Award Winning NES Games |
Numerous magazines (and some web sites) love to declare which games are best.
Sometimes, as with EGM, they also like to declare which games stink.
From my large library of NES-era magazines, I've compiled a list of the games
which received such attention. You'll find the list is dominated by
Nintendo Power, which really shouldn't be a surprise. In the early years,
it focused exclusively on the NES. Additionally, the editors sometimes nominated
10 games in a single category. You'll likely find a few surprises here among the
recognized gems, such as 10 Yard Fight and Mission: Impossible. One of the odder
things I noticed: Nintendo Power nominated Mega Man 5 in seven 1993
categories... but RC Pro Am II won Best Overall Game, the only category in which
it was nominated! Anyway, I used a few abbreviations:
If you know of any other magazines that bestowed honor to NES games, please let me know.
By Game |
By Mag |
10 Yard Fight | |||
| 1988 Best Sports Video Game (Honorable Mention) - VG&CE Feb 1989 | |||
A Boy and His Blob | |||
| 1989 Best Strategy Video Game - VG&CE Feb 1990 | |||
| 1989 Most Innovative Video Game - VG&CE Feb 1990 | |||
| 1990 Most Innovative (nominee) - Nintendo Power March 1991 | |||
| 1990 Best Hero (Blobert)(nominee) - Nintendo Power March 1991 | |||
| 1990 Editor's Favorite - Game Players December 1990 | |||
| 1990 NES Excellence Award - Game Players March 1991 | |||
Adventure Island | |||
| 1988 Best Challenge (nominee) - Nintendo Power March/April 1989 | |||
| 1988 Best Character: Master Higgins (nominee) - Nintendo Power March/April 1989 | |||
Adventures of Lolo | |||
| 1989 Best Ending (nominee) - Nintendo Power March/April 1990 | |||
| One of the Top 99 Games Ever - Digital Press 1997 | |||
Adventures of Lolo 2 | |||
| 1990 Best Hero (Lolo) (nominee) - Nintendo Power March 1991 | |||
Adventures of Lolo 3 | |||
| 1991 Best Challenge (nominee) - Nintendo Power March 1992 | |||
| 1991 Best Theme & Fun (3rd Place) - Nintendo Power May 1992 | |||
Air Fortress | |||
| 1989 Best Action-Strategy Game (Honorable Mention) - VG&CE Feb 1990 | |||
Archon | |||
| 1990 Best Action/Strategy Game (Honorable Mention)- VG&CE Feb 1991 | |||
Arkanoid | |||
| 1988 Best Arcade translation - VG&CE Feb 1989 | |||
| One of the Top 99 Games Ever - Digital Press 1997 | |||
Bad Dudes | |||
| 1989 Wimpiest Hostage (President Bush) - - EGM 1990 Buyer Guide | |||
Baseball Simulator 1.000 | |||
| 1989 Best Nintendo Sports-Themed Game - - EGM 1990 Buyer Guide | |||
| 1990 Best Sports Game (Honorable Mention) - VG&CE Feb 1991 | |||
| 1990 Editor's Favorite - Game Players December 1990 | |||
| 1990 Best NES Sports Game - Game Players March 1991 | |||
Baseball Stars | |||
| 1989 Best Player-vs-Player (nominee) - Nintendo Power March/April 1990 | |||
Bases Loaded | |||
| 1988 Best Player-vs-Player (nominee) - Nintendo Power March/April 1989 | |||
| 1988 Best Sports Video Game - VG&CE Feb 1989 | |||
| 1989 Best Sports Game - - EGM 1989 Buyer Guide | |||
Bases Loaded 3 | |||
| 1991 Best NES Sports Game - Game Players March 1992 | |||
Batman | |||
| 1989 Best Movie to game - - EGM 1990 Buyer Guide | |||
| 1990 Best Overall Game (nominee) - Nintendo Power March 1991 | |||
| 1990 Best Bad Guy (Joker)(nominee) - Nintendo Power March 1991 | |||
| 1990 Best Play Control (nominee) - Nintendo Power March 1991 | |||
| 1990 Best Graphics & Sound (nominee) - Nintendo Power March 1991 | |||
| 1990 Best Action game (Honorable Mention) - VG&CE Feb 1991 | |||
| 1990 Editor's Favorite - Game Players December 1990 | |||
| 1991 Best License - - EGM 1992 Buyer Guide | |||
Batman: Return of the Joker | |||
| 1991 NES Excellence Award - Game Players March 1992 | |||
| 1992 8-Bit Game of the Year (runner up) - GamePro March 1993 | |||
Battle of Olympus | |||
| 1990 Best Challenge (3rd Place) - Nintendo Power May 1991 | |||
Battletank | |||
| 1990 Best Simulation (Honorable Mention) - VG&CE Feb 1991 | |||
Battletoads | |||
| 1991 Best Overall Game - Nintendo Power May 1992 | |||
| 1991 Best Multi-Player - Nintendo Power May 1992 | |||
| 1991 Best Play Control - Nintendo Power May 1992 | |||
| 1991 Best Theme & Fun - Nintendo Power May 1992 | |||
| 1991 Best Graphics & Sound - Nintendo Power May 1992 | |||
| 1991 Best Challenge (3rd Place) - Nintendo Power May 1992 | |||
| 1991 Best Villain (Dark Queen)(nominee) - Nintendo Power March 1992 | |||
| 1991 Best Graphics (Honorable Mention) - VG&CE Feb 1992 | |||
| 1991 8-Bit Game of the Year - GamePro March 1992 | |||
| 1991 Best Nintendo game of the Year - - EGM 1992 Buyer Guide | |||
| 1991 Most Challenging Game of the Year - - EGM 1992 Buyer Guide | |||
| 1991 NES Excellence Award - Game Players March 1992 | |||
