1994 was a huge year for Sega, and not just because there were a lot of memorable Sega Genesis games. This was the year that the Sega Saturn launched in Japan, and North America would have to wait until 1995 to play it.

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It was clear that Sega was ready to move on to the 3D space to beat out upcoming competition like Sony’s first console, the PS1, and the Nintendo 64. Still, a lot of developers, including first-party teams at Sega, were still pumping out Sega Genesis games. So, let’s take a look at what 1994 had to offer, ranging from platformers to sports games and beyond.

8 Contra: Hard Corps

Run And Gun Co-Op

Contra: Hard Corps was the first entry in the iconic series to hit a Sega platform. The gameplay was virtually the same as the NES and SNES games, but there was one big addition to make it stand out. Players could choose between four characters when they began their run and gun operation.

There were two human soldiers, one of them being female, which was a big deal at the time. Then there was also a robot and wolf-man hero. The game supported two-player co-op, so players could mix and match their team to help save the world.

7 Dynamite Headdy

A Head-Based Platformer

Dynamite Headdy is a Sega-developed exclusive that was a one-and-done game. Players were the titular Heady, who was a puppet that could swap heads for different power-ups. Unlike power-ups in platformers like Super Mario Bros., Heady’s were timed which had its ups and downs.

On the plus side, this meant that levels were full of them so that players could experiment more, like with the vacuum-sucking head or the spikey head that let players climb walls. The limited time also meant that players had to constantly learn new heads, which became tedious after a while.

6 Earthworm Jim

Small Worm In A Big Coat

The 90s were experimental with video game mascots that came in all shapes and sizes. One of the oddest franchises to bloom out of 1994, in particular, was Earthworm Jim. The game didn’t give many story clues, but the cartoon shed some light on the intrepid hero.

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Jim was an ordinary earthworm who found a power suit and then sort of became an intergalactic bounty hunter. It sounds more noble than it is, as both the game and cartoon are rather silly, but Earthworm Jim as a game is a good time for a 90s action platformer.

5 Mickey Mania

A Classic Cartoon Multiverse

There used to be a glut of games starring Mickey Mouse in the 80s and 90s, but that well has dried up except for 2023’s Disney Illusion Island. Mickey Mania was one of the good ones of this era that was sort of ahead of the multiverse curb. Mickey had to go into various classic cartoons to stop history from being erased.

The first level, for example, is based on Mickey’s first cartoon, “Steamboat Willie.” The level had an old-school tune to it, along with it being in black and white, and the surprises didn’t stop there.

4 Monster World 4

An Early Metroidvania

Monster World 4 was released in 1994 in Japan, but the West wouldn’t receive it until 2012. It’s best to celebrate it now, though, as it is the peak of this series. The game starred a young warrior, Asha, on an adventure of a lifetime. Players fought slimes and other monsters, explored old towers and ruins, and the list goes on.

Enemies dropped coins, which players could buy items and upgrades with, plus the game overall had Metroidvania elements. It looked good, sounded better, and controlled like a dream. The game would eventually get a remake in 2021 via Wonder Boy: Asha in Monster World, which is the easiest way to access this Sega classic.

3 NBA Jam

He’s On Fire!

Sports games are not for everyone as the technical side of them can be hard to parse through. NBA Jam was a more arcade-like experience, literally, as it was released first in 1993. The console versions were released across the board in 1994, which is why it should celebrated in 2024.

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What made NBA Jam accessible was the paired-down player count, as it was just a two-on-two match. With tons of teams, simple controls, a small court, and an on-fire announcer, this game quickly became the talk of the playground.

2 Sonic & Knuckles

The Year Of The Hedgehog

1994 was a big year for Sonic as the Sega Genesis alone had two big sequels in the franchise. The biggest of the two was Sonic & Knuckles, which was the playable premiere of the now fan-favorite Knuckles character. He had a few things over Sonic, like the ability to glide, and he was still fast, too.

The other game was Sonic the Hedgehog 3, which focused on Sonic and Tails instead as the two main heroes. Both games are up there with some of the best platformers on the console, and fans will assuredly be playing them both in remembrance this year.

1 Streets Of Rage 3

A Classic Brawler

Streets of Rage was always an odd brawler in the 90s, as there was never an arcade counterpart. It was made for consoles, which is probably why it’s one of the better series on Sega Genesis. The controls, especially in Streets of Rage 3, are quite responsive. With four characters to choose from, it also had a great variety.

It was a high note for the series to end on, too, as Sega would not green-light another sequel or spinoff until 2020 when Streets of Rage 4 was released. Now it looks like there is a new 3D game in development, so it will be curious to see how that thing turns out.

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