25 Best 4-Player Nintendo 64 Games
With four controller ports, the Nintendo 64 was specifically designed for amazing multiplayer experiences. And the best four-player Nintendo 64 games cover a wide range of genres, from fighting to racing, first-person shooter, and more.
It's not just great multiplayer experiences either. In fact, many of the N64's best four-player games feature great single-player campaigns as well. Suffice it to say, many of the titles on this list are simply quintessential Nintendo 64 games.
Please note that this list will only include one game from a given franchise, but we will add any relevant entries (i.e. prequels, sequels, etc.) too, so make sure to look out for the “Other Great 4-Player Games In The Franchise” section under select titles.
The 25 Best 4-Player Nintendo 64 Games:
1. Perfect Dark
- Metacritic Score: 97
- Genre: First-Person Shooter
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Description: “As Carrington Institute's most promising new Agent, Joanna Dark must uncover the truth behind the dataDyne Corporation's recent technological breakthroughs – breakthroughs which could have serious consequences for mankind.”
What The Critics Say: “Rare's intelligent 3D shooter features amazing graphics, loads of in-game options, a cooperative mode, a counter-operative mode, extensive bot setups, and the most well-rounded multiplayer mode ever to grace Nintendo 64.” – IGN
2. GoldenEye 007
- Metacritic Score: 96
- Genre: First-Person Shooter
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Description: “You are Bond. James Bond. You are assigned covert operations connected with the GoldenEye weapons satellite. M will brief you on your mission and objectives from London. Q Branch will support your efforts with a plentiful supply of weapons and gadgets. Moneypenny offers you light-hearted best wishes and you're off! Your mission begins in the heavily guarded chemical warfare facility at the Byelomorye Dam in the USSR. Look and shoot in any direction as you navigate 12 interactive 3-D environments. Use stealth and force as you see fit in matters of international security. Consider the military personnel expendable. You are licensed to kill!”
What The Critics Say: “One of the best first-person shooters ever.” – Game Revolution
Other Great 4-Player Games In The Franchise: 007: The World Is Not Enough
3. Diddy Kong Racing
- Metacritic Score: 88
- Genre: Racing
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Description: “Timber the Tiger's parents picked a fine time to go on vacation. When they come back, they're going to be faced with an island trashed by the spiteful space bully Wizpig – unless the local animals can do something about it! So join Diddy Kong as he teams up with Timber the Tiger, Pipsy the Mouse and Taj the Genie in an epic racing adventure, unlike anything you've ever experienced before!”
What The Critics Say: “It's the best kart game we've ever seen.” – IGN
4. Mario Kart 64
- Metacritic Score: 83
- Genre: Racing
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Description: “Three… Two… One… GO! The signal light changes and you drop the pedal to the metal. Take on up to three friends in the split-screen VS games, or race solo in the Mario GP. Tell your friends to bring it on in the highly competitive Battle mode. Advanced features allow you to race with your “Ghost”. The driving data from your best run appears as a transparent character on the screen. No longer must you simply race against the clock – you can actually race against yourself!”
What The Critics Say: “If you’ve experienced Super Mario Kart on the SNES, this game will feel like a grand homecoming. New players of all skill levels will instantly pick up on the fun.” – GamePro
5. Super Smash Bros.
- Metacritic Score: 79
- Genre: Fighting
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Description: “It's a Bumpin', Bruisin', Brawlin' Bash! The many worlds of Nintendo collide in the ultimate showdown of strength and skill! Up to four players can choose their favorite characters – complete with signature attacks – and go at it in Team Battles and Free-For-Alls. Or venture out on your own to conquer the 14 stages in single-player mode. Either way, Super Smash Bros. is a no-holds-barred action-fest that will keep you coming back for more!”
What The Critics Say: “Grab three friends, then get ready for the best in multiplayer mayhem.” – Electronic Gaming Monthly [Jan 2004, p.189]
6. Mario Party
- Metacritic Score: 79
- Genre: Party
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Description: “Tensions mount for Mario and pals as each declares himself to be the one true Super Star of Marioland. Face your friends and family in a contest of strength, wits, and agility as you explore 6 thrilling Adventure Boards. Reveal new levels of gaming excitement as you customize your boards with speed blocks, warp blocks and other specialty items. Jam-packed with all the electricity of an entire arcade, the action comes alive for up to 4 players. So grab your friends and get ready for a wild ride because this party never ends!”
