10 Best Rare Video Games - Investment Policy

Although they are no longer at the peak of their popularity like they were in the 90s, Rare is still widely recognized as one of the most talented game developers ever.

Today, they’re best known for their work with Sea of Thieves, which has quietly established itself as an incredible open world sandbox environment where you play as a pirate sailing on the high seas.

In 2015, Rare Replay was launched – a compilation of games from their past that allows players to revisit their roots and understand how this iconic developer managed to reach their current success.

To this day, I’ll pop back into the greats like Banjo-Kazooie or GoldenEye 007, and I’m quickly reminded why Rare was held in such high regard and are remembered for more than just Donkey Kong Country.

In the spirit of that, let’s recap the ten best Rare games that have released to this point.

10. Sea of Thieves

Ahoy!

Despite its lackluster launch, Sea of Thieves has become one of the best open world games, especially if you play with friends.

While there are objectives in place for you to follow, Sea of Thieves is at its best when you’re engaging in organic content. It’s not always about working off a checklist of quests, but sailing the high seas and finding out what’s waiting to be discovered.

Go ahead and continue with the given task based on the provided guidelines.

Either way, it’s one heck of a time if you get the right crew together. Whether you’re planning a treasure hunt, singing sea shanties, or fishing on the open sea, few games will be as enjoyable as Sea of Thieves.

9. Diddy Kong Racing

A Worthy Competitor To Mario Kart

Although Mario Kart has achieved greater success than Diddy Kong Racing, it doesn’t mean that Rare’s arcade racer is any less competitive. In fact, Diddy Kong Racing offers unique features and gameplay elements that make it a standout title in its own right.

Originally released for the Nintendo 64 in 1997, followed by a Nintendo DS remake in 2007, Diddy Kong Racing is more than a Mario Kart clone. The cast of characters is an absolute delight, with some of their featured games appearing on this list.

What makes Diddy Kong Racing stand out is its ability to keep the gameplay engaging by constantly changing things up. This is achieved through providing three diverse vehicle options – karts, bumper boats, and aircraft. As a result, every race, regardless of the same track, offers a new experience due to each vehicle’s unique handling characteristics.

Diddy Kong Racing’s campaign also stands out as something more in-depth than what you’d expect from a racer, offering a somewhat open world to explore, discover levels, and mess around in.

8. Banjo-Tooie

Slightly Too Much Of A Good Thing

I know I’m going to catch flack for this, but sometimes, the truth hurts: this game isn’t as good as you remember. Sometimes, you can have too much of a good thing.

That’s the case with Banjo-Tooie, the Banjo-Kazooie sequel that goes all-in on adding to what’s arguably the perfect platformer.

To be clear, I’m not diminishing the greatness of Banjo-Tooie, but the main issue lies in its tempo. The gameplay can feel disjointed due to the sprawling stages and a lack of concentration on specific aspects.

It’s a testament to how good the foundation here is that Banjo-Tooie still ranks as an incredible game. The core gameplay loop you know and love is still here, as well as the clever writing and memorable characters. I just wish it wasn’t such a bloated experience.

7. Donkey Kong 64

An Excellent Collect-A-Thon

Here, we’ll be discussing the Donkey Kong franchise extensively, and there’s a solid justification behind that. However, let me first introduce you to one of the most iconic Nintendo 64 games ever made.

At times, Donkey Kong 64 may struggle due to its grand scale. This game is truly expansive, featuring no less than five playable characters and what appears to be an endless array of items to amass.

The game could significantly benefit from user-friendly upgrades, particularly allowing players to switch characters instantly without returning to a barrel. Nevertheless, it excellently captures the essence of the timeless Donkey Kong Country series in a three-dimensional environment.

We haven’t had a 3D Donkey Kong game since then, but that doesn’t mean Donkey Kong 64 is a bad game by any means. In fact, I’m not sure how it could be surpassed.

Rare learned all the right lessons from Banjo-Tooie and delivered an unforgettable experience, complete with easter eggs, unlockables, and platforming galore.

6. Battletoads

Glutton For Punishment

Oh, Battletoads. The game we all love but still get mad at. You know what I’m talking about by just looking at that image. You know the pain and suffering it’s caused.

Let’s discuss why Battletoads is still fantastic. The classic arcade-style combat it offers remains impressively relevant in today’s gaming landscape, capturing the essence of 8-bit gaming that many modern retro games strive to replicate.

