The Sega Genesis (also known as the Sega Mega Drive) holds a special place in the hearts of many gamers, and with good reason. One of the most successful fourth-generation video game consoles, Sega’s 16-bit platform boasted a wide range of terrific titles. The Genesis’ library was so good that the console even briefly outsold the SNES at the height of the “Console Wars” waged between Sega and Nintendo throughout the 90s.
Many of these games – which ran the gamut of genres, from platformers to beat ‘em ups and everything in between – still hold up today. So, if you can get your hands on a Genesis (or a decent emulator), there’s plenty of fun to be had. The only problem is figuring out which of the console’s 800+ titles to start with. That’s where this list of the best Sega Genesis games of all time comes in handy. Every entry is so good, you’ll even buy into Sega’s infamous “Genesis does what Nintendon’t” marketing slogan.
50. Sunset Riders
Games based on the Wild West are a cheat code to make most people say “hell yeah, brother”, and one look at Sunset Riders should elicit that exact reaction. A western themed take on shoot ‘em ups like Contra and others? It’s not so much “brother”, but “hell yeah, partner”. It’s high noon, so you know that it’s time for some rootin’, tootin’, side-scrollin’ shootin’.
Sunset Riders allows players to pick from two bounty hunters to chase down gangs of outlaws across eight different stages. Admittedly, it’s a bit of a scaled down port of the original arcade version, with two additional characters and half the levels removed, but the Genesis version did offer a VS mode if you felt like duelling your sibling.
49. Altered Beast
Altered Beast might be an example of a game that’s got huge cultural recognition despite only having three games total. The name alone has been referenced tonnes in pop culture, and even just saying the phrase “rise from your grave” might be enough to induce PTSD in any old school gamer, but there’s only been three games total, and none in over twenty years. Might be the power of being a Genesis pack-in game, honestly.
You probably know the deal already, but Altered Beast is the ancient Greece set beat ‘em up where you control a dude who slowly transforms into a powerful man-creature hybrid throughout the level. It’s basic, brutally hard, but still fun too. If nothing else, this is still better than the PS2 version. Oof.
48. Madden NFL ‘96
It’s kind of amazing how the Madden games have become the gold standard for American Football games, considering back when the series first started as John Madden Football, the NFL license was nowhere to be seen. After a few years of reinventing virtual gridiron for the masses though, introducing features unseen at the time like putting the camera behind the quarterback, NFL came knocking.
Madden on the Genesis is a story of steadily escalating greatness, with each entry adding new features and abilities to build on what came before. With that in mind, consider Madden NFL ‘96, the last one in the series before it came to the PS1 and started taking even bigger leaps. We’re doubling this entry up with FIFA 95 as well though, just to make it equal across the Atlantic.
47. Zero Wing
The side-scrolling space shooter that now lives in infamy due to one badly translated opening cutscene, Zero Wing is more than just the “all your base are belong to us” line. Remember when that was all the internet was? A simpler time. What makes Zero Wing a bit sadder though is that it’s the last horizontal shoot ‘em up from Toaplan, as apparently the devs just didn’t believe they knew how to make one interesting. Don’t be so hard on yourself, lads: this whips.
Like all good horizontal space shmups, it’s one ship versus an entire alien armada, but you’ve got some extra tools in your arsenal to turn the tides. Grabbing enemies to use them as shields against projectiles never gets old.
46. Michael Jackson’s Moonwalker
Say what you want about Michael Jackson, but he has a pretty cool legacy in video games. Cameo appearances in Space Channel 5 (and Ready 2 Rumble Boxing), he contributed to the music for Sonic 3, and who can forget Moonwalker, the tie-in to the movie of the same name? Now, we’ll grant you that the Genesis version isn’t quite as good as the arcade release, but there’s a decent Shinobi homage hidden here.
Based off the Smooth Criminal section of the film, Moonwalker sees MJ battling waves of Mr. Big’s goons across six main levels and multiple smaller stages. Sure, the fact he’s rescuing kidnapped kids has aged about as well as most BBC programming from the 70s to the 2000s, but it’s a fun game.
