THE BEST SEGA GENESIS GAMES OF ALL TIME

THE BEST SEGA GENESIS GAMES OF ALL TIME!

THE BEST MEGA DRIVE GAMES OF ALL TIME!

Below is the most complete list released to date! Based on more than 1,000 games officially launched for the Sega Genesis / Mega Drive (not counting 32 X games, Sega CD and backwards compatibility with Master System), about 240 games were selected, considering technical criteria such as gameplay, graphics, sound effects, music and difficulty. Unfortunately many good games had to be left out of the list ... Moving on from that we entered the range of intermediate games on Mega Drive, which has over 500 games with grades like B+,  B, B- and C+. This range of intermediate games has many good games - some are even classics - standing out for their gameplay or graphics, for example. They even appear on several "top 10" lists for subjective reasons, but fail to be on the present list because a comprehensive and technical evaluation was carried out. Including them here would end up making the list too big and mischaracterize it as a selection of the best games. At the end of the list are presented some new Sega Genesis / Mega Drive games, many of them with release dates between 2019 and 2020!

 

                                                                                                                                                          UPDATED: 09/25/2021

Rank     Game        Score

228 NBA Live 97: B+

227 Granada: B+

226 Air Buster: B+

225 Warsong : B+ 

224 Bill Walsh College Football '95 : B+

223 Toughman Contest: B+

222 Uchuu Senkan Gomora (a.k.a. Bio-ship Palladin): B+

221 Doraemon Doraemon vs. The Dream Thief and the Seven Gozansu : B+

220 Truxton: B+

219 M.U.S.H.A : B+

218 Thunder Force 3 : B+

217 Columns : B+

216 King Colossus: Tougi Ou : B+ 

215 Tecnhoclash : B+

214 Formula One (a.k.a. F1) : B+

213 The Flintstones: B+ 

212 Chuck Rock II: Son of Chuck  : B+

211 Zero Wing: B+ 

210 Second Samurai : B+

209 Shura No Mon : B+

208 Sword of Vermilion : B+

207 Rent-A-Hero: B+

206 Dashin` Desperadoes : B+ 

205 Twinkle Tale: B+

204 Phantasy Star III: B+

203 Brian Lara Cricket '96 : B+

202 Yu Yu Hakusho Gaiden  : B+

201 Psycho Pinball : B+

200 Vixen 357 : B+

199 The Steel Empire (a.k.a. Empire of Steel) : B+

198 Valis III: B+

197 Warrior of Rome II : B+

196 Exo Squad: B+

195 Nightmare Circus : B+

194 Star Flight: B+

193 Mega Turrican : B+ (this is the best version of this game)

192 Robocop vs. Terminator : B+ (this is the best version of this game)

191 ESWAT : City Under Siege : B+ 

190 Dragon Slayer: the Legend of Heroes 2: B+

189 Phelios: B+

188 Midnight Resistence: B+

187 Herzog Zwei : B+

186 Shadow of the Beast II : B+

185 Burning Force: B+

184 College Slam: B+

183 Super Fantasy Zone: B+  

182 Viewpoint : B+

181 Body Count : B+

180 The Terminator : B+

179 Magical Taruruuto-kun : B+ 

178  Chiki Chiki Boys : B+ 

177 Generations Lost : B+

176 The Lost Vikings : B+  (this is the best version of this game)

175 The Punisher : B+ 

174 Joe Montana II: Sports Talk Football : B+ 

173 Langrisser II: B+

172 Bimmini Run : B+

171 Alien 3 : B+

170 Jurassic Park : B+

169 Biohazard Battle  B+

168 Tiny Toon Adventures: Acme All Stars : B+

167 Battletech : a Game of Armored Combat : B+

166 Demolition Man : B+   (this is the best version of this game)

165 Ninja Burai Densetsu : B+

164 Zero Tolerance : B+

163 Dragon Ball Z : B+

162 Splatterhouse 3  : B+

161 High Seas Havoc (aka Capt'n Havoc) : B+

160 The Jungle Book : B+   (this is the best version of this game)

159 Haunting : B+

158 The Lion King : B+

157 F-15 Strike Eagle II  : B+   

156 GleyLancer (aka  Advanced Busterhawk Gley Lancer) : B+ 

155 Superman : B+ 

154 Dyna Brothers 2 : B+ 

153 Lord Monarch: Tokoton Sentou Desetsu : B+ 

152 NBA Live 95 (this is the best version of this game) and Coach K College Basketball : A-

151 Castelvania: Bloodlines (a.k.a. Vampire Killer): A-

150 Outrun : A-

149 Phantasy Star II : A-

148 Batman : The Video Game : A-

147 Mercs : A-

146 Rambo III : A-

145 Blades of Vengeance : A-

144 Battle Mania Daiginjou: A-

143 Road Rash 3 :A- 

142 Atomic Runner :A-

141 Eliminate Down :A-

140 Dahna: Megami Tanjo : A-

139 NHL 98, 97 and 96 : A- 

138 Wonderboy in Monster World : A- 