| One of the Top 99 Games Ever - Digital Press 1997 | |||
Battletoads & Double Dragon | |||
| 1993 Best Overall Game (2nd Place) - Nintendo Power May 1994 | |||
| 1993 Best Play Control (2nd Place) - Nintendo Power May 1994 | |||
| 1993 Best Theme & Fun (3rd Place) - Nintendo Power May 1994 | |||
| 1993 Best Graphics & Sound (3rd Place) - Nintendo Power May 1994 | |||
| 1993 NES Game of the Year - Game Players Feb 1994 | |||
Big Bird's Hide & Speak | |||
| 1990 Most Innovative (nominee) - Nintendo Power March 1991 | |||
Bionic Commando | |||
| 1988 Best Theme & Fun (nominee) - Nintendo Power March/April 1989 | |||
| 1988 Best Challenge (nominee) - Nintendo Power March/April 1989 | |||
| 1988 Best Character: Commando Joe (nominee) - Nintendo Power March/April 1989 | |||
| 1988 Best Ending (nominee) - Nintendo Power March/April 1989 | |||
| 1988 Best Overall Game (nominee) - Nintendo Power March/April 1989 | |||
| 1989 Best Action-Strategy Game (Honorable Mention) - VG&CE Feb 1990 | |||
| 1989 Most Innovative Video Game (Honorable Mention) - VG&CE Feb 1990 | |||
| 1990 Editor's Favorite - Game Players December 1990 | |||
Blades of Steel | |||
| 1988 Best Play Control (nominee) - Nintendo Power March/April 1989 | |||
| 1988 Best Player-vs-Player - Nintendo Power May/June 1989 | |||
| 1990 Editor's Favorite - Game Players December 1990 | |||
Blaster Master | |||
| 1988 Best Character: Jason (nominee) - Nintendo Power March/April 1989 | |||
| 1988 Best Graphics & Sound (nominee) - Nintendo Power March/April 1989 | |||
| 1988 Best Theme & Fun (nominee) - Nintendo Power March/April 1989 | |||
| 1988 Best Play Control (nominee) - Nintendo Power March/April 1989 | |||
| 1988 Best Ending (nominee) - Nintendo Power March/April 1989 | |||
| 1988 Best Overall Game (nominee) - Nintendo Power March/April 1989 | |||
| 1988 Best Action Video Game - VG&CE Feb 1989 | |||
| 1989 Best Original Game - - EGM 1989 Buyer Guide | |||
Blue Marlin | |||
| 1992 NES Excellence Award - Game Players April/1993 | |||
Bubble Bobble | |||
| 1989 Best Coin-Op to Video Game Translation (Honorable Mention) - Feb 1990 | |||
Captain America & The Avengers | |||
| 1992 #8 Game (Super Power Club insert) - Nintendo Power Jan 1993 | |||
Castlevania | |||
| 1988 Best Challenge (nominee) - Nintendo Power March/April 1989 | |||
| 1988 Best Play Control (nominee) - Nintendo Power March/April 1989 | |||
| 1988 Best Ending (nominee) - Nintendo Power March/April 1989 | |||
| 1988 Best Character: Simon Belmont (nominee) - Nintendo Power March/April 1989 | |||
| 1990 Editor's Favorite - Game Players December 1990 | |||
Castlevania II | |||
| 1988 Best Graphics & Sound - Nintendo Power May/June 1989 | |||
| 1988 Best Theme & Fun (nominee) - Nintendo Power March/April 1989 | |||
| 1990 Editor's Favorite - Game Players December 1990 | |||
Castlevania III | |||
| 1990 Best Overall Game (nominee) - Nintendo Power March 1991 | |||
| 1990 Best Bad Guy (Dracula)(nominee) - Nintendo Power March 1991 | |||
| 1990 Best Challenge - Nintendo Power May 1991 | |||
| 1990 Best Graphics & Sound (3rd Place) - Nintendo Power May 1991 | |||
| 1990 Best Nintendo Game of the Year - - EGM 1991 Buyer Guide | |||
| 1990 Editor's Favorite - Game Players December 1990 | |||
| 1990 NES Excellence Award - Game Players March 1991 | |||
Chessmaster | |||
| 1990 Editor's Favorite - Game Players December 1990 | |||
| 1990 NES Excellence Award - Game Players March 1991 | |||
Commando | |||
| 1988 Best Arcade translation (Honorable Mention) - VG&CE Feb 1989 | |||
Conflict | |||
| 1990 Best Military Strategy Game (Honorable Mention) - VG&CE Feb 1991 | |||
Contra | |||
| 1989 Best Action Game - - EGM 1989 Buyer Guide | |||
| 1990 Editor's Favorite - Game Players December 1990 | |||
| One of the Top 99 Games Ever - Digital Press 1997 | |||
Crystalis | |||
| 1990 Best Challenge (2nd Place) - Nintendo Power May 1991 | |||
| 1990 Best Adventure Game (Honorable Mention) - VG&CE Feb 1991 | |||
| 1990 NES Excellence Award - Game Players March 1991 | |||
Darkwing Duck | |||
| 1992 Best Overall Game (nominee) - Nintendo Power March 1993 | |||
| 1992 Best Hero (Darkwing Duck)(nominee) - Nintendo Power March 1993 | |||
| 1992 Best Play Control (3rd Place) - Nintendo Power May 1993 | |||
| 1992 Best Challenge (nominee) - Nintendo Power March 1993 | |||
| 1992 Best Graphics & Sound (3rd Place) - Nintendo Power May 1993 | |||
| 1992 #2 Game (Super Power Club insert) - Nintendo Power Jan 1993 | |||
| 1992 NES Excellence Award - Game Players April 1993 | |||
Double Dragon | |||
| 1988 Best Graphics & Sound (nominee) - Nintendo Power March/April 1989 | |||
| 1988 Best Overall Game (nominee) - Nintendo Power March/April 1989 | |||
