The 100 Best Sega Genesis Games
From 'Sonic the Hedgehog' to 'Gunstar Heroes,' these are the 100 best games from one of the original 16-bit consoles, Sega's Genesis system.
This feature was originally published on Nov. 17, 2016.
When the Sega Genesis launched in 1988, it was a 16-bit visual feast, with a bright color palette that juxtaposed sharply with the Nintendo Entertainment System’s 8-bit graphics. In response, Nintendo released its own 16-bit console, the Super Nintendo, in 1990. This kicked off the “Console Wars,” which pitted the two most high-profile video game companies against one another in a bid for the same audience.
With its electric-blue hedgehog and aggressive marketing to teenage boys, Sega positioned itself as the youthful, cooler alternative to Nintendo’s stodgy traditionalism. And, at least in the United States, the plan worked, with the Sega Genesis outselling the SNES at a rate of two to one for several years.
Of course, we know how the story ends. A series of bad business decisions forced Sega to stop making consoles in 2001 after the Dreamcast lost millions of dollars. And we now live in a bizarro world where the best way to play Genesis games is on the Nintendo Switch, via its online subscription service.
Let’s go back to a time before all that. Here are the 100 best Sega Genesis video games—the RPGs, shooters, beat ‘em ups, and arcade ports with style and substance to spare.
This feature was originally published on Nov. 17, 2016.
When the Sega Genesis launched in 1988, it was a 16-bit visual feast, with a bright color palette that juxtaposed sharply with the Nintendo Entertainment System’s 8-bit graphics. In response, Nintendo released its own 16-bit console, the Super Nintendo, in 1990. This kicked off the “Console Wars,” which pitted the two most high-profile video game companies against one another in a bid for the same audience.
With its electric-blue hedgehog and aggressive marketing to teenage boys, Sega positioned itself as the youthful, cooler alternative to Nintendo’s stodgy traditionalism. And, at least in the United States, the plan worked, with the Sega Genesis outselling the SNES at a rate of two to one for several years.
Of course, we know how the story ends. A series of bad business decisions forced Sega to stop making consoles in 2001 after the Dreamcast lost millions of dollars. And we now live in a bizarro world where the best way to play Genesis games is on the Nintendo Switch, via its online subscription service.
Let’s go back to a time before all that. Here are the 100 best Sega Genesis video games—the RPGs, shooters, beat ‘em ups, and arcade ports with style and substance to spare.
100. Alisia Dragoon
A solid adventure platformer co-produced by anime studio Gainax.
99. Out Run
Hardly arcade perfect but captured a lot of the arcade classic's magic.
98. Zero Wing
All your base are belong to us.
97. Magical Hat Taruruuto-Kun
Developed by Game Freak, the same studio that would go on to make Pokemon. This played like it should've been called "My First Adventure Game."
96. Zero Tolerance
It took a few years after the console's launch but Zero Tolerance proved that first person shooting in the style of Doom was capable on the Genesis.
95. Altered Beast
Wise Fwom Your Gwave!
94. Starflight
This 1985 sci-fi classic managed to find new life six years later on the Genesis. Bonus: The game can still be played after the story ends, which wasn't possible in the other versions.
93. Wings of Wor
If the sprite art style looks familiar it's because the artist would go on to create the Cho Aniki series.
92. Mazin Saga: Mutant Fighter
Based on the famous manga/anime mech series, this game featured some of the most fluid character animations on the Genesis, most notably in the boss fights.
91. Mega Bomberman
Surprising that this is the only Bomberman game on the Genesis, let alone a port that was handled by Wonder Boy studio, Westone.
90. Monster World IV
You can't help but think this was a precursor to WayForward's Shantae series.
89. Jungle Strike
A worthy follow-up to EA's Desert Strike, now with the ability to control more than just the helicopter.
88. Gain Ground
Plays a bit like "reverse Tower Defense," complemented by one of the better soundtracks on the Genesis.
87. Atomic Runner
Take one of the countless side scrolling shooters on the system, then add gravity.
86. Eliminate Down
By the time this was made, there were already so many shoot 'em ups for the Genesis that no U.S. publisher wanted to take a chance on it. Still a darn good shooter.
85. Rolling Thunder 2
Namco's Rolling Thunder series always did a much better job making a James Bond adventure better than any 007 side scrolling game out there. And it included Shinobi-style balcony jumps.
