Summary
There was a time whenSegawas synonymous with console gaming. It’s been two decades since Sega bowed out of the console market, but they still managed to launch several platforms with their own distinct libraries. Most gamers are only familiar with Sega through the Genesis, but many of its consoles have quality games. Even initially panned add-ons like the Sega CD have a deceptive number of good games.
Many of the best games on Sega consoles focus on fast-paced arcade-style action. Sega consoles were also a dream for smaller developer teams to experiment with wacky games in niche genres.
8Flicky – SG-1000
If you’ve playedSonic the Hedgehog, you’ve likely noticed that when you destroy robots, little birds come out. Those birds are called Flickys. Flicky was originally an arcade game that revolved around you trying to collect birds hopping around a screen while evading a cat.
Like many of thebest 80s arcade games, Flicky only has one screen at a time. It’s a relatively forgotten platformer, but it’s the type that evokes the “one more time” vibe after you get a game over.
7Wonder Boy 3: The Dragon’s Trap – Master System
The Master System was largely unnoticed in the United States but had a sizable niche in Europe and Brazil due to alarge collection of amazing gamesincludingWonder Boy III: The Dragon’s Trap, a wonderful action-adventure game that shows off how powerful the Master System was compared to the NES.
It’s a non-linear game filled with secrets to discover. It also has a game mechanic that allows you to transform your character into different animals, providing a sizable amount of different abilities to play with.
6Sonic The Hedgehog 2 - Genesis
One thing the Genesis couldn’t get enough of talking about was speed. Blast processing was all the rage in the 90s, and in general, the Genesis placed more emphasis on action games than the SNES did.Sonic the Hedgehog 2built upon the groundwork of Sonic the Hedgehog but significantly cranked up the speed.
While the most iconic addition to Sonic the Hedgehog 2 was Tails, the key mechanic that makes Sonic the Hedgehog 2 feel so quick is the spin dash. This move allows Sonic to accelerate quickly while attacking enemies, giving you the ability to maintain momentum throughout the entire stage.
5Ristar – Game Gear
One of Sonic Team’s last titles for the fourth generation of gaming was Ristar, a beautiful platformer that revolves around controlling a star-like character who extends his arms to travel around or slam things.
Ristar for the Game Gear is an entirely unique game, different from the Sega Genesis Ristar. It features many collectibles, and its difficulty is more balanced and methodical compared to other platformers on the Game Gear, like Sonic the Hedgehog.
4Snatcher – Sega CD
One of the few games not related to theMetal Gearseries which was directed by Hideo Kojima, Snatcher is one of the best story-based games of the 90s. Originally an MSX2 game, Snatcher was remade with better graphics and voice acting for the Sega CD.
Snatcher is one of the few games from the 90s that features a good English dub. It is a visual novel that places you in a world with plot elements similar to the film Blade Runner. You play as Gilian Seed, an incredibly charming detective and protagonist.
3Virtua Racing – 32X
A racing game in 3D was a big deal in the mid-90s. Virtua Racing was a solid arcade racer, but developers struggled to create a decent port for weaker consoles like the Genesis.
The 32X lacked a lot of games but featured several ports of powerful arcade games from its time. The 32X version of Virtua Racing is even closer to the arcade version than the Sega Saturn version. Additionally, it includes two more cars and stages than the arcade original.
2Panzer Dragoon Saga – Sega Saturn
One of the most coveted games on the second-hand market, Panzer Dragoon Saga was launched with only 20,000 copies in the USA. Traditionally, thePanzer Dragoonseries is a rail shooter similar to the Star Fox series, but Panzer Dragoon Saga combined those elements to create a unique RPG.
While the 3D graphics on the Sega Saturn are rough, the gameplay in Panzer Dragoon Saga is dynamic. The game is highly efficient in its narrative, taking only 15 hours to complete, which is a stark contrast to the bulkier and more convoluted RPGs for the PlayStation during that generation.
1Project Justice - Dreamcast
The Dreamcast was home to manyfantastic fighting games, such as Marvel vs. Capcom 2andSoul Calibur; however, Project Justice may be the game most worth playing on the Dreamcast. Project Justice is a team-based 3D fighting game stylized around school stereotypes.
Project Justice has a lot of flair and style while featuring an easy-to-learn combo system. Although it may not be the deepest fighting game, it offers a lot of novelty, great graphics, and oozes with charm.
