Key Points
- Party games are played in a group of family or friends and are designed for 4-6 players.
- There were many party games made for the Nintendo 64. The system had just about every genre you can think of, from fighting to sports
- Mario Party is one of the most popular party games for Nintendo 64 because it is a contest of strength between the characters on the board
One of the biggest legacies that Nintendo has left behind is the Nintendo 64. As much as Nintendo 64 is praised for its revolutionary games, tons of classic titles have withstood the test of time. The console is known for countless classics like Super Mario 64, The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time, and GoldenEye 007.
There were also some games made for the system that are now legendary in their own right. These games are party games that are great to play with friends and family.
You probably won’t want to put these party games away once you start playing them, so you should gather as many people as you can before you start playing. They are so good that you will want to play them more than once. In this article, we will highlight the absolute best Nintendo 64 party games.
What Are Party Games?
A party game is a video game made specifically for people to play at social gatherings. They are meant to be simple, easy to learn, and fun for everyone to play. They are sometimes called casual games because they are easy to play and understand.
Some of the best party games have the word “party” in their title. This makes them unique from other video games you might find at a party or gathering. These games draw you into their simplicity while making you feel like you are part of a group or community of gamers.
Party games also tend to involve multiplayer gaming. This means that you need a party size that is not one person. If played as a single-player, these games can become tedious.
They are meant to be simple and fun, so you need to keep them that way throughout the course of your playtime. Try inviting a group of your friends to play; they will most likely play this type of game together, making it even more fun.
Another thing that makes party games great is the setting. In most cases, these games have a more social feel to them. They are more about fun and laughter than competition and skill.
Some skill elements exist in some of these games, but it is mostly about having a good time with everyone rather than achieving mastery over the game itself.
You can sit around and play whatever game you want when you are with your friends, but when you play party games, it feels like everyone is together and playing together.
The History of Party Games on the Nintendo 64
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The Nintendo 64 is a popular system, whether people of that generation were playing the games or not. The system had a wide variety of great games. It is still able to be enjoyed today because it doesn’t require the latest technology to run.
So, it may not be able to keep up with current games in terms of graphics and physics, but the gameplay was sufficient enough back then to be fun and engaging. This is exactly what you need in a party game since you want something simple and fun, not immersive and serious. The games’ simplicity on this console makes it a great choice for most people.
There were many party games made for the Nintendo 64. The system had just about every genre you can think of, from fighting to sports. Some of these games are fondly remembered by the people who played them in their youth.
They have a special place in the hearts of many gamers. You will also see some scenes from these games being recreated and reenacted by people because of how much fun they were.
The Best Nintendo 64 Party Games of All Time
The following games are some of the greatest party games for the Nintendo 64. They all have their own style and uniqueness to offer that makes them special. Each of them is a great addition to any gaming party. You are sure to love them.
| Details | Mario Party |
|---|---|
| Release Date | 14 December 1998 |
| Developer | Nintendo |
| Platforms | Nintendo 64, GameCube, Game Boy Advance, Wii, Nintendo DS, Nintendo 3DS, Wii U, Nintendo Switch |
| Mode | Single-player, multiplayer |
| Details | Mario Party 2 |
|---|---|
| Release Date | 17 December 1999 |
| Developer | Hudson Soft |
| Platforms | Nintendo 64 |
| Mode | Single-player, multiplayer |
| Details | Mario Party 3 |
|---|---|
| Release Date | May 6, 2001 |
| Developer | Hudson Soft |
| Platforms | Nintendo 64 |
| Mode | Single-player, multiplayer |
| Details | GoldenEye 007 |
|---|---|
| Release Date | 23 August 1997 |
| Developer | Rare |
| Platforms | Nintendo 64, Xbox One |
| Mode | Single-player, multiplayer |
| Details | Diddy Kong Racing |
|---|---|
| Release Date | 31 October 1997 |
| Developer | Rare |
| Platforms | Nintendo 64, Nintendo DS |
| Mode | Single-player, multiplayer |
| Details | F-Zero X |
|---|---|
| Release Date | 14 July 1998 |
| Developer | Rare |
| Platforms | Nintendo 64, iQue Player |
| Mode | Single-player, multiplayer |
1. Mario Party
- Japan version.AUTHENTIC! This game is a Japanese version, but it is the same game as the US version
- No box or manual. Game works great! Nintendo 64 game is Japanese standard, so there are cases where you need an adapter.
- This game has been tested & found to be in perfect working condition guaranteed to play without defect.
- Photo is a stock photo and is not an actual photo of this specific item.
- This game is in Japanese version!Ships directly from USA,Amazon!
Mario Party is one of the most popular party games from the Nintendo 64. It was a series that has been continued over various different consoles. There have been ten Mario Party titles released so far, each one getting crazier and crazier as the series goes on.
The game has a unique way of getting you to play it. In Mario Party, Bowser doesn’t directly cause trouble for the players. Instead, it is a contest of strength between the characters on the board. The process of getting all of them goes on invisibly and quietly. The players don’t even realize that they are playing against each other until it is all over.
They know that they are competing for a prize and that their own prize will be based on how many stars they get from winning their race against each other. It is up to the players to determine how much they want to get in between each other and try to stop them from getting all the stars.
This is really a game that anyone and everyone can play. It doesn’t matter if you have played the game before or not because it is easy enough for beginners to pick up and enjoy right away.
You will most definitely be kept on your toes with this one because you never know when a player will be coming up behind you or aggressively trying to steal some of your stars.
You never know what might be around the corner. This element of surprise keeps the game fresh and exciting again and again. It is a great game to keep playing, no matter how many times you have already played it before.
