Summary
- Sega Genesis games led the industry by creating new genres and inspiring developers like Capcom and others.
- The Genesis excelled in sports games like Madden NFL '94 with realistic action and gameplay.
- Sonic the Hedgehog was pivotal in making the Genesis a success, inspiring a wave of mascot platformers.
It wasn’t just a fancy slogan. For some, the Sega Genesis truly did what "Nintendidn’t." Fast-paced 16-bit graphics, thick bass beat music, and games that had a cool, mature edge over their rival’s cutesy, family-friendly fare. It was certainly enough to put the console on par with Nintendo’s fancier SNES, if not to beat them outright in some territories.
Best Sega Genesis Games, Ranked
The Sega Genesis featured numerous video games that are still considered shining examples of the medium.
However, that wasn’t the only thing that made the Genesis a mega device. Many games in its library left a lasting mark on the industry, inspiring other developers to follow their lead. Whether it was in making the action more realistic, inspiring a legion of mascots, or creating new game genres altogether, these are the most influential Sega Genesis games.
8 Strider
Sci-Fi Ninja Adventure Creates A Genre And A Genesis Seller In One Go
Strider
- Released
- February 18, 2014
- ESRB
- E 10+ // Fantasy Violence, Mild Blood, Mild Language
- Genre(s)
- Action, Platformer
In its early days, the Genesis was promoted as being able to produce more arcade-perfect games than its competition. Given its pre-SNES rivals were largely 8-bit machines, it wasn’t the biggest boast. However, when Strider hit the console, players knew they had something special, as it stood ahead of its few 16-bit rivals and became the Genesis' first big system seller.
It was essentially a futuristic version of Ninja Gaiden, as the ninja Strider Hiryu slashed his way through foes to beat Grandmaster Meio, only it focused more on slashing enemies and using a variety of weapons over punishing platforming. This action-focused approach would later inspire Capcom and other developers to expand on this formula, producing Devil May Cry, God of War, the 3D Ninja Gaiden series, and other early hack-and-slash games.
7 Madden NFL ‘94
The Genesis' Winning Touchdown
Madden NFL '94
- Released
- October 1, 1993
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- everyone e10+
- Genre(s)
- Sports
While the Genesis and SNES both had great sports games, Sega’s console often had the better ports, as it kept the gameplay fast and smooth. Visual Concepts proved the SNES could keep up with its version of Madden NFL ’94, but by then, the Genesis' reputation as the sports console had settled in, so it wasn't as big a seller as its rival Genesis port.
Madden NFL ’94 also offered more realistic action, with flip plays, bluff plays, and rotatable views for punts and kickoffs. It was the first game in the series to use actual licensed NFL teams, along with Super Bowl teams available by default. Then, for the proverbial sprig of parsley on the turducken, it was the first game to use the iconic “EA Sports: It’s in the Game” audio tag.
6 Shining Force
Introducing The Tactical RPG To A Newer, Wider Audience
Shining Force
- Released
- July 13, 1993
- ESRB
- E // Mild Animated Violence
- Publisher(s)
- Sega
- Genre(s)
- RPG, Tactical
History often differs by region, even video game history. Japanese players have had a ton of tactical RPGs to sink their teeth into since the genre's 8-bit days, including series that wouldn’t get international fame until decades later, like Fire Emblem. As such, Shining Force might not have seemed too special in that market for mixing standard RPG elements with a tactical approach.
8 Best 16-bit Tactical RPGs, Ranked
For players interested in 16-bit Tactical RPGs, these games deliver the strategic combat they've come to know and expect from the genre.
However, in the West, it helped the game stand out and give its world more personality, as players could explore towns, buy weapons, and do the standard Final Fantasy fare. Then, they’d discover a more tactical approach to combat, where they’d have to consider the strengths, weaknesses, and positions of their units. By combining these two approaches, Shining Force made tactical RPGs more accessible, leading the way for Final Fantasy Tactics and Disgaea to follow.
5 Phantasy Star 2
An Early Genesis RPG That Was Ahead Of Its Time
Phantasy Star II
- Released
- March 21, 1989
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- m
- Genre(s)
- RPG
Even with a genre-advancing title like Shining Force, the Genesis wasn’t best known for its RPGs. All the big-name titles like the Final Fantasy and Dragon Quest games were on the SNES, and the PlayStation only got a leg up when those series moved to its platform. Still, if RPG fans only had a Genesis to work with back in the day, they still had access to some great titles.
