Best Nintendo Entertainment System RPGs

The Matrix has 81 RPGs on file for the Nintendo Entertainment System, released between 1985–1993. 12 of them support multiplayer. They're ranked below by legacy score, so the games that shaped the genre on the NES come first, with lesser-known picks further down.

Role-playing games trade reflexes for strategy and story. You build a party, level up, manage equipment and travel across a large world, usually through menu-based battles.

Typical commitment: epic journey (20+ hours of adventure). Tip: Retro RPGs can require some level grinding and rarely tell you exactly where to go next. Talk to every townsperson, save often and use a guide if you get stuck: there is no shame in it.