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Best Adventure games of 1986

The 8 best Adventure games released in 1986, ranked from 1,195 critic and player ratings.

The best Adventure game of 1986 is The Legend of Zelda, with a critic score of 81/100 — updated October 2026.

How this ranking is built
  • Games are ranked on the aggregated critic score out of 100 imported from IGDB and Metacritic, never on Tier's own grades.
  • A game only enters the ranking with at least 30 external ratings, so a single enthusiastic review never outranks a proven classic.
  • Community grades from F to S are shown next to every game, and only stated as a fact above 5 Tier ratings.
  • Release window covered: 1986.
  • 8 games are listed on this page, carrying 1,195 ratings between them.
  • Rankings are recomputed hourly; this one was last rebuilt on 12 October 2026.

Top 8

01 The Legend of Zelda The Legend of Zelda 1986 · 737 ratings The Legend of Zelda is the first title in the Zelda series, it has marked the history of video games particularly for it's game mechanics and universe. The player controls Link and must make his way through the forests, graveyards, plains and deserts of the Otherworld to find the secret entrances to the eight dungeons and try to restore the broken Triforce. Among the game's mechanics, it was the first time we saw a continuous world that could be freely explored, power-ups that permanently enhanced the main character's abilities and a battery save feature that allowed players to keep their progress instead of having to start over. The gameplay balanced action sequences with discovery, secrets and exploration. 81 /100
02 Dragon Quest (1986) Dragon Quest (1986) 1986 · 36 ratings All is darkness. The Dragonlord has captured the Princess and stolen Erdrick's powerful ball of light. You are Erdrick's heir. To you has fallen the most dangerous task— to rescue the King's daughter and recover the mystical ball of light. Your mission is deadly, but it is your fate. Prophets have foretold your coming. Three keepers await your journey, each ready to aid you with a mystic item of great power. Gather the three objects. Scribes will record your deeds. Use cunning and wisdom to choose your commands. Gain experience, weapons and armor as you battle your way through the world. Rest if you must. Search out the Dragonlord's lair and face your destiny. In this role-playing adventure, you are the Dragon Warrior! 75 /100
03 Super Mario Bros.: The Lost Levels Super Mario Bros.: The Lost Levels 1986 · 130 ratings Super Mario Bros.: The Lost Levels is a direct sequel to Super Mario Bros. Not to be confused with the western Super Mario Bros. 2, this sequel to Super Mario Bros. is very much an expansion to the original, with many reused graphics and concepts, though new ones are also present. The game was initially released for the Japan-only Family Computer Disk System. 74 /100
04 Adventure Island (1986) Adventure Island (1986) 1986 · 95 ratings Hudson's Adventure Island, also known simply as Adventure Island and released in Japan as Takahashi Meijin no Bouken-jima, is a side-scrolling platform game produced by Hudson Soft that was first released in Japan for the Famicom and MSX on September 12, 1986. It was later released in North America for the Nintendo Entertainment System on September 1988 and in the PAL region in 1992 under the title of Adventure Island Classic. Adventure Island is an adaptation of the arcade game Wonder Boy, originally published by Sega for developer Escape (now known as Westone Bit Entertainment). Adventure Island was followed by a series of sequels that were independently developed by Hudson Soft. 72 /100
05 Kid Icarus (1986) Kid Icarus (1986) 1986 · 66 ratings Kid Icarus is an action platform video game for the Family Computer Disk System in Japan and the Nintendo Entertainment System in Europe and North America. The plot of Kid Icarus revolves around protagonist Pit's quest for three sacred treasures, which he must equip to rescue the Grecian fantasy world Angel Land and its ruler, the goddess Palutena. The player controls Pit through platform areas while fighting monsters and collecting items. Their objective is to reach the end of the levels, and to find and defeat boss monsters that guard the three treasures. 70 /100
06 Gauntlet II Gauntlet II 1986 · 31 ratings The gameplay is very similar to the original Gauntlet, a topdown dungeon crawl supporting up to four players. The biggest difference from the original game is that players can choose identical classes, instead of being limited to a particular one for each joystick; each player is differentiated by color. Thus, instead of having a "warrior", "wizard", and "valkyrie" (for instance), in Gauntlet II there could be a "red wizard", a "blue elf" and a "green warrior". In addition to the new "class" system, new level designs were added, including the possibility of encountering them in altered ways by having the play-field turned in steps of 90°. Other new features included the enemy "It", which upon contact would make a player "It" and draw all enemies towards him/her. The only way to release this curse is by touching another player or entering the exit, turning any level containing "It" into a fantasy filled game of tag. Other notable additions include the ability to ricochet shots off walls by means of a special pick-up, acid puddles that caused large, predetermined amounts of damage and a large dragon which would occupy multiple squares and require multiple hits to destroy. New level elements were also added, adding more variety to the original game. These included "all walls are invisible", "magic walls" which changed into monsters or items when hit, "stun tiles" which stunned the player, and fake exits. Another challenge in the game is the possibility to find a "secret room". This can be found by completing specific achievements within the level (e.g., "don't be fooled", means that you must find the real exit first). The secret room contains items such as food and magic potions (extra shot power, extra shot speed, extra magic power, extra speed, extra armor and extra fight power). This sequel was also the first to feature what is now known as the Gauntlet theme tune, which resembles a simplified Baroque fugue. 68 /100
07 Defender of the Crown Defender of the Crown 1986 · 32 ratings The Age of Chivalry! A time of lusty wenches and black hearted villains. King Richard has been murdered and England is thrown into civil war! Amidst the ringing clash of steel and the thunder of charging steeds the bold Saxon knights have chosen you to lead them into battle against the hated Normans. Victory will not come easy. To save England your skills as swordsman and military leader will be severely tested. But should you succeed you’ll win the Crown of England and the love of many a beautiful damsel! 67 /100
08 Alex Kidd in Miracle World Alex Kidd in Miracle World 1986 · 68 ratings Journey through the planet Aries to the beautiful City of Radactian, and save it from the evil Janken the Great. Alex Kidd in Miracle World was considered to be Sega's answer to Super Mario. 66 /100
Browse all Adventure games

Other years

Best Adventure games of 2026Best Adventure games of 2025Best Adventure games of 2024Best Adventure games of 2023Best Adventure games of 2022Best Adventure games of 2021Best Adventure games of 2020Best Adventure games of 2019Best Adventure games of 2018Best Adventure games of 2017Best Adventure games of 2016Best Adventure games of 2015

Same year, other platforms

Best NES games of 1986Best Arcade games of 1986Best Amiga games of 1986Best PC games of 1986

Nearby rankings

Best Adventure games of 1987Best Action games of 1986Best Arcade games of 1986

Catalog statistics

Most abandoned gamesMost completed games

Frequently asked questions

What is the best Adventure game of 1986?

The Legend of Zelda currently tops the ranking with a score of 81/100 across 737 ratings. Ranking updated October 2026.

How is this ranking built?

Games are ranked on their aggregated critic score out of 100, with a minimum vote threshold so a single glowing review never outranks a proven classic; the Tier community's own F-to-S grades are shown alongside each game.