Game Save Method List

This page categorizes the N64 library by what method each game uses to save progress. Unlike most game consoles before it, the N64 has many ways of saving, mostly on a technical level.

NOTE: This list is formatted for USA released games. Any games that were only released in other regions will be added with their region denoted in parentheses.

These are the 5 known saving methods:

• Controller Pak (32,768 bytes) SRAM
• 4 Kilobits (512 bytes) EEPROM
• 16 Kilobits (2048 bytes) EEPROM
• 256 Kilobits (32,768 bytes) SRAM
• 1024 Kilobits (131,072 bytes) FlashRAM
• No Save (included at the bottom)

The bottom four methods are for on-cartridge saving. They function basically the same to the end user. SRAM (Static RAM) uses a coin cell battery as it is a volatile form of memory. EEPROM and FlashRAM do not require an external power source to retain data.

There also exists one unique N64 game, Dezaemon 3D. It uses 768Kbit SRAM, thus also uses a battery.

NOTE: Sometimes a game uses both on-cart memory and the controller pak. Such games will be placed in each of the relevant lists.

Also known as a memory card. Most 3rd party games used this to save. N64 memory cards use a battery. Within about 20 to 25 years from manufacture, their batteries will have to be replaced.

The second most common form of saving. Most carts with internal saving used this.

As you can see, not many carts used this to save.

• Banjo-Tooie
• Conker's Bad Fur Day
• Cruis'n World
• Donkey Kong 64
• Excitebike 64
• Kobe Bryant in NBA Courtside
• Mario Party 3
• Mario Tennis
• Perfect Dark
• Ridge Racer 64
• Star Wars Episode 1 Racer
• Yoshi's Story

These carts have a battery to power the SRAM when not being played. Like the Controller Pak, these games will eventually need to have their batteries replaced.

• 1080 Snowboarding
• Dezaemon 3D (JPN, 768Kbit)
• F-Zero X
• Harvest Moon 64
• Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time, The
• Major League Baseball featuring Ken Griffey Jr.
• Mario Golf
• New Tetris, The
• Ogre Battle 64: Person of Lordly Caliber
• Pocket Monsters Stadium (JPN)
• Resident Evil 2
• Super Smash Bros.
• WCW/NWO Revenge
• WWF: Wrestlemania 2000

Animal Crossing (JPN) uses a battery for the real time clock (RTC) chip.

A few games used this rather fancy (and costly) save method.

• Command & Conquer
• Jet Force Gemini
• Ken Griffey Jr's Slugfest
• Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask, The
• Megaman 64
• NBA Courtside 2 featuring Kobe Bryant
• Paper Mario
• Pokemon Puzzle League
• Pokemon Snap
• Pokemon Stadium
• Pokemon Stadium 2
• Starcraft 64
• Tigger's Honey Hunt
• WWF: No Mercy

Surprisingly enough, quite a few N64 games do not save progress at all, not even with a controller pak. We're including these games for the sake of completeness, in case you wondered why some games are not on the above lists. A few of these listed games at least support saving the old fashioned way with passwords.

• Batman Beyond: Return of the Joker
• Charlie Blast's Territory (Password)
• Clayfighter 63 1/3
• Clayfighter: Sculptor's Cut
• Dark Rift
• Elmo's Letter Adventure
• Elmo's Number Journey
• Jeopardy!
• Knife Edge: Nosegunner
• Mace: The Dark Age
• Magical Tetris Challenge
• Monster Truck Madness (Password)
• Mortal Kombat Trilogy
• Powerpuff Girls: Chemical X Traction (Password)
• Rugrats: Scavenger Hunt
• South Park: Chef's Luv Shack
• Transformers Beast Wars: Transmetals
• War Gods
• Wheel of Fortune

Credit for a lot of this information goes to Elitendo, R.I.P.

Written by Aaron Wilcott
May 7th 2014
Updated April 13th 2020