These are the 10 best Sega Genesis games of all times — I will not be taking questions

1 week ago 1

a collage of the best sega genesis games featuring Sonic 3, NHL '94, and Phantasy Star IV

The Sega Genesis, or the Mega Drive as it was called outside the US, was the height of Sega's power as a console maker. Not only was it home to several all-time Sega games, including some that cemented a certain blue hedgehog as a pop culture icon. It might not be as iconic as the Sega Dreamcast, a console ahead of its time, but the Sega Genesis does feel like the high point for Sega, at least when it comes to making consoles, since modern Sega is firing on all cylinders with franchises like Yakuza, Persona, and, of course, Sonic the Hedgehog. But forget about modern Sega for a bit, and instead check out the 10 best Sega Genesis games, as determined by me. Is this a scientific list? Of course not, that's not how ranking video games works.

Ristar should have been up there with Mario and Sonic as a mascot

Source: Sega

Ristar is a 2D side-scrolling platformer that released late in the Sega Genesis' lifecycle. Instead of focusing on jumping like Mario or running fast like Sonic, Ristar is based around Ristar having stretchy arms. You can stretch them out in eight directions, and if you grab an enemy, they get pulled in for a headbutt move. Ristar can also use his stretchy arms to get across gaps by grabbing the environment. Its main defining feature is feeling more like a slower, more methodical game to faster-paced platformers. It's a solid platformer, and if it hadn't been dumped on the Genesis three months before the Staturn released, it might have the same cultural cache as Mario or Sonic, although probably not.

Ristar

Released February 16, 1995

9 Mortal Kombat 2

An excellent fighting game with an excellent Sega Genesis version

Mortal Kombat 2 is a landmark fighting game, and since the Sega Genesis version features the blood and gore without a need for a special code, that makes it the definitive console version. Mortal Kombat 2, and its predecessor, made a name for itself by using real footage of human beings for the animations in the game, creating an incredibly unique fighting game, drastically different from the iconic Street Fighter 2, but it still managed to have deeply compelling gameplay mechanics. The special moves and combos feel great, and the blood and gore also made Mortal Kombat 2 a standout among fighting games at the time. Plus, all the special fatalities offer secrets to discover in the game, offering a compelling reason to play outside of fighting your friends.

Mortal Kombat II

8 Shining Force 2

Tactical combat on Sega Genesis

Shining Force 2 is a tactical RPG, in a similar vein to Fire Emblem, but on the Sega Gensis. It has great tactical combat, and a fun cast of characters to recruit and use. There are a few aspects that make Shining Force 2 special, which comes from its world. Instead of having a chapter system or limited areas for you to explore, it has something similar to an open-world, just not at that level. Instead, you can explore each area freely, and even return to earlier areas at any point, in a large system of connected areas. Each character has their own backstory and class, something that feels standard for the genre in modern times, but was a bit more novel at the time. An excellent tactics game, and one that is worthy of being on this list.

Shining Force 2

Released October 19, 1994

7 Sonic the Hedgehog 2

The second most popular piece of art with that name

Sonic the Hedgehog 2 may have lost its name to the live-action film in most people's minds, but this excellent 2D platformer is both excellent, and integral to Sega still existing today. While not the best Sonic game on the Sega Genesis, Sonic the Hedgehog 2 took the speedy platforming of the original and improved upon it across the board. It wasn't a drastically different sequel, but instead refined the game, while expanding the amount of content and allowing multiplayer with the addition of tails as an ever-present sidekick. The fast-paced speed and low, medium, high, platforming tracks provide not only multiple paths to take through a level, but also add depth to anyone looking to replay and master Sonic the Hedgehog 2. The massive success of this game is responsible for for Sonic becoming a mainstay franchise for decades to follow, which might be a reason to keep it off the list, depending on who you ask.

Sonic the Hedgehog 2

Released November 21, 1992

6 NHL '94

Hockey games peaked back in 1993

NHL 94 gameplay showing some players knocked over

Source: EA

NHL '94, which was released in 1993 but is named after the year the actual NHL season that happened when the game released would end, 1994, is one of the greatest, if not the greatest, hockey games of all time. NHL '94 features the franchise's signature vertical camera view, which offers more strategies and new angles to consider versus the horizontal view that many other hockey games use. It also included some huge gameplay mechanics that weren't present in the previous year, like the "one timer" maneuver, which allowed you to immediately shoot a goal off an incoming pass, and manual control over the goalies. It has more of an arcade feel over the modern NHL games, like many of the best sports games of that era, and it has become so beloved that EA even released a port on modern consoles called NHL '94 Rewind.