For example, Phantasy Star 2 was the console’s first big RPG, in both name and filesize (6 whole megabits!). It offered story beats, themes of self-discovery, and shocking sudden deaths that Final Fantasy wouldn’t touch until well after Phantasy Star 2’s release. That, and its mix of sci-fi and fantasy elements, helped it stand out from the horde of sword-wielding fantasy fighters and mages that dominated the RPG landscape at the time.
4 Herzog Zwei
How A Console Spin-Off To An Arcade Series Produced A PC Genre Mainstay
Herzog Zwei
- Released
- January 11, 1990
WHERE TO PLAY
- Genre(s)
- Strategy
Before Sega made a killing with the Genesis, they had a wide range of hit arcade games. One of its more popular series was the shooter Thunder Force, where players could go all around the screen to blast any foes coming their way. By 1989, developer Technosoft came up with a new direction in which to take its gameplay and made Herzog Zwei to show it off.
Players use their mech to complete different missions on a wide-open map, like picking up and moving units, setting up patrols, and capturing enemy bases. The game didn’t sell very well at the time, but it had a lasting impact, as it's now considered to be the first true real-time strategy game. It inspired the development of early RTS games like Dune 2 and Warcraft, while also being considered an early example of the MOBA genre, as it offers a similar, quicker approach to RTS gameplay.
3 Mortal Kombat
How To Win A Battle In A Console War
Mortal Kombat (1992)
- Released
- October 6, 1992
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- m
- Genre(s)
- Fighting
Mortal Kombat also wasn’t exclusive to the Sega Genesis, but it might as well have been. The game, alongside Lethal Enforcers and Night Trap, famously caused a moral stir that led to the establishment of the ESRB, but before then, Sega set up its own Videogame Rating Council, which let them release MK on the Genesis with the essential blood and gore intact... Somewhat. Players had to use a code (ABACABB) to let the claret flow.
Mortal Kombat: Most Gruesome Stage Fatalities
Some of the best Mortal Kombat stages allow players to pull off some pretty gruesome Fatalities that are hard to forget.
However, that was a step ahead of the gore-free SNES port. Some have defended the game, as it does look and sound better than the Genesis version, but by being bloodless, it felt more compromised by comparison and reinforced the view that the SNES was a "kiddy console," and the Genesis was cool and mature. Nintendo brought the blood back for the SNES version of MK2, but by then, they were fighting a battle they had already lost.
2 Virtua Racing
3D Racing On A 16-Bit Machine
- Developer: Sega AM-2.
- Platforms: Arcade, Sega Genesis, Sega 32X, Sega Saturn, PS2, Nintendo Switch.
- Release: August 1992 (arcade), March 1994 (Genesis).
In the arcades, Virtua Racing was a huge step forward for the racing genre. Players used to the chugging frame rate of Hard Drivin’ were blown away by the game’s high-speed racing, and multiple camera angles ranged from a first-person view to a top-down angle. By today's standards, it's a fairly normal racer, but Virtua Racing was the game that set those standards, and the likes of F-Zero GX and Gran Turismo had to build on them.
So how did it end up on the Sega Genesis? By coming on a cartridge boosted by the power of the Sega Virtua Processor (SVP) chip. It allowed the console to render 9,000 polygons a second, outdoing the SuperFX chip on SNES games like Starfox. However, it made the game more expensive to buy ($214 in today’s money). Although, that might’ve been a small price to pay to keep players from splurging on a 32X for its (admittedly more arcade-accurate) port.
1 Sonic The Hedgehog
A Mascot Too Big for the Genesis to Contain
Sonic the Hedgehog
- Released
- June 23, 1991
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- e
- Genre(s)
- Platformer
Where to start? Without Sonic the Hedgehog, the Sega Genesis might’ve faded out faster than players could say “TurboGrafx-16!” The Blue Blur’s first outing made the console a must-have thanks to his role as a faster, more attitude-filled platformer than the Mario Brothers. If it didn’t convince players, the much better sequel, Sonic the Hedgehog 2, would, as it was a pack-in title, which helped the Genesis sell even more units than before.
The speedy hedgehog became a phenomenon, inspiring multiple cartoons, comics, and a wave of mascot platformers. Donkey Kong Country, Crash Bandicoot, Spyro the Dragon, Jak & Daxter, Freedom Planet, and many more took notes from Sonic in one way or another. While his games have gone from strength to strength in many erratic ways, Sonic has maintained both a gigantic fanbase and his place as one of the most iconic figures in gaming history.
Best Sega Genesis Game From Every Year Of The Console's Life
The Sega Genesis is home to an array of iconic video games, but some are simply better than others. Here is the best release from each year.