Some of my favorites, in totally random order These games all made a lasting impression on me in some way. I'm sure I forgot a million, I'll add more as I remember them. For games with multiple versions, I list the versions that I like. For example, "Bionic Commando (NES/Famicom)" - in other words, NOT the arcade version (which isn't nearly as good). Also, I sometimes include the Japanese title as well, listed after the USA release title.

Do you agree with any? Disagree with any?

Some of these are underground/underdog/obscure titles that are nevertheless great games.

Metroid (NES/Famicom)
Super Metroid (SNES/Super Famicom)
Metroid 2: Return Of Samus (Gameboy)
Target:Earth/Assault Suits Leynos (Genesis/Megadrive)
Landstalker (Genesis/Megadrive)
Bionic Commando/The Resurrection Of Hitler (NES/Famicom)
Herzog Zwei (Genesis/Megadrive)
Strider (Arcade/Genesis/Megadrive)
StrikeForce (Arcade)
Galaga (Arcade)
Galaga 88 (Arcade/Turbografyx16/PC Engine)
Blaster Master (NES/Famicom)
Megaman 1 (NES/Famicom)
Megaman 2 (NES/Famicom)
Zelda 2: Adventures Of Link (NES/Famicom)
The Legend Of Zelda (NES/Famicom)
A Link To The Past (SNES/Super Famicom)
U.N. Squadron/Area 88 (Arcade/SNES/Super Famicom)
Baseball Stars Professional (Neo-Geo)
Crossed Swords (Neo-Geo)
Salamander/LifeForce (Arcade)
Haunted Castle/Castlevania Arcade (Arcade)
Contra (NES/Famicom))
Super Mario World (SNES/Super Famicom)
Super Mario Kart (SNES/Famicom)
Super Mario Bros. 2/Doki Doki Panic (NES/Famicom)
Phantasy Star 4 (Genesis/Megadrive)
Phantasy Star 2 (Genesis/Megadrive)
Phantasy Star 1 (Sega Master System/Mark III)
Revenge Of Shinobi (Genesis/Megadrive)
Gunstar Heroes (Genesis/Megadrive)
Zillion (Sega Master System/Mark III)
Millipede (Arcade)
Golgo 13: Top Secret Episode (NES/Famicom)
North & South (NES/Famicom)
Duke Nukem 3D (PC)
King's Quest IV: The Perils Of Rosetta (PC)
Twisted Metal 2 (PSX)
San Francisco Rush 2049 (Dreamcast)
Legacy Of The Wizard/Dragon Slayer IV (NES/Famicom)
SoulBlazer (SNES/Super Famicom)
Actraiser (SNES/Super Famicom)
Asteroids (Arcade/Atari 2600)
Street Fighter 2 (Arcade/Snes/Super Famicom)
Y's Book I & II (Turbografyx16/P.C. Engine)
Burning Force (Arcade/Genesis/Megadrive)
Heavy Nova (OK, This one has crappy suck-tastic gameplay, but dammit the music is fantastic so I had to cheat and put it on the list. BTW, the Mega CD version totally ruins the awesome music from the Genesis) (Genesis/Megadrive)
Valis III (Genesis/Megadrive ONLY... the P.C. Engine CD version butchers the fantastic music)
Arcus Odyssey (MSX2/Genesis/Megadrive)
Forgotten Worlds (Arcade/Genesis/Megadrive)
Cosmo Tank (Gameboy)
Tetris (Gameboy version)
Cave Story (PC)
Castle Of Illusion Starring Mickey Mouse (Genesis/Megadrive)
Assault (Arcade... versions on the Namco Museum discs suck because they don't have the rad tank control sticks)
Thunder Force 3 (Genesis/Megadrive)
Secret of Mana/Seiken Densetsu 2 (SNES/ Super Famicom)
Terranigma (SNES/Super Famicom)
Rocket Knight Adventures (Genesis/Megadrive... sadly, the better-known SNES sequel "Sparkster" kinda sucks in comparison)
Wizards & Warriors (NES/Famicom)
Pole Position (Arcade)
Hard Drivin' (Arcade)
Crossbow (Arcade)
Police Trainer (Arcade)
Whirlwind (Arcade Pinball)
Track & Field (Arcade)
Magician Lord (Neo-Geo)
Metal Slug (Neo-Geo)
Metal Slug 2 (Neo-Geo)
Metal Slug X (Neo-Geo)
Cabal (Arcade)
Tron (Arcade only... home versions suck without the arcade controls!)
Tempest (Arcade)
Gyruss (Arcade)
Double Dragon (Arcade only, I don't much like the NES version or any of the sequels)
River City Ransom (NES/Famicom)
Gun-Nac (NES/Famicom)
Guardian Legend (NES/Famicom)
Kid Icarus (NES/Famicom)
Buster Bros./Pang (Arcade)
Solaris (Atari 2600)
Adventure (Atari 2600)
Alien Crush (TurboGrafx16/P.C. Engine)
Devil's Crush (TurboGrafyx16/P.C. Engine/Genesis/Megadrive)
S.T.U.N. Runner (Arcade)
Midnight Resistance (Arcade)
Guerrilla War/Guevara (Arcade)
Stanley: The Search For Dr. Livingstone (NES/Famicom)
Blue Lightning (Atari Lynx)
Panic Bomber (Virtual Boy version ONLY)
Bomberman World (Arcade)
720' (Arcade only... home ports suck royally)
Super Sprint (Arcade)
Commando (Arcade)
Bubble Bobble (Arcade/NES/Famicom)
Sly Spy (Arcade... cheesy but fun)
Time Pilot (Arcade)
N.A.R.C. (Arcade... cheesy but fun)
Star Wars (Arcade)
RoadBlasters (Arcade)
Ms. Pacman (Arcade)
Willow (Arcade)
1943 (Arcade... NES version is pretty good too but the arcade is the best)