45. Comix Zone
Proof that style can really make or break a game, Comix Zone might not have been the first game to be fashioned after an actual comic book, but it felt like the first to really make the most of that constraint. Sure, the gameplay might be harder than a coffin nail, making it a bit of a chore to play sometimes, but despite being a late release for the console, Comix Zone proved that there was some genuine horsepower under the hood.
The game follows Sketch Turner, a comic book artist with a bad case of “being transported into his own comic book and forced to fight weird mutant goons”. The gameplay isn’t much to write home about, granted, but again, this was an utterly gorgeous SEGA Genesis game.
44. Splatterhouse 3
It doesn’t take a genius to see that Splatterhouse has been inspired by horror films like Friday The 13th. Hell, Rick wearing the Terror Mask is about as close as you can get to a copyright free version of Jason Vorhees, and with the popularity of horror in the 80s and 90s, it’s not surprising that Splatterhouse became a favourite for the sickos out there.
It’s us, we’re the sickos.
While only Splatterhouse 2 and 3 were available on the SEGA Genesis, the clear winner is Splatterhouse 3. Essentially a horror beat ‘em up, Splatterhouse 3 upped the ante with non-linear exploration and multiple endings depending on your performance. Oh, and copious amounts of gratuitous violence, of course. It’s called Splatterhouse for a reason.
43. Strider
If there was any justice in the world, we would have had way more Strider games over the years than we ended up with. For a game that did side scrolling hack and slash so well, there’s only been a handful of appearances for Capcom’s brilliant ninja, two of which occurred on the Sega Genesis. Between them both, you could say either are among the best Sega Genesis games ever made, but let’s just focus on the first one for now.
Set in the future of 2048, which is depressingly too close if we’re being honest, the game follows Strider Hiryu as he hacks, slashes and clambers around five stages that test the limits of your platforming abilities. Now, can we get a proper new one soon?
42. Syndicate
Another game series that should have been given more entries, though it’s more understandable why this one was taken round the back of the shed and mercy killed, Syndicate might have been a lot of people’s first intro into the genre of cyberpunk. A real time strategy tactics game, Syndicate lets you control a team of cybernetically enhanced corporate agents as they try to overthrow a country.
Like most games of this era that started out life on the PC before being ported to console, Syndicate for the Genesis arguably isn’t the most definitive way to play this classic. Still, this is by no means a bad port. If being an oppressive corpo douche is on your Sega Genesis wishlist, Syndicate offers everything you could ever want.
41. Panorama Cotton
We’re going to say something that might be considered a bit sacrilegious, especially when talking about a Sega console, but we’re saying it: as much as Space Harrier proved that pseudo-3D shoot ‘em ups were a winning formula, they’ve always looked ugly as sin. Something about the colour choices or the monster design has made Space Harrier feel a bit off-putting, so instead let’s focus on what’s essentially the same game but nicer to look at: Panorama Cotton.
The third entry in the Cotton franchise, Panorama bucked the formula by focusing on levels that scrolled into the screen instead of horizontally. You dodge projectiles, shoot enemies and look at pretty graphics. Good stuff, and you can even upgrade your weapons and cast spells.
40. Star Control
Not to be confused with the group that Buzz Lightyear reports to, Star Control is another example of a PC release that managed to squeeze onto a console cartridge. Squeeze isn’t quite the proper word though, considering that Star Control was the first example of a 12-megabit cartridge on the Sega Genesis, so it’s clear that Toys For Bob (yes, those guys) wanted to fit as much on there as possible.
A combination of strategy and one-on-one ship combat, Star Control has players pick between the two factions of the Ur-Quan Hierarchy and the Alliance of Free Stars. Each side has their own ships with their own strengths and weaknesses, but they’re pretty evenly matched, meaning you can choose whichever looks the coolest. Fine by us.
