The 16-bit era was the absolute heyday for Sega. They were out there with their own awesome system that was a true rival to the Super Nintendo, and at a time it was genuinely unclear who might win the great console wars. What followed, of course, was a series of unfortunate missteps that would lead to a clear Nintendo victory by the year 2001.
What transpired after the 16-bit days should never take away from what Sega was able to do back then, though. The Sega Genesis was loaded with fantastic titles, many of which hold up to this day. Some of those titles were even developed by Sega themselves. Taking a look at some of the best among them should help fans gain a deeper appreciation for Nintendo’s once-mighty gaming adversary.
8 The Revenge of Shinobi
All three titles from the Sega Genesis Shinobi series are worth mentioning when discussing Sega’s greatest achievements as game developers, but the second entry represented the pinnacle of all the things that made the series so beloved in the first place.
This game offers super sharp controls, beautiful graphics, a fantastic soundtrack, and of course a notoriously savage difficulty level that may be a turn-off to some, but for many others, it was the very characteristic that roped them into the series in the first place. There’s something to be said for a game that’s beloved because it’s incredibly difficult.
7 Streets Of Rage
Beat ‘em ups were a popular style of game during the arcade era, due in part to the natural fit they had in the multiplayer co-op context. Streets of Rage is one of the finest examples of the genre’s translation to a home console. It offered simple but addictive gameplay, a great balance between difficulty and playability, a pristine soundtrack, and an awesome neo-noir aesthetic.
There were two sequels to Streets of Rage during the 16-bit era, and another nearly 20 years later, and while each offers a similarly joyful beat 'em-up experience, the original is probably the most enduringly entertaining.
6 Castle Of Illusion: Starring Mickey Mouse
Of all the great Disney games that fans were treated to in the 1990s, Castle of Illusion may be the very best of them all. Even the well-made 16-bit adaptations of The Lion King and Aladdin couldn’t quite stack up to this side-scrolling adventure starring the mascot himself, which is saying a lot.
Mickey’s first foray into the 16-bit world garnered widespread acclaim for its attractive graphics, great sound design, and its broad appeal. It even had a 3D remake released in 2013, which was not as widely acclaimed but still garnered positive reviews.
5 Golden Axe
An inclusion in the 6-Pak cartridge (one of the original classic game collections) that once came with the Sega Genesis console, Golden Axe was a staple for many gamers in the early 90s. This high fantasy hack-and-slash game sent up to three players on a journey through the land of Yuria, giving them the option of controlling one of three characters, each with their own unique attacks, weapons, and spells.
The simple but addictive gameplay of Golden Axe would inspire several sequels, some of which are comparable to or possibly even better than the original, but the one that sparked it all is the one that Sega should probably be most proud of.
4 Ristar
Side-scrolling platformers with quirky cartoon protagonists were a dime a dozen in the 16-bit era, and very few of them had what it took to rival the two kings of the genre in Sonic and Mario. Ristar may have never exploded into a sprawling franchise, but the game itself is a semi-hidden treasure that any platforming fan should take a look at.
This 1995 release came out later in the Sega Genesis’s lifecycle, which means that it takes advantage of everything the hardware had to offer. The graphics are bright and highly detailed, the music is catchy, and the stretchy arm-centric gameplay has clearly learned a few things from the smash hits and super flops of platforming past.
3 Phantasy Star 4: The End Of The Millennium
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When it comes to Sega Genesis vs. Super Nintendo, there is no real argument that the SNES was by far the superior platform for RPGs. However, that doesn’t mean that the Genesis was totally devoid of impressive role-playing adventures, and the Phantasy Star series is a prime example of that fact.
Phantasy Star 4: The End of the Millennium is generally regarded as the best entry in the entire series. While even some of the best SNES RPGs can feel a bit long-winded at points, this game moves at brisk speed without sacrificing depth or storytelling. The system it was made for may not stand a chance in an RPG-off with its rival, but this one entry would certainly put up a great fight against some of the Super Nintendo's best.
2 The Original Sonic Trilogy
Although many may argue that Sonic the Hedgehog 2 was definitively the best entry in the Sonic series, it just wouldn’t be right not to include every last entry in the original trilogy when discussing Sega’s greatest 16-bit achievements. Sonic 1, 2, and 3 are all astoundingly entertaining games that have hardly aged a day since their early 90s releases.
Developed by Sega’s Sonic Team, these side-scrolling platformers turned up the heat on the genre by several hundred degrees and sent players on a light-speed trip through some incredibly cool levels and did it all to a legendarily catchy soundtrack. There’s no doubt that this series is the crown jewel of all crown jewels for Sega.
1 Sonic & Knuckles
Although it definitely fits right in alongside the original trilogy, Sonic & Knuckles offered something unique to fans of the high-octane side-scrolling series, and really to video game fans in general. The ability to connect another game to the Sonic & Knuckles cartridge and unlock a new player in that game was an awesome little innovation that’s pretty overlooked by those who like to point out some of Sega's less-than-awesome adapter concepts.
Even without the adapter, the game itself is an absolute blast. It offered some of the best level designs in the series along with a new playable character who, unlike many others, has truly stood the test of time.