5 Contra: Hard Corps

Contra on your Sega console

contra hard corps gameplay on the sega gensis

Source: Konami

Contra: Hard Corps is the first Contra game to appear on a Sega platform, which it was exclusive to until Konami released the Contra: Anniversary Collection in 2019. The story takes place a few years after Contra 3, following a new special task force, which shares the same name as the subtitle of the game. You can hold up to four weapons instead of two, and the controls were redesigned to work with the three and six button Gensis controllers. Contra: Hard Corps also featured a new branching path system, which allowed for different story endings, something Konami had implemented in some Castlevania games at the time. It also had a reputation for being extremely difficult, almost in a way that made the game worse, but ultimately the high-quality graphics and side-scrolling action made this an excellent entry in the series.

Contra: Hard Corps

Released September 15, 1994

4 Streets of Rage 2

One of the best beat-em-ups ever made

Streets of Rage 2 is another incredible game developed by Sega for the Sega Gensis. The second game in the series, Streets of Rage 2 is an incredible beat-em-up, with gorgeous sprite work and new gameplay mechanics that improved the formula established by the original and other beat-em-ups at the time, like Final Fight and Double Dragon. The gameplay improvements come from new dash moves done by double-tapping a button, and new special moves. There are also new characters in addition to some returning faces, like Max Thunder, a slow wrestler, and Eddie Hunter, who uses roller skates. It can be played with two players, and features a duel mode at the end of the game so you and a friend can duke it out. It's held its status as one of the best beat-em-ups ever made for the past few decades, although Streets of Rage 4 did come close.

Streets of Rage 2

Released December 15, 1992

3 Phantasy Star IV: The End of the Millennium

The definitive JRPG on Sega Gensis

Another Sega-made game, Phantasy Star IV, is the fourth entry in the turn-based RPG series, which features a large world to explore, tough turn-based battles, and a gorgeous pixel look. The story takes place on Motavia, a planet which is reverting to its desert biome after the biosphere-controlling devices begin to fail, making life harder for its inhabitants. The party is sent out to investigate the issues, while also dealing with a cult. The combat features fairly deep techniques, combo making and equipment management, which is important for specializing the different classes present in the game. While it was a bit maligned at release for not feeling revolutionary and for graphics some considered bland, the classic look and feel allowed for Phantasy Star IV to stand the test of time.

Phantasy Star IV: The End of the Millennium

Released December 17, 1993

2 Gunstar Heroes

A landmark side-scroller from a new studio

Gunstar Heroes was developed by Treasure, a studio founded by ex-Konami devs, after the company refused to greenlight this game, and was published by Sega. Compared to Contra, it has a more cartoon-like artstyle, which took advantage of the powerful console to feel revolutionary at the time. While that might not have turned out to be that revolutionary, it did result in a distinct artstyle that still looks gorgeous today. It also has more expressive animations than other side-scrollers at the time. The levels were varied, with normal run and gun levels mixed with minecarts, helicopters, and even a board game-inspired moment. The shooting has two styles available, the normal move and shoot and a stop and aim method, offering multiple ways to play. Its great gameplay and gorgeous art make this a landmark game on the Sega Gensis.

Gunstar Heroes

Released September 10, 1993

ESRB E For Everyone 10+ // Cartoon Violence

Number of Players 1

1 Sonic 3 & Knuckles

I don't care if it's one game, two games, or a game and DLC, it's the best game on the Sega Gensis

Listen, I know that Sonic the Hedgehog 3 and Sonic & Knuckles are two different video games, but they should be considered as a single package. They were developed at the same time, with the intention of being a single game before being split into two, but an adapter on Sonic & Knuckles allowed you to plug Sonic 3 into it to create the combo game, Sonic 3 & Knuckles. The combo game allows you to play through Sonic the Hedgehog 3 levels as Knuckles, and to play as Tails (or Sonic and Tails) through all of Sonic & Knuckles. That combo game also includes new Super Emeralds, which allow you to transform into a hyper version of whichever character you are playing. The combo game features way more levels than Sonic 2 and features improved platforming elements, in addition to new characters to play as. While Sega made a mistake separating these two games, they are now considered a single-package, and an incredible one at that. Plus it includes a killer soundtrack from controversial and now deceased musician Michael Jackson.

Sonic & Knuckles

Released October 18, 1994

An excellent line-up on a great console

While Sega would eventually have to exit the console market, the Sega Gensis was a massive hit at the time of release. It was also home to a massive library of great games, thanks to Sega publishing a number of high-quality games. While this list doesn't include every great Sega Genesis game, the 10 (or 11 depending on how you feel about Sonic 3 & Knuckles) here do feel representative of the type of great games on the console.