84. Crusader of Centy
This is just one of a number of games on the list inspired by The Legend of Zelda and it's also the most literal take. Go further along this list to see similar games that were more than just Zelda clones.
83. Lakers versus Celtics and the NBA Playoffs
Many other Genesis basketball games have better frame rates, but this one is noteworthy for being the first game with the NBA license as well as many of the players' signature moves.
82. Mega Man: The Wily Wars
Not exactly an optimized 16-bit quality leap over the NES games, but we were just happy enough to have the first three games in a single Mega Drive cartridge.
81. Ghostbusters
It's Ghostbusters! except that it's the super-deformed kind and they ate gyoza and Peking duck as health items.
80. Air Buster
One of the best parts about this futuristically slick manga-styled shooter was the apocalyptic twist near the end of the first mission.
79. El Viento
The best installment of an Indiana Jones-inspired trilogy that included Earnest Evans, El Viento showcased some of Motoi Sakuraba's (Tales series, Valkyrie Profile) earliest work. H.P. Lovecraft fans will also spot a Cthulhu reference or two.
78. Splatterhouse 3
Not only did this improve on the classic Splatterhouse formula by giving the player more freedom to explore, it actually has a lot in common with the 2010 reboot in terms of story and gameplay.
77. Twinkle Tale
Twinkle Tale took the run 'n gun shooter gameplay most associated with Rambo inspired settings and gave it a fantasy theme.
76. Alien Soldier
Developer Treasure had a great streak of Genesis/Mega Drive games and that included this side scrolling run and gun title that holds the record for most boss fights in its genre (31 of them). It only has two difficulty settings: super easy and super hard.
75. Crack Down
One of the best parts of this top-down arcade port was the Metal Gear Solid-like ability to stick to walls. In this case it was to avoid gunfire.
74. Kid Chameleon
Co-designed by famed developer Mark Cerny, this was one of the high points of the U.S.-based Sega Technical Institute.
73. Batman
This Batman game by Sunsoft stayed surprisingly faithful to the 1989 film. It might have sold more if not for the fact that the back of the box showed screenshots from the NES version.
72. Steel Empire
Did you know this steampunk shooter was originally based on Hayao Miyazaki's Laputa: Castle in the Sky?
71. True Lies
One of the better top-down shooters was actually this game adaptation of True Lies. Give it 15 minutes and you can see how it requires more thinking and strategy than your average shooter.
70. QuackShot
A fine Disney follow-up to the critically praised Castle of Illusion, this game finds Donald playing explorer, armed with a gun that shoots plungers.
69. Light Crusader
This action-RPG showed a stylistic change for Treasure as it displayed a more European RPG look.
68. TMNT: The Hyperstone Heist
SNES owners got Turtles in Time while we got The Hyperstone Heist. Both have their strengths with Hyperstone considered to be the harder of the two.
67. Desert Strike: Return to the Gulf
If you're going to make a game out of 1990's Operation Desert Storm, at least make it a good game. Electronic Arts did just that and managed to spawn four sequels.
66. Lightning Force
There's something impressive about how overly produced this sequel to Thunder Force III was. It came with levels that were three screens tall and a difficulty where I didn't feel guilty for beating it with 99 lives.
65. General Chaos
One of the few Genesis games that effectively balanced arcade and strategy gameplay. It also let the player pick different teams of soldiers, each consisting of different classes. With an adapter, four players can play on the same team against the computer.
64. Dynamite Headdy
Yet another Treasure title. This game's protagonist threw his own head as his weapon and could use different abilities by having other specialized heads.
63. Shadow Dancer: The Secret of Shinobi
I bought this the day it came out, expecting a port of the arcade version. I was wrong but I wasn't disappointed either although the box art is rather questionable.
62. Alex Kidd in the Enchanted Castle
Sadly, this was the only 16-bit outing by unofficial Sega mascot Alex Kidd. While endearing in its visual design and cute rock, paper, scissors showdowns, Enchanted Castle was also difficult for not having a life bar; one hit and Alex Kidd lost a life.
61. Valis III
More than a Castlevania knock off, this has as much anime-style drama during the game play as it does during its cut-scenes.
60. Uchuu Senkan Gomora
Doesn't look like a remarkable side scrolling shooter at first; the reason why this is worth checking out is the two player cooperative gameplay. One player pilots the ship and main gun while the other player controls the movable turret.
