games that
we’re excluding multiplayer games that were primarily turn-based such as Super
were primarily turn-based such as Super
were primarily turn-based such as Super Mario Brothers 3 even though it has a
Mario Brothers 3 even though it has a
Mario Brothers 3 even though it has a fun battle mode that isn’t enough to
fun battle mode that isn’t enough to
fun battle mode that isn’t enough to earn at a spot on this list number 10
earn at a spot on this list number 10
earn at a spot on this list number 10 life force a sequel to Konami’s popular
life force a sequel to Konami’s popular
life force a sequel to Konami’s popular 1985 forced scrolling shooter Gradius
1985 forced scrolling shooter Gradius
1985 forced scrolling shooter Gradius this game was originally released on
this game was originally released on
this game was originally released on arcade under the title salamander it was
arcade under the title salamander it was
arcade under the title salamander it was later ported to the NES and given me
later ported to the NES and given me
later ported to the NES and given me arguably more appealing North American
arguably more appealing North American
arguably more appealing North American title of life force wild Gradius was
title of life force wild Gradius was
title of life force wild Gradius was praised for its forward-thinking powerup
praised for its forward-thinking powerup
praised for its forward-thinking powerup system and satisfying gameplay
system and satisfying gameplay
system and satisfying gameplay lightforce pushed the boundaries of the
lightforce pushed the boundaries of the
lightforce pushed the boundaries of the game even further he was one of the
game even further he was one of the
game even further he was one of the first shooters to switch between
first shooters to switch between
first shooters to switch between horizontal and vertically oriented
horizontal and vertically oriented
horizontal and vertically oriented levels it also introduced multiplayer to
levels it also introduced multiplayer to
levels it also introduced multiplayer to the Gradius franchise a feature that
the Gradius franchise a feature that
the Gradius franchise a feature that added greater depth in strategy flying
added greater depth in strategy flying
added greater depth in strategy flying through an alien body can be daunting
through an alien body can be daunting
through an alien body can be daunting but it’s a little easier with a buddy
number 9 Battletoads for Battletoads
number 9 Battletoads for Battletoads forever thought of as the poor man’s
forever thought of as the poor man’s
forever thought of as the poor man’s Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles hey at
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles hey at
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles hey at least they can take comfort in the fact
least they can take comfort in the fact
least they can take comfort in the fact that they’re more respected than the
that they’re more respected than the
that they’re more respected than the biker mice from mars street sharks and
biker mice from mars street sharks and
biker mice from mars street sharks and the dreaded sigh Bors
while this 1991 beat’em up game may have
while this 1991 beat’em up game may have been designed to cash in on the
been designed to cash in on the
been designed to cash in on the popularity of the turtles it proved
popularity of the turtles it proved
popularity of the turtles it proved itself to be a franchise worthy of
itself to be a franchise worthy of
itself to be a franchise worthy of winning six Nintendo Power Awards the
winning six Nintendo Power Awards the
winning six Nintendo Power Awards the year of its release single-player was
year of its release single-player was
year of its release single-player was tough but multiplayer was punishingly
tough but multiplayer was punishingly
tough but multiplayer was punishingly difficult thankfully it was also
difficult thankfully it was also
difficult thankfully it was also insanely addictive and the level of
insanely addictive and the level of
insanely addictive and the level of variety wacky plotline and unique game
variety wacky plotline and unique game
variety wacky plotline and unique game mechanics was more than enough to hold
mechanics was more than enough to hold
mechanics was more than enough to hold the attention of two people number 8
the attention of two people number 8
the attention of two people number 8 blades of Steel between this and life
blades of Steel between this and life
blades of Steel between this and life force konami had a great year in 1988
force konami had a great year in 1988
force konami had a great year in 1988 retro sports games are generally loved
retro sports games are generally loved
retro sports games are generally loved or hated as the technical limitations of
or hated as the technical limitations of
or hated as the technical limitations of the time often resulted in boring poorly
the time often resulted in boring poorly
the time often resulted in boring poorly designed games thankfully for every 10
designed games thankfully for every 10
designed games thankfully for every 10 terrible sports titles there is a gem
terrible sports titles there is a gem
terrible sports titles there is a gem like this one
it actually won the 1988 Nintendo Power
it actually won the 1988 Nintendo Power award for the best player vs. player
award for the best player vs. player
award for the best player vs. player game blades of Steel felt fast-paced
game blades of Steel felt fast-paced
game blades of Steel felt fast-paced compared to the competition and much
compared to the competition and much
compared to the competition and much like contemporary hockey video games it
like contemporary hockey video games it
like contemporary hockey video games it embraced the fact that fighting is
embraced the fact that fighting is
embraced the fact that fighting is albeit unofficially an essential part of
albeit unofficially an essential part of
albeit unofficially an essential part of the sport I mean the fighting mode felt
the sport I mean the fighting mode felt
the sport I mean the fighting mode felt a lot like Rock’em Sock’em robot
a lot like Rock’em Sock’em robot
a lot like Rock’em Sock’em robot switches are not to love
number 7 Spy vs spy originally released
number 7 Spy vs spy originally released in 1984 for the Atari 8-bit and the
in 1984 for the Atari 8-bit and the
