Best Video Games of 1987

The original, definitive version of Punch-Out!! featuring the real Mike Tyson as the unbeatable final opponent. The most famous licensed sports game on NES and one of the greatest boxing games ever made.

The greatest co-op run-and-gun ever made. Contra put two commandos against an alien invasion and challenged them to survive on one hit — unless you knew the Konami Code.

Little Mac's journey through the World Video Boxing Association is one of the greatest sports games ever made — a pattern-recognition puzzle game dressed in boxing clothing.

The game that saved Square and launched one of gaming's greatest franchises. Final Fantasy's rich class system, strategic turn-based combat, and ambitious world won over an entire generation of RPG players.

The original Mega Man introduced the Blue Bomber, the weapon-copying mechanic, and the non-linear boss selection system that defined one of gaming's most beloved action-platformer series.

The SMS port of Yu Suzuki's iconic arcade racer captures the essence of the open-road speed fantasy despite the hardware limitations. OutRun's branching course structure, passenger reactions, and iconic music selections (Passing Breeze, Splash Wave, Magical Sound Shower) made this one of the most impressive racing conversions on 8-bit hardware.

The controversial Castlevania sequel that introduced open-world exploration, day/night cycles, and RPG mechanics — a divisive game that proved ahead of its time.