39. Wonder Boy In Monster World
One of seemingly an endless amount of examples of confusingly worded games, Wonder Boy In Monster World sounds like the first entry in the series, right? Nope, it’s actually the fifth, but when it was brought over to the West from Japan, the decision was made to make it sound like game one. More confusingly, in Japan it’s called Wonder Boy V: Monster World III.
As for the game itself, Wonder Boy In Monster World has players control Shion as he tries to save Monster World from the clutches of BioMeka. Far from just a regular platforming game, Wonder Boy In Monster World offers plenty in the way of adventure game elements, allowing you to backtrack, buy items and even save the game. Big deal, back then.
38. Ranger X
One of the key selling points of the Sega Genesis is just how gorgeous the games looked, and Ranger X might just be one of the best looking games in the entire library. Just look at this footage. Cor, phwoar, blimey and all that. Sure, it follows the exact same formula as every other horizontally scrolling shoot ‘em up of one lone machine versus an invasion, but when it’s this fun and looks this good, who cares?
Instead of piloting a ship through space though, the Ranger X is a powerful exoskeleton that comes complete with a jet pack that allows for limited flight but needs recharging. Players have to manage their resources well in order to avoid getting hit by every single projectile on the planet.
37. Mega Man: The Wily Wars
Ordinarily, we try to avoid straight remakes or ports on these lists, but when you’ve got a game as good as the original Mega Man, it’s hard not to recognise greatness. Originally released on the NES, the first three Mega Man games managed to find their way onto the Sega Genesis as Mega Man: The Wily Wars, which retained the same excellent gameplay albeit with visual and audio overhauls and some fixed glitches.
Far from being just a retread of those older games though, The Wily Wars includes an unlockable epilogue that offers three brand new stages and the Wily Tower challenge, which lets you choose weapons from all three Mega Man games to use against the mad scientist’s forces. A perfect introduction to a new console audience.
36. James Pond 2: Codename: RoboCod
Arguably the most deeply unserious game ever made, James Pond 2: Codename: RoboCod is about as ridiculous as it gets while still being a genuinely enjoyable platformer. It’s also incredibly British, to the point where the UK release of the game included product placement for McVitie’s Penguin biscuits, so you know you’re getting a game that’s soaked in about 17 layers of irony.
Following on from the 007 send-up James Pond: Underwater Agent, the sequel aims its sights squarely on RoboCop for some reason, with James being given cybernetic armour that lets him stretch his torso indefinitely. Using that, James needs to rescue Santa from his workshop after the villain Dr. Maybe has taken him and the elves hostage. Completely ridiculous, but still worth playing.
35. Forgotten Worlds
Just from the name alone, you’d think that Forgotten Worlds is some kind of fantasy adventure with elves, dwarves and all that magical nonsense. It’s not incorrect, considering there’s an ancient god who’s responsible for destroying the entire world, but instead of chainmail-clad heroes doing work for a guild or whatever, you’re playing as one of two muscle bound super soldiers solving their problems one rifle blast at a time.
An arcade port, Forgotten Worlds was considered to be pretty faithful by late 1980s standards. Sure, some animations were removed, the backgrounds changed and two entire levels cut, but besides that, it’s a 1:1 conversion. Thankfully, Forgotten Worlds is also a blast to play; ideal for anyone looking for a bit of Contra-style blasting.
34. Cool Spot
Back in the 90s, brands were quick to decide that their quirky little mascot should get their own video game. We’re still waiting on the Compare The Market meerkats to get their own platformer, just to alienate our American audience for a second there. Now, most of these brand integration video games were complete drek, but one game that managed to be pretty good in spite of itself was Cool Spot.
Based on Spot, the short-lived mascot for 7-Up, Cool Spot is a 2D platformer about Spot rescuing other Spots that have been imprisoned. Spot struts like a cool dude the entire time and all the levels look like a tourist’s holiday through West Coast America, but you know what? This is really enjoyable.