in 1984 for the Atari 8-bit and the Commodore 64 this game was good enough
Commodore 64 this game was good enough
Commodore 64 this game was good enough that people were still more than happy
that people were still more than happy
that people were still more than happy to buy it when it was released about
to buy it when it was released about
to buy it when it was released about four years later for the NES it was a
four years later for the NES it was a
four years later for the NES it was a split screen versa title based on the
split screen versa title based on the
split screen versa title based on the popular Mad Magazine comic strip in
popular Mad Magazine comic strip in
popular Mad Magazine comic strip in which players had to search an embassy
which players had to search an embassy
which players had to search an embassy collect items and escape the building
collect items and escape the building
collect items and escape the building before their competitors players could
before their competitors players could
before their competitors players could fight each other or leave traps for
fight each other or leave traps for
fight each other or leave traps for their enemies throughout the many rooms
their enemies throughout the many rooms
their enemies throughout the many rooms it was crucially important to remember
it was crucially important to remember
it was crucially important to remember where you left your traps though as they
where you left your traps though as they
where you left your traps though as they did not distinguish between friend or
did not distinguish between friend or
did not distinguish between friend or foe
number six Bomberman to the Bomberman
number six Bomberman to the Bomberman concept is so simple yet incredibly
concept is so simple yet incredibly
concept is so simple yet incredibly compelling you’re on a grid with
compelling you’re on a grid with
compelling you’re on a grid with destructible blocks you’re equipped with
destructible blocks you’re equipped with
destructible blocks you’re equipped with bombs you use said bombs to blow up
bombs you use said bombs to blow up
bombs you use said bombs to blow up everything and everyone you come across
everything and everyone you come across
everything and everyone you come across but be careful not to blow yourself up
however what the original Bomberman
however what the original Bomberman lacked was a competitive battle mode so
lacked was a competitive battle mode so
lacked was a competitive battle mode so naturally when Bomberman 2 was released
naturally when Bomberman 2 was released
naturally when Bomberman 2 was released in North America for the NES it included
in North America for the NES it included
in North America for the NES it included not only a two-player versus mode but
not only a two-player versus mode but
not only a two-player versus mode but also a three player battle mode for NES
also a three player battle mode for NES
also a three player battle mode for NES owners with the four score NES multi-tab
owners with the four score NES multi-tab
owners with the four score NES multi-tab accessory the goal of multiplayer was
accessory the goal of multiplayer was
accessory the goal of multiplayer was clean and simple fun blow up your
clean and simple fun blow up your
clean and simple fun blow up your friend’s number 5 Teenage Mutant Ninja
friend’s number 5 Teenage Mutant Ninja
friend’s number 5 Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles to the arcade game as its title
Turtles to the arcade game as its title
Turtles to the arcade game as its title suggests this game was a part of the
suggests this game was a part of the
suggests this game was a part of the incredibly fun beat’em up arcade version
incredibly fun beat’em up arcade version
incredibly fun beat’em up arcade version allowing for players to enjoy the turtle
allowing for players to enjoy the turtle
allowing for players to enjoy the turtle rocking foot soldier smashing Street
rocking foot soldier smashing Street
rocking foot soldier smashing Street skating action at home
the NES port extended existing levels
the NES port extended existing levels and added to entirely new ones complete
and added to entirely new ones complete
and added to entirely new ones complete with corresponding bosses providing
with corresponding bosses providing
with corresponding bosses providing hours of fun two players switching
hours of fun two players switching
hours of fun two players switching between four Turtles against the minions
between four Turtles against the minions
between four Turtles against the minions of the shredder in the comfort of their
of the shredder in the comfort of their
of the shredder in the comfort of their own home life did not get any better in
own home life did not get any better in
own home life did not get any better in 1990 number four chip chip chip chip &
1990 number four chip chip chip chip &
1990 number four chip chip chip chip & Dale Rescue Rangers yeah this was one
Dale Rescue Rangers yeah this was one
Dale Rescue Rangers yeah this was one seriously good-looking NES game
seriously good-looking NES game
seriously good-looking NES game published by Capcom it felt like a
published by Capcom it felt like a
published by Capcom it felt like a pretty standard sized scrolling
pretty standard sized scrolling
pretty standard sized scrolling platformer in which players could pick
platformer in which players could pick
platformer in which players could pick up and throw objects in the environment
up and throw objects in the environment
up and throw objects in the environment to kill enemies but Capcom nailed the
to kill enemies but Capcom nailed the
to kill enemies but Capcom nailed the Disney aesthetic in translating the game
Disney aesthetic in translating the game
Disney aesthetic in translating the game to the NES making it one of the nicer
to the NES making it one of the nicer
to the NES making it one of the nicer looking titles to grace the console in
looking titles to grace the console in
looking titles to grace the console in true Capcom style they also provided
true Capcom style they also provided
true Capcom style they also provided tight controls satisfying an addictive
tight controls satisfying an addictive
tight controls satisfying an addictive gameplay and a bug-free experience while
gameplay and a bug-free experience while
gameplay and a bug-free experience while it may have not been overly challenging
it may have not been overly challenging
