Best Video Games of 1984

Nintendo's motocross racer was a launch title that showcased the NES's capabilities with smooth scrolling, physics-based racing, and a revolutionary track design mode.

The NES light gun classic bundled with the Zapper — shoot ducks as they fly across the screen before they escape, while a laughing dog judges your every miss in one of the most iconic pack-in games in console history.

Nintendo's Joust-inspired NES arcade game — flap balloons to fly, pop enemies' balloons before they pop yours, and avoid the thundercloud in one of the NES's earliest two-player simultaneous games.

Nintendo's vertical platformer starring Popo and Nana — climb icy mountain peaks by hammering through floors, avoiding condors and abominable snowmen, in one of the NES's earliest two-player simultaneous games.