33. Landstalker: The Treasure Of King Nole
There’s a hell of a lot of beat ‘em ups and shoot ‘em ups on the Sega Genesis, so sometimes it’s just nice to appreciate a proper action RPG when they come along. Landstalker: The Treasure of King Nole fits that bill to a tee, offering isometric adventuring for anyone who fancies playing games with a little bit more depth than “go right, fight goons”. It might not be the most polished game ever, but it’s ambitious nonetheless.
Players control an adventurer inexplicably named Nigel, who teams with a wood nymph called Friday to find the mythical lost treasure of King Nole on a faraway island. Players explore, traverse dungeons and find upgrades over the course of several hours, making for an engaging RPG experience.
32. Ristar
Sega might have found the mascot that’d carry them into the future fairly early into the Sega Genesis’ lifespan, but that didn’t stop the madlads from trying to find another one as a back-up. One that deserved perhaps a bit more love than it ultimately received was Ristar, launching late into the console’s lifespan when people were more concerned about the Saturn or the PlayStation 1.
Players control the titular sentient star, complete with Mickey Mouse gloves and the Sega tradition sneakers, as he uses his extendable arms to climb his way through several levels. It’s Bionic Commando in terms of using your arms for platforming, but with some different tricks and surprises thrown in. Underrated, underappreciated, and undermined by a terrible release date.
31. Dr. Robotnik’s Mean Bean Machine
Look, I know we make a big deal of these ranking videos typically only having one game per franchise on them, so you might think we’re blowing our load a bit too early by featuring Dr. Robotnik’s Mean Bean Machine instead of a more traditional Sonic game. It’s a fair point, but the truth is that Mean Bean Machine is actually just the westernised version of Puyo Puyo, the beloved falling block/colour matching puzzle game that’s still going strong today.
Considering the lack of other Puyo Puyo in this video, we’re letting this through on a technicality. Gameplay sees you competing with an opponent to create cascading colour matches in order to flood their screen with junk so you win. Deviously hard, endlessly fun.
30. Alien Soldier
Known Treasure enjoyers Cultured Vultures are at it again, and while we’ll get into the more popular ones later, real ones know that Alien Soldier is utterly phenomenal. While there’s some run and gun levels to blast through, the main crux of the game is the most intense boss fights you could find on the platform, testing your mettle in the way that only Treasure can.
Trying to encapsulate the full story and setting of Alien Soldier feels like too much to really boil down in the short entries we use for these ranking videos, so all you need to know is you’re a bird person and you’re shooting everything that moves. Players pick their loadout after each death, allowing you to strategise as you progress.
29. Road Rash 2
Motorbike racing games are often even more thrilling than normal car racing games. Something about going 150 mph while hanging on to a powerful machine for dear life is always exciting, though maybe we were influenced when we were younger by games like Road Rash. Of course, Road Rash upped the ante by having those riding the bikes beat the snot out of each other while racing, but that just made the games even more enticing.
Road Rash 2 took the bike combat formula and improved it significantly, adding a two-player versus mode allowing players to find out who rules the road. Add in the career style mode that lets you upgrade your bike as you progress through races, and Road Rash 2 remains racing royalty.
28. Zombies Ate My Neighbors
Sometimes, you just need a good name in order to sell something, and Zombies Ate My Neighbors is about as good as it gets on that front. Who doesn’t love something that sounds like your next favourite b-movie? Fortunately, Zombies Ate My Neighbors fully leans into that b-movie vibe, with you and a friend playing as teenagers trying to rescue the ‘burbs from the clutches of the undead, and the mad scientist who unleashed them.
Across the game’s 55 levels, you’ll be fighting enemies and rescuing humans in a game where you don’t know what’s going to happen next. It might be called Zombies Ate My Neighbors, but you really need to be worried about the 20ft tall baby that’s the boss eight levels in.
27. Outrun
Sega’s premier game about hot people driving nice cars, Outrun was the belle of the arcades for the longest time, so console ports were inevitable. For a while though, said console versions like the Master System and the Game Gear couldn’t match up to what the arcade machine was offering. That all changed with the release of the Genesis version of Outrun in 1991 though, giving players a near-arcade perfect version of cruising through idyllic locales with your girlfriend in the passenger seat. Immaculate vibes, what can we say?