| 1989 Video Game of the Year - - EGM 1989 Buyer Guide | |||
| 1990 Editor's Favorite - Game Players December 1990 | |||
Double Dragon II | |||
| 1990 Editor's Favorite - Game Players December 1990 | |||
| 1990 NES Excellence Award - Game Players March 1991 | |||
Double Dribble | |||
| 1988 Best Player-vs-Player (nominee) - Nintendo Power March/April 1989 | |||
| One of the Top 99 Games Ever - Digital Press 1997 | |||
Dragon Warrior | |||
| 1989 Best Overall Game (nominee) - Nintendo Power March/April 1990 | |||
| 1989 Best Theme & Fun (nominee) - Nintendo Power March/April 1990 | |||
| One of the Top 99 Games Ever - Digital Press 1997 | |||
Dragon Warrior II | |||
| 1990 Best Bad Guy (Metal Slime)(nominee) - Nintendo Power March 1991 | |||
| 1990 Best Theme & Fun (3rd Place) - Nintendo Power May 1991 | |||
| 1990 NES Excellence Award - Game Players March 1991 | |||
Dragon Warrior IV | |||
| 1992 Best Overall Game (2nd Place) - Nintendo Power May 1993 | |||
| 1992 Best Challenge - Nintendo Power May 1993 | |||
| 1992 Role-Playing Game of the Year (runner up) - GamePro March 1993 | |||
| 1992 Best Role-Playing Game - Game Informer Jan 1993 | |||
| 1992 Best NES Adv/RPG Game - Game Players April 1993 | |||
| 1992 Best Adventure/RPG (nominee) - Electronic Games Jan/1993 | |||
Dragon's Lair | |||
| 1990 NES Excellence Award - Game Players March 1991 | |||
Dr Chaos | |||
| 1990 Editor's Favorite - Game Players December 1990 | |||
Dr Jekyll & Mr Hyde | |||
| 1989 Most Innovative Video Game (Honorable Mention) - VG&CE Feb 1990 | |||
Dr Mario | |||
| 1990 Best Multi-Player (3rd Place) - Nintendo Power March 1991 | |||
| 1990 Best NES Puzzle Game - Game Players March 1991 | |||
Duck Tales | |||
| 1989 Best Overall Game (nominee) - Nintendo Power March/April 1990 | |||
| 1989 Best Ending (nominee) - Nintendo Power March/April 1990 | |||
| 1989 Best Character: Uncle Scrooge (nominee) - Nintendo Power March/April 1990 | |||
| 1989 Best Play Control (nominee) - Nintendo Power March/April 1990 | |||
| 1989 Best Theme & Fun (nominee) - Nintendo Power March/April 1990 | |||
| 1989 Best Graphics & Sound (nominee) - Nintendo Power March/April 1990 | |||
| 1990 Editor's Favorite - Game Players December 1990 | |||
DuckTales 2 | |||
| 1993 Best Overall Game (nominee) - Nintendo Power March 1994 | |||
| 1993 Best Play Control (nominee) - Nintendo Power March 1994 | |||
Empire Strikes Back | |||
| 1992 Best Overall Game (nominee) - Nintendo Power March 1993 | |||
| 1992 Best Graphics & Sound (nominee) - Nintendo Power March 1993 | |||
| 1992 Best 8-bit Game - Game Informer Jan 1993 | |||
Fantastic Adventures of Dizzy | |||
| 1991 Best NES Graphic Adventure - Game Players March 1992 | |||
Faxanadu | |||
| 1989 Best Overall Game (nominee) - Nintendo Power March/April 1990 | |||
| 1989 Best Challenge (nominee) - Nintendo Power March/April 1990 | |||
Felix the Cat | |||
| 1992 Best Play Control (nominee) - Nintendo Power March 1993 | |||
| 1992 #10 Game (Super Power Club insert) - Nintendo Power Jan 1993 | |||
| 1992 Best NES Action Arcade Game - Game Players April 1993 | |||
Fester's Quest | |||
| 1989 Best Character: Uncle Fester (nominee) - Nintendo Power March/April 1990 | |||
Final Fantasy | |||
| 1990 Best Overall Game (nominee) - Nintendo Power March 1991 | |||
| 1990 Best Bad Guy (Chaos)(nominee) - Nintendo Power March 1991 | |||
| 1990 Best NES Fantasy Role-Playing Game - Game Players March 1991 | |||
| One of the Top 99 Games Ever - Digital Press 1997 | |||
Fire 'N' Ice | |||
| 1993 Best Overall Game (nominee) - Nintendo Power March 1994 | |||
| 1993 Best Challenge (3rd Place) - Nintendo Power May 1994 | |||
Friday the 13th | |||
| 1989 Worst Movie to Game - - EGM 1990 Buyer Guide | |||
GI Joe: Atlantis Factor | |||
| 1992 Best Challenge (nominee) - Nintendo Power March 1993 | |||
Galaga | |||
| 1990 Editor's Favorite - Game Players December 1990 | |||
Gargoyle's Quest II | |||
| 1992 #9 Game (Super Power Club insert) - Nintendo Power Jan 1993 | |||
| 1992 NES Excellence Award - Game Players April 1993 | |||
Gauntlet II | |||
| 1990 Best Multi-Player (nominee) - Nintendo Power March 1991 | |||
Godzilla | |||
| 1989 Best Character: Godzilla (nominee) - Nintendo Power March/April 1990 | |||
Golf | |||
| 1990 Editor's Favorite - Game Players December 1990 | |||
Golgo 13 | |||
| 1988 Best Theme & Fun (nominee) - Nintendo Power March/April 1989 | |||
| 1988 Best Character: Duke Togo (nominee) - Nintendo Power March/April 1989 | |||
| 1988 Best Overall Game (nominee) - Nintendo Power March/April 1989 | |||
Gremlins 2 | |||
| 1990 Best Hero (Gizmo)(nominee) - Nintendo Power March 1991 | |||
| 1990 Best Bad Guy (Gremlins)(nominee) - Nintendo Power March 1991 | |||
