The NES successfully relaunched the console market in a big way when it hit North America in 1985. It was bundled with the perfect game, Super Mario Bros. This game helped Nintendo cement its dominance over other consoles and even toy companies at the time.

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Super Mario Bros. is, of course, one of the most famous NES games of all time, but Nintendo didn’t churn out an endless supply of hits. For every entry in the Super Mario Bros. and The Legend of Zelda franchises, there was something not quite as successful. Let’s celebrate the games that went nowhere on the NES, but are fondly remembered by those who played them.

6 Clu Clu Land

Pac-Man With Patterns

Clu Clu Land is a game whose name is more fun to say out loud than it is to play. Players are an odd red sphere who must go around a maze to find a pattern. Once part of the pattern is found, an object that looks like a Rupee from The Legend of Zelda will appear.

For example, the pattern in the first level can look like a heart after completion. The oddest thing about the game is that this red creature will move on its own. The only way to control it is by swinging around the map’s poles. The momentum is wild, and the enemies are rampant, making this one hard to master.

5 Devil World

Sacrilegious Pac-Man

Devil World was never released in North America in its initial run. It began in 1984 with Japan and then European territories got it years later in 1987. Part of the reason why it was never released in its full form in the West was the religious iconography, which was a big no-no in the 80s and 90s.

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Like Clu Clu Land, Devil World was similar to Pac-Man. Players would have to grab a cross from the maze before they could pick up pellets. Also, creatures at the bottom of the screen turned a crank that switched the camera angle at the behest of a demon at the top of the screen, which made navigating increasingly difficult. It’s certainly a bizarre title from Nintendo.

4 Donkey Kong 3

Oh No, Not The Bees!

Donkey Kong is a classic arcade title that most have probably played or at least seen. The sequel, Donkey Kong Jr., is probably a bit more obscure but still known. Donkey Kong 3, however, is a wild departure for the series in many ways and has to be unpacked.

First, Mario is not the star. It’s some random exterminator that was called in to deal with pests that Donkey Kong was unleashing from things like hives. Players had to fight off bugs while trying to push Donkey Kong up a series of ladders to get him to knock down these hives. There was a tower-defense element too, as players had to protect flowers from the invading bugs.

3 Gumshoe

We’ve Got Your Back Detective

There’s a genre that Nintendo doesn’t deal with anymore: light gun games. The genre used to be popular as a whole in the 80s and 90s, especially in arcades, although consoles were inundated with them as well. Nintendo made games like Duck Hunt, Hogan's Alley, and Wild Gunman that worked with the NES Zapper.

Of the many they made, Gumshoe is probably one that slips through the cracks time and time again. A detective will walk automatically through a level, and players could force him to jump if shot at. Players would also have to shoot enemies coming toward him or else it was game over. This game was unique in that it wasn’t a light gun game wherein enemies were coming at the screen like a jump scare.

2 Kung-Fu

A Fast-Paced Brawler

One of the first things players will notice about Kung Fu is the catchy music. It is on a loop and perhaps, eventually, it will grow tiresome, but it is a retro bop for sure. Technically, the game is a brawler but one that is faster-paced.

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Enemies will come toward players in large droves as they scroll through a level. They could be punched or kicked and that was it. This was developed by Nintendo, but it is based on another company’s arcade game, Kung-Fu Master from Irem. As a fun bonus fact, the game is known as Spartan X in Japan with both NES and arcade versions.

1 StarTropics

Nintendo’s Forgotten Zelda-Like

StarTropics was the American branch of Nintendo’s attempt at making an entry in The Legend of Zelda series. Players would go through a series of islands as a young child, Mike, who was tasked with locating his kidnapped uncle. Most of the game is played from a top-down perspective and this style makes it look a lot like early Final Fantasy games.

Once a dungeon was entered, however, the perspective shifted and Mike got bigger and more detailed. A yo-yo was the main weapon, although more pieces of gear could be collected during the adventure. There were two games on the NES and then that was it for this series, save for Easter Eggs in games like Super Smash Bros. Ultimate.

Nintendo Entertainment System

Brand

Nintendo

Original Release Date

July 31, 1989

Original MSRP (USD)

$179