Instead of racing against opponents, Outrun is about racing against the clock to complete five routes out of a possible 15. It’s a road trip game, albeit one on a bit of a strict timer.
26. Castle Of Illusion Starring Mickey Mouse
A lot is made of the partnership between Disney and Capcom that led to a lot of fantastic games, but Sega weren’t to be outdone. Just look at Castle of Illusion Starring Mickey Mouse, which is considered by some to be one of the best Disney tie-in games of all time. On a console generation defined by some of the biggest names in platforming that are still going today, the House of Mouse held its own.
On a mission to rescue a kidnapped Minnie Mouse from an evil witch, Castle of Illusion sees Mickey running and jumping through various levels in other worlds, hoping to defeat the Masters of Illusion. It’s not the most innovative game ever made, but the fundamentals here are better than most.
25. Dynamite Headdy
A lot of the criticism of video games in the 90s was that it was all just gratuitous violence, so Dynamite Headdy is different because it challenges gamers to use their head in order to solve problems. Granted, using your head in this instance means “lobbing it at enemies in order to defeat them”, but then we wouldn’t have an overly elaborate joke with very little payoff.
Another Treasure whipper, Dynamite Headdy follows the puppet Headdy as he battles with the evil King Dark Demon, which he does by lobbing his head everywhere. It can damage enemies, be used to reach new areas or even be swapped with other heads to gain new power-ups. It’s a bonkers game, but that’s why we love it so much.
24. Rocket Knight Adventures
What’s cooler than a regular knight? A knight with a bloody rocket strapped to his back, that’s what. Clearly, Konami agreed, as they created Rocket Knight Adventures that allows you to be a cool, honourable hero, albeit with propulsion that’d probably melt your face off the bone in real life. No one cares about physics and realism though when you’re playing a game as fun as this, though.
Players control Sparkster, as they use their Rocket Knight abilities to both fight against the forces of the Devotindos Empire, while trying to rescue a kidnapped princess in the process. Sure, you’ve got a sword to slice through people, but the real fun comes from using your rocket boosters to smash into people at high speed.
23. Shining Force 2
If going through the Genesis’ vast platforming library sounds like it’s getting a bit too samey, and you’re looking for something with a bit of meat on its bones, Shining Force 2 is an RPG that should be on your radar. Considered one of the best RPGs of all-time, Shining Force is, pardon the pun, a shining example of excellent gaming on the Sega Genesis. We really “forced” that one in. Okay, we’ll stop.
A tactical RPG, players control the titular Shining Force, a group of adventurers who must deal with the chaos that ensues after a thief accidentally unleashes an ancient demon king. You’ve got multiple characters, each with their own classes and can be upgraded throughout the game, so you’ll be playing this one a while.
22. Ghouls ‘n Ghosts
If you didn’t know any better, you’d think that Ghouls ‘n Ghosts had no differences from the previous game, Ghosts ‘n Goblins, which isn’t entirely unfair. You’re playing as Arthur once again, rescuing a damsel in distress by travelling into the pits of hell, and just like last time, you need to complete the game twice in order to see the true ending. This time though, you need to have a special weapon equipped when you get there. It’s harder, basically.
Capcom didn’t exactly break the mold when making a sequel to their popular dark fantasy arcade game then, but Ghouls ‘n Ghosts did give players the ability to shoot up and down directly. More control over your character is always an improvement, making this a Genesis platforming masterclass.
21. Earthworm Jim
From one instance of platforming greatness to another, Earthworm Jim didn’t have too many games (and we probably aren’t seeing another one), but the legacy those few games did leave were — well, let’s just say “groovy”. Another example of a game that just throws ideas and concepts at you so you’re always on your toes, from a hellscape occupied only by lawyers, to a bungee jumping contest against a sentient snotball, Earthworm Jim is a testament to imagination.
