The Best N64 Strategy Games

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Released in 1996, the Nintendo 64 was Nintendo’s first foray into the world of 3D. Never before had Nintendo fans been able to experience the wonderful worlds of Hyrule, the Mushroom Kingdom or Pokémon in full 3D. While the PlayStation had introduced the world to 3D home console gaming a year earlier, the PlayStation only had a 32-bit processor while the N64 featured a 64-bit one. This greatly changed the videogame landscape at the time, giving gamers a taste of what was to come and completely changing the world of home consoles forever. The Nintendo 64 is still regarded as one of the best consoles ever and it deserves all of the praise.

Strategy games have always been a mainstay in the gaming industry, especially among Japanese gaming companies. Fans have always been eager to max out their characters’ stats and create the best team to take down whatever foe stands in their way. Now players could experience this joy in 3D with such classics as Pokémon Stadium 1 and 2, StarCraft and Command and Conquer. This new hardware allowed for better AI, environments, team management and graphics, giving players the most immersive experience possible at the time. The Nintendo 64 was home to many of the best strategy games of the era and some are still regarded as the best of all time.

Command & Conquer

Set in a world ravaged by a large and violent war, Command & Conquer lets the player assume the role of either the Global Defense Initiative or the Brotherhood of Nod as they fight and manage resources, troops, and battlements.

This title takes place in real-time, so players will need some forward thinking and a lot of strategy in order to take down the opposing force. Mining Tiberium is key in creating new troops, building bases, and creating a superweapon which can obliterate the enemy’s forces. This title features two single-player campaigns, one for each faction, with plenty of content in each to keep rabid strategy game fans at bay.


Ogre Battle 64: Person of Lordly Caliber

Another title in the critically acclaimed Ogre series, this time following Magnus Gallant as he joins the revolution during a bloody civil war in order to aid the cause. This entry keeps some of the main elements which made this series popular, but streamlines some of the other elements in order to make this title more mainstream.

Ogre Battle 64 plays as a real-time RPG, consisting of an isometric map that the leader can move units along. When units encounter one another, their attacks take place in real-time, improving the flow of the game compared to earlier entries. Ogre Battle 64 is the best title for new players of this series.


StarCraft 64

The iconic Blizzard real-time strategy title has been brought to the N64. StarCraft is the perfect resource management, base capturing, and pylon constructing strategy title that has been beloved by fans for years.

In this title, there are three different factions for the player to control, the Protoss, Terrans, and Zerg. Each faction has its own missions, perks, and strategies which give them advantages and disadvantages over the other two factions. There are different ways to achieve victory in this game too, so choose strategies wisely and allocate resources well. StarCraft is a must play for fans of real-time strategy titles.


Harvest Moon 64

The sequel to the critically acclaimed Harvest Moon on the SNES, Harvest Moon 64 updates the mechanics and graphics which already made the original amazing. In this game, players must manage their farm while creating relationships with their neighbors in order to achieve greatness. There are plenty of side quests and events as well, so there is always something going on in town.

As the player upgrades their farm, they will be able to grow new crops and keep new animals which can further increase the money-making potential of the farm. Harvest Moon, while there is a lot of strategy involved, is a great game to chill out with and just enjoy.


Pokémon Stadium 2

After the success of the original Pokémon Stadium and Pokémon Gold and Silver, Pokémon Stadium 2 updates and improves upon everything that made the original so fun all while adding the second generation of Pokémon.

Players will now be able to connect Gold, Silver, and Crystal to their N64 and transfer their teams into the game and experience the fun of battling in 3D. Even if players do not own the Transfer Pak or the GameBoy games, they will be able to rent Pokémon and battle them instead. Take your best team through the Pokémon League in order to become the Pokémon Master!


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  • Updated September 4, 2020