So, being born in '93 I feel that I missed a lot of great games, and was wanting to go back and do some classic games on the NES and eventually move on to the SNES and the rest of the platforms I missed. However, there are LOADS of games, so I've decided to just play what you guys think are THE essential NES games. I'm talking the games that you think everyone should have played during the NES's reign. So, have any ideas to get me started? This should be fun :p 
 
EDIT:   And these games don't have to be good necessarily. If there a crucial part in understanding a story or something then throw them in there. 

Don't know, I played piss-tons of NES before I was too young to remember, but SNES was my prime.  Lemee know when you want an SNES list.

The Mega Man games are essential!

Win Lose or Draw & Championship Bowling

Mario Bros. 
Mario Bros. 3 (naturally)
Kirby's Adventure 
Ninja Gaiden  (don't expect to ever finish it though) 
Castlevania 3 (best of the NES Castlevania games) 
Bubble Bobble (better with 2 players. Or you could just get one of a million other versions)  
Bionic Commando (maybe)
Legend of Zelda 
Adventure of Link (It's different)
Startropics ( Zelda like, yet different. Definetly skip the sequel anyway) 
Punch Out ( played it the first time on VC myself )  
Megaman 2 (or both 2 & 3)  
Ducktales (haven't played it myself in a few years though)
 
That's all off the top of my head. 
 
Edit: People also like Contra and Metroid, was so long ago that I played them though, so I can't really recommend either or.

Having only played the NES at my friend's house and sadly never owning one myself, my experience is limited.  However, here are some off the top of my head:
 
Super Mario Bros.
Super Mario Bros. 3
The Legend of Zelda
Mega Man
Mega Man 2
Metroid
Excitebike
Kirby's Adventure
Contra
Prince of Persia
Duck Tails

" Don't know, I played piss-tons of NES before I was too young to remember, but SNES was my prime.  Lemee know when you want an SNES list. "

The guys over at 1UP.com have a pretty solid list of NES games.
 
 http://www.1up.com/do/feature?cId=3181864
 
At least, I've played most of them and enjoyed them.

" Mario Bros. 
Mario Bros. 3 (naturally)
Kirby's Adventure 
Ninja Gaiden  (don't expect to ever finish it though) 
Castlevania 3 (best of the NES Castlevania games) 
Bubble Bobble (better with 2 players. Or you could just get one of a million other versions)  
Bionic Commando (maybe)
Legend of Zelda 
Adventure of Link (It's different)
Startropics ( Zelda like, yet different. Definetly skip the sequel anyway) 
Punch Out ( played it the first time on VC myself )  
Megaman 2 (or both 2 & 3)  
Ducktales (haven't played it myself in a few years though)
 
That's all off the top of my head. 
 
Edit: People also like Contra and Metroid, was so long ago that I played them though, so I can't really recommend either or. "

Don't forget Chip N Dale: Rescue Rangers. It might seem like it's for little kids, but that game was awesome.
You should play Battletoads, but don't expect to get far.  
American Gladiators was pretty cool.
Tecmo Bowl was like the pinnacle of football back in those days.
 
I'm having a hard time thinking of other ones besides the games already mentioned above.

Battletoads Double Dragon is an awesome NES game.

Just played a little bit of Megaman. Man this is rough haha.