10 NES Ports That Were Barely Recognizable From The Arcade Version

Bringing arcade hits to home consoles was never an easy task. The NES era gave gamers the chance to experience their favorite arcade classics from the comfort of their living rooms—but not every port made the transition smoothly. Some games lost their fast-paced action, others had choppy graphics, and a few felt like completely different games altogether.

Let’s rank these ten NES ports that just couldn’t live up to their arcade counterparts. And one that surpassed it!

10. Paperboy

In the arcade, Paperboy was colorful, fast, and smooth—an absolute blast to play. On the NES? Not so much. The graphics took a major hit, turning the paperboy into a blocky mess, and the once-clear obstacles became hard to see. The worst part? The sluggish controls made it frustrating to aim and throw newspapers accurately. While the game still had charm, it just couldn’t deliver the same excitement as the arcade original.

9. Kung-Fu Master

The NES version of Kung-Fu Master, simply called Kung Fu, wasn’t a total disaster. In fact, it played pretty well. But compared to the arcade, it was a step down. The sprites were smaller, backgrounds were simplified, and animations lacked detail. On the bright side, the controls were tight, making it a solid experience. Still, if you’d played the arcade version first, this one felt like a downgrade.

8. Strider

Calling the NES version of Strider a “port” is a bit misleading—it was practically a different game. Instead of the fast, fluid action of the arcade, this version featured awkward platforming, stiff controls, and a confusing non-linear structure. Climbing walls felt like a chore, and the graphics didn’t come close to matching the arcade’s futuristic aesthetic. It had an interesting story with RPG elements, but overall, it just wasn’t Strider.

7. Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles 2 for NES — Konami

TMNT: The Arcade Game was a dream for fans—fast, action-packed, and playable with four players at once. The NES version tried its best, but it had to make some big sacrifices. The four-player co-op was gone, replaced with two-player action. Bosses became spongier, moves were more limited, and the pace felt slower. It wasn’t a bad game, but it lacked the arcade version’s energy and fun factor.

6. Contra

Surprise! Unlike most of the games on this list, Contra’s NES version actually turned out better than the arcade original. While the arcade version had flashier graphics, the NES version improved on just about everything else—tighter controls, better level design, and the famous Konami Code. It’s rare for a home console port to outshine the arcade, but Contra on NES became the definitive version for many fans.

5. Gauntlet

Gauntlet was all about fast-paced dungeon crawling and chaotic multiplayer action. The NES version? Not so much. The game slowed down significantly, the enemy AI felt sluggish, and worst of all, the multiplayer was cut from four players down to just two. Without the frantic, fast-paced action of the arcade, this port just didn’t capture the same magic.

4. Double Dragon

The NES Double Dragon was a major letdown for fans of the arcade game. One of the biggest blows? No two-player co-op. Instead, players had to take turns. The game also limited the number of enemies on screen, making the fights feel less intense. On top of that, moves had to be unlocked through a weird experience system. It did add a fun versus mode, but overall, it just couldn’t match the arcade version’s excitement.

3. Ghosts ‘n Goblins

Ghosts ‘n Goblins is already one of the toughest arcade games ever made, but the NES version made things even worse. Choppy scrolling, sprite flickering, and occasional glitches made an already difficult game even more frustrating. While it still captured the brutal challenge of the original, the technical issues made this port a rough experience.

2. Donkey Kong

As one of the most iconic arcade games of all time, Donkey Kong deserved a perfect port. Instead, the NES version felt incomplete. The biggest problem? It was missing an entire stage! The conveyor belt level was completely removed, and the game’s cutscenes were stripped down. Mario’s movement also felt a little off, making jumps harder to land. It was still Donkey Kong, but it wasn’t arcade Donkey Kong.

1. Pac-Man

Pac-Man is one of the most famous video games ever, but the NES version didn’t do it justice. The gameplay felt sluggish, the ghosts didn’t behave quite right, and the sprites were too big, sometimes clipping through the maze walls. Even the score display was awkwardly placed. For a game that relies on tight controls and perfect movement, these issues made this version a disappointment.