7 8-Bit Era Games That Still Hold Up Today

Video games have grown more technically and graphically impressive, continuing to evolve as the years go by. However, earlier generations have proven that you don’t need spectacular graphics or mechanics to have fun playing games.

Related: The Greatest NES Games Of All Time

The 8-bit era represents the third generation of video games, and it’s where many series you know and love today originated. Visiting the original games in these series allows you to realize just how far they’ve come. More than that, you get to see how well 8-bit era games can stand on their own, and how much they have to offer.

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7

The Legend Of Zelda

The Legend of Zelda, one of Nintendo’s most popular game series, started as an 8-bit game on the Famicom in Japan and the NES internationally. Its story is a familiar one: Link endeavors to save Princess Zelda from Ganon after hearing her story from her trusted nursemaid, Impa. To do this, he needs to use the Triforce, which has been fragmented into eight pieces and scattered in different locations.

The Legend of Zelda gives you more freedom than the typical linear 8-bit game. There isn’t a specific order for some of the dungeons, and you can go through the game without ever taking a sword from the first area. Also, not every game at the time had a ‘New Game Plus’ feature, but this one did. The Second Quest is unlocked by beating the game once, and it features stronger enemies and different dungeons. This classic title is the epitome of ‘simple but charming’.

6

Super Mario Bros

Super Mario Bros was first released in Japan on the Famicom, and then on the NES internationally. Its premise is simple: go through the Mushroom Kingdom as Mario (or Luigi in multiplayer) to rescue Princess Peach from Bowser.

Its gameplay seems just as simple, but the platforming and enemy-stomping can get pretty tricky with every new level. You have power-ups that aid you and let you take a hit, but otherwise, you’ll die as soon as an enemy touches you. With the challenge and controls Super Mario Bros provides, it’s easy to see why it was one of the best-selling games of all time — and a huge milestone for Nintendo.

5

Castlevania

Castlevania is a pretty popular series now, and the first game was released for the Famicom and NES. Its gothic horror aesthetic set it apart from other more family-friendly titles at the time, and is still prominent in recent games. Your goal as Simon Belmont, a vampire hunter, is to venture through Dracula’s castle and defeat him. But many other enemies stand in your way before you can get there.

Related: Games That Were Better On Sega Master System Than NES

Rather than a typical sword, your starting weapon is a whip. However, you can acquire other weapons and gadgets, like axes and magical watches that freeze enemies. The variety in gameplay and platforming means you’ll be engaged the entire time you’re playing, making this game worth a try.

4

Battletoads

Battletoads isn’t an easy game by any means, but it’s fun enough to forgive the frustration of dying. It was first released for the NES, before being ported to other 8-bit consoles. You play as two Battletoads who are on a mission to save their teammate and Princess Angelica from the Dark Queen’s clutches. The game combines platforming and beat-em-up elements with minigames. For example, some stages will require you to punch your way through, while others have you racing through them and avoiding obstacles to win.

It’s a notoriously difficult game, so it may not be for everyone. However, one really fun aspect of it is that it supports multiplayer. You can play with a friend, which pretty much guarantees lots of laughs and a memorable gaming session no matter how far you actually get.

3

Batman: The Video Game

There are a bunch of video games starring Batman now, but would you believe that the NES one still holds up today? You play as the Caped Crusader, who has to battle through dozens of enemies and obstacles to confront Joker, the fitting final boss. Various areas of Gotham act as the different stages of the game.

Not only were this game’s graphics impressive for that time, but it also had the most important part of any Batman game: cool moves. Besides the usual melee in this side-scrolling platformer, you have three projectiles you can throw at enemies, including the iconic Batarang. And for some reason, Batman can wall jump instead of using a grappling hook in this game, but it’s still cool. The game just exudes that edgy Batman aesthetic.

2

Contra

The first Contra was initially an arcade game, but was eventually released for the NES as well. It’s a shoot-em-up that alternates between side-scrolling and 3D-like environment levels. The plot has you playing as one or both commandos of the Earth Marine Corp Contra Unit to stop a mysterious organization that plans to wipe out humanity.

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Naturally, guns are the main weapon you use to kill enemies. There are different guns you can find during your playthrough, and each one is different. For example, one fires in different directions while another shoots a straight but powerful beam. You can also play the game with someone else, but whether that’ll be a help or a hindrance varies, since enemies constantly come at you from all different directions. Contra will definitely keep you on your toes at all times if you want to survive.

1

River City Ransom

River City Ransom stands out from other beat-em-ups that saturated the NES by including non-linear aspects. It has an open world and RPG elements, which already make its replay value shoot up. The game’s plot involves going through River City to reach River City High, where the antagonist has captured the girlfriend of one of the playable characters.

While beating foes up, you can equip or throw things you find at them. Defeating foes gives you money to spend on a variety of things, like learning new techniques, raising your stats, or recovering your health. This game was Yakuza before it existed, so it’s a no-brainer if you like those games. In fact, it’s even better, because you can have a friend join you to beat bad guys up and go to the spa.

Next: 16-Bit Era Games That Still Hold Up Today