59. Syndicate
One of the few gaming exercises in literal corporate warfare. While rebooted in 2012 as a first-person shooter, the original game was an isometric, fast paced action-strategy game that also includes R&D toward cyborg upgrades and new weaponry.
58. Rocket Knight Adventures
This might look and play like Konami's answer to Sonic the Hedgehog, but it also has many of the aesthetic qualities of the company's 16-bit Contra series, thanks to having the same lead designer, Nobuya Nakazato.
57. Castle of Illusion Starring Mickey Mouse
While there are other Mickey Mouse games on the Genesis with better production values, this one had the best soundtrack, precise controls and was simply the most charming of the bunch.
56. Panorama Cotton
The Genesis/Mega Drive certainly wasn't short of pseudo-3D shooters like Space Harrier II, Super Thunder Blade, Burning Force and Galaxy Force. Panorama Cotton wins out for being the most technically impressive and for having a witch.
55. ToeJam & Earl
This game about a pair of alien rappers gained a cult following after its initial release, enhanced tremendously by its two player cooperative gameplay.
54. Columns
One of the better post-Tetris falling piece puzzle games for the Genesis.
53. Bio-Hazard Battle
Yes, it was a side scrolling shooter paradise on the Genesis. This game's Japanese title? Crying.
52. Golden Axe
This classic weapon-based beat 'em up would have ranked higher if it kept the arcade game's ending, where the characters jumped out of the arcade cabinet and ran through the city.
51. Dr. Robotnik's Mean Bean Machine
Puyo Puyo wasn't seen as marketable to 1993 American gamers so Sega rebranded it as a Sonic the Hedgehog spin-off starring Sonic's nemesis.
50. Michael Jackson's Moonwalker
Funny, the more this game ages, the more youngsters laugh at the concept. That is until they find out that it's actually a good game. The music is more than recognizable not to mention, the slew of MJ's moves.
49. Golden Axe II
Capitalized on the popularity of the first game and became a sequel specially designed for the Genesis.
48. Granada
Another solid Wolf Team project with Motoi Sakuraba on music duty. This one features the tiniest tank on the list.
47. Castlevania: Bloodlines
Genesis owners might not have been able to enjoy the technical wizardry of Super Castlenia IV on the SNES, but at least Bloodlines provided a dark tour of Europe and two heroes: one with the classic whip and another with a spear.
46. The Adventures of Batman & Robin
Worth checking out just for the special effects, but stay for the Jesper Kyd (Assassin's Creed, Hitman) soundtrack.
45. Wonder Boy in Monster World
This is the pinnacle of the Wonder Boy series. Very accessible action-RPG gameplay, incredible soundtrack and endearing visual style.
44. Ecco The Dolphin
Hands-down the most soothing puzzle-action game available on the Genesis.
43. Mutant League Football
Not only did EA have a sense of humor, the developer/publisher was happy to reuse the Madden '93 engine and make the most of it with a post-apocalyptic football concept, right down to the land mines and bribable refs.
42. Warsong
Felt like the kind of strategy game you graduated to after beating Shining Force II. Also happened to be one of the first game projects for character designer Satoshi Urushihara.
41. Pulseman
Also a Game Freak production (you can already start seeing the Pokemon hair). To call it Mega Man-meets-Sonic the Hedgehog would not be a negative simplification.
40. Vectorman
Vectorman's pre-rendered 3D models and involving 2D action gameplay made it easy for gamers to forget that the game even had an eco-friendly message.
39. Road Rash 2
It's arguably the number one EA property long overdue for a reboot.
38. Flashback: The Quest for Identity
Flashback echoes the fluid character animations of Karateka and Prince of Persia, except we now have a terrific sci-fi setting and more importantly, a protagonist with a gun.
37. Earthworm Jim
Not only was Earthworm Jim the game that put Shiny Entertainment on the map, it was also their first game. It helped that designer David Perry came into the project with a ton of experience from working with licensed properties like Disney's Aladdin, 7up's Cool Spot, and McDonald's Global Gladiators.
36. Ultimate Mortal Kombat 3
To think: all that fuss over animated blood helped the Genesis hold its own against the SNES. This was one of the more fully featured versions available for the console.
