NintendoGeneration 5
Nintendo 64
1996
AU Release
1 March 1997
AU Launch Price
$299 AUD
~$640 today
Units Sold
33M
Technical Specifications
Processor
64-bit NEC VR4300 (93.75 MHz)
Memory
4 MB RDRAM (expandable to 8 MB)
Storage
Controller Pak (256 KB)
Media
ROM Cartridge
Best-Selling Nintendo 64 Games
Global lifetime sales
Cultural Impact
The Nintendo 64 introduced 3D gaming to millions of children in the late 1990s and remains one of the most beloved consoles ever made. Super Mario 64 redefined what a game could be, establishing the conventions of 3D platformers. The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time is still widely considered the greatest game ever made. Its four-controller ports made it the multiplayer console of its era — GoldenEye 007 and Mario Kart 64 defined a generation of couch gaming for Australian kids. The N64 never made it beyond 33 million units due to its controversial choice of cartridges over CDs, which pushed Square (Final Fantasy) and Konami to PlayStation.
Did You Know?
GoldenEye 007 on N64 sold 8 million copies and is often credited with popularising first-person shooters on consoles
The N64 controller's centre prong analogue stick is so distinctive it became a cultural meme for 90s gaming
Nintendo kept the N64 on cartridges to prevent piracy and load times — but the higher manufacturing costs drove third-party developers to PlayStation
From the Same Generation (Gen 5)
More from Nintendo
Looking for classic Nintendo 64 games?
Browse Nintendo 64 titles available for trade on Greatest GOAT Australia — stop paying EB Games prices.
Browse Nintendo 64 Games