What The Critics Say: “Even the single-player mode is fun, but the party really starts when the players interact with each other while competing in this hilarious game.” – GamePro
Other Great 4-Player Games In The Franchise: Mario Party 2, Mario Party 3
7. San Francisco Rush 2049
- Metacritic Score: 86
- Genre: Racing
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Description: “The original arcade racing hit now with three action-packed games in one! Race Mode: Scream through futuristic San Francisco tracks. Stunt Mode: Insane air and gravity-defying tricks. Battle Mode: Lock and load your way through eight killer battle arenas. Also featuring 19 all-new tracks and 13 selectable cars, with all-new customization! New and improved graphics and vehicle physics. Experience and ‘feel' the RUSH!”
What The Critics Say: “2049 features great new standard racing tracks spilling with amazing shortcuts at every turn and a new coins system that unlocks secrets.” – IGN
8. Mario Tennis
- Metacritic Score: 91
- Genre: Sports
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Description: “All of your favorite characters hit the court in a wild and wacky multiplayer tennis game from the makers of Mario Golf. Mario, Luigi, Bowser, Peach, Toad, and Donkey Kong lead off the all-star, 14-player line-up. The fast-paced action will have you unleashing vicious volleys, life-saving lobs, ballistic backhands, and electrifying super-charged smashes!”
What The Critics Say: “Lifelike tennis action with whimsical Mario Bros.-style flair that's insanely addictive and provides more fun than you could possibly imagine.” – CNET Gamecenter
9. Mario Golf
- Metacritic Score: 91
- Genre: Sports
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Description: “Tee off with Mario and friends in the most entertaining golf game ever to hit the Nintendo 64 System! Taunt your opponents to break their concentration, place beats in multiplayer games, and see replays of your best shots. View the detailed terrain form multiple camera angles and earn Experience Points to get to the next course. With 10 different play modes, 6 championship courses, and up to 14 characters, golf has never been this much fun!”
What The Critics Say: “There are two kinds of video-game fans who play golf games: the kind who play hard-core golf simulations and the kind who play everything else. Mario Golf is, amazingly, the kind of golf game that could appeal to both. Anyone who would turn a blind eye to Mario Golf because of its exterior qualities will be missing perhaps the best golf game on a console.” – GameSpot
10. WWF No Mercy
- Metacritic Score: 89
- Genre: Fighting
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Description: “Jump into the ring with the biggest, baddest jabronis around and experience brutal WWF action never before seen in a console game! Over 65 WWF superstars, all-new Ladder matches, and all-new Double-Team moves, like the Dudley 3D Deathdrop! Take on the entire Federation in Survival Mode. Take the action out of the ring in 10 different backstage areas!”
What The Critics Say: “The best wrestling game ever made and one of the best games ever to appear on the N64.” – Daily Radar
Other Great 4-Player Games In The Franchise: Wrestlemania 2000
11. F-Zero X
- Metacritic Score: 85
- Genre: Racing
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Description: ” It's you against 29 other machines competing for the title of F-Zero X Champion. You're racing at speeds of over 1,000 km/h high above the atmosphere. Your competition comes from every corner of the galaxy and won't shed a tear at the thought of smashing you off the track. With four-player simultaneous gameplay and the Rumble Pak accessory, you have the fastest racing game on the N64 system!”
What The Critics Say: “F-Zero X is a terrific update of a classic game that deserves the attention of anyone who owns an N64.” – Games Domain
12. Extreme-G
- Metacritic Score: 82
- Genre: Racing
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Description: “Pit yourself against 12 laser-blasting speedfreaks across 12 looping, coiling, corkscrewing rollercoaster racetracks. If you've never seen a cyber-cycle take a stinger missile up the tailpipe during a blistering halfpipe you're about to get a rush of adrenaline. Racing to the Nth degree through gravitational extremes. Surfing the knife-edge between G-force and burning wreckage! If gravity's a law, then this is a felony.”
What The Critics Say: “The Extreme Contest can get pretty fast and furious. Again, the Extreme-G gameplay is much different from similar-looking racing titles. The bikes are firmly planted on the ground, and the game is as much about battling opponents as it is about racing, giving it a very competitive feel in more ways than one.” – GameSpot
13. Gauntlet Legends
- Metacritic Score: N/A
- Genre: Hack & Slash / Dungeon Crawler
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Description: “One to four players pit themselves against the vile Demon Skorne and his rampaging armies. Save the realms using power-ups, magic spells, and Items of Legend at your disposal. Increase your character’s abilities as you play in preparation for the final confrontation – Skrone himself!”