From Jim’s expressive spritework, the beautiful and weird backgrounds to the excellent run and gun platforming gameplay, Earthworm Jim is a Sega Genesis game that’s firing on all cylinders. It’s not “we’d love you if you were a worm”; we love Jim because he’s a worm.
20. Toejam & Earl
Blurring the line between roguelike and platformer, Toejam & Earl’s hard-to-classify gameplay failed to attract much of an audience when it first hit shelves in 1991. Critics loved it, though, and the game subsequently developed a devoted following among Sega aficionados. It’s not hard to see why, either.
Toejam & Earl combines addictive mechanics, an innovative two-player mode (few split-screen experiences are wilder), and, above all, humor to dazzling effect. Sure, its 90s slang and garish graphics have aged like milk, but you’ll be having too much fun to notice much less care.
19. Dr. Robotnik’s Mean Bean Machine
Fun fact: Dr. Robotnik’s Mean Bean Machine is a reskinned version of another puzzle game, Puyo Puyo. This lack of originality (further compounded by Puyo Puyo’s own indebtedness to Tetris) should make Dr. Robotnik’s Mean Bean Machine an utterly forgettable affair, yet somehow, the reverse is true.
The title’s core falling block mechanics are as well-executed as any entry in the genre, and the inclusion of a Sonic-themed story mode adds an extra dimension to proceedings. There’s also a neat two-player versus mode, which gives Dr. Robotnik’s Mean Bean Machine yet another edge over other, less ambitious Tetris clones.
18. Herzog Zwei
If the previous entry on this list of the best Sega Genesis games of all time was a tad derivative, the same doesn’t apply to Herzog Zwei. Technosoft’s 1989 effort is widely cited as one of the most influential real-time strategy games ever released and is credited with inspiring RTS classics such as Dune II, Starcraft, and Command & Conquer.
Fittingly, what made Herzog Zwei such a big deal back in the day is also what makes it so fun to play now. It has a streamlined command system, a gamepad-friendly icon-driven interface, and (relatively) fast-paced tactical gameplay that’s just as satisfying on your own or with a friend.
17. Castlevania: Bloodlines
Konami developed Castlevania: Bloodlines specifically with the Sega Genesis in mind. So, while this spinoff follows the same basic platformer template as other early entries in the vampire-themed Castlevania franchise, it also caters to Genesis owners’ love of fast-paced beat ‘em ups.
The upshot of this is that Castlevania: Bloodlines’ gameplay has a flavor all its own, while the inclusion of player character-specific branching pathways bolsters its replay value. Castlevania: Bloodline’s graphics are also up there with the best the Genesis has to offer – another benefit of Konami playing to the strengths and weaknesses of the console from the get-go.
16. Gunstar Heroes
Another run and gun shooter, Gunstar Heroes is an uninterrupted thrill ride from the moment players press “start”. This is true regardless of whether you tackle the game’s seven stages alone or in two-player co-op mode, collecting and combining weapons as you go.
Part of what keeps Gunstar Heroes’ gameplay feeling fresh is this customisation element, and the consistently inventive level design does the rest. Gunstar Heroes looks great too, thanks to developer Treasure’s ingenious workarounds for the Genesis’ various graphical limitations.
15. Golden Axe
The 16-bit era was the heyday of the side-scrolling hack and slash game, which explains why the genre is so well-represented on this list that celebrates the biggest hitters on Genesis. One of the very best is Golden Axe, Sega’s 1989 arcade port that takes its cues from the sword and sorcery movies popular at the time.
The close-quarters combat is suitably meaty, and the inclusion of distinct playable characters and rideable creatures staves off monotony. Plus, the Genesis version of Golden Axe features an extra stage, complete with a new – and impressively tough – final boss.
14. Contra: Hard Corps
Contra: Hard Corps is the first entry in Konami’s run and gun franchise to grace a Sega platform, and it proves the maxim that some things are worth waiting for. The game sports several features missing from earlier Contra outings, including four player characters to choose from, a cutscene-driven story, and branching level design.