2. Mario Party 2
- Mario and the gang are back for another round of Bowser-bashin' party action! Watch as your favorite Nintendo characters don different duds for each of the five all-new Adventure Boards! A slew of new...
Mario Party 2 was the second game in the popular Mario Party franchise. It was released on 17 December 1999 for the Nintendo 64.
This is another game that only keeps players focused on what is going on when it is their turn. It works out very well because everyone has a chance to interact with the game when it doesn’t make them wait for others to finish making their moves.
This keeps everyone engaged in the game from beginning to end. It also makes it so that the game can always be fresh, no matter how many times you have played it before.
One of the biggest changes to this game from its previous incarnation is that players can now choose their characters before they start playing. This makes it so that multiple people can play as the same character for a change, instead of just one player being able to play as them by default.
It is a great twist that adds even more variety to this already greatly varied game. On the whole, this game is just as fun as the previous one.
The variety of playable characters is wonderful and exciting. You can take many different paths through the game to ensure you have a good time with it no matter what direction you go in.
3. Mario Party 3
- Mario and friends are throwing a party and you're invited. It's their biggest bash yet, with seventy totally new Mini-Games and five brand new adventure boards. You'll be the life of the party as you...
Mario Party 3 was another sequel to the first Mario Party game. It was released to much attention and popularity among gamers shortly after the previous title was released. This made it a very good choice for a Nintendo 64 party game as well.
This game is similar in style to its predecessor but has some changes as well. One thing that stands out is that there are now multiple paths you can choose to travel throughout the course of playing this game.
This makes it even more interesting for players. This can also lead to some hilarious encounters with the Mario Party family at times.
The entire setup of the game is similar to its prequel. Eight playable characters represent the colors of the game. As you progress through the game, you pick up stars that fill in hearts on your character’s overall score.
This makes it so that everyone participates in all aspects of the board while still having a chance at winning all by themselves. This is a great concept, and it works well in practice.
This is a game that will keep you on your toes because you never know when a player might come up and steal some of your hearts. It keeps players focused even when they are doing nothing, which is something that few games can do.
4. GoldenEye 007
GoldenEye 007 is a first-person shooter that was developed by Rare and published by Nintendo. It was released on 23 August 1997 for the Nintendo 64. This game is one of the most famed titles for the Nintendo 64. It is based on the 1995 film of the same name, which was itself based on Ian Fleming’s 1959 novel.
The gameplay of this game is unique to the console in that it has some elements of a rail shooter where you have real-time aiming and firing features. You determine where the character is aiming based on which direction you are facing when you fire.
Also, there are a variety of different weapons available to you, including pistols, assault rifles, shotguns, rocket launchers, and so forth. The weapons have a pistol grip attached to them so that you can use them in real-time shooting.
You can also use a variety of grenades that come with different effects. For example, some grenades are timed explosions, while others will blow up your enemies instead.
Another thing that makes this game fun is the multiplayer features. You can play through the game with two people in split screen mode or connect to a friend’s game and play through their televisions.
There are also a variety of different multiplayer modes available, like the team deathmatch, the last man standing, and so forth. The graphics in this game are excellent.
The colors are vibrant, and you can see the details of the world wonderfully. This is also thanks to the multiplayer modes that allow players to choose their settings, and they will stay on them so that you can get used to this as soon as possible once you connect to someone else’s game.
5. Diddy Kong Racing
- Japanese import
- Japanese text.
- Nintendo 64 / N64 cartridge
- Can be played in a US N64 with minor modification.
Diddy Kong Racing was developed by Rare and published by Nintendo. It was released on 31 October 1997 for the Nintendo 64. This is another one of the most beloved titles for the Nintendo 64. You are driving a variety of different vehicles trying to beat your opponents, as well as completing different missions.
There are a total of eight different racers available for you to choose from in this game. They all have unique special abilities that can help you get an edge on the competition. The characters are varied in style and personality, so you will be able to find a favorite to play with.
There are five different worlds available for you to drive through. Each of these worlds has a different theme, such as jungle, lava, ice, etc. They also have their own challenges and missions for you to overcome. The levels are varied in their degree of difficulty, so you might have an easier time with some than others.
The multiplayer component of this game is one of its highlights. You can play through the different races and missions with up to four other people. There are a variety of different modes as well so that you can vary the gameplay and keep it fresh for everyone.
6. F-Zero X
F-Zero X was developed by Nintendo and published by Nintendo. It was released on 14 July 1998 for the Nintendo 64. This futuristic racing game features some of the fastest vehicles available in any racing game.
The gameplay is simple and easy enough to understand. You have to make it past your opponents while racing through each course to finish a level. If an enemy or obstacle hits you, then you will lose your place in the race and have to try again from your last checkpoint.
There are a variety of different vehicles that can be used in this game. The vehicles all have their own special abilities, such as hover ability, boost, and so forth.
You can pick and choose from the different vehicles to find something that works for you. You can unlock these different vehicles by winning tournaments.
The multiplayer feature of this game works well. You can connect to another person’s game using the Nintendo 64's 4-port controller and play against them at any point in their game. This gives you a lot of flexibility in how you want to play this game with your friends.
Bottom Line
Overall, these are some of the best Nintendo 64 party games of all time. They are immensely enjoyable and fun to play. They really help to bring people together after a long day at work or school. Each game on this list has its unique style and flair, making it fun, unique, and worthwhile.
NEXT UP…
- The 7 Absolute Best Nintendo Switch First-Person Shooters of All Time
- The Nintendo 64DD: History, Launch, and Failure
- The Absolute Best Wii U Party Games of All Time
The image featured at the top of this post is ©robtek/Shutterstock.com.
