Gamers who enjoy early 3D games from the 1990s will likely have fond memories of Rare. The British studio developed exclusively for Nintendo consoles in the 1990s and early 2000s with games likeGoldenEye 007,Perfect Dark, andBanjo-Kazooie.Microsoft now owns Rare as well as its franchises after purchasing the company in 2002. The studio has developed Xbox exclusives likeViva Pinata,Kameo: Elements of Power,andSea of Thieves.
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Nintendo 64 classics dominatethe list of the best games from Rare, but a few Xbox games also make an appearance. Although its heyday is now decades in the past, as this list of the top games from Rareaccording to Metacriticclearly demonstrates, the studio still possesses a rich and diverse catalog. These franchises and characters could prove valuable for Xbox consoles and Xbox Game Pass in the years to come.
10Viva Pinata (Xbox 360) - 84
In 2006, Rare released one of its first new franchises in years. The kid-friendly Xbox 360 game proved to be an unexpected hit that spawned sequels. There is even a short-lived cartoon show.
Viva Pinatais a uniqueXbox 360 simulation gamewhere players tend to a neglected garden on an island inhabited by piñata animals. Utilizing gardening tools, players will shape their gardens and meet various in-game conditions to attract piñata animals. If players attract two piñatas of the same species, they may even mingle to create offspring.
In addition to the Xbox 360,Viva Pinatais included withRare Replay, so players can enjoy it on Xbox One and Xbox Series X|S.
9Rare Replay (Xbox One) - 84
Rare Replayis a compilation of classic games from the company’s vast library. The 30 games included in the compilation are among Rare’s best. It was released to celebrate the company’s 30th anniversary.
The games inRare Replayrange from early arcade classics to Xbox 360 titles likeBanjo-Kazooie: Nuts & Bolts. Rare-developed games likeDonkey Kong CountryandDiddy Kong Racingare not included due to licensing issues; Nintendo retained theDonkey Kongfranchisewhen it sold Rare. Overall, this compilation is a great way to experience the wide range of games from Rare on modern consoles.
The Xbox One release is backward compatible with Xbox Series X|S.
8Diddy Kong Racing (N64) - 88
Diddy Kong Racingis often compared withMario Kart 64.That is partially due to the fact that they are both kart racing games released on the Nintendo 64 in 1997, butDiddy Kong Racingoffers some unique innovations that set it apart, including a single-player story mode. Instead of using a menu system to select the racecourse, players drive around a semi-open world to reach the various racecourses.
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Players can select from various vehicle types for certain advantages within the game. For instance, the car is a good all-around vehicle while the hovercraft is ideal for sand and water. Players can also unlock different battle modes.
7Banjo-Tooie (N64) - 90
The sequel toBanjo-Kazooie,Banjo-Tooieis considered one ofthe best platformerson the Nintendo 64. As withSuper Mario 64andBanjo-Kazooie, the 3D world allows players to explore freely through a third-person perspective. Players traverse the world, solve various puzzles, and collect items that allow them to advance through the story.
Banjo-Tooieadded multiplayer for the first time in the franchise. The game supports up to four players in various minigames. The minigames are repurposed from single-player challenges. These include kickball and a shooter where players use eggs as ammunition.
Banjo-Tooieis included withRare Replay.
6Blast Corps (N64) - 90
Blast Corpsis one of the most unique games from Rare on the Nintendo 64.This is a third-person action game that has players clear buildings and other structures from the path of a mobile nuclear missile launcher.
Players will use a variety of different vehicles including dump trucks, bulldozers, and even a mech to complete the game’s missions.Blast Corpsbrought a concept similar to some of thebest arcade hitslikeRampageinto the 3D era. It brilliantly mixes destruction and puzzles to create an enjoyable, one-of-a-kind experience.
Blast Corpsis included withRare Replay.
5Donkey Kong 64 (N64) - 90
After its success with theDonkey Kong Countrygames on the SNES,Nintendo allowed Rare to bring its franchise to 3D in the form ofDonkey Kong 64. Based on theBanjo-Kazooieengine, the studio releasedDonkey Kong 64in 1999 along with an included Expansion Pak. The Expansion Pak added memory to the Nintendo 64, allowing for enhanced graphics.
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Donkey Kong 64borrows gameplay ideas fromSuper Mario 64andBanjo-Kazooie, so it is widely considered less innovative than those spiritual predecessors. Its main innovation is allowing players to take control of different characters, each with their own abilities. For instance, Diddy Kong can fly.
Rare took quite an unusual turn withConker’s Bad Fur Day.Although it looks very similar in style to its previous games likeBanjo-KazooieandDonkey Kong 64,Conker’s Bad Fur Dayis an M-rated game. In fact, it is one of the few M-rated games that Nintendo has published.
Rare sprinkled in some profanity, alcohol consumption, and an anthropomorphic squirrel to make a 3D platformer that is heavy on humor and pop culture references from the late 1990s and early 2000s. Rare developed an Xbox-exclusive remake titledConker: Live & Reloadedthat was released in 2005.
Conker’s Bad Fur Dayis included withRare Replay.
3Banjo-Kazooie (N64) - 92
The original PlayStation had a number of notable platformers includingCrash BandicootandSpyro. The Nintendo 64 competed with the likes ofSuper Mario 64andBanjo-Kazooie, the latter being Rare’s foray into the genre. It proved popular and spawned both sequels and spinoffs likeBanjo Pilot.
Banjo-Kazooiedraws obvious inspiration fromSuper Mario 64with its central overworld and large 3D levels. Rather than collecting coins and stars, players collect music notes and jigsaw pieces. Although quite similar toSuper Mario 64in many ways, the story and humor set it apart as a distinct game.
Banjo-Kazooieis included withRare Replay.
2GoldenEye 007 (N64) - 96
Rare hit its stride with a pair of first-person shooters in the late 1990s.GoldenEye 007is based on the James Bond film. The game features the likenesses of Pierce Brosnan, Sean Bean, and other actors from the film.
GoldenEye 007remains a hugely influential shooter with aton of replay value.Doomclones were all the rage at the time, and Rare’s shooter offered players something different: a mix of weapons, gadgets, and stealth gameplay across a movie-inspired single-player campaign. The four-player split-screen multiplayer may look rather outdated today, but it paved the way for games likeHalo.
After years of licensing issues that prevented this classic from getting ported to modern consoles,GoldenEye 007was re-released on Nintendo Switch, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X|S in 2023. In addition, it is available through Xbox Game Pass. It was also later added toRare Replay.
1Perfect Dark (N64) - 97
A spiritual sequel toGoldenEye 007was released in 2000.Perfect Darkuses an upgraded version of theGoldenEyegame engine and requires the Nintendo 64’s Expansion Pak. Players assume the role of Joanna Dark, an agent whose mission is to stop a conspiracy.
The gameplay improves onGoldenEyein several important ways with the inclusion of cooperative play,computer-controlled botsin multiplayer, and improved artificial intelligence. However, there is still a fierce debate among fans about whetherPerfect Darksurpassed its predecessor.
