NES - Top 10 Hidden Gems

Crystalis merges the action-packed combat of The Legend of Zelda with a futuristic, post-apocalyptic setting, featuring magic and elemental swordplay that distinguished it from more famous titles. The game boasts some of the best dungeon designs on the NES and offers sophisticated stat progression that went beyond simple Zelda comparisons. Its positive reception years after release was significant enough to motivate Nintendo to create a Game Boy Color remake in 2000, cementing its cult status.

This colorful platformer features four switchable characters (Samson the lion, Kikira the eagle, Puss the cat, and Gamera the turtle), each with unique abilities, making it mechanically diverse and charming. Despite having "all the makings of a classic," Little Samson remained overshadowed due to limited distribution. The game's high production value and tight gameplay make it one of the most expensive cartridges to obtain on the secondary market, with enthusiasts noting that it "oozes charm" and is "really well done for the 8-bit era."

Often cited as "perhaps the most overlooked and underrated masterpiece in the NES library," The Guardian Legend from legendary shmup developer Compile seamlessly blends exploration-based Zelda-style gameplay with intense vertical-scrolling shooter mechanics. The game features two distinct play modes: exploration segments where players navigate labyrinthine environments collecting items and defeating enemies, and shmup sections with impressive set pieces and enemy patterns. Its proto-Metroidvania design predated modern genre conventions while delivering rock-solid, innovative gameplay.

Despite being one of the best action RPGs on the NES, Faxanadu remains surprisingly lesser known, even among die-hard RPG fans. This Hudson Soft title features exploration-based progression combined with platforming challenges and excellent core gameplay. Players embark on a quest to save the World Tree from withering, navigating a vertical world with interconnected areas that reward exploration. Its respectable difficulty and strong mechanics earned it publishing duties from Nintendo in the West, eventually becoming a cult favorite.

Originally developed as a licensed The Terminator tie-in, Journey to Silius was repurposed as a standalone title when the licensing agreement fell through. The result is a cinematic run-and-gun action game featuring one of the best soundtracks on the NES, delivering visceral sci-fi combat with multiple weapons and responsive controls. Sunsoft's expertise in action game design shines through with excellent level design and pacing that rivals more famous entries in the genre.

Despite its bizarre cover artwork doing it "no favors," Shatterhand delivers a truly great NES action game with exceptional level design and a truly unique upgrade system. This Natsume title innovatively blends punching mechanics with companion drones and destructible environments, letting players punch through obstacles while collecting bionic suit upgrades. The game's high production values and atmospheric design rival late-era NES classics.

Irem's Metal Storm is a standout action title that slipped through the cracks despite positive reviews. Originally released with limited quantities and minimal marketing, Nintendo Power magazine featured it in an "Unsung Heroes of the NES" segment, becoming its most effective marketing. The game's primary mechanic—the ability to toggle gravity and reverse direction—helped it stand out distinctly from other NES action titles. With impressive visuals including multi-layered backgrounds and parallax scrolling, Metal Storm squeezed maximum power from the NES hardware and remains one of the rarest cartridges on the secondary market.

Often flying under the radar alongside other 1992 Taito releases, Kick Master is a fantastic hybrid mixing fisticuffs of a brawler with magic and action elements reminiscent of Castlevania. The game features some of the highest production values on the NES, with level detail in environments that rivals and sometimes surpasses Castlevania III. The atmospheric world-building is coated in minute details that make excellent use of the NES' limited color palette, delivering a unique experience that deserves far higher recognition in gaming circles.

Xexyz is a genre-bending title from Atlus that alternates between Mario-style side-scrolling platformer levels and horizontal-scrolling shmup sections similar to R-Type or Gradius. The seamless integration of these two distinct gameplay styles, coupled with a unique shop system for upgrading abilities, creates an experience unmatched by other NES titles. This ambitious design demonstrates creative thinking and flawless execution of a risky hybrid concept.

This Natsume ninja action game features tight controls, tough-but-fair challenges, and a killer soundtrack that stand apart from other era action-platformers. The game's weapon variety and cooperative gameplay mechanics, combined with its progressive difficulty curve, create an engaging experience. Being one of the few NES titles to offer selectable male and female protagonist options, Shadow of the Ninja brings both gameplay excellence and progressive representation to a often-overlooked gem.