35. Comix Zone
If you enjoy the 4th wall-breaking shenanigans of Viewtiful Joe, then this game is for you.
34. Strider
One of the greatest achievements in arcade-to-console porting and the best game on the Genesis you can beat in 15 minutes
33. Sonic The Hedgehog
The only downside to the brilliance of Sonic the Hedgehog was the subsequent wave of mascot-based platformers that came out later. Bubsy? Aero the Acrobat?
32. Ys III: Wanderers From Ys
This fast-paced action-RPG is worth checking out if only to compare it with the PSP remake, Ys: The Oath in Felghana.
31. Ristar
The concept of this humanoid star evolved from the same design talks that gave birth to Sonic the Hedgehog. He was even considered to replace Sonic as Sega's mascot in the mid-90's.
30. Earthworm Jim 2
Took chances by introducing features not seen in the original game. Shiny Entertainment succeed by keeping it equally funny with mini games that felt relevant to Jim's universe.
29. Disney's Aladdin
It might look dated today, but the game's animation went a long way in making players feel like they were reenacting the animated film.
28. Dune II: Battle for Arrakis
Play this, and you can see where Command & Conquer got many of their ideas from.
27. Ghouls 'n Ghosts
The best Genesis launch title also makes for a fitting set of training wheels before tackling the more difficult SNES Super Ghouls 'n Ghosts.
26. Pirates Gold!
Good pirate games are rare. Thankfully this Sid Meier classic might be all you need, especially when you can play as a pirate, privateer, or a pirate hunter.
25. Sonic & Knuckles
If you know this game like the back of your hand then it shouldn't be difficult to clear the remake of the Sky Sanctuary level featured in last year's Sonic Generations.
24. Out of This World
Feels like it was cut from the same cloth as Flashback, although Out of This World is notably more cinematic. This game was also cited as an influence to Heavy Rain.
23. Landstalker: The Treasure of King Nole
An epic isometric action-RPG that would've ranked higher if not for the tricky depth perspective made the platforming very challenging.
22. Shadowrun
Another instance where the Genesis version was superior to the SNES version, aided by the development talents of BlueSky Software, which would go on to create Vectorman.
21. Herzog Zwei
It's still mind blowing that much of the blueprint of the real-time strategy genre came from this, a console game.
20. Gaiares
Calling this shooter 'hard' is an understatement, but it is beatable believe it or not.
19. Shining Force
I remember being first disappointed that this wasn't a sequel to Shining in the Darkness. Turned out I would end up loving this SRPG even more.
18. M.U.S.H.A.
You actually don't start as a one-man army, but after the dramatic opening cutscene, your four mech-flying wingmen get toasted, leaving this stellar shooter in your hands.
17. Sonic The Hedgehog 3
Sonic 3 was originally designed with an isometric view which would ultimately become Sonic 3D Blast. Sonic 3 was also initially designed to have Sonic & Knuckles in the same cartridge.
16. NHL '94
Still regarded as one of the best sports games ever made, there's even an active tribute site aptly named nhl94.com.
15. Shinobi III: Return of the Ninja Master
Just like Revenge of Shinobi but with a faster pace, propelled by horses and hover boards.
14. Thunder Force III
By merely seeing the lava level in print media previews, you just knew how great it would look once you saw it in motion.
13. Streets of Rage
Sega never really had a noteworthy beat 'em up game prior to Streets of Rage. It was one of Team Shinobi's projects after the critically acclaimed Revenge of Shinobi and both games share the same aesthetic qualities. Music composer Yuzo Koshiro did an exemplary job ripping off Black Box's Dreamland album.
12. Beyond Oasis
Ancient's first solo effort on a new IP transcended its superficial Legend of Zelda comparisons, supported by yet another memorable soundtrack by Yuzo Koshiro. Link can only wish he had the support of elemental spirits like Prince Ali had in Beyond Oasis.
11. Madden NFL '94
To think there was a time when the Madden franchise didn't have the NFL license. This was the first game to have the license, camera rotations during punts, a full regular season and Madden '94 gave birth to the "It's in the game!" slogan.
10. Target Earth
Set 200 years in the future, Target Earth casts you as a massive Mech, who must defend Earth from an incoming cyborg invasion; think Contra with sci-fi elements, like a jetpack and 14 futuristic weapons. And like Contra, Target Earth is fiendishly difficult. Fortunately, it’s available on Nintendo Switch Online, which gives you rewind powers that didn’t exist when the game launched in 1990.
