Nintendo Entertainment System · Shooter / Sports
Duck Hunt
Certified classic
| System | Nintendo Entertainment System |
|---|---|
| Released | 1984 |
| Genre | Shooter, Sports |
| Developer | Nintendo |
| Publisher | Nintendo |
| Players | 1 player |
| Commitment | An evening or two (Roughly 1–6 hours to see it through) |
| ESRB | E |
| Legacy | Certified classic · legacy score 36 |
Duck Hunt is a shooter released in 1984 for the Nintendo Entertainment System, developed by Nintendo. It blends shooter and sports elements.
It belongs to the NES's earliest wave of games. Other notable NES releases from 1984 include Mappy, Wild Gunman and F-1 Race. Among the 33 NES shooters in our database, it ranks #1 by legacy score.
Nintendo also made Super Mario Bros., Super Mario Bros. 3 and Super Mario Bros. 2 for the NES.
This is a solo experience: one player, no waiting on anyone else.
Pick it if…
- you want to fight, blast and test your reflexes
- you have time for an evening or two (roughly 1–6 hours to see it through)
- you want to experience one of the NES's defining games
Maybe skip it if…
- you are not a fan of fast-paced aiming and twitch reflexes
- you are looking for something to play with friends
What playing Duck Hunt is like
Shooters are built around aiming and firing, from first-person corridor blasters and light-gun games to run-and-gun stages and multidirectional arcade shooters.
Tip for newcomers: Retro shooters were designed for CRT TVs and original controllers; light-gun games in particular need special hardware or alternative controls on modern screens.
Duck Hunt cheats & codes
21 codes on file (Game Genie, Action Replay, Other codes). Here are a few Game Genie codes to start with:
| Infinite Ammo | SZNIPPVG |
|---|---|
| Always Hit The Duck In Single-Duck Mode | ELXSLZEI |
| Always Advance To The Next Round (Miss All Of The Targets To Get The Perfect Bonus) | ALSIPLEI |
| Get The Perfect Bonus For Hitting At Least 10 Targets | ZEUIYZAE
??USP?UU |
| Always Get The Perfect Bonus | AASIAUZA
ALSIPLEI |
| Get The Perfect Bonus Only For Hitting 20 Targets | GPSIAUZA
ALSIPLEI |
Duck Hunt walkthroughs & guides
Stuck, or want to go deeper? These trusted sites have full walkthroughs, completion times and more for Duck Hunt.
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Playing NES games today
NES games are short on paper but often famously tough, so expect to replay levels and learn patterns. Many first-party titles are available through Nintendo Switch Online, original cartridges remain easy to find, and you can play backups of games you own in an emulator such as Rec0m88.
Duck Hunt FAQ
When did Duck Hunt come out on the NES?
Duck Hunt was released for the Nintendo Entertainment System in 1984.
Who made Duck Hunt?
It was developed by Nintendo.
Is Duck Hunt multiplayer?
No. Duck Hunt is a single-player game.
How long does Duck Hunt take to play?
As a shooter, Duck Hunt typically falls into the "An evening or two" category: roughly 1–6 hours to see it through. Your time will vary with skill and how much you explore.
Read more about Duck Hunt on Wikipedia. Facts on this page are compiled from the open libretro database and Wikidata; "legacy score" reflects how widely a game is documented across Wikipedia's language editions. Spotted an error? Let us know.