| 1990 Best Graphics & Sound (nominee) - Nintendo Power March 1991 | |||
| 1990 Best Movie to Game - - EGM 1991 Buyer Guide | |||
Guardian Legend | |||
| 1989 Best Overall Game (nominee) - Nintendo Power March/April 1990 | |||
| 1989 Best Play Control (nominee) - Nintendo Power March/April 1990 | |||
| 1989 Best Graphics & Sound (nominee) - Nintendo Power March/April 1990 | |||
Gyruss | |||
| 1989 Best Coin-Op to Video Game Translation (Honorable Mention) - Feb 1990 | |||
High Speed | |||
| 1991 Best Play Control (nominee) - Nintendo Power March 1992 | |||
Hillsfar | |||
| 1993 Co-Worst Game - VG&CE March 1994 | |||
Home Alone | |||
| 1991 Worst Movie to Game - - EGM 1992 Buyer Guide | |||
Home Alone 2 | |||
| 1992 Worst Sequel - - EGM 1993 Buyer Guide | |||
Hoops | |||
| 1989 Best Player-vs-Player (nominee) - Nintendo Power March/April 1990 | |||
Ice Hockey | |||
| One of the Top 99 Games Ever - Digital Press 1997 | |||
Immortal | |||
| 1990 NES Excellence Award - Game Players March 1991 | |||
Jack Nicklaus 18 Greatest Holes Golf | |||
| 1990 NES Excellence Award - Game Players March 1991 | |||
John Elway's Quarterback | |||
| 1988 Best Arcade translation (Honorable Mention) - VG&CE Feb 1989 | |||
| 1989 Best Sports-Simulation Game (Honorable Mention) - VG&CE Feb 1990 | |||
Jordan vs Bird | |||
| 1990 Editor's Favorite - Game Players December 1990 | |||
| 1990 NES Excellence Award - Game Players March 1991 | |||
Kabuki Quantum Fighter | |||
| 1991 Best Play Control (3rd Place) - Nintendo Power May 1992 | |||
Karnov | |||
| 1990 Editor's Favorite - Game Players December 1990 | |||
Kickle Cubicle | |||
| 1990 Best Hero (Kickle)(nominee) - Nintendo Power March 1991 | |||
| 1990 Best Theme & Fun (nominee) - Nintendo Power March 1991 | |||
Kirby's Adventure | |||
| 1993 Best Overall Game (3rd Place) - Nintendo Power May 1994 | |||
| 1993 Best Hero (Kirby)- Nintendo Power May 1994 | |||
| 1993 Best Play Control (3rd Place) - Nintendo Power May 1994 | |||
| 1993 Best Challenge (nominee) - Nintendo Power March 1994 | |||
| 1993 Best Theme & Fun (2nd Place) - Nintendo Power May 1994 | |||
| 1993 Best Graphics & Sound (2nd Place) - Nintendo Power May 1994 | |||
| 1993 Best NES Game - VG&CE March 1994 | |||
| 1993 NES Game of the Year - GamePro Feb 1994 | |||
| 1993 NES Game of the Year - - EGM 1994 Buyer Guide | |||
Klax | |||
| 1990 Best Action/Strategy Game - VG&CE Feb 1991 | |||
| 1990 Best Coin-Op to Video Game Translation (Honorable Mention) - VG&CE Feb 1991 | |||
| 1990 Editor's Favorite - Game Players December 1990 | |||
Krusty's Fun House | |||
| 1992 Best Overall Game (nominee) - Nintendo Power March 1993 | |||
| 1992 Best Theme & Fun (nominee) - Nintendo Power March 1993 | |||
| 1992 Best Graphics & Sound (nominee) - Nintendo Power March 1993 | |||
| 1992 NES Excellence Award - Game Players April 1993 | |||
Legend of Zelda | |||
| 1988 Best Challenge - Nintendo Power May/June 1989 | |||
| 1988 Best Overall Game (nominee) - Nintendo Power March/April 1989 | |||
| 1988 Best Adventure Video Game - VG&CE Feb 1989 | |||
| 1990 Editor's Favorite - Game Players December 1990 | |||
| One of the Top 99 Games Ever - Digital Press 1997 | |||
Legendary Wings | |||
| 1990 Editor's Favorite - Game Players December 1990 | |||
Lemmings | |||
| 1992 #3 Game (Super Power Club insert) - Nintendo Power Jan 1993 | |||
| 1992 NES Excellence Award - Game Players April 1993 | |||
Life Force | |||
| 1990 Editor's Favorite - Game Players December 1990 | |||
Little League Baseball | |||
| 1990 Best Multi-Player (nominee) - Nintendo Power March 1991 | |||
Little Nemo Dream Master | |||
| 1990 Best Hero (Little Nemo)(nominee) - Nintendo Power March 1991 | |||
| 1990 Best Play Control (nominee) - Nintendo Power March 1991 | |||
| 1990 NES Excellence Award - Game Players March 1991 | |||
Little Samson | |||
| 1992 #7 Game (Super Power Club insert) - Nintendo Power Jan 1993 | |||
Maniac Mansion | |||
| 1990 Best Overall Game (nominee) - Nintendo Power March 1991 | |||
| 1990 Most Innovative (3rd Place) - Nintendo Power May 1991 | |||
| 1990 Best Bad Guy (Dr. Fred & Nurse Edna)(nominee) - Nintendo Power March 1991 | |||
| 1990 Best Theme & Fun (nominee) - Nintendo Power March 1991 | |||
| 1990 Editor's Favorite - Game Players December 1990 | |||
| 1990 Best NES Graphic Adventure Game - Game Players March 1991 | |||
Marble Madness | |||
| 1989 Best Player-vs-Player (nominee) - Nintendo Power March/April 1990 | |||
Mega Man | |||
| 1988 Best Character: Mega Man (nominee) - Nintendo Power March/April 1989 | |||
| 1988 Best Overall Game (nominee) - Nintendo Power March/April 1989 | |||
| 1989 Hottest Hero (Mega Man) - - EGM 1990 Buyer Guide | |||
