The 15 Best Sega Genesis Games Ever Made
Blast processing, attitude, and the best library of arcade-style action on any 16-bit console. My definitive Genesis fifteen, and why Sega did "cool" better than anyone.
The Genesis was the cool kid of the 16-bit era — faster, edgier, and built around arcade-style action rather than Nintendo's polish. Its library has a personality all its own, and these fifteen games show exactly what made Sega's machine special.
The headliners
Sonic the Hedgehog 2 is the definitive Sonic experience: faster level design than the original, the spin dash, and Tails along for the ride. Streets of Rage 2 is the best beat-'em-up on any console of its generation, with a soundtrack that still gets played in clubs. Gunstar Heroes is Treasure's run-and-gun masterpiece, throwing more ideas at you in one level than most games manage in their entirety.
The action core
The Genesis lived and died on fast-twitch action, and it delivered. Contra: Hard Corps is brutal and brilliant. Castlevania: Bloodlines brought the series to Sega with style. Ghouls 'n Ghosts is a near-perfect arcade port. Rocket Knight Adventures is one of the most underrated platformers ever made. Shinobi III remains the smoothest ninja action on the system.
Depth beyond the arcade
It was not all reflexes. Phantasy Star IV is a gorgeous, deeply satisfying RPG that rivals anything on competing hardware. Shining Force II delivered tactical battles with charm. Landstalker offered isometric adventuring years before it was fashionable.
The rest of the fifteen
Round it out with Sonic 3 & Knuckles (the lock-on cartridge that formed one enormous game), ToeJam & Earl (co-op weirdness at its finest), and Vectorman (a late-life showcase of what the hardware could do).
The Genesis rewards players who like their action fast and their attitude loud. Start with Sonic 2 and Streets of Rage 2 — within an hour you will understand why this console still has such a devoted following. All of these are a click away in your browser.