Rare’s top 10 games acclaimed by critics

British studio Rare produced a string of critically acclaimed games across genres, from platformers and shooters to racing and puzzle-action. Below are 10 Rare titles that earned notable praise from critics, including Metacritic scores and defining features of each release.

Rare characters from Rare Replay promotional art — Characters from Rare shown in the Rare Replay launch image. Credit: Rare (divulgação)

Diddy Kong Racing (Nintendo 64)

Diddy Kong racing in a kart with airplane and hovercraft options — Diddy Kong Racing. Credit: Rare, Nintendo (divulgação)

Diddy Kong Racing expanded the kart-racer formula by letting players pilot karts, airplanes and hovercrafts, each with distinct handling and tactics. The game includes power-ups and a roster featuring Diddy Kong, Banjo and Conker.

Critics highlighted its controls and visuals; the title holds an 88/100 on Metacritic. Rare later released a remake for Nintendo DS.

Donkey Kong 64

Donkey Kong navigating a 3D platform level with allies — Donkey Kong 64. Credit: Rare, Nintendo (divulgação)

Donkey Kong 64 is the franchise’s sole fully 3D platformer and centers on exploration, item collection, puzzles and minigames. Players switch among Donkey Kong, Diddy, Tiny, Chunky and Lanky, each with unique abilities required to access specific areas.

The game was well received by critics and has a 90/100 score on Metacritic.

Blast Corps

Vehicles and machines used to demolish obstacles in an urban setting — Blast Corps. Credit: Rare, Nintendo (divulgação)

Blast Corps combines action and puzzle-solving: players demolish buildings and structures to clear a path for a runaway vehicle carrying nuclear material, preventing catastrophic collisions. The title offers multiple vehicle types such as excavators, robots and specialized cars.

Reviewers praised its clever design and visuals; the game holds a 90/100 on Metacritic.

Banjo-Tooie

Banjo and Kazooie exploring a large 3D environment — Banjo-Tooie. Credit: Rare (divulgação)

As the sequel to Banjo-Kazooie, Banjo-Tooie expands to larger worlds where players control Banjo and Kazooie to confront Gruntilda and her sisters. The game focuses on puzzle-solving, 3D platforming and item collection, and includes a multiplayer mode for up to four players featuring various minigames.

Critics responded favorably, with a 90/100 rating on Metacritic.

Conker’s Bad Fur Day

Conker amid irreverent, adult-oriented platforming scenes — Conker’s Bad Fur Day. Credit: Rare (divulgação)

Conker’s Bad Fur Day is a platformer aimed at adults, notable for irreverent humor and pop-culture references. The story follows an intoxicated squirrel, Conker, trying to get home after a night of drinking, and the gameplay mixes puzzles, object collection and competitive encounters.

The title received acclaim for its writing, gameplay and visuals, earning a 92/100 on Metacritic. Rare released an Xbox remake in 2005 titled Conker: Live & Reloaded.

Banjo-Kazooie

Banjo and Kazooie in a colorful platforming world — Banjo-Kazooie. Credit: Rare (divulgação)

Banjo-Kazooie is a 3D platformer in which players combine the abilities of Banjo and Kazooie to explore nine nonlinear worlds, solve puzzles, collect items and traverse platforming challenges while opposing the witch Gruntilda. The game was widely praised for its gameplay, graphics and humor.

It holds a 92/100 score on Metacritic.

Donkey Kong Country

Donkey Kong and Diddy Kong in a side-scrolling platform sequence — Donkey Kong Country. Credit: Rare, Nintendo (divulgação)

Donkey Kong Country rebooted the Donkey Kong franchise with side-scrolling platform gameplay starring Donkey Kong and Diddy Kong. One of its standout features was pre-rendered 3D-style graphics that delivered a distinctive visual presentation for the time.

The story revolves around recovering a stolen banana hoard from the Kremlings, with gameplay focused on platforming, enemy encounters and riding animals or mine carts.

Donkey Kong Country 2: Diddy’s Kong Quest

Diddy and Dixie Kong facing jungle-themed obstacles — Donkey Kong Country 2: Diddy’s Kong Quest. Credit: Rare, Nintendo (divulgação)

This sequel maintained the original’s success and continued to use pre-rendered 3D-style visuals. Players control Diddy Kong and Dixie Kong as they aim to rescue Donkey Kong, who has been captured by King K. Rool.

GoldenEye 007 (Nintendo 64)

James Bond in a corridor of a GoldenEye 007 level — GoldenEye 007. Credit: Rare, Nintendo (divulgação)

Based on the film GoldenEye, this first-person shooter is widely regarded as a landmark in the genre. Players assume the role of James Bond and progress through mission-based levels using an assortment of weapons and gadgets.

The game is especially remembered for its split-screen multiplayer supporting up to four players in deathmatches. GoldenEye 007 holds a 96/100 on Metacritic. In 2010, Eurocom released a remake.

Perfect Dark (Nintendo 64)

Joanna Dark aiming a weapon in a futuristic shooter setting — Perfect Dark. Credit: Rare (divulgação)

Considered a spiritual successor to GoldenEye 007, Perfect Dark stars Joanna Dark, an agent confronting an alien threat tied to a rival corporation. The game features a robust single-player campaign and varied multiplayer modes such as deathmatch and cooperative play.

Perfect Dark earned a 97/100 on Metacritic. Rare also released a Game Boy Color counterpart with Transfer Pak compatibility, and a remaster by 4J Studios arrived for Xbox 360 in 2010.