| 1990 Editor's Favorite - Game Players December 1990 | |||
Mega Man II | |||
| 1989 Best Overall Game (nominee) - Nintendo Power March/April 1990 | |||
| 1989 Best Ending (nominee) - Nintendo Power March/April 1990 | |||
| 1989 Best Character: Mega Man (nominee) - Nintendo Power March/April 1990 | |||
| 1989 Best Play Control - Nintendo Power May/June 1990 | |||
| 1989 Best Theme & Fun (nominee) - Nintendo Power March/April 1990 | |||
| 1989 Best Challenge (nominee) - Nintendo Power March/April 1990 | |||
| 1989 Best Graphics & Sound - Nintendo Power May/June 1990 | |||
| 1989 Best Action-Strategy Game - VG&CE Feb 1990 | |||
| 1990 Editor's Favorite - Game Players December 1990 | |||
| One of the Top 99 Games Ever - Digital Press 1997 | |||
Mega Man 3 | |||
| 1990 Best Overall Game (3rd Place) - Nintendo Power May 1991 | |||
| 1990 Best Hero (Mega Man) - Nintendo Power May 1991 | |||
| 1990 Best Bad Guy (Dr. Wily)(2nd Place) - Nintendo Power May 1991 | |||
| 1990 Best Play Control (2nd Place) - Nintendo Power May 1991 | |||
| 1990 Best Theme & Fun (2nd Place) - Nintendo Power May 1991 | |||
| 1990 Best Graphics & Sound - Nintendo Power May 1991 | |||
| 1990 Best Sequel - - EGM 1991 Buyer Guide | |||
| 1990 Editor's Favorite - Game Players December 1990 | |||
| 1990 Best NES Arcade Action - Game Players March 1991 | |||
Mega Man 4 | |||
| 1991 Best NES Arcade Action - Game Players March 1992 | |||
| 1992 #1 Game (Super Power Club insert) - Nintendo Power Jan 1993 | |||
| 1992 Best Graphics & Sound - Nintendo Power May 1993 | |||
| 1992 Best Theme & Fun - Nintendo Power May 1993 | |||
| 1992 Best Challenge (2nd Place) - Nintendo Power May 1993 | |||
| 1992 Best Play Control - Nintendo Power May 1993 | |||
| 1992 Best Hero (Mega Man) (2nd Place) - Nintendo Power May 1993 | |||
| 1992 Best Villain (Dr. Wily)(3rd Place) - Nintendo Power May 1993 | |||
| 1992 Best Overall Game - Nintendo Power May 1993 | |||
Mega Man 5 | |||
| 1992 8-Bit Game of the Year (runner up) - GamePro March 1993 | |||
| 1992 Most Sequels - - EGM 1993 Buyer Guide | |||
| 1993 Best Overall Game (nominee) - Nintendo Power March 1994 | |||
| 1993 Best Hero (Mega Man)(nominee) - Nintendo Power March 1994 | |||
| 1993 Best Villain (Dr. Wily) (3rd Place) - Nintendo Power May 1994 | |||
| 1993 Best Theme & Fun - Nintendo Power May 1994 | |||
| 1993 Best Graphics & Sound - Nintendo Power May 1994 | |||
| 1993 Best Challenge - Nintendo Power May 1994 | |||
| 1993 Best Play Control - Nintendo Power May 1994 | |||
Mega Man 6 | |||
| 1993 NES Game of the Year (runner up) - GamePro Feb 1994 | |||
Metal Gear | |||
| 1988 Best Strategy Video Game - VG&CE Feb 1989 | |||
| One of the Top 99 Games Ever - Digital Press 1997 | |||
Metal Storm | |||
| 1991 Best Play Control (2nd Place) - Nintendo Power May 1992 | |||
| 1991 NES Excellence Award - Game Players March 1992 | |||
Metroid | |||
| 1988 Best Graphics & Sound (nominee) - Nintendo Power March/April 1989 | |||
| 1988 Best Play Control (nominee) - Nintendo Power March/April 1989 | |||
| 1988 Best Character: Samus (nominee) - Nintendo Power March/April 1989 | |||
| 1988 Best Overall Game (nominee) - Nintendo Power March/April 1989 | |||
| 1988 Best Adventure Video Game (Honorable Mention) - VG&CE Feb 1989 | |||
| One of the Top 99 Games Ever - Digital Press 1997 | |||
Micro Machines | |||
| 1991 Best Action Video Game - VG&CE Feb 1992 | |||
| 1991 Most Innovative Game (Honorable Mention) - VG&CE Feb 1992 | |||
| 1991 NES Excellence Award - Game Players March 1992 | |||
Mike Tyson's Punch Out | |||
| 1988 Best Overall Game (nominee) - Nintendo Power March/April 1989 | |||
Miracle Keyboard | |||
| 1990 Most Innovative (2nd Place) - Nintendo Power May 1991 | |||
Mission: Impossible | |||
| 1990 Best Challenge (nominee) - Nintendo Power March 1991 | |||
NES Play Action Football | |||
| 1990 Best Overall Game (nominee) - Nintendo Power March 1991 | |||
| 1990 Best Multi-Player (2nd Place) - Nintendo Power May 1991 | |||
Ninja Gaiden | |||
| 1989 Best Overall Game (nominee) - Nintendo Power March/April 1990 | |||
| 1989 Best Ending - Nintendo Power May/June 1990 | |||
| 1989 Best Character: Ryu Hayabasu (nominee) - Nintendo Power March/April 1990 | |||
| 1989 Best Theme & Fun (nominee) - Nintendo Power March/April 1990 | |||
| 1989 Best Challenge - Nintendo Power May/June 1990 | |||
| 1989 Best Graphics & Sound (nominee) - Nintendo Power March/April 1990 | |||
| 1989 Best Nintendo Game of the Year - - EGM 1990 Buyer Guide | |||
| 1989 Best Ending - - EGM 1990 Buyer Guide | |||
| 1990 Editor's Favorite - Game Players December 1990 | |||
Ninja Gaiden II | |||
| 1990 Best Overall Game (nominee) - Nintendo Power March 1991 | |||
