Skip these stinkers unless you're collecting for comedy—or enjoy suffering.
While big-name outlets like IGN and Den of Geek have highlighted their own lists of the worst NES games, we’re digging a little deeper. These picks may not top mainstream rankings, but for seasoned collectors and retro fans, they’re unforgettable for all the wrong reasons.
Not all NES games are disasters. Some even let you bring your friends along.
TL;DR – The 5 Worst NES Games You Should Avoid
Not every Nintendo classic is worth dusting off. Here are 5 NES games so bad they belong in the bargain bin:
✅ King of Kings – Floaty donkeys, random polar bears, and Bible trivia gone wrong.
✅ Golf Grand Slam – A good golf simulation, but it's hurt by a frustrating minigame where the golf ball spins uncontrollably.
✅ Harlem Globetrotters – Painfully unfair gameplay, drowned in a sea of purple.
✅ Infiltrator – Helicopter chaos and a hero named Jimbo Baby McGibbits. Yep.
✅ Flying Warriors – Great combat ideas buried under clunky mechanics and missing jump angles.
Want to experience NES games that didn’t make you want to rage-quit?
The Table of Contents
Everyone Loves a Classic… But Not These Bad NES Games
The NES is home to legendary titles that shaped gaming history. But not every cartridge is a classic. Some games are just outright disasters. Still, there’s a strange joy in playing a title so bad it becomes its own punchline.
So grab your controller (or don't), and let’s take a hilarious plunge into five NES games so terrible, you’ll wish you had blown into the cartridge the other way.
1. King of Kings – Bible Stories, Bad Mechanics
At first glance, King of Kings looks like an educational adventure. Three minigames—The Wise Men, Jesus and the Temple, and The Flight to Egypt—make up the experience.
The gameplay? Floaty donkey physics, awkward camel-spitting mechanics, and a random polar bear (because why not?).
Wisdom Tree developed this game without Nintendo’s official seal, and it shows.
Why It’s Terrible:
- Terrible controls
- Aimless level design
- Tries to teach, ends up confusing
2. Golf Grand Slam – Swing and a Miss
Golf Grand Slam is almost a decent golf sim… until you encounter its infamous rotating ball mechanic.
After setting up your shot with wind speed, club choice, and stance, the game throws in a bizarre mini screen where a golf ball spins inside another golf ball at lightning speed.
You must hit the right part of the ball with pixel-perfect timing.
Curious if blowing into your NES cartridge actually did anything?
Why It’s Terrible:
- Breaks immersion with one jarring mechanic
- Frustrates even seasoned players
- Sim quality undone by absurd gameplay
3. Harlem Globetrotters – All Bounce, No Fun
A basketball game starring the Globetrotters sounds fun, right? Not here. If you don’t play as the Globetrotters, be prepared to suffer. The enemy AI steals constantly, scoring is nearly impossible, and the color palette is an offense to your retinas.
Why It’s Terrible:
- Everything is purple… and worse purple
- AI rubber-banding
- Zero Globetrotter-style charm
4. Infiltrator – Jimbo Baby McGibbits, Seriously?
Yes, that’s the protagonist’s actual name. In Infiltrator, you pilot a helicopter with more dials than sense. The interface offers no help, and you’re left floundering in the sky.
The spy missions are a slight upgrade—searching desks and sneaking around beats crashing repeatedly. But only just.
Why It’s Terrible:
- Confusing controls
- Spy segments are bland
- Laughable character design
5. Flying Warriors – Wasted Potential in 8 Bits
With epic box art and a promising name, Flying Warriors fools you into thinking it’s an action-packed martial arts journey.
What you get instead is an awkward mashup of RPG-lite exploration and fighting mechanics that
barely work.
Diagonal jumping? Not here. Responsive combat? Not without digging. It's a slog to get to the good parts—and even then, they barely lift off.
Why It’s Terrible:
- Sloppy controls
- Cool ideas, poor execution
- Clunky level navigation
The NES had its share of clunkers—but also some cowboy-themed gems.
NES Games with a Bad Reputation (Honorable Mentions)
Not all of the worst games made our top 5, but these titles are infamous in their own right:
- Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde – Nearly unplayable side-scroller with no clear goal
- Ghostbusters – Slow, awkward, and nothing like the movie
- Urban Champion – Repetitive street brawler with barely any depth
- Where’s Waldo? – Blurry graphics make Waldo impossible to find
- Barbie – Flashy visuals, but baffling platforming and mechanics
- Back to the Future II & III – Bad level design and frustrating controls ruin the nostalgia
Frequently Asked Questions
How many Nintendo NES games are there?
- There are over 700 officially licensed NES games released in North America.
What are some horrible Nintendo NES games?
- Some of the worst NES games include King of Kings, Infiltrator, Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, Urban Champion, Ghostbusters, Back to the Future II & III, Where’s Waldo, and Barbie.
What is the worst NES wrestling game?
- M.U.S.C.L.E. Tag Team Wrestling is often cited as the worst NES wrestling game. It features clunky controls, repetitive action, and little strategy or excitement.
What are the worst games on the Nintendo Entertainment System?
- The NES has many beloved classics, but it also has stinkers. Notable examples include Harlem Globetrotters, Flying Warriors, and Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde — all remembered for frustrating gameplay and poor design choices.
Is Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde one of the worst NES games?
- Yes. Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde is notorious among retro gamers for its cryptic mechanics, unfair enemies, and gameplay that punishes rather than entertains.
Final Thoughts: Terrible Nintendo Games
These games prove that not all NES cartridges are collectible classics. Whether they’re broken by design or just baffling in execution, they’ve earned their place in history—for the wrong reasons.
What’s the worst NES game you’ve ever played?
Let us know in the comments or tag us on social media. We’re always up for reliving the pain.
If you're thinking of giving the NES another shot...