9. Ranger X
Again, you pilot a mech, and again, you’re fighting against the invading forces of your home planet. But Ranger X stands out for its intangibles. Let’s start with the environments and backgrounds. This game has some of the most evocative, beautiful scenery possible, given the technical limitations at the time. And every frame of the game feels packed, with bullets, bombs, and explosions going off everywhere. It’s mayhem, and it feels exactly like what it is: an intergalactic fight to the death.
8. Sonic the Hedgehog 2
There are two ways to play Sonic the Hedgehog games. The first, more casual way is to run and keep running, taking advantage of Sonic’s speed to overcome the numerous obstacles in your way. The second is to take things slowly and find all the nooks, crannies, and hidden passageways in each massive, multitiered level. Sonic the Hedgehog 2, by expanding the already massive levels, encouraged you to do both. It’s the rare sequel that exceeds the original, in nearly every way.
7. Phantasy Star II
The first Phantasy Star didn’t sell especially well, because it launched on the earlier Sega Master system. It was Phantasy Star II on the Genesis that put the franchise on the map, with a sprawling sci-fi theme, an involved story about the fate of the Algol Star System, and a cautionary conservation lesson about humankind’s greed and recklessness. It was boundary-pushing for its time and was so involved and complex that it came with its own strategy guide.
6. Revenge of Shinobi
The cinematic Ninja Gaiden series was a Nintendo exclusive. Revenge of the Shinobi was Sega’s answer to it, featuring large sprites, an aggressive somersault attack, mystical ninjutsu superpowers, and enemies that burst into flames when you killed them. You play as Joe Musashi, who must infiltrate and destroy the Zeed criminal organization, as reprisal for his master’s murder and his wife’s kidnapping.
5. Contra: Hard Corps
There are so many Contra-inspired games on this list, and so of course, we had to include Contra: Hard Corps. Set five years after the events of Contra III: The Alien Wars, Hard Corps has you choose one of four distinct characters, who then goes on the classic “shoot everything that moves” rampage that made Contra famous. The gameplay has a few new wrinkles, like a sliding move and the ability to carry up to four weapons at a time. But at its core, it’s still Contra, complete with massive end-boss battles. There’s no need to fix what isn’t broken.
4. Streets of Rage 2
Streets of Rage 2 is an iconic beat ‘em up—debatably the best game of the franchise, and hands-down the best beat ‘em up on the Genesis. Again, you’re taking down the mysterious Mr. X, who’s hiding out on a private island after kidnapping Adam Hunter, the hero from the first game. The sheer variety of enemies means you never get bored, and everything, from the atmospheric settings to the sprites of the main characters is beautifully animated. Plus, there’s a bumping techno soundtrack behind it all.
3. Shining Force II
The Shining Force franchise was the gold standard of strategic, turn-based combat long before Fire Emblem. And the second installment was the best of the lot. The MVP of the game is Peter, a phoenix who revives if he dies in combat, and calls down sonic rings and hurricanes on his foes. There are 30 characters in all, only 12 of which can be in your active party at once. There are many ways to achieve victory, and you’ll find yourself trying them on multiple playthroughs.
2. Phantasy Star IV: The End of the Millennium
Considered by many to be the finest RPG available on the Genesis, Phantasy Star IV received a muted reception upon its release. And perhaps that’s because everything about it is excellent, and thus, nothing stands out. The graphics and sound are wonderful. The story is a mystery, and we learn about our characters’ motivations over the course of hours. And the fighting is both unique and complex. You determine all your characters’ actions at the beginning of a turn, which allows you to link them together for more devastating combos. And if you find a combo you like, you can hotkey it to a macro function, so you can use it whenever you’d like.
1. Gunstar Heroes
When gamers discuss the coolness factor that the Sega Genesis had in the ‘90s, they’re discussing games like Gunstar Heroes. On a fundamental level, it’s a side scrolling shooter. But you can also grapple your opponents and toss them around. You can perform a sliding tackle. You can perform a flying kick. You can put your guard up to deflect your opponents’ attacks. You can combine two weapons in order to make a new one. There’s a fantastic interplay between these different elements, and the cartoonish visual presentation is the cherry on top.