| 1990 Best Hero (Ryu Hayabasu)(nominee) - Nintendo Power March 1991 | |||
| 1990 Best Bad Guy (Ashtar)(nominee) - Nintendo Power March 1991 | |||
| 1990 Best Play Control (nominee) - Nintendo Power March 1991 | |||
| 1990 Best Theme & Fun (nominee) - Nintendo Power March 1991 | |||
| 1990 Best Ending - - EGM 1991 Buyer Guide | |||
| 1990 Editor's Favorite - Game Players December 1990 | |||
| 1990 NES Excellence Award - Game Players March 1991 | |||
Ninja Gaiden III | |||
| 1991 Best Overall Game (3rd Place) - Nintendo Power May 1992 | |||
| 1991 Best Challenge - Nintendo Power May 1992 | |||
| 1991 Best Graphics & Sound (2nd Place) - Nintendo Power May 1992 | |||
Nobunaga's Ambition | |||
| 1989 Most Unpronounceable Title - - EGM 1990 Buyer Guide | |||
| 1990 Editor's Favorite - Game Players December 1990 | |||
Pinball | |||
| 1990 Editor's Favorite - Game Players December 1990 | |||
Pirates | |||
| 1991 Best NES Strategy Game - Game Players March 1992 | |||
POW | |||
| 1989 Worst Spelling Error ("Congradurations") - - EGM 1990 Buyer Guide | |||
Power Blade II | |||
| 1992 Best Play Control (nominee) - Nintendo Power March 1993 | |||
Prince of Persia | |||
| 1992 Best Challenge (3rd Place) - Nintendo Power May 1993 | |||
Pro Wrestling | |||
| 1988 Best Player-vs-Player (nominee) - Nintendo Power March/April 1989 | |||
| 1988 Best Sports Video Game (Honorable Mention) - VG&CE Feb 1989 | |||
Punch Out! | |||
| One of the Top 99 Games Ever - Digital Press 1997 | |||
RBI Baseball | |||
| One of the Top 99 Games Ever - Digital Press 1997 | |||
RC Pro Am II | |||
| 1993 Best Overall Game - Nintendo Power May 1994 | |||
Raid on Bungeling Bay | |||
| 1988 Best Action Video Game (Honorable Mention) - VG&CE Feb 1989 | |||
Rampage | |||
| 1988 Best Arcade translation (Honorable Mention) - VG&CE Feb 1989 | |||
Rampart | |||
| 1992 Best Theme & Fun (nominee) - Nintendo Power March 1993 | |||
| 1992 #5 Game (Super Power Club insert) - Nintendo Power Jan 1993 | |||
| 1992 NES Game of the Year - Game Players April 1993 | |||
Rescue: the Embassy Mission | |||
| 1989 Best Action-Strategy Game (Honorable Mention) - VG&CE Feb 1990 | |||
| 1990 Editor's Favorite - Game Players December 1990 | |||
Rescue Rangers | |||
| 1990 Best Hero (Chip 'n Dale)(nominee) - Nintendo Power March 1991 | |||
| 1990 Best Theme & Fun (nominee) - Nintendo Power March 1991 | |||
| 1990 Editor's Favorite - Game Players December 1990 | |||
| 1990 NES Excellence Award - Game Players March 1991 | |||
Rescue Rangers 2 | |||
| 1993 NES Game of the Year (runner up) - GamePro Feb 1994 | |||
River City Ransom | |||
| 1989 Most Power-Ups - - EGM 1990 Buyer Guide | |||
| One of the Top 99 Games Ever - Digital Press 1997 | |||
Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves | |||
| 1991 Best Graphics & Sound (3rd Place) - Nintendo Power May 1992 | |||
Robo Cop 2 | |||
| 1991 Worst Sequel - - EGM 1992 Buyer Guide | |||
RoboWarrior | |||
| 1990 Editor's Favorite - Game Players December 1990 | |||
Rocket Ranger | |||
| 1990 Editor's Favorite - Game Players December 1990 | |||
Rocketeer | |||
| 1991 Best Challenge (nominee) - Nintendo Power March 1992 | |||
| 1992 Worst Movie to Game - - EGM 1993 Buyer Guide | |||
Roger Clemens Baseball | |||
| 1991 Best Sports Video Game (Honorable Mention) - VG&CE Feb 1992 | |||
Romance of the Three Kingdoms | |||
| 1990 Editor's Favorite - Game Players December 1990 | |||
Rush 'n Attack | |||
| One of the Top 99 Games Ever - Digital Press 1997 | |||
SCAT | |||
| 1991 NES Excellence Award - Game Players March 1992 | |||
Sesame Street (series) | |||
| 1991 NES Special Achievement - Game Players March 1992 | |||
Shadowgate | |||
| 1989 Best Adventure Video Game (Honorable Mention) - VG&CE Feb 1990 | |||
| 1990 Most Innovative - Nintendo Power May 1991 | |||
| 1990 Editor's Favorite - Game Players December 1990 | |||
Shatterhand | |||
| 1991 Best Play Control (nominee) - Nintendo Power March 1992 | |||
| 1991 Best Theme & Fun (nominee) - Nintendo Power March 1992 | |||
| 1991 Best Graphics & Sound (nominee) - Nintendo Power March 1992 | |||
Shingen the Ruler | |||
| 1990 Editor's Favorite - Game Players December 1990 | |||
| 1990 Best NES War Game - Game Players March 1991 | |||
Side Pocket | |||
| 1988 Best Sound & Graphics - VG&CE Feb 1989 | |||
Silent Service | |||
| 1990 Editor's Favorite - Game Players December 1990 | |||
Simpson's | |||
| 1990 Best License - - EGM 1991 Buyer Guide | |||
Simson's: Bart vs Space Mutants | |||
| 1991 Best Challenge (2nd Place) - Nintendo Power May 1992 | |||
Simpson's: Bartman Meets Radioactive Man | |||
| 1992 Co-Worst Video Game - VG&CE Feb 1993 | |||
Skate or Die 2 | |||
| 1990 NES Excellence Award - Game Players March 1991 | |||