Contra: Hard Corps bundles these innovations with the same intense gameplay that made its predecessors so great, blending eight-directional shooting with a new slide attack. The result is one of the greatest (not to mention hardest) run and gun games of the fourth generation.
13. Vectorman
Sega’s answer to Nintendo’s mega-hit Donkey Kong Country, Vectorman employed pre-rendered 2D sprites to emulate 3D graphics. These visuals were jaw-dropping back in 1995 – helping the Genesis to remain competitive against both the SNES and Sony’s PlayStation – and retain a retro charm today.
Vectorman does more than just look pretty, though. It’s also a blast to play, thanks to the morphing abilities of its robot protagonist and its 16 highly varied, secret area-filled levels. The latter gives Vectorman plenty of replay potential, and the straightforward control scheme means you’ll be more than happy to give the game at least one more go-round.
12. Ecco the Dolphin
Ecco the Dolphin is hands-down the most visually impressive game on this list of the best Sega Genesis games. It’s also the most calming – whether you’re solving puzzles with Ecco’s dolphin song or ramming enemies with his nose, there’s something zen-like about gliding through the game’s virtual ocean.
This is all the more remarkable given Ecco the Dolphin isn’t an easy game, in part because (like a real-life aquatic mammal) Ecco needs to periodically surface for air. Rather than harshing Ecco the Dolphin’s mellow vibes, the game’s difficulty curve further enhances the overall experience and explains why many fans are eager for Sega to revive the franchise.
11. Desert Strike: Return to the Gulf
A shoot ‘em up with a tactical edge, Desert Strike: Return to the Gulf drops players into the cockpit of an AH-64 Apache helicopter. The overall aim is to bring down the regime of a crazed dictator, however, there’s more to Desert Strike: Return to the Gulf’s gameplay than jumping in your chopper and blowing up the bad guys.
To win, you’ll need to engage your brain as often as your trigger finger by managing your ammo and fuel levels and even choosing the right co-pilot for the mission at hand. These elements make Desert Strike: Return to the Gulf one of the deeper, more strategic shoot ‘em ups – and one of the best.
10. NBA Jam: Tournament Edition
Few sports games from the fourth generation of video game consoles still hold up today, largely because of the technical limitations of the time. NBA Jam: Tournament Edition is a rare exception to this rule, simply because it doesn’t really try to ape real basketball.
Instead, NBA Jam: Tournament Edition emphasises superhuman slam dunks and blatant fouls over realism and rules and is more enjoyable for it. Lightning-quick hoops aside, the game is also brimming with secret characters and Easter eggs to unlock, boosting its overall replayability. Boomshakalaka!
9. Shadowrun
Shadowrun is one of the most “grown-up” titles on this list, and underscores how well the console catered to older gamers. A cyberpunk-themed action RPG, Shadowrun faithfully recreates the complex mythology and dark tone of the pen-and-paper role-playing game it’s based on.
The story is compelling, the top-down exploration and combat are equally worthwhile, and the character customisation options are suitably granular. Shadowrun also includes special stages set inside a vast computer network that provide a welcome break from its core gameplay loop. This lends Shadowrun a real air of freedom, a sensation further reinforced by the game’s open world design.
8. Beyond Oasis
Sega Genesis owners missed out on SNES exclusive The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past, but Beyond Oasis did a decent job of filling the console’s Legend of Zelda gap. Heck, Ancient’s 1994 action-adventure game even brings some new ideas to the table.
Notably, the title spices up its hack and slash combat with magic-powered special attacks. Beyond Oasis’ vibrant, anime-inspired graphics are a delight as well, and far outshine A Link to the Past’s more simplistic visuals.
7. Flashback: The Quest for Identity
U.S. Gold billed Flashback: The Quest for Identity as “a CD-ROM in cartridge” back in 1992, and if that was overselling this sci-fi game a tad, it wasn’t too far off the money, either. Developer Delphine Software International brought Flashback’s player character Conrad and his alien enemies to life via rotoscoping, resulting in the most fluid animations possible with 16-bit technology.
