A gaming critic is on a mission to play and assess all 751 8-bit Nintendo games released back in the 1980s and ’90s. Jeff Gerstmann, a veteran games journalist and streamer, has been meticulously ranking these games over the past three years. Every Friday, Gerstmann live streams his gameplay on Twitch, spending around 30 minutes to an hour on each game before moving on to the next.

Gerstmann embarked on this project after noticing a trend of similar opinions circulating online about these classic games without much firsthand experience. He felt compelled to revisit and review each game independently to provide an authentic perspective.

Having been a part of the gaming industry for about three decades, Gerstmann has a deep-rooted passion for video games. He began his journey with the NES console as a young gamer in 1986. Now, with a more critical eye, he is evaluating these nostalgic titles to determine their relevance in today’s gaming landscape.

His rankings showcase classics like “Super Mario Bros.” holding the third spot and “Mega Man 2” claiming the top position for its innovative gameplay and captivating design. On the contrary, titles like “Duck Hunt” find themselves in the middle of the list, reflecting the evolution of gaming experiences from arcade-style brevity to more intricate gameplay.

At the bottom of the ranking are titles that Gerstmann describes as “miserable” and “incredibly poorly made,” highlighting the challenges faced by Nintendo in controlling the quality of games released for their platform. Despite encountering some less-than-stellar titles, Gerstmann remains committed to completing his comprehensive review of NES games before moving on to assess another classic console in the future.