Smash TV | |||
| 1991 Most Innovative (3rd Place) - Nintendo Power May 1992 | |||
Snake Rattle and Roll | |||
| 1990 NES Excellence Award - Game Players March 1991 | |||
Snake's Revenge | |||
| 1990 Best Challenge (nominee) - Nintendo Power March 1991 | |||
Solar Jetman | |||
| 1990 Most Innovative (nominee) - Nintendo Power March 1991 | |||
| 1990 Best Play Control (nominee) - Nintendo Power March 1991 | |||
| 1990 Best Challenge (nominee) - Nintendo Power March 1991 | |||
| 1990 NES Excellence Award - Game Players March 1991 | |||
Solomon's Key | |||
| 1988 Best Challenge (nominee) - Nintendo Power March/April 1989 | |||
| One of the Top 99 Games Ever - Digital Press 1997 | |||
Solstice | |||
| 1990 Best Challenge (nominee) - Nintendo Power March 1991 | |||
| 1990 Best Graphics & Sound (nominee) - Nintendo Power March 1991 | |||
| 1990 Best NES Strategy Game - Game Players March 1991 | |||
Spiderman: Return of the Sinister Six | |||
| 1992 Best Overall Game (nominee) - Nintendo Power March 1993 | |||
| 1992 Best Theme & Fun (3rd Place) - Nintendo Power May 1993 | |||
Spot: The Video Game | |||
| 1990 Best Multi-Player (nominee) - Nintendo Power March 1991 | |||
Star Trek | |||
| 1991 Best Theme & Fun (nominee) - Nintendo Power March 1992 | |||
| 1992 #6 Game (Super Power Club insert) - Nintendo Power Jan 1993 | |||
Star Tropics | |||
| 1991 Best Overall Game (nominee) - Nintendo Power March 1992 | |||
| 1991 Best Villain (Zoda)(nominee) - Nintendo Power March 1992 | |||
| 1991 Best Theme & Fun (2nd Place) - Nintendo Power May 1992 | |||
Star Wars | |||
| 1991 Best Overall Game (nominee) - Nintendo Power March 1992 | |||
| 1991 Best Graphics & Sound (nominee) - Nintendo Power March 1992 | |||
Stealth ATF | |||
| 1989 Best Overall Game (nominee) - Nintendo Power March/April 1990 | |||
| 1989 Best Play Control (nominee) - Nintendo Power March/April 1990 | |||
| 1989 Best Challenge (nominee) - Nintendo Power March/April 1990 | |||
| 1989 Best Simulation (Honorable Mention) - VG&CE Feb 1990 | |||
| 1990 Editor's Favorite - Game Players December 1990 | |||
Strider | |||
| 1989 Best Graphics & Sound (nominee) - Nintendo Power March/April 1990 | |||
| 1990 Editor's Favorite - Game Players December 1990 | |||
Super C | |||
| 1990 Best Overall Game (nominee) - Nintendo Power March 1991 | |||
| 1990 Best Play Control (3rd Place) - Nintendo Power May 1991 | |||
| 1990 Best Graphics & Sound (nominee) - Nintendo Power March 1991 | |||
| 1990 Editor's Favorite - Game Players December 1990 | |||
| 1990 NES Excellence Award - Game Players March 1991 | |||
Super Dodge Ball | |||
| 1989 Best Player-vs-Player (nominee) - Nintendo Power March/April 1990 | |||
Super Glove Ball | |||
| 1990 Most Innovative (nominee) - Nintendo Power March 1991 | |||
| 1990 Most Innovative Video Game - VG&CE Feb 1991 | |||
Super Mario Bros | |||
| 1990 Editor's Favorite - Game Players December 1990 | |||
| One of the Top 99 Games Ever - Digital Press 1997 | |||
Super Mario Bros 2 | |||
| 1988 Best Theme & Fun - Nintendo Power May/June 1989 | |||
| 1988 Best Play Control - Nintendo Power May/June 1989 | |||
| 1988 Best Character: Mario (nominee) - Nintendo Power March/April 1989 | |||
| 1988 Best Ending - Nintendo Power May/June 1989 | |||
| 1988 Best Overall Game (nominee) - Nintendo Power March/April 1989 | |||
| 1988 Best Theme & Fun (nominee) - Nintendo Power March/April 1989 | |||
| 1990 Editor's Favorite - Game Players December 1990 | |||
| One of the Top 99 Games Ever - Digital Press 1997 | |||
Super Mario Bros 3 | |||
| 1989 Most Eagerly Anticipated Game (not released) - - EGM 1990 Buyer Guide | |||
| 1990 Best Overall Game - Nintendo Power May 1991 | |||
| 1990 Best Hero (Mario)(2nd Place) - Nintendo Power May 1991 | |||
| 1990 Best Bad Guy (Bowser's Koopalings)(3rd Place) - Nintendo Power May 1991 | |||
| 1990 Best Play Control - Nintendo Power May 1991 | |||
| 1990 Best Theme & Fun - Nintendo Power May 1991 | |||
| 1990 Best Graphics & Sound (2nd Place) - Nintendo Power May 1991 | |||
| 1990 Editor's Favorite - Game Players December 1990 | |||
| 1990 Nintendo Game of the Year - Game Players March 1991 | |||
| One of the Top 99 Games Ever - Digital Press 1997 | |||
Super Spike V'Ball | |||
| 1990 Best Multi-Player (nominee) - Nintendo Power March 1991 | |||
Super Sprint | |||
| One of the Top 99 Games Ever - Digital Press 1997 | |||
Taboo | |||
| 1989 Most Ridiculous Premise - - EGM 1990 Buyer Guide | |||
TailSpin | |||
| 1991 NES Excellence Award - Game Players March 1992 | |||
Tecmo Baseball | |||
| 1990 Editor's Favorite - Game Players December 1990 | |||
Tecmo Bowl | |||
| 1989 Best Player-vs-Player - Nintendo Power May/June 1990 | |||
