Sega is a well-known, and well-loved, gaming company that has created some of the most popular gaming titles of recent years, as well as memorable franchises such as Sonic the Hedgehog, which continues to be played by millions of fans even in recent years.

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The company that originally started in Japan is now roughly 63 years old and as such, Sega has blessed the video game community with an assortment of fascinating games that have been rated well by not only critics but players too. With this in mind, these are by far the best games created by Sega, or their previous divisions of Sega, that players have enjoyed recently or in the past.

10 Valkyria Chronicles 4

Metascore: 85

Valkyria Chronicles is a franchise that players have been playing for countless years, with one of the most loved in the series being Valkyria Chronicles 4. In this turn-based strategy title, players take control of the character, commander Claude Wallace, and his childhood friends, as they attempt to fight in a war that has a twist than just simply tanks, as players must go up against the god-like powers of the Valkyria.

Besides this incredible coming-of-age story set in a time of war, players can also admire the nostalgic feeling of the original composer of the franchise as well as its watercolor-style graphics.

9 Daytona USA

Metascore: 86

Sega has made quite an assortment of genres as a game development company. This includes various arcade titles, such as the arcade driving game, Daytona USA. This game became incredibly well-loved on the Dreamcast in 2001, with the game originally released even earlier than that. It has continued to be quite the Sega classic for many players.

Being so popular has allowed an enhanced graphics version to be released on other platforms, such as the title being available through the Xbox Store. With the game being readily available outside an arcade, players don't need to worry about slotting coin after coin into the console as the game is a one-time purchase only.

8 Sonic Mania Plus

Metascore: 87

Unsurprisingly, Sonic as a franchise is one of Sega's most well-known franchises, with an incredibly loyal fan base that has enjoyed countless titles released with the blue hedgehog being center stage. Out of all the available Sonic games from Sega and the Sonic Team, which are many, Sonic Mania Plus is by far the greatest Sonic title to be released in recent years.

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Sonic Mania Plus expanded on the already brilliant 2D platformer of Sonic Mania, though it added a new mode for players to experience. With the game taking players back to nostalgic platform levels from previous games as well as a whole cast of characters to play as well as Sonic himself, Sonic Mania Plus is the Sonic game to enjoy.

7 Jet Set Radio Future

Metascore: 88

• Platform: Xbox
• Release Date: 2002-02-22
• Developer: Sega Sports R&D
• Genre: Action

Jet Set Radio was an arcade-like action game that many players will have fond memories of from the early 2000s. Jet Set Radio Future removed some of these arcade features such as timed levels, for the better, as it created a more open-world-like action experience where players were free to roller-skate around the city of Tokyo, tagging buildings with graffiti and avoid the police that want to put an end to their antics.

The visual style of the game combined with the catchy soundtrack made Jet Set Radio Future an incredible sequel to the Dreamcast version of the game.

6 Rez

Metascore: 89

Rez is unlike any other game created by the subsidiary of Sega known as United Game Artists, which was initially released in 2001, with upgraded versions of the title also released in 2008. This title is a musical rail shooter that thrills players with fast action and an amazing soundtrack to shoot along to.

Although an arcade rail shooter, Rez still has its own interesting story that sees the player help get the information core known as Eden online to avoid the world falling into chaos. It can only be brought online manually through this fast-action shooter gameplay.

5 Phantasy Star Online

Metascore: 89

Phantasy Star Online made a name for itself on the Dreamcast as it was actually the first ever online game to be made for a console. Even in these early stages of online gameplay, the online RPG managed to inspire an audience of players who have since continued to enjoy the Phantasy Star Online franchise.

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Players were encouraged to unite through this online gameplay to uncover the story of the RPG title and find out what happened that caused the voyage of Pioneer 2 to end in an explosion once it hit the orbit of the planet it was supposed to call home.

4 Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth

Metascore: 89

Another well-known Sega franchise that players have continued to adore over the years, especially recently, is the Like a Dragon, also known as the Yakuza franchise. Players in this RPG tend to control a singular character, as well as their party, as they explore Tokyo, or other locations, depending on the game.

Out of all the released versions of the game, by far the best Like a Dragon title has to be Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth, which players have deemed to have the best combat in an action RPG. As well as an incredible story that sees the player meet two incredible characters, whose story collides in a twist of fate.

3 Panzer Dragoon Orta

Metascore: 90

• Platform: Xbox
• Release Date: 2003-01-14
• Developer: Smilebit
• Genre: Rail Shooter

Sega has created many other rail shooter titles other than Rez. Another greatly loved classic title is the original Xbox game, Panzer Dragoon Orta. The world of Panzer Dragoon Orta is at risk and the only way for them to be saved against the dark empire is through humanity putting their faith in the dragons that once ruled the skies.

Players will find themselves on the back of their winged friends, taking the fight to the skies and testing their skills through various dragon powers, weaponry, and advanced attacks to beat back evil.

2 Virtua Tennis

Metascore: 92

• Platform: Dreamcast, PC, Game Boy Advance, and N-Gage
• Release Date: 2000-07-11
• Developer: Sega AM3
• Genre: Sports

Surprisingly, some of the greatest games created by Sega aren't its well-loved Sonic the Hedgehog franchise, or the Like a Dragon series, but instead, the various sports titles Sega created during the early days of the company, such as Virtua Tennis, which can be played on the Dreamcast.

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Although a straightforward tennis title, Sega took into consideration how playing on different courts responded differently. Therefore, players should consider this when deciding if they play on a clay court or a carpet one instead, as well as being one of the more high-resolution titles on the Dreamcast.

1 Virtua Fighter 4

Metascore: 94

• Platform: PlayStation 2
• Release Date: 2002-03-17
• Developer: Sega AM2
• Genre: Fighting

Out of all the released Sega games over the years, one of the greatest of all is a fighting game, known as Virtua Fighter 4. Players had eleven fighters to choose from in this fighting game, with two more added in the 4th release of the title.

Each character fights in their own style that has been heavily inspired by actual martial arts to make the combat between players, or a player vs the AI, one of greatness. In the 4th edition of the title, players were finally allowed to switch up their stances to decide to play more defensively with all new counters.

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