First called the "Mega Drive" upon its initial release in 1988, Sega Genesis is 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.

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Best Sega Genesis RPGs, Ranked

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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 famous for 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 the best video games on the Sega Genesis.

Updated on July 3, 2024, 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 the best games on the Genesis personifying why players loved this console so much.

16 Another 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 as Flashback. A cinematic platformer, Another World was ported to the Genesis and is held as one of the best video games ever released - for good reason. The game drew inspiration from other sci-fi franchises, such as Star Wars and Dune, and the soundtrack was inspired by the music of the Back to the Future franchise.

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.

15 WWF 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 Raw is 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 the best games on the Genesis that fans will love.

14 Ecco The Dolphin

GameFAQs: 3.53/5

Ecco the Dolphin for 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.

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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.

13 Mortal Kombat 2

GameFAQs: 3.69/5

Mortal Kombat is 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 2 was 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.

12 Earthworm Jim

GameFAQs: 3.77/5

Earthworm Jim is 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.

11 Comix Zone

GameFAQs: 3.85/5

Comix Zone is 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.

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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 of Comix Zone, coupled with its weighty combat, made it one of the best games on the Genesis.

10 Flashback

GameFAQs: 3.93/5

This science fiction title offers players an immersive experience with 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.

9 ToeJam & Earl

GameFAQs: 4/5

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 & Earl also 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 easily one of the best games on the Genesis.

8 Shining Force

GameFAQs: 4.09/5

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.

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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 Force is a must-have in any Sega Genesis library.

7 Landstalker

GameFAQs: 4.11/5

A title of exceptional difficulty, Landstalker is 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.

6 Gunstar Heroes

GameFAQs: 4.15/5

Players who love the frantic action associated with most side-scrolling run-and-gun games will love what Gunstar Heroes has to offer. The gameplay in this title is as challenging as they come, forcing players to stay mobile at all times while using their weaponry to take out the enemies standing in their way.

To make things even better, players who had two controllers with their Sega Genesis could play this game in co-op and enjoy this chaotic goodness for themselves. Given how much happens on the screen at any given time, players must be wary of their character at all times if they don't want to get mixed up and endure an avoidable death.

5 Streets Of Rage 2

GameFAQs: 4.27/5

Widely seen as the series’ best entry, Streets of Rage 2 is still held in high acclaim to this day. Alongside brilliant quality animation and graphics, the game introduced players to some new characters: Max Thunder and Eddie, nicknamed “Skate.” The two join Axel and Blaze on their mission: The sinister Mr X and his Syndicate have returned and captured Skate’s brother Adam. The four heroes must find a way to free Adam from Mr. X’s clutches.

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Much of the game’s overall design was led by a brother and sister duo. Yuzo Koshiro worked on the game’s music and is the series’ main composer for the entire series. His sister, Ayano Koshiro, designed the combat mechanics, characters, and graphics. This title has some fantastic animation and was upheld as a phenomenal release, winning many awards. It has been called the Genesis console’s best beat-'em-up.

4 Phantasy Star 4

GameFAQs: 4.29/5

The final installment in Phantasy Star’s original series, this title, like so many others on this list, is held as one of the best video games of all time. The game wraps up the narrative of the Algol Star System. The gameplay was applauded by critics, as were the equipment and technique systems.

Phantasy Star 4 follows the story of Alys and Chaz, two hunters who must keep the so-called "Biomonsters" under control. Their team's mission eventually leads to the discovery of the “Profound Darkness,” which they must destroy to save the planet. The game has topped "Best Games" lists for many good reasons.

3 Sonic The Hedgehog 3

GameFAQs: 4.29/5

This fan-favorite title saw the introduction of Knuckles the Echidna, as well as a deeper storyline that continues in Sonic and Knuckles. With longer levels than the series entry before it, Sonic the Hedgehog 3 offers increased exploration and, thankfully, a save feature. The music is particularly notable in this game, as it was the first Sonic game Jun Senoue worked on. He would become a very influential Sound Director years later, including for Sonic’s first 3D outing in 1998, and is known for his hard-rock take on Sonic’s music.

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However, pop star Michael Jackson also contributed to Sonic 3’s music. He was a big Sonic fan, but allegations against him led to controversy around his involvement in the soundtrack. However, though he went uncredited, his influence is clearly heard in tracks like "Hydrocity", "Carnival Night", and "Launch Base" zones.

2 Sonic The Hedgehog 2

GameFAQs: 4.30/5

The second Genesis game featuring Sega’s iconic mascot, this sequel took what the original did well, and went far beyond. The first Sonic the Hedgehog was groundbreaking and introduced the world to the blue speedster, who quickly became a well-loved video game icon. Sonic the Hedgehog 2, however, took Sonic on a larger, faster adventure and marked the debut of fan-favorite loyal sidekick, Miles "Tails" Prower. Sonic and Tails must stop Dr. Robotnik from gathering the seven Chaos Emeralds to power his super weapon: the Death Egg.

The game’s soundtrack is memorable and iconic, composed by Masato Nakamura of the band Dreams Come True, who’d also worked on the first game. Receiving critical acclaim for its beautiful backgrounds, music, and level design, plus several awards, it’s no wonder this game is one of the console’s most successful and beloved releases. Its success led to Sonic turning into a major gaming franchise.

1 Sonic And Knuckles

GameFAQs: 4.31/5

With two storylines, increased difficulty, and some innovative technological achievements, Sonic and Knuckles earns its place in the top spot. The game follows both titular characters in their separate storylines. Whereas Sonic is on his usual quest to stop Dr. Robotnik’s evil plan, Knuckles’ campaign takes place after Sonic’s and sees the echidna go up against the Doctor’s robots.

Despite being developed alongside Sonic 3 as a single game, it was split into two due to time constraints. However, the split enabled some exciting gameplay thanks to technological achievements. The cartridge featured a lock-on ability, so when certain games were connected to this one, players received additional games. Connecting Sonic 2 or Sonic 3 to Sonic and Knuckles created Knuckles in Sonic 2, and the entire Sonic 3 and Knuckles experiences. Other games would give players variations of the "Blue Sphere" special stage. Once again, the colorful environments and high replay value impressed critics and players, leading to the game becoming one of the Genesis’ most impressive releases.

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