| 1990 Editor's Favorite - Game Players December 1990 | |||
Tecmo Cup Soccer | |||
| 1992 Most Innovative Video Game - VG&CE Feb 1993 | |||
Tecmo NBA Basketball | |||
| 1992 Best NES Sports Game - Game Players April 1993 | |||
Tecmo Super Bowl | |||
| 1991 Best Overall Game (2nd Place) - Nintendo Power May 1992 | |||
| 1991 Best Multi-Player (2nd Place) - Nintendo Power May 1992 | |||
| 1991 NES Excellence Award - Game Players March 1992 | |||
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles | |||
| 1989 Best Overall Game - Nintendo Power May/June 1990 | |||
| 1989 Best Character: Leonardo (nominee) - Nintendo Power March/April 1990 | |||
| 1989 Best Character: Raphael (nominee) - Nintendo Power March/April 1990 | |||
| 1989 Best Character: Donatello (nominee) - Nintendo Power March/April 1990 | |||
| 1989 Best Character: Michelangelo (nominee) - Nintendo Power March/April 1990 | |||
| 1989 Best Theme & Fun - Nintendo Power May/June 1990 | |||
| 1989 Best Action Game - VG&CE Feb 1990 | |||
| 1989 Most Eagerly Anticipated Game (released) - - EGM 1990 Buyer Guide | |||
| 1990 Editor's Favorite - Game Players December 1990 | |||
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles II | |||
| 1990 Best Overall Game (2nd Place) - Nintendo Power May 1991 | |||
| 1990 Best Multi-Player - Nintendo Power May 1991 | |||
| 1990 Best Hero (Donatello)(3rd Place) - Nintendo Power May 1991 | |||
| 1990 Best Bad Guy (Shredder) - Nintendo Power May 1991 | |||
| 1990 Editor's Favorite - Game Players December 1990 | |||
| 1990 NES Excellence Award - Game Players March 1991 | |||
| 1991 Best Coin-Op Video Game Translation - VG&CE Feb 1992 | |||
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles III | |||
| 1992 #4 Game (Super Power Club insert) - Nintendo Power Jan 1993 | |||
| 1992 8-Bit Game of the Year - GamePro March 1993 | |||
| 1992 Best NES Game of the Year - - EGM 1993 Buyer Guide | |||
| 1992 NES Excellence Award - Game Players April 1993 | |||
| 1992 Best Graphics & Sound (2nd Place) - Nintendo Power May 1993 | |||
| 1992 Best Theme & Fun (2nd Place) - Nintendo Power May 1993 | |||
| 1992 Best Play Control (2nd Place) - Nintendo Power May 1993 | |||
| 1992 Best Overall Game (3rd Place) - Nintendo Power May 1993 | |||
Tetris (Tengen) | |||
| 1989 Best Strategy Video Game (Honorable Mention) - VG&CE Feb 1990 | |||
| One of the Top 99 Games Ever - Digital Press 1997 | |||
Tetris | |||
| 1989 Best Overall Game (nominee) - Nintendo Power March/April 1990 | |||
| 1989 Best Play Control (nominee) - Nintendo Power March/April 1990 | |||
| 1989 Best Challenge (nominee) - Nintendo Power March/April 1990 | |||
| 1989 Most Exciting New Theme in a Game - - EGM 1990 Buyer Guide | |||
| 1990 Editor's Favorite - Game Players December 1990 | |||
Tetris 2 | |||
| 1993 Best Challenge (2nd Place) - Nintendo Power May 1994 | |||
| 1993 3rd Best Strategy/Puzzle Game (tie) - GamePro July/1994 | |||
Tiny Toon Adventures | |||
| 1992 NES Excellence Award - Game Players April 1993 | |||
Tombs and Treasure | |||
| 1990 NES Excellence Award - Game Players March 1991 | |||
Total Recall | |||
| 1990 Worst Movie to Game - - EGM 1991 Buyer Guide | |||
Trog | |||
| One of the Top 99 Games Ever - Digital Press 1997 | |||
Ultima: Exodus | |||
| 1989 Best RPG - - EGM 1990 Buyer Guide | |||
| 1989 Worst Ending - - EGM 1990 Buyer Guide | |||
Ultima: Quest of the Avatar | |||
| 1990 NES Excellence Award - Game Players March 1991 | |||
Uncharted Waters | |||
| 1991 Best NES RPG - Game Players March 1992 | |||
Wheel of Fortune | |||
| 1988 Best Player-vs-Player (nominee) - Nintendo Power March/April 1989 | |||
Wizards & Warriors | |||
| 1988 Best Character: Kuros (nominee) - Nintendo Power March/April 1989 | |||
| 1988 Best Graphics & Sound (nominee) - Nintendo Power March/April 1989 | |||
Wizards & Warriors II Ironsword | |||
| 1990 NES Excellence Award - Game Players March 1991 | |||
Yoshi's Cookie | |||
| 1993 Best Overall Game (nominee) - Nintendo Power March 1994 | |||
| 1993 Best Theme & Fun (nominee) - Nintendo Power March 1994 | |||
Zelda II | |||
| 1988 Best Overall Game - Nintendo Power May/June 1989 | |||
| 1988 Best Character: Link - Nintendo Power May/June 1989 | |||
| 1988 Best Ending (nominee) - Nintendo Power March/April 1989 | |||
| 1988 Best Theme & Fun (nominee) - Nintendo Power March/April 1989 | |||
| 1989 Best Overall Game (nominee) - Nintendo Power March/April 1990 | |||
| 1989 Best Ending (nominee) - Nintendo Power March/April 1990 | |||
| 1989 Best Character: Link - Nintendo Power May/June 1990 | |||
| 1989 Best Adventure Video Game - VG&CE Feb 1990 | |||
| 1990 Editor's Favorite - Game Players December 1990 | |||
| One of the Top 99 Games Ever - Digital Press 1997 | |||