Virtual Console Essentials

Super Metroid (Nintendo)

Another game that can lay claim to being one of the best ever? Yep. Hard to deny that for all its shovelware, the best of the SNES crop has endured better than most platforms. GameBoy creator Gunpei Yokoi's genre-hopping series may baffle those who approach it as a straight platform game, but once you realise it's actually an openworld platform-shooter-adventure hybrid you'll recognise just what a stunning piece of game design it is.

Harvest Moon (Natsume)

If you fancy a break from saving the world, then Harvest Moon is where you should point your download stick. It borrows much of its visual style from the familiar world of JRPG, but its laidback gameplay focuses instead on day to day agricultural management and the social life of your cheery farmer. A charming precursor to games such as The Sims and Animal Crossing, it's a game that was a good decade ahead of its time.

Super Castlevania IV (Konami)

Metroid's gothic cousin, the Castlevania series has had many highs and lows over its prolific history, but this beefed up SNES sequel is the best currently available on the VC. It retells the story of the original game, but uses a vastly more complex castle layout for its spooky amusements. All sexy with its Mode 7 graphics, it gave Simon Belmont the ability to whip and swing his way around and is still one of the more impressive 2D adventures you'll find.

Super Mario RPG (Square)

Apologies to anyone sick of the fat plumber, but you've not seen the last of him yet. This entry is especially notable, since it marked Mario's first foray outside the comfortable world of platform jumping and into something with a more developed storyline. Developed by Square, it's a canny mash-up between Mario and Final Fantasy, with a clever combat system which plays to the strengths of both series.

Nintendo 64 Essentials

Super Mario 64 (Nintendo)

Yes, more Mario, but there's no way a list of VC essentials can fail to mention Super Mario 64, the game that did more to usher in the true 3D age than anything on the PlayStation. The graphics aren't as mind-blowing as they seemed ten years ago but the gameplay is still absolutely phenomenal, leaving all those other 2D-to-3D platform copycats in the dust.

Mario Kart 64 (Nintendo)

While the Mario Kart series has never quite managed to top the SNES original, this 64-bit sequel is a more than adequate replacement on the Virtual Console. There are balancing issues, as always, but they pale alongside the boundless fun to be found in the wonderful track designs and fun weapons. Not the best kart racing game of all time, but absolutely the best one currently on the VC.

The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time (Nintendo)

The fact that you can pick up Legend of Zelda, Link to the Past and Ocarina of Time for less than a full-priced boxed game pretty much justifies the existence of the Virtual Console by itself. The move from top-down to third-person 3D was arguably even more beneficial to Link than Mario, allowing people to see that his series always had as much in common with classic adventure games as the role-players the early games superficially resembled. Another charming must-have Nintendo winner.

Paper Mario (Intelligent Systems)

This is the last entry for Mario. Honest. Doing for Mario RPG what Mario 64 did for the 2D platformers of old, this is the traditional role-playing template turned inside-out. The paper-thin cut-out characters not only helped make familiar features look fresh, they also signified a more accessible style of play. If you think Nintendo has only just gone casual, this game begs to differ.

F-Zero X (Nintendo)

Racing games are surprisingly few and far between on the Virtual Console, or at least good racing games are. Luckily, while F-Zero X features nippy hovercars rather than Ferraris, it is undeniably a very good racing game. Critically overshadowed by the lifestyle cool of WipEout on its 1998 release, this N64 update is well worth a revisit.

Sin & Punishment (Treasure)

Nintendo's sporadic Hanabi festivals have been something of a mixed bag, but one definite highlight was finally getting an official western release for this on-rails shooter from eclectic and certifiably insane Japanese developer, Treasure. A long overdue Wii sequel was announced in early October, so you'd do well to acquaint yourself with this cult classic.