Chip 'n Dale: Rescue Rangers

Grab a friend, sit down in front of a single screen, and fire up Chip 'n Dale: Rescue Rangers — because this 1990 game is among the very best you could play in two on the NES. Once again Capcom proved it understands Disney licenses and cooperative fun like almost no one else.

As the chipmunks Chip and Dale, you make your way through colorful levels inspired by the beloved cartoon, and your main mechanic is picking up and throwing crates. Grab a box, aim, and hurl it at an enemy — and in co-op the best (and most treacherous) fun is born: you can also throw a crate at your partner, plop them on your head, and carry them past a dangerous spot. This little interaction between two players turns an ordinary platformer into a series of funny situations and small betrayals.

The level design carries Capcom's typical precision: the levels are clear, the controls snappy, and the difficulty gentle enough that even younger kids can handle it, yet interesting enough to entertain adults. This isn't a brutally hard title like Ninja Gaiden — it's a family joy built for playing together, for laughter, and for the occasional argument over who dropped whom into the pit again.

It's precisely this accessibility and the emphasis on co-op that make Rescue Rangers a timeless classic. In an era when most games were played solo, it offered a genuinely well-crafted two-player experience that holds together to this day — all you need is a second controller and the will to have fun.

Anyone looking for an NES game to spend a pleasant evening with a friend, partner, or kids is looking in exactly the right place.

Why play: One of the best cooperative games on the NES — throwing crates at enemies and at your partner makes it an immortal family classic.