What The Critics Say: “… while the replay value of the game is truly remarkable, at its heart, Gauntlet Legends is, at very minimum, a two-player game.” – IGN
14. Kirby 64: The Crystal Shards
- Metacritic Score: 77
- Genre: Platformer
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Description: “Dart past enemies, soar the skies and swim the depths of the ocean as Kirby takes on Dark Matter in an all-new adventure. Inhale, exhale and swallow your enemies, then copy and combine their abilities and use them as your own! Team up with familiar friends and foes – like Waddle Dee and King Dedede – as you travel through dreamy worlds in search of the lost Crystal Shards.”
What The Critics Say: “With fantastic level designs, great enemies and power-ups, as well as the addition of some fun and entertaining multiplayer modes, Kirby is a must-have.” – Gaming Age
15. Star Fox 64
- Metacritic Score: 88
- Genre: Rail Shooter
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Description: “The Lylat system has been invaded! Join Fox McCloud and his Star Fox team as they fight to save the galaxy from the clutches of the evil Andross. Travel to many different 3-D worlds. Battle the enemy in the air and on the ground and listen in as Fox McCloud interacts with a cast of characters.”
What The Critics Say: “Star Fox 64 is the kind of game you will spend many sleepless nights with – even after you finish. An instant N64 classic.” – GameSpot
16. Excitebike 64
- Metacritic Score: 88
- Genre: Racing
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Description: “Experience extreme MX! You grind your way through the hairpin turn, a wall of mud exploding in your wake. Your next jump launches you into the air – you pull off a spectacular double no-footed can-can and become an instant legend! In Excitebike 64, you'll find all the high-flying action, heart-stopping stunts and bone-jarring crashes of the extreme sport of motocross. It'll set the daredevil inside you free. 20 stadium tracks and awesome outdoor courses – plus six different riders with six unique styles!”
What The Critics Say: “Plunge in with the right attitude though and this will keep you happy for months.” – Games Radar
17. Wipeout 64
- Metacritic Score: 84
- Genre: Racing
- eBay: See Pricing
Description: “The fastest races. The deadliest weapons. The biggest name in anti-gravity racing descends on N64 with incredible new visual power and fully enhanced gameplay glory. With blistering races, challenges, time trials, and a multiplay league, Wipeout 64 delivers pure racing devastation. Faster than you can imagine.”
What The Critics Say: “Wipeout 64 has everything a futuristic racer needs: A healthy variety of tracks, slickly designed craft, weapons, numerous game modes, hidden goodies, and speed, speed, SPEED! This is a must-have for every N64 gamer's library!” – GamePro
18. Turok 2: Seeds Of Evil
- Metacritic Score: 86
- Genre: First-Person Shooter
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Description: “Only evil this dark could bring him back. Only a game this big can do him justice. Turok 2: Seeds of Evil! Pick off distant enemies with deadly sniper weapons, and enjoy ferocious multiplayer deathmatches!”
What The Critics Say: “Seeds of Evil is an adrenaline thrill ride from start to finish. I strongly suggest a purchase as the multiplayer alone warrants a buy.” – Nintendojo
Other Great 4-Player Games In The Franchise: Turok 3: Shadow Of Oblivion
19. Jet Force Gemini
- Metacritic Score: 80
- Genre: Third-Person Shooter / Action-Adventure
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Description: “The insect invasion has begun… The galaxy is being infested by the evil Mizar and his horde of Drones. Already, the planet of Goldwood has been subjugated and the peaceful Tribals enslaved. With an arsenal of mega-weapons at their disposal, the Jet Force Gemini team must travel in search of Mizar's lair – rescuing Tribals and splattering Drones all along the way. But can Juno, Vela and their faithful dog, Lupus, exterminate the deadly threat before it's too late?”
