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Best NES games of 1983

The 12 best NES games released in 1983, ranked from 631 critic and player ratings.

The best NES game of 1983 is Lode Runner (1983), with a critic score of 80/100 — 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: 1983.
  • 12 games are listed on this page, carrying 631 ratings between them.
  • Rankings are recomputed hourly; this one was last rebuilt on 12 October 2026.

Top 12

01 Lode Runner (1983) Lode Runner (1983) 1983 · 58 ratings Lode Runner is a 1983 puzzle video game, first published by Brøderbund. It is one of the first games to include a level editor, a feature that allows players to create their own levels for the game. This feature bolstered the game's popularity, as magazines such as Computer Gaming World held contests to see who could build the best level. 80 /100
02 Elevator Action (1983) Elevator Action (1983) 1983 · 49 ratings Elevator Action is a 1983 arcade game by Taito. It debuted during the "Golden Age of Arcade Games". Innovative in gameplay, the game was very popular for many years. In the game, the player assumes the role of a spy who infiltrates a building filled with elevators. He must collect secret documents from the building and traverse the 30 floors of the building using an increasingly complex series of elevators. The player is pursued by enemy agents who appear from behind closed doors. These agents must be dealt with via force or evasion. Successful completion of a level involves collecting all the secret documents and traversing the building from top to bottom. In the lower floors of the building, the elevator systems are so complex that some puzzle-solving skills are needed. The game was available as a standard upright cabinet The controls consist of a 4-way joystick and two buttons, one for "shoot" and the other for jumping and kicking. The maximum number of players is two, alternating turns. The graphics are extremely simple, 2D color graphics and in-game music was composed by musician Yoshio Imamura. The game was followed by a sequel, Elevator Action II (also known as Elevator Action Returns). 80 /100
03 Spy Hunter (1983) Spy Hunter (1983) 1983 · 43 ratings Originating in the arcades, Spy Hunter is a driving action game played from an overhead point of view. Your car is equipped with machine guns to help you get past the numerous enemies out on the road (be careful not to shoot any civilians, though!) Occasionally you will come across a weapons van, and if you drive into the back of the van your car becomes equipped with a second weapon (such as smoke screen, oil slick, or missiles). At several points the road splits and you can enter a boathouse which transforms your car into a boat temporarily. If you drive far enough the seasons change as well (watch out for icy conditions during winter!). The enemy cars will do anything to stop you, including running you off the road, firing guns from the back of a limo, or dropping bombs from a helicopter. 80 /100
04 Track & Field Track & Field 1983 · 38 ratings Track & Field is an Olympic-themed arcade game. The simple gameplay, based on quick repeating button presses, set the basics for sequels and similar games in the genre for the next decades. 80 /100
05 Mario Bros. (1983) F Mario Bros. (1983) 1983 · 115 ratings · 1 Tier vote Mario Bros. is an arcade game published by Nintendo and developed by Shigeru Miyamoto. The platform puzzle which first introduced Luigi to the world has both single and multiplayer action with two differing game types, but with the same objective. Crabs, turtles and fighter flies must be cleared out by jumping underneath the platform they sit on, then kicking them away. Each level is cleared when a set number of coins is collected. For the two player mode, the first to collect the set amount of coins wins. 70 /100
06 MAPPY MAPPY 1983 · 41 ratings The player guides Mappy the police mouse through the mansion of the cats called Mewkies (Meowky in the U.S. version) to retrieve stolen goods. The player uses a left-right joystick to move Mappy and a single button to operate doors. The mansion has six floors of hallways in which the stolen items are stashed. 67 /100
07 Donkey Kong Donkey Kong 1983 · 78 ratings Donkey Kong has kidnapped Pauline, and it is up to Mario, the fearless carpenter, to come to her rescue. Throwing fate to the wind, Mario tries desperately to climb the labyrinth of structural beams from the top of which Donkey Kong taunts him. Help our hero ascend the metal structure by dodging an assortment of fireballs, steel beams, and exploding barrels the angry ape hurls at him. Prepare yourself for a never-ending adventure as Donkey Kong takes Pauline away to the next level every time Mario gets to the top. Based on the arcade game of the same name, this classic will keep hardcore and casual gamers entertained for hours. This Donkey Kong port differs from the arcade game, having only three stages instead of four. 66 /100
08 Donkey Kong Jr. Donkey Kong Jr. 1983 · 37 ratings Donkey Kong Jr. for the Nintendo Entertainment System is one of the most recognizable ports of the original arcade game, being re-released and ported many times. 65 /100
09 Antarctic Adventure Antarctic Adventure 1983 · 42 ratings Antarctic Adventure is a video game developed by Konami in 1983 for MSX, and later for video game consoles, such as NES. The player takes the role of an Antarctic penguin, racing to disparate research stations owned by different countries in Antarctica. The gameplay is similar to Sega's Turbo, but plays at a much slower pace, and features platform game elements. The penguin, later named Penta, must reach the next station before time runs out while avoiding sea lions and breaks in the ice. Throughout the levels, fish jump out of ice holes and can be caught for bonus points. The game, like many early video games, has no ending – when the player reaches the last station, the game starts from the first level again, but with increased difficulty. 65 /100
10 Donkey Kong 3 Donkey Kong 3 1983 · 37 ratings Stanley is a bugman. Donkey Kong has taken refuge in his greenhouse and it is now up to Stanley to stop the ape from stirring up any more insects that will soon destroy his flowers. Stanley saves the flowers by spraying bug spray on Donkey Kong. 60 /100
11 Mario Bros. Mario Bros. 1983 · 48 ratings 54 /100
12 Dragon's Lair Dragon's Lair 1983 · 45 ratings 53 /100
Browse all the best NES games

Other years

Best NES games of 1991Best NES games of 1990Best NES games of 1989Best NES games of 1988Best NES games of 1987Best NES games of 1986Best NES games of 1985Best NES games of 1984

Same year, other platforms

Best Arcade games of 1983

Nearby rankings

Best NES games of 1984

Catalog statistics

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Frequently asked questions

What is the best NES game of 1983?

Lode Runner (1983) currently tops the ranking with a score of 80/100 across 58 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.