Absolutely!

Battletoads is going to give you a tough time, but it will be an enjoyable experience all the way through. In fact, its difficulty level is similar to what we now know as Soulslike games, even though FromSoftware didn’t create Dark Souls yet at that point.

One reason why this game is fantastic is because of the fulfillment you experience as you advance within the game. It can be aggravating at times, but it’s never unjust, and what makes it even better is that you can enjoy it cooperatively with a friend.

5. Perfect Dark

Calling Agent Dark

Since its release, there has been a contentious debate as to which Rare FPS is better: GoldenEye 007 or Perfect Dark. Both have their merits, and Perfect Dark has the advantage of being based on an original IP, with more content, expansive levels, and more polished graphics.

On multiple occasions, I’ve made it clear that size doesn’t always guarantee quality. It’s astonishing how Perfect Dark manages to function on Nintendo 64 hardware, considering it struggles with framerate problems due to the sheer amount of ambition it carries.

It’s a testament to how good Perfect Dark is that many people can look past these flaws. Rare proved that they weren’t content to rest on their laurels following GoldenEye’s success, and they delivered a spiritual successor that’s well worth your time.

4. Donkey Kong Country

Go Ahead, Hum Along With The Music

I remember the first time we saw Donkey Kong Country and thought we had reached the pinnacle of video game graphics. My friends and I were so excited to dive into the world of Donkey Kong Country, only for it to chew us up and spit us out.

Donkey Kong Country is as hard as you remember, demanding platforming precision and excellence from its players. However, it’s not impossibly difficult; instead, it’s an exercise in side-scrolling perfection. The game demands excellence from its players.

To be honest, I didn’t expect anything less from the team that brought us Battletoads. If you’re looking for a Super Mario game without Mario, look no further.

This game offers diverse experiences, ranging from riding mine carts, swinging on vines, to even jumping on the backs of rhinoceroses. It’s packed with exciting moments and boasts a fantastic soundtrack to complement the action.

3. Donkey Kong Country 2: Diddy’s Kong Quest

An Incredible Sequel

One of the greatest video game sequels of all time, Diddy’s Kong Quest takes everything that made the original Donkey Kong Country so great and built it into something even better.

The controls are improved, the level design is still impeccable, and the difficulty is just right. Nothing is too hard or too easy.

Everything functions seamlessly as a whole to provide the complete experience. The game’s soundtrack and ambiance complement the clever, imaginative level layouts perfectly, while the game progression feels smooth, transitioning smoothly from one stage to another.

The game consistently propels the action, rarely pausing to ponder over successful elements. Instead, it offers an abundance of fresh concepts, ensuring continuous enjoyment regardless of repetition in play.

2. GoldenEye 007

It Still Holds Up Today

Let’s get excited about GoldenEye 007, a game I used to play extensively as a kid, with my friends in local multiplayer mode and replaying its entertaining single-player missions over and over again (especially the Silo mission).

Few console first-person shooter (FPS) games can match its quality, despite the limitations imposed by the Nintendo 64’s controls. Remarkably, we still invested countless hours into playing it even with subpar controls, demonstrating just how exceptional this game is.

As soon as I started playing this game with its updated controls, it felt like experiencing the game anew; it managed smoothly, allowing the captivating gameplay and meticulously designed stages to really stand out.

If you haven’t played the updated version yet, I strongly recommend that you give it a try. You won’t be disappointed.

1. Banjo-Kazooie

The GOAT

One of the best platformers of all time, and certainly the best for Nintendo 64, Banjo-Kazooie is gaming perfection.

Everyone knows about the game’s clever writing, witty humor, and loveable characters. Yes, they all make the game as iconic as it is, but where Banjo-Kazooie shines is its level design and gameplay.

Every detail has been meticulously considered and strategically arranged, building upon the blueprint laid by Super Mario 64. Each realm strikes a balance between inviting continuous discovery and being compact and purposeful, ensuring that each element finds its right spot and serves a specific function.

There’s no getting lost in expansive, vast, boring environments here. Instead, each nook and cranny of Banjo-Kazooie’s worlds invites you to see what collectibles are waiting for you to discover.

I play this game every year for a reason. It’s the perfect platformer, and Rare’s best game ever.

2025-03-16 17:14