What The Critics Say: “It's chock-full of gameplay variety. Nintendo 64 fans should pick up this title without delay and hope that Rareware's team of top-notch talent will continue to churn out even more games like this one for years to come.” – GameSpot
20. Quake II
- Metacritic Score: N/A
- Genre: First-Person Shooter
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Description: “Authentic Nintendo 64 effects and newer, fiercer levels pack stunning graphical detail into an already vicious version of Quake II. Featuring, two, three, and four-player Deathmatch, fully customizable controls, and save game features, this masterpiece takes gaming to an undefined level! Eerie environments of light and shadow loom within newly designed, mission-based levels not found in the PC version. Incredible engine speed and fluidity intensify each level to a fast-paced, high-action gameplay experience!”
What The Critics Say: “… the deathmatch rush is still there. And although the territory is now quite familiar to most players, Quake II offers a compelling multiplayer experience… ” – GameSpot
21. Beetle Adventure Racing
- Metacritic Score: 90
- Genre: Racing
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Description: “The adventure begins when you leave the road behind! Smashing, bashing fun! Crash and dash! Ultra-fast nitro blast! Go anywhere – choose your own routes, find surprises at every turn! Do anything – grab big-time air, engage in four-car mayhem!”
What The Critics Say: “The only action racer you'll need for your N64. Put simply, this game is so good that it deserves your money no matter what type of video game you enjoy playing.” – Nintendojo
22. Army Men: Air Combat
- Metacritic Score: 77
- Genre: Third-Person Shooter
- eBay: See Pricing
Description: “Pilot one of four toy helicopters through the treacherous terrain of your backyard, the local playground, picnic areas, and nearby beaches. Engage in both air-to-air and air-to-ground combat with enemies ranging from battleships to butterflies. Utilize the unique abilities of each ‘copter to battle armies of mutant insects; destroy rampaging remote control cars; blow up sandcastles; save Sarge from being melted by kids with magnifying glasses. Real combat. Plastic men.”
What The Critics Say: “With its engaging mix of humor, excellent graphics, and superior multiplayer mode, this is one Army Men game that's worth checking out.” – CNET Gamecenter
Other Great 4-Player Games In The Franchise: Army Men: Sarge's Heroes
23. Duke Nukem 64
- Metacritic Score: 73
- Genre: First-Person Shooter
- eBay: See Pricing
Description: “Duke Nukem's coming to get some! Prepare yourself to become the biggest, baddest alien basher in the known universe – Duke Nukem; as you blast your way through the streets of LA out to an orbiting station, and onto the moon itself. Bag some aliens with over a dozen hi-tech weapons. 32 levels of non-stop carnage. Run, jump, crawl, swim, and jetpack your way through danger. Big weapons and bigger bosses for a fun-filled fragfest! Four-player, split-screen Dukematch action.”
What The Critics Say: “Even if you feel like you're drowning in first-person shooters these days, Duke 64 delivers enough innovative secrets and bullet-riddled action to silence your cries.” – Electric Playground
Other Great 4-Player Games In The Franchise: Duke Nukem: Zero Hour
24. Ms. Pac-Man: Maze Madness
- Metacritic Score: 73
- Genre: Maze
- eBay: See Pricing
Description: “Chomp your way through mystical worlds to rescue Professor Pac. Free the lost worlds of Pac-Land from the horrid witch Mesmeralda. Videogame’s most famous and favorite heroine is back to save the day!”
What The Critics Say: “A surprisingly fun action game that doubles as a great multiplayer title as well as a mind-bending puzzle game.” – Daily Radar
25. NFL Blitz 2000
- Metacritic Score: 85
- Genre: Sports
- eBay: See Pricing
Description: ” It's back and it's better than ever! NFL Blitz 2000 adds 4-player support, new offensive and defensive plays, realistic weather conditions, new stadiums, and a Tournament mode! Customize offensive and defensive plays to your liking. Call audibles at the line of scrimmage. You've got control now! Passing made easy with new ‘Blitz Passing' for one-touch long bombs! ‘ON-FIRE' mode gives superpower performance to your players! With non-stop action and a ‘pick-it-up-and-play' learning curve, NFL BLITZ 2000 is THE game for every football fan!”
What The Critics Say: “An incredible sports game, adding up to one of the best (if not the best) the sports genre has ever seen.” – Nintendorks
Other Great 4-Player Games In The Franchise: NFL Blitz 2001
Honorable Mentions
While those are the “must-have” four-player Nintendo 64 games, that doesn’t mean there aren’t other multiplayer titles worth grabbing. In fact, the Nintendo 64 has a ton of incredible four-player experiences designed specifically for the console.
These are just another handful of quality recommendations – if interested, click the links to see pricing at eBay: