Summary
First called the “Mega Drive” upon its initial release in 1988,Sega Genesisis the console’s North American name. It holds the record as Sega’s most successful home console and is notable for being able to challenge Nintendo during the first console wars. In the second half of the 1980s, Nintendo dominated the home console market, and companies like Sega struggled to break into it. However, the release of the Genesis resulted in a radical shift in that regard.
Factors like Sega’s marketing of the console as a “cooler” commodity, coupled with the success of their “mascot with attitude,“Sonic the Hedgehog,meant this 16-bit system was able to go toe-to-toe with Nintendo and take their own significant portion of the market share.The console is famousfor chiding its rival - verging on mockery - stating that “Genesis does what Nintendon’t.” The console had a fantastic library of games which ensured a boost in sales, some of which have been named as some of thebest video games on the Sega Genesis.
Updated on June 27, 2025, by Ritwik Mitra:There was a time when Sega competed against Nintendo for console supremacy, with the battle between Mario and Sonic being as engaging as they come. While the lack of communication between the Japanese and American branches of Sega eventually led to the downfall of their hardware department, the company still had many highlights that players look back on fondly to this day. The Sega Genesis was one of the better consoles that players loved, with some of thebest games on the Genesispersonifying why players loved this console so much.
16Another World/Out Of This World
GameFAQs: 3.29/5
A commercial success praised by critics, this title was groundbreaking upon its release and influenced many games to come, such asFlashback. A cinematic platformer,Another Worldwas ported to the Genesis and is held as one of the best video games ever released - for good reason. The game drew inspiration from othersci-fi franchises, such asStar WarsandDune, and the soundtrack was inspired by the music of theBack to the Futurefranchise.
It all starts with a physicist named Lester, who, upon experimenting with a particle accelerator, is accidentally transported to an alien planet when a lightning strike hits his laboratory. Lester, along with his new-found alien friend, Buddy, must fight for their survival. This gripping plot makes for a thrilling platform experience.
15WWF Raw
GameFAQs: 3.51/5
Old-school wrestling games hold a special place in the hearts of fans who loved watching this form of sports entertainment at the time. The allure of the WWE, or WWF at the time, was at an all-time high that was only going to eclipse more records with the advent of the Attitude Era.
WWF Rawis one such title, which featured great sprite work and fun wrestling gameplay. Controlling one’s favorite wrestling personalities and wiping the floor with their opposition never ceased to be engaging and makes this title one of thebest games on the Genesisthat fans will love.
14Ecco The Dolphin
GameFAQs: 3.53/5
Ecco the Dolphinfor the Genesis was the first installment in the franchise of the same name. Receiving good reviews and even containing references to the musical group Pink Floyd, there’s a good reason why it became one of the console’s bestsellers. The plot is immersive, following Ecco, who, upon being separated from his pod, embarks on a time-traveling adventure. Eventually ending up in outer space, he must face the evil Vortex Queen.
The game also implements realistic dolphin behavior. Ecco can sing, use echolocation, and must come to the surface for air. As for Pink Floyd, the game’s penultimate level, “Welcome to the Machine,” references the group’s 1975 hit of the same name. Their musical style was what developer Ed Annunziata wanted the game’s music to feel like.
Mortal Kombatis one of the most popular fighting franchises of all time that is still going strong to this day. The game made a strong impression from its very first entry and contributed to the formation of the ESRB system. So, it’s easy to see why so many fans wanted to get their hands on the second game in the series and engage in more of the bloody goodness that made its predecessor such a major hit.
Featuring a wealth of characters and new moves to mess around with,Mortal Kombat 2was a major step in the right direction. The violence in this title was as controversial as ever, and gamers loved pulling off major fatalities that left their opponents a writhing mass of flesh on the ground. The Sega Genesis version may not be the best iteration of the game, but it is still a great arcade-to-home console conversion that most owners of this system wanted to get their hands on by any means necessary.
Earthworm Jimis one of the most beloved platformers of its time, featuring a quirky art style and fun gameplay. The main character is brimming with personality, which can be seen in everything from his attacks to his idle animations.
Though the game is tough, the final boss ends up being a fake-out, which is completely in line with the hilarity in this title. Gamers will have to get used to the old-school difficulty if they decide to play this game for themselves.
Comix Zoneis one of the most stylistic beat-‘em-up games players can check out. The title is far from easy, forcing players into difficult confrontations with a wealth of powerful enemies over and over again.
Players must conserve their health and memorize the attack patterns of most enemies to stand a chance of beating the bosses in every stage. The unique art ofComix Zone,coupled with its weighty combat, made it one of thebest games on the Genesis.
10Flashback
GameFAQs: 3.93/5
This science fiction title offers playersan immersive experiencewith a deeply engaging plot. Set in a dystopian future, players control Agent Conrad B, who learns that alien shapeshifters who can take human form are planning to invade Earth. Unfortunately, he’s captured, and his memory erased. Starting from scratch, Conrad’s quest is one of regaining his lost memory and stopping the aliens from conquering the planet.
This cinematic platformer engrosses players in the story due to a quality gameplay experience. The animation is rotoscoped, and all backdrops are hand drawn, providing a superior game-play aesthetic even today. There’s no wonder this cinematic platformer was a critical success and a bestseller on the Genesis.
The idea of controlling aliens who have crash-landed on the planet and need to fend off human enemies while finding parts of their spaceship is pretty intriguing as is. However,ToeJam & Earlalso incorporates a unique art style, engaging humor, and a funky soundtrack to make this package as appealing as possible.
Along with this, the roguelike design of this title means that the title’s level of variety and replayability is impressively high for its time. Finally, the addition of co-op means that players can band together and find these spaceship parts together. All these elements come together to help players enjoy one of the quirkiest action games around that is easilyone of thebest games on the Genesis.
This strategy RPG was another acclaimed Genesis title. Set in the fantastical land of Rune, players follow Max’s ever-unfolding quest to defeat the evil Dark Dragon. As the true enemy, the sinister Darksol, is revealed, it’s up to Max and his Shining Force to stop his plans and defeat the dragon he resurrected.
As seen in many other RPGs, the game has a fantasy-driven narrative and also incorporates sci-fi elements. With a likable cast, as well as an exploration mode outside the main battles,Shining Forceis a must-have in any Sega Genesis library.
7Landstalker
GameFAQs: 4.11/5
A title of exceptional difficulty,Landstalkeris not a game for the faint-hearted. Using an isometric layout, this action-adventure title tells of a treasure hunter’s quest. He must brave all sorts of enemies and traverse a fantastical world. His search for clues eventually leads to King Nole’s legendary treasure. This elf treasure hunter is the one and only Nigel.
Together with the wood nymph Friday, the player must lead Nigel on his journey through many dungeons, as well as meet nearby townsfolk. Side missions let the player help these NPCs win extra gold or other benefits. Overall, the game has become somewhat underrated, perhaps due to intensely difficult segments. However, its long campaign and high challenge level make it memorable, as a game worth tackling.