it may have not been overly challenging it was the perfect co-op game to bridge
it was the perfect co-op game to bridge
it was the perfect co-op game to bridge age gaps simple enough for kids but more
age gaps simple enough for kids but more
age gaps simple enough for kids but more than enough fun for adults number three
than enough fun for adults number three
than enough fun for adults number three bubble bubble the 80s were a more
bubble bubble the 80s were a more
bubble bubble the 80s were a more forgiving time when it came to naming
forgiving time when it came to naming
forgiving time when it came to naming videogames but don’t judge this game by
videogames but don’t judge this game by
videogames but don’t judge this game by its title it is multiplayer action
its title it is multiplayer action
its title it is multiplayer action platforming at its best having been
platforming at its best having been
platforming at its best having been turned into Bubble dragons two brothers
turned into Bubble dragons two brothers
turned into Bubble dragons two brothers fight to save their kidnapped
fight to save their kidnapped
fight to save their kidnapped girlfriends by fighting through caves of
girlfriends by fighting through caves of
girlfriends by fighting through caves of monsters creative and colorful the game
monsters creative and colorful the game
monsters creative and colorful the game consisted of blowing bubbles to trap
consisted of blowing bubbles to trap
consisted of blowing bubbles to trap enemies then bursting them to destroy
enemies then bursting them to destroy
enemies then bursting them to destroy the enemies within levels were limited
the enemies within levels were limited
the enemies within levels were limited to the edge of the screen making it easy
to the edge of the screen making it easy
to the edge of the screen making it easy to get cornered and overwhelmed
to get cornered and overwhelmed
to get cornered and overwhelmed coordination between the players then
coordination between the players then
coordination between the players then was crucial to survival also there were
was crucial to survival also there were
was crucial to survival also there were multiple endings that depended on you
multiple endings that depended on you
multiple endings that depended on you completing the game as a team
number two double dragon tube The
number two double dragon tube The Revenge purists maintained that the
Revenge purists maintained that the
Revenge purists maintained that the Double Dragon titles are best played as
Double Dragon titles are best played as
Double Dragon titles are best played as our Kaede games but anyone who’s played
our Kaede games but anyone who’s played
our Kaede games but anyone who’s played Double Dragon 2 on the NES will tell you
Double Dragon 2 on the NES will tell you
Double Dragon 2 on the NES will tell you that it’s as good as support as you
that it’s as good as support as you
that it’s as good as support as you could ask for when the original Double
could ask for when the original Double
could ask for when the original Double Dragon made the jump to the NES it was
Dragon made the jump to the NES it was
Dragon made the jump to the NES it was reduced to a single player game which
reduced to a single player game which
reduced to a single player game which stripped away much of what made it such
stripped away much of what made it such
stripped away much of what made it such a fun standout title for the sequel
a fun standout title for the sequel
a fun standout title for the sequel porting to the NES still resulted in
porting to the NES still resulted in
porting to the NES still resulted in significant changes but two-player co-op
significant changes but two-player co-op
significant changes but two-player co-op was preserved finally giving NES gamers
was preserved finally giving NES gamers
was preserved finally giving NES gamers the true double dragon experience co-op
the true double dragon experience co-op
the true double dragon experience co-op beat them up action and its very finest
before we unveil our top pick here a few
before we unveil our top pick here a few honorable mentions
number one Kandra forget specifying any
number one Kandra forget specifying any yes many argue that contra is one of the
yes many argue that contra is one of the
yes many argue that contra is one of the best multiplayer games ever few titles
best multiplayer games ever few titles
best multiplayer games ever few titles on the NES can rival it as an action
on the NES can rival it as an action
on the NES can rival it as an action shooter and no other title on the
shooter and no other title on the
shooter and no other title on the console comes anywhere close in terms of
console comes anywhere close in terms of
console comes anywhere close in terms of a two-player experience while contra
a two-player experience while contra
a two-player experience while contra masters can burn through the game in
masters can burn through the game in
masters can burn through the game in under 15 minutes beginners should
under 15 minutes beginners should
under 15 minutes beginners should definitely take advantage of the famous
definitely take advantage of the famous
definitely take advantage of the famous 30 lives Konami code single hit deaths
30 lives Konami code single hit deaths
30 lives Konami code single hit deaths paired with an endless barrage of
paired with an endless barrage of
paired with an endless barrage of bullets makes for a very steep learning
bullets makes for a very steep learning
bullets makes for a very steep learning curve
curve
curve the difficulty is extreme but with great
the difficulty is extreme but with great
the difficulty is extreme but with great level design diverse power-ups and an
level design diverse power-ups and an
level design diverse power-ups and an incredible potential for coordinated
incredible potential for coordinated
incredible potential for coordinated co-op strategies were still addicted 25
co-op strategies were still addicted 25
co-op strategies were still addicted 25 years later
do you agree with our list in your
do you agree with our list in your opinion what’s the best NES game to
opinion what’s the best NES game to
opinion what’s the best NES game to break out when you’ve got company over
break out when you’ve got company over
break out when you’ve got company over for more top tens to share with a friend
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