10 Great Licensed NES Games That Are Not from Capcom

Licensed games back in the 8-bit days were really hit or miss for gamers. We did not have options like YouTube to check out prior to purchase. There were no game reviewers readily available covering every game imaginable. No, back then we had to rely on gaming publications like Gamepro or Video Games & Computer Entertainment to tell us what was worth our cold hard cash and what should be left to rot on store shelves. For those too young to remember gaming publications, they were extremely limited on space, so they could not always cover a broad array of the available titles.

Licensed games were also something that companies would rely on to push sales. After all, fans of a movie or cartoon, or person, were more likely to buy a game featuring them than a no name title next to it. Acclaim and LJN were notorious for this crap and it sucked many times over as their releases were often just that, crap. Both those names still carry a stench today that is hard to ignore.

With that said, let’s kick off this list. These are in alphabetical order, not in order of “best” or anything. Oh, almost forgot, this list is absent any Capcom titles for a reason. If I were to make a list of the best licensed games for the Nintendo Entertainment System in it, it would almost be Capcom games exclusively. Kind of unfair so they are out. If it is licensed and carries the Capcom name, it is probably great.

Batman was not only a great licensed game from Sunsoft, next to Capcom, this company was quite good at producing cool and fun licensed games. If they had continued their licensing activities, then we might have seen Sunsoft being banned from this list. Batman was based somewhat on the late 1980’s Batman movie (there was plenty of gaming creative freedoms taken).

Felix the Cat was released by Hudson Soft. Wait, do I hear people calling foul on this being a licensed game? It is. Look it up, buttercup. Felix the Cat is a black and white cartoon from the silent era of movies. I am not lying. I am not sure how Hudson Soft came to license this cartoon and think it was a clever idea, but they did, and it is. If you can find this one cheap, grab it.

Unlike Cuphead, Felix the Cat is based on an actual old school product.

Gremlins 2: The New Batch is the second entry on this list from Sunsoft. This time they used the overhead engine that we loved in Blaster Master and fleshed it out to create a whole new game. What is cool about Gremlins 2: The New Batch is that it is based on the movie of the same name and it is quite fun.

Jackie Chan’s Action Kung Fu is another Hudson Soft entry, tying them with Sunsoft at two entries. This is the first of two games that licensed an actual person for the title on this list. Action Kung Fu features a main character that doesn’t scream Jackie Chan at first glance (that was fixed in the Turbo Grafx-16 version later). What is here is a great 2D side scrolling action game that has an interesting and unique story.

James Bond Jr. is an odd entry, I know. Stay with me though. This is an adventure game that features levels that require you to think as well as be quick with your fingers. Not something you see often on the NES. Getting over the license is easy because you are not beaten over the head as you play that you are controlling James Bond Jr.

Krusty’s Fun House is like the Simpsons meet Lemmings. Also, this is the first entry from Acclaim on this list, don’t worry, it stops here. The rest of their licensed games suck very much so. Krusty’s Fun House has been over run with rats and you must find a way to guide them to the level exit, so they can be sucked out to their doom. Out of FOUR Simpsons games on the NES, Acclaim was due getting one that was decent to play.

Micro Machines oh man, this one is a great racing game. If you enjoy overhead racing games. Not isometric like RC Pro Am. Not 3D like Rad Racer. Overhead, like directly overhead. Grab a friend and play this one. Who remembers the fast-talking Micro Machines man in the commercials. Know his name? Tell me in the comments.

Mike Tyson’s Punch Out, okay, I know Nintendo later pulled Mike’s likeness from this title after his legal situation made him not so great of a license. That doesn’t stop the fact that while this game was being sold, it was the boxing game to play. Sega was left to flounder licensing other real boxers for their boxing titles, but they never could accomplish the same level of fun that Nintendo did.

Tiny Toon Adventures is a 2D side scrolling action game by Konami, another company that was quite good at putting great development teams with licensed properties to create gold. Take control of the bite sized versions of Warner Bros classic characters and just run and jump your way to happiness. They don’t make games like this anymore.

Tom & Jerry is just corner to corner animation on the NES. Hi-Tech Expressions went all out on this one. Controlling Jerry, you are tasked with collecting the cheese in the levels – eventually squaring off with Tom the cat. They really captured the size difference between Tom and Jerry. If you want to play a sprawling level action game, then here you go.

There you go. Ten licensed games for the NES that don’t suck that are not from Capcom. If you must know, Capcom released the iconic Ducktales, the great Darkwing Duck, the exceptional Chip ‘N Dale Rescue Rangers games, and many more. Seriously, if it is a Capcom game on NES, you are safe in buying it knowing it is going to be quality.