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Here are some of the best Sega Genesis games that helped define the 16-bit and blast-processing age. The official life span of the Sega Mega Drive, or Genesis in North America, was from October 29, 1988, when it came out in Japan, until 1998, when its last game, Frogger, came out. More than 900 ROM-based cartridge games, 210 CD-ROM games, and 40 32X games came out between these times. The Sega Genesis has a special place in the hearts of many gamers, and for good reason.
When we were old enough to start making some money, we bought our own console and bought all of the SEGA Genesis games we knew and loved, plus more. We really wanted to play some SEGA games, so we made sure to try out all of the ones we could. We’ve put together a list of our favourite books for you to read. Hope you’ve played some of them, and if you haven’t, you’re in for a great weekend!
Best Sega Genesis Games
Mortal Kombat 2
Even though there have been a lot of great Mortal Kombat games, many gamers still say that Mortal Kombat II is the best and most balanced one. As you’ve probably guessed, we also think that the Genesis version of the arcade game is one of the best things you can do with that console. All of the game’s characters, stages, fatalities, and secrets from the arcade version are here.
The Genesis’s six-button controls made it easy to play this groundbreaking fighting game at home. Some people will say that the SNES version is still better. That is really up for debate. Each version is good in its own way, but the Genesis version of Mortal Kombat II is one of the best fighting games and arcade ports on Sega’s groundbreaking gaming console.
ToeJam & Earl
Even after all these years, it’s still hard to put ToeJam & Earl in a certain category. It’s a mix of a roguelike and a platformer, and it was one of the first adventure games. It’s funny, weird, and funky all around. It’s still one of the most unique games on the Genesis, and it still holds up pretty well thanks to its humour, one of the best soundtracks ever, and a new way to play with friends.
Even though ToeJam & Earl was well received by critics when it came out, sales were lower than expected. Eventually, a few more ToeJam & Earl adventures came out, but they didn’t have the same charm and creativity as the first one. As time goes on, it’s easier to see this title for what it really was: a truly unique experiment.
Castlevania: Bloodlines
By 1994, Castlevania was well-known as one of Konami’s most popular game series. When the Genesis came out, Konami went back to the drawing board to make a Castlevania game that would only work on that system. The result is a game that was considered one of the best in the series until Symphony of the Night came out and changed everything.
Bloodlines makes the most of the 16-bit Sega hardware by going all-in on the classic-vania style, with waves of enemies on a variety of different stages. It looks great, you have to be quick to keep up with the action, and the game’s experimental gameplay made it better than its predecessors.
Contra: Hard Corps
Contra: Hard Corps is the best example of Konami’s run-and-shoot formula. It is a testosterone-filled gauntlet of guns, bullets, and nonstop action. Contra: Hard Corps was a break from the past. It made the action even faster, made the game harder, and added new characters to choose from. The boss fights are ridiculously over the top, the music will make you tap a hole in your floor with its catchy beats, and the constant action will make your thumbs grow abs. Overall, it is one of the best Sega Genesis Games that you can play online from it’s official website.
Michael Jackson’s Moonwalker
Even though the King of Pop is dead and gone, his legacy will surely live on. The game’s arcade version was more of a beat-em-up, but the home console version was more of a platformer. It was about Michael Jackson dancing his way to save a group of kidnapped children from Mr. Big. Each of the game’s five levels has bits and pieces of the late singer’s career, like his famous dance moves and vocal shouts.
Hits like Smooth Criminal, Beat It, and other songs from Jackson’s resounding back catalogue are also played in the background. The animations and backgrounds are fluid and range from bright clubs to dark caverns. The game is full of bad guys that players can punch and kick in Jackson-style moves. Even stranger, shooting stars can turn players into cyborgs with artillery.
Comix Zone
Superhero video games have been around since the beginning, but Comix Zone was one of the few that really took advantage of the art style of comic books. The strange game, made by Sega Technical Institute and came out in the last wave of Genesis games, is about a starving artist named Sketch Turner and his friend, a rat named Roadkill.
Turner is basically trapped in his own comic book by the bad guy Mortis. To get out, the aspiring writer must fight through six stages of enemies and environments that Mortis has drawn. But Comix Zone’s best feature isn’t its story or its beat-em-up gameplay. Instead, the game’s beautiful hand-drawn comic book panels and chat bubbles make it stand out.
Sonic The Hedgehog 2
Sonic the Hedgehog 2 is one of the best games ever made, and everyone’s favourite hedgehog is a gaming legend. Link, Sonic, Spyro, Mario, and Solid Snake mean more to gaming than all the other characters put together, so I think it’s safe to say that SEGA made the right choice when they made their console mascot.
Sonic 2 might be one of the best SEGA Genesis games ever. I’m surprised my cartridge still works after all the times we slammed it into the console, blowing the dust off after I lost to Robotnik yet again. Sonic has to go back through his side-scrolling world, from Westside Island to the all-powerful Death Egg, to beat Doctor Robotnik and get the Chaos Emeralds.
Ecco the Dolphin
Ecco the Dolphin is the best-looking game on this list of the best Sega Genesis games by a long shot. It’s also the most relaxing. Whether you’re using Ecco’s dolphin song to solve puzzles or his nose to bump into enemies, there’s something zen-like about gliding through the game’s virtual ocean.
This is even more surprising because Ecco the Dolphin isn’t an easy game. Like real aquatic mammals, Ecco needs to come up for air from time to time. The game’s difficulty curve doesn’t ruin Ecco the Dolphin’s calm atmosphere. Instead, it adds to the overall fun and shows why so many fans want Sega to bring back the series.
Shadowrun
Shadowrun is one of the more “mature” games on this list, and it shows how well the console catered to older gamers. Shadowrun is an action role-playing game with a cyberpunk theme. It stays true to the complex mythology and dark tone of the pen-and-paper game it’s based on.
The story is interesting, the top-down exploration and combat games are both fun, and there are enough options for customising your character. Shadowrun also has special levels that take place inside a huge computer network. These levels are a nice break from the game’s main loop. This gives Shadowrun a real sense of freedom, which is made even stronger by the fact that it is an open-world game.
Combat Cars
Combat Cars was the perfect game for people who were tired of only using shells and bananas. Chain chomps are one thing, but being able to use landmines, shotguns, glue spots, and more really takes driving to a whole new level! This is another one of the Best SEGA Genesis Games for fast-paced multiplayer game action, and you need it in your collection.
Win money in races, get a high score, and then use that money to improve your vehicle for the next race. Combat Cars is a lot like an arcade game because you have to put your name on a scoreboard and start over when your time is up. Now that you can save and quit games whenever you want, they aren’t as exciting.
Final Words
Here are the best Sega Genesis Games. When it came out in 1989, the Sega Genesis was a great system. With games from popular series like Sonic and Mortal Kombat, the console was able to compete with SNES games, which is a big deal when you think about how many series were only available on Nintendo’s system. The console had everything, whether you wanted a tough platforming game or a calm underwater adventure.