Like manyNintendo consoles, theNintendo 64is predominantly remembered for itsLegend of ZeldaandMariogames. With titles likeSuper Mario 64,The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time,Mario Kart 64,andThe Legend of Zelda: Majora’s Mask, it’s easy to see why.
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Collectathon games likeBanjo-KazooieandDonkey Kong 64and innovativePokémongames such asPokémon StadiumandPokémon Snapare also at the forefront of people’s memories when reminiscing about the console. Because of this, the console’s FPS titles are frequently overlooked.
The Nintendo 64 didn’t house many FPS games as developers were instead opting to put their titles onSony’s PlayStation, which had an older fan base. Despite the limited FPS titles, the N64 managed to provide gamers with an excellent array of games - some of which are still considered to be among the best in the genre.
Updated on Jul 09, 2025, by Jack Pursey:The N64 is a good example of how consoles will always be remembered for their best games. Although, as mentioned before, the N64’s catalog of first-person shooters was limited, gamers fondly remember the console for its FPS titles, as games like the ones on this list still live fondly in their memories. For thosein the mood for some retro fun, we’ve updated this list to include some key information about each game, such as the platforms that they can be played on and their main story completion time, according to the site howlongtobeat.com.
Available Platforms:Nintendo 64
Main Story Completion Time:6 Hours
Turok 3: Shadow of Oblivionis considered to be the weakest of the threeTurokgames released on the Nintendo 64, but is still a great shooter in its own right.
Whereas most sequels attempt to keep gameplay fresh and interesting by adding a multitude of new features,Turok 3simplified the formula. With secondary ammo and other of the predecessor’s more complex features cut.
There were somegameplay changes, though, predominantly through the two playable characters. Instead of controlling Turok, players take the part of either Danielle or Joseph Fireseed. The siblings can use different weapons and have physical attribute differences. Danielle can jump higher than Joseph for example, like a first-person shooting Luigi.
Available Platforms:PC, PlayStation, Nintendo 64, and Xbox One
Main Story Completion Time:9.5 Hours
Developed by Iguana Entertainment UK,Forsaken 64is known for its fluid gameplay and smooth 360-degree movements. The game was primarily geared towards a multiplayer experience, with the split-screen gameplay thatGoldenEyerevolutionized being a prominent feature.
Forsaken 64is also known for its Total Mayhem difficulty mode. The mode provided one of the toughest challenges that the N64 had to offer. Total Mayhem was so tricky, in fact, that a patch was released to lower the difficulty substantially.
8Doom 64
Release Date:July 22, 2025
Available Platforms:Nintendo 64, Nintendo Switch, PC, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and Stadia
Main Story Completion Time:7 Hours
The sequel toDoom 2, Doom 64didn’t attempt to fix what wasn’t broken. With the fast, brutal action gameplay that the series is known for still ever-present. The game suffered from being too similar to its predecessors, though, with critics pointing out that the game offered little in the way of innovation.
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There were a few changes to the game’s weapons, but differences like giving the chainsaw an extra blade weren’t enough to entice fans. Subsequently, the game sold poorly.Doom 64’s marketing also hurt sales, as many players believed the game to beanN64 portof the original Doom.
Despite this negativity,Doom 64earns its spot on this list for being one of the best earlyDoomgames to play retrospectively.
7Quake
Release Date:June 29, 2025
Available Platforms:PC, Saturn, Nintendo 64, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S
Main Story Completion Time:5.5 Hours
If this list judged games based on all console/PC releases,Quakewould be near the top. However, when judging the game based on the N64 version,Quakedrops a few spots for being an underwhelming port. The lack of cooperative multiplayer and frustrating frame drops make the N64 port the suboptimal way to play the classic game.
Quakeis still great fun to play on the console, though, with the disappointing port not being enough to deter from some of the best FPS gameplay of the era.
Available Platforms:PC, Nintendo 64, PlayStation 1, Xbox 360, and Zeebo
Main Story Completion Time:8 Hours
It’s not often thatQuake 2finds itself above its predecessor in a ranking list. However,Quake 2earns its spot for being a far better port than the original.
Quake 2was originally going to be the first game in a new series. It was only late in development that id Software decided to re-brand the game, as they felt it was too similar toQuaketo call it anything else.Quake 2had a more methodical approach to FPS gameplay than itsDoom-like predecessor. Players had slower movements and could also crouch, allowing for more tactical, cover-based action.
5Turok: Dinosaur Hunter
Release Date:July 26, 2025
Available Platforms:Nintendo 64, Nintendo Switch, Xbox One, PlayStation 4, and PC
Main Story Completion Time:7.5 Hours
Turok: Dinosaur Hunteris the first game in theTurokseries. It was an adaptation of a popular comic book series of the same title.
The game had a huge impact on the Nintendo 64,with the game not just having its own great sales figures but also boosting console sales too. This historical relevance justifies the opinion of fans who believe that the original trilogy is underrated today.
Main Story Completion Time:5 Hours
The World is Not Enoughhad the near-impossible job of following on from the previous N64 Bond game,GoldenEye 007.Publishing rights changed from Nintendo to EA, and development changed hands from Rare to Eurocom who developed the N64 version, and Black Ops Entertainment who developed the PlayStation 1 version.
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Eurocom still managed to create an excellent first-person shooter withThe World is Not Enough,despite it not being held anywhere near the same regard asGoldenEye 007.Unfortunately, though, the game’s quality was dampened by its enemy AI, which is the worst of any game on this list.
3Turok 2: Seeds of Evil
Release Date:June 30, 2025
Available Platforms:Nintendo 64, Nintendo Switch, PC, Xbox One, and PlayStation 4
Main Story Completion Time:10.5 Hours
Turok 2: Seeds of Evil’s inclusion in this list completes the hattrick for the original trilogy. Developer’s Iguana Entertainment delighted fans by including a multiplayer mode, something that the original game lacked. The multiplayer featured characters with differing skills. Agility, speed, health regeneration, and other abilities all varied depending on which character players chose.
Main Story Completion Time:8.5 Hours
Rare didn’t rest on their laurels after losing theJames Bondlicense. They instead createdPerfect Dark, a spiritual successor to theirlegendaryGoldenEye.
Perfect Darkhad an updated engine fromGoldenEyeand needed the N64’s Expansion Pak to run many of its key features.Perfect Darkalso bought back the iconic split-screen multiplayer that Rare revolutionized. Furthermore, the game had an excellent single-player campaign with innovative stealth gameplay that was a breath of fresh air from the all-action gameplay of titles likeQuakeandDoom 64.
Available Platforms:Nintendo 64 and Xbox One
GoldenEyeis not just the best FPS game on the N64; it’s one of the best FPS games ever released. The game undoubtedly shows its age today, but it still deserves its top spot on this list for paving the way for titles likeCall of Duty,Halo,andBattlefield.Rare revolutionized split-screen multiplayer on consoles, withexcellently designed stagesthat made the mode endlessly replayable.
Often overlooked is the game’s single-player campaign. The objective-based missions are some of the best that the FPS genre has to offer, and it is a testament to the incredible multiplayer mode that it overshadows the great single-player action.
Also overlooked is the game’s soundtrack.The music provided the perfect backdrop for the exciting and enjoyable action gameplay.
