The Nintendo 64, Nintendo's first 3D console, recently turned 24 years old. Though the N64 wasn't as big a seller as Sony's original PlayStation, it still housed some of the best games of all time like The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time and Super Mario 64. However, one of the Nintendo 64's greatest advantages over the PlayStation was an extra two controllers ports that could be used for four-player multiplayer games.

Nintendo used those extra ports wisely, producing some of the best multiplayer games of that generation. Some of these games would go on to build franchises and influence the future of Nintendo. In honor of the console's 24th anniversary, here are the five best multiplayer games that could only be found on the Nintendo 64.

Related: 5 Must-Play Nintendo 3DS Games

Pokémon Stadium

Pokémon Stadium released in North America in 2000, right at the peak of the franchise's popularity. Unlike the main series games, it didn't feature a story, but instead let players compile whatever team they wanted to duke it out in 3D battles for the first time. Though it didn't generate a bond between player and team, being able to produce powerful moves in 3D with your favorite Pokémon was undeniably fun.

The game went a bit beyond the standard battles. There were nine minigames for up to four players, all of which were varied in their gameplay and made for hectic multiplayer. One had players controlling Lickitungs eating sushi off a spinning table for points, while another had players throwing looped Ekans on Digletts similar to a game of horseshoes. Pokémon Stadium received one sequel, though there were spiritual successors on the GameCube and Wii. Maybe after the return of Pokémon Snap, Nintendo will bring back this series as well.

Related: Why Pokémon Snap Is The Series' Greatest Spinoff Game

Mario Party 2

Nintendo struck gold with the original Mario Party. The board game layout and plethora of fun minigames made it a blast to play against others. The desire to come out on top through any means necessary, even by stealing coveted stars from your opponents, resulted in cherished memories of competitiveness between siblings and friends.

Mario Party 2 did what the original did, though it was an improvement in every category. The graphics were a bit better, as were the minigames, of which there were also more. Even though there were two fewer boards, these were more imaginative than the ones in the original. The Western, Pirate and Horror-themed boards were particular standouts. The brilliant simplicity of Mario Party 2 makes it still fun to play today, and it's a formula that Nintendo has carried and tweaked all the way through to the Switch.

Related: Jurassic Park Should Get a Pokémon Snap-Style Game

GoldenEye 007

While some would argue that Rare's other FPS title on the Nintendo 64, Perfect Dark, is better, GoldenEye 007 came first and used the James Bond license to become one of the most important multiplayer games ever made. The genre had mostly been kept on PC beforehand, and it paved the way for countless more to come to consoles.

Not only was it important for the genre, but it was also incredibly fun to play. Most people don't talk about its single-player campaign, yet have countless fond memories of its addictive four-player split-screen multiplayer. A variety of Deathmatch modes and adjustable settings, like what guns players could use, were novel features in 1997. It exemplified what was so wonderful about the Nintendo 64: bringing players together to tear them apart. All of this from a mode that was added last minute.

Related: Halo Infinite Teaser Video Confirms The Banished's Return

Mario Kart 64

While the Mario Kart series began on SNES, it wouldn't truly reach greatness until the extra dimension offered by the Nintendo 64. Mario Kart 64 became one of the key multiplayer games that every N64 owner needed in their library. The tracks were zany, and the items brought chaos to every player. It was the game that was busted out at birthdays and slumber parties because anyone could pick it up and get the hang of it.

The racing gameplay was extremely smooth, but Mario Kart 64 also offered the new Battle Mode. The idea to blend derby-like arenas with the frantic randomness of item blocks gave Mario Kart 64 an extra boost of staying power. Some fans still consider it the best in the series for what it was able to achieve, and it was so revered that it helped turn Mario Kart into one of Nintendo's most successful franchises.

Related: Dr. Mario World Is Nintendo's Weirdest Mobile Game

Super Smash Bros.

Super Smash Brothers Nintendo 64 Box Art

The idea to take some of Nintendo's most famous characters and have them battle in arenas based on their own games was pure genius. Plus, in comparison with other fighting games, Super Smash Broscharacters all feel completely different from one another. There also weren't complicated directional inputs to do a super move, meaning that anyone could play. Items from Nintendo's history made the match-ups even more chaotic with Poké Balls and Heart Pieces causing scrambles to see who could grab them first.

The series has grown considerably since its humble origins in terms of gameplay, roster and modes. It has become a celebration of all things Nintendo, and every new fighter announcement prompts reaction videos across the internet. But there is still joy to be found when revisiting this classic with its mere 12 fighters and nine stages that marks the beginning of a fighting series unlike any other.

Keep Reading: Sakurai Just Revealed an Unspoken Rule of Fighting Games