This heightened sense of realism, coupled with the game’s intense platformer action and cinematic storytelling sensibilities, made Flashback: The Quest for Identity the most immersive title in the Genesis library.
6. Shinobi III: Return of the Ninja Master
Shinobi III: Return of the Ninja Master isn’t just one of the best Sega Genesis games of all time – it’s also one of the best ninja games of all time, too. Eschewing the punishing difficulty of its 1989 predecessor, The Revenge of Shinobi, this hack and slash/platformer hybrid expands the number of attacks at protagonist Joe Musashi’s disposal.
This means more fun for players – as does the sequel’s faster-paced gameplay. Shinobi III even features special stages with Joe on either horseback or motorised surfboard that encapsulate the franchise’s welcome pivot to more up-tempo level design.
5. Mortal Kombat II
Mortal Kombat II is so much better than the original Mortal Kombat, it’s almost embarrassing. The second entry in the Mortal Kombat franchise retains the graphic violence that made its predecessor such a phenomenon, only this time, it’s paired with more robust fighting game mechanics. As sequels go, you could say it’s a flawless victory.
Mortal Kombat II’s graphics and audio have both undergone a noticeable upgrade, as well, lending the game a more atmospheric vibe. True, it lacks the depth or audio-visual polish of its successor, but its superior roster of fighters and more accessible mechanics trump these superficial improvements.
4. Phantasy Star IV: The End of the Millennium
Phantasy Star IV: The End of the Millennium was the final installment in the original, non-online multiplayer franchise – and it sure did end things on a high note. The team at Sega outside themselves with the fourth Phantasy Star game, adding new wrinkles to the turn-based combat system and beefing up the storytelling with manga-inspired cutscenes.
Phantasy Star IV also included some welcome updates to the exploration aspect of the franchise’s established formula. Now, players could interact with background items, making the Algol Star System feel more alive than ever before. JRPGs really came into their own during the 16-bit era, and Phantasy Star IV was at the forefront of this revolution.
3. Street Fighter II’: Special Champion Edition
Mortal Kombat devotees are probably howling right now, but let’s be real: Street Fighter II’: Special Champion Edition deserves to rank higher on this list of the best Sega Genesis games. As good as Mortal Kombat II is, it comes up short compared to Street Fighter II’ (pronounced “Street Fighter Dash”) in every way that matters.
Street Fighter II’s mechanics are deeper, its animations more fluid, and its roster better balanced and more varied. The Special Champion Edition builds on these strengths by making the original game’s four boss characters playable, proving it’s possible to improve on perfection. No wonder people are still playing it today.
2. Streets of Rage 2
While there’s something to recommend about every entry in the Streets of Rage franchise, for our money, the best of the bunch is Streets of Rage 2. A side-scrolling beat ‘em up, it improves on the core mechanics established by its predecessor by adding more distinctly different playable characters and broadening the move set at the player’s disposal.
The graphics are sharper as well, and composer Yuzo Koshiro’s techno soundtrack (with contributions by Motohiro Kawashima) straight-up slaps. Subsequent Streets of Rage installments are essentially riffs on Streets of Rage 2, yet rarely reach the same heights as this absolute 16-bit icon.
1. Sonic the Hedgehog 3
Sonic the Hedgehog 3 is arguably the platonic ideal of what a Sonic game should be. All the core components of the franchise (the frenetic platformer gameplay, bright graphics, and smart level design) are present and accounted for here, and polished to the nth degree. Yet Sonic the Hedgehog 3 does more than just iterate, it innovates, too.
There’s a greater emphasis on exploration and non-linear gameplay in this third installment, and to Sega’s credit, these additions gel well with the franchise’s speed-oriented formula. Honestly, we only have one complaint about Sonic the Hedgehog 3, and it’s that it’s best enjoyed in tandem with Sonic & Knuckles. But really, who ever complained about having too many Sonic games on their shelf?
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