You read that right; we’re taking a look at 5 classic N64 games on Switch that you can download and sink your teeth into right now.
This isn’t a list of upcoming titles or ones that we hope to see in 2021; these games are out now and even have physical copies that you can purchase for your collection!
We get a lot of messages asking about the best retro handhelds for playing N64 games, and the truth is that N64 emulation is tricky because of all the buttons and the size of the games.
But, with classic remakes continually heading to the Switch and news of more titles heading to the Virtual Store in the coming months, it’s safe to say that we’re excited about replaying all of our favourites once again!
For any retro gamers wanting to recreate the magic of their favourite games up on the big screen or while walking the dog through the park, we’ve compiled a list of the current N64 games on Switch.
We’ll make sure to keep this compendium updated regularly. But for now, get your wallets out and grab some enhanced retro goodness!
1. Turok 2: Seeds of Evil
First up on our list of N64 Games On Switch the bloodthirsty Turok 2. This game and I go way back; we’re talking rainy Saturday mornings way before I was even old enough to play it, slaying dinosaurs and firing arrows like there was no tomorrow.
Turok is one of those heroes that makes James Bond look like a posh geezer in a suit. This guy is 100% fearless; some of the dinosaurs in this game would make me die of fright with seconds!
And the weapons! Forget the Golden Gun in Goldeneye; the mighty Cerebral Bore will forever be the greatest weapon of all time.
The graphics in this updated Switch port look fantastic, though the dinosaurs still manage to look 10x better while looking like they came from a N64 game. I’m not sure how they’ve managed it, but its both retro and fresh at the same time!
Turok 2 sees our bow-and-arrow wielding hero stopping alien-dinosaur hybrids from causing havoc in his super swish lightship. It’s up to him, and him alone, to spread their guts across every level without slipping on their remains.
Think that’s too gory? If you can’t handle that sentence, then this isn’t the game for you. Turok games are known for blood (and brains) splattering everywhere, so maybe don’t play before your dinner.
The main game only has 6 levels to it, but they are pretty big and will take you some time to get through. Still, the multiplayer mode is where it’s at, with epic deathmatches that will keep you coming back for more time and time again.
2. Super Mario 64
Next up is Super Mario 64, one of the N64 games on Switch that we waited a very long time for
Playing Super Mario 64 on a handheld console is what made us so obsessed with finding an N64 Gameboy. Sure, we could play a ripped ROM on an emulator, but we wanted the real deal, except a polished and glossy version.
We waited ages for this to become a reality, and then hardly any time at all seemed to pass between the announcement of the new Super Mario trilogy and our Super Mario 3D All-Stars review dropping.
One minute we were losing our minds, the next we were racing Koopa the Quick through Bob-Omb Battlefield while kicking back on the sofa!
Super Mario 64 works incredibly well both in handheld mode and while docked up on HD TVs. There’s no way the original N64 version could look this good up on a 50″ TV, and while the game has been upscaled perfectly, the characters still have that blocky retro look to them which is great for nostalgia nerds like me.
The game doesn’t appear in wide-screen up on the TV, but that doesn’t detract from the gameplay in the slightest. If anything, it makes it feel even more like the original.
Perhaps the best part of this port is the Switch’s controls. That’s right, no more achy claw hand! Play in handheld mode, wield the Pro Controller, or grab a joy con in each hand!
3. Star Wars Episode 1 Racer
I still remember my mum buying Star Wars Episode 1 Racer through an advert in the local newspaper back in the day. I’ve always been a massive Star Wars fan, and having the chance to race as Sebulba, Anakin, and good ‘ol Ark ‘Bumpy’ Roose was fantastic.
If you’ve seen Episode 1, then you’ll already know that the Pod Racing section is the best bit of the entire movie. Anakin was always a bit of a wet lettuce, but now you and up to there mates can pick from a whole cast of weird and wonderful racers and compete at break neck speeds.
The new Switch port looks so crisp too. Like Super Mario, it’s not a complete remake with new crafts and a 2021 look, rather a cleaned up version of the original. The charm of the original game shines through, though it’s much easier to see approaching stalactites now.
F-Zero X fans will be all over this game like Jar-Jar at a jam licking contest. It’s one of the fastest games that I’ve ever played in my life, and all the courses have hidden dangers designed to destroy your craft.
Pod racing engines take damage every time you bump into an opponent, the ground, a cliff, a rock; pretty much anything. Players can heal while racing periodically, though too many knocks will result in a huge explosion.
The single player mode is great, but like many N64 games, the multiplayer is where the magic happens. If you’ve never played Episode 1 Racer before, then give it a bash. You’ll soon find Mario Kart far too slow for your liking!
4. Doom 64
Next up on our collection of N64 games for Switch is the mighty Doom 64. That’s right; Doom Guy has made it to the Nintendo Switch in an updated port of one of the most played N64 titles of all time.
Unlike the other games in this list, Doom 64 looks pretty much the same as it did on the N64 but just brighter. It’s much easier to see what’s going on, but the game looks and feels just like you’ve stuck an N64 cartridge into the top of your Switch.
You might view it differently, but I like the fact that this game looks exactly how I remember it from back in the day. I could have almost just picked up my old save file and carried on from where I left off!
Doom 64 is my favourite Doom game of all time. I know, I’m biased because I’m always banging on about the N64, but having played them all, I just like this one the most. It’s like a supercharged version of Doom III with polished elements that add to the magic.
Released as part of Doom’s 25th Anniversary, the Nintendo Switch port, allows players to beat back hell’s hordes on the go or at home. Deal with demons on the toilet or blast gremlins in full glory on your TV.
With 30 levels all filled to the brim with blood-thirsty enemies, Doom 64 is sure to keep you occupied. Like Turok, the weapons in this game are phenomenal.
Blow off steam while blowing off heads. Job done.
5. Turok: Dinosaur Hunter
Speaking of Turok, I thought I would bookend this list of N64 Games on Switch with both of his original epic adventures.
Turok: Dinosaur Hunter is the last N64 title available to download. Everything from the cover to the graphics has had a neat upgrade, dragging this classic bloodbath kicking and snarling into 2021.
Like Turok 2, the original dino bashing title has been enhanced with a fancy visual engine. It looks smoother, cleaner, and the visuals are very impressive even when docked.
Jurassic Park feels like a petting zoo compared to this game. Fight armoured dinos with blasters attached to their backs, survive against hordes of velociraptors, and blast your way through 14 immersive levels.
There’s 14 weapons to chose from, starting with simple weapons such as Turok’s bow and dagger, ranging all the way to some beastly machine guns and futuristic blasters.
Until you’ve seen a Laser-Guided T-Rex in HD, you haven’t lived. This is one of the best N64 games on the console and a real credit to the Switch’s growing catalogue of titles. I’d advise buying all of the games above, but if you only have room for one, make it this one.
Seb Santabarbara has bought every Nintendo console that has ever been released in his 31 years on Planet Earth. His favourite game franchise is Zelda, and he’s patiently waiting for Banjo-Kazooie to come back to the fold. When he’s not playing games, he’s travelling the world in his self-converted camper van.