137 PGA Tour Golf II : A- 

136 Mazin Saga - A- 

135 PGA European Tour : A-

134 Art of Fighting : A-

133 Gayares : A-

132 Prince of Persia : A- 

131 Skitchin : A-

130 Rolling Thunder 3 : A-

129 Madden NFL '95 : A-  (this is the best version of this game) 

128  NBA JAM  : A-  

127 Jimmy White`s Whirlwind Snooker : A-

126  NBA JAM TE : A-

125 Splatterhouse 2 : A-

124 Sparkster : A-

123 Scooby-Doo Mystery : A-

122 The Lost World: Jurassic Park  : A-

121 Jurassic Park Rampage Edition : A- 

120 Red Zone : A-

119 The Hybrid Front : A-

118 Panorama Cotton : A-

117 Golden Axe II  A-

116 General Chaos : A-

115 Bonanza Bros. : A-

114 Garfield: Caught in the Act - : A-

113 Rolo to the Rescue - : A-

112 The Misadvetures of Flink - : A-

111 Home Alone : A-  (this is the best version of this game)

110 Altered Beast : A-

109 FIFA 96 , 97 and 98 : A-

108 Global Gladiators : A-

107 Sub Terrania : 

106 Davis Cup : A-

105 Pete Sampras Tennis : A-

104 Cool Spot : A-

103 Pebble Beach Golf Links : A-

102  Mickey Mania: The Timeless Adventures of Mickey Mouse : A-

101 Beggar Prince  : A-

100 Alisia Dragoon : A- 

99 Two Crude Dudes (a.k.a. Crude Busters)  : A-

98 Surging Aura : A-

97 After Burner 2 : A-

96 PGA Tour Golf III  : A 

95 Sunset Riders : A-

94 Pirates! Gold : A-

93 Super Monaco GP : A-

92 Alien Storm : A-

91 Mortal Kombat 3  : A- 

90 FIFA Soccer (1993)  and FIFA Soccer 95 : A-

89 Spider-Man vs. The Kingpin : A-

88 Dune II: Battle for Arrakis : A-

87 The Immortal: A-

86 Ultimate Mortal Kombat 3 : A-

85 Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Hyperstone Heist : A-

84 Toy Story : A-  (this is the best version of this game) : A-

83 Dick Tracy : A-

82 Golden Axe : A- 

81 Yu Yu Hakusho: Makyo Toitsusen (aka Yu Yu Hakusho: Sunset Fighters): A-

80 Street Fighter II Special Champion Edition :A-

79 Shining in the Darkness :A-

78 Earthworm Jim 2 :A-

77 Mortal Kombat :A-

76  Ghouls’n Ghosts :A-

75 World of Illusion Starring Mickey Mouse and Donald Duck :A-

74 Sonic 3D Blast :A-

73 The Adventures of Batman & Robin :A-

72 Dynamite Headdy : A-

71 Shadowrun : A-

70 Vectorman 2: A-

69 Sports Talk Baseball : A-

68 Toe Jam & Earl in Panic on Funkatron : A-

67 Spot Goes to Holywood : A-

66 Out of this World (aka Another World ): A- 

65 NHL '94  : A 

64 Madden NFL '97 : A  (this is the best version of this game) : A

63 NFL Football `94 Starring Joe Montana and College Football National Championship : A

62 Virtua Racing : A

61  World Series Baseball and World Series Baseball '95, '96 and '98 : A 

60 Pit Fighter : A (this is the best console version of this game)

59 X-men 2 : Clone Wars : A

58 Soleil (a.k.a. Crusader of Centy) : A

57 Desert Strike: A

56 Jungle Strike: A

55 Urban Strike: A

54 Lakers vs Celtics and the NBA Playoffs: A 

53 Contra Hard Corps :A

52 Desert Demolition starring Road Runner and Wile E. Coyote : A

51 Light Crusader : A

50 Ecco the Dolphin : A 

49 Mortal Kombat II : A

48 Samurai Shodown : A

47 Rolling Thunder 2 : A   (this is the best version of this game)

46 Ecco the Tides of Time : A 

45 Duke Nuken 3D : A

44 Earthworm Jim : A

43 Thunder Force IV (a.k.a. Lightening Force: the quest for the Darkstar):  A+ 

42 Ayrton Senna`s Super Monaco GP II : A+ 

41 Shadow Dancer : A+

40 Vectorman: A+ 

39 Gargoyles : A+

38 Tiny Toon Adventures: Buster Hidden Treasure : A+

37 Road Rash : A+

36 Road Rash 2 : A+

35 Evander Holyfield's Real Deal Boxing : A+

34 Pier Solar and the Great Architects : A+

33 Greatest Heavyweights : A+

32 Michael Jackson`s Moonwalker : A+

31 Super Street Fighter II : A+

30 Ristar : A+

29 Ranger X : A+

28 Alien Soldier : A+

27 Rocket Knight Adventures : A+

26 Flashback: The Quest for Identity : A+ 

25 Streets of Rage 3 (Bare Knuckle III - the Japanese original is better) : A+

24 Disney's Aladdin : A+

23 The Revenge of Shinobi (a.k.a. The Super Shinobi)  : A+

22 QuackShot Starring Donald Duck : A+

21 Pocahontas : A+

20 Castle of Illusion Starring Mickey Mouse  - A+

19 Pulseman : A+

18 Streets of Rage : A+

17 Kid Chameleon :  A+

16 Shining Force: The Legacy of Great Intention :  A+

15 Gunstar Heroes :  A+

14 Sonic 3 & Knuckles  :  A+

13 Monster World IV :  A+

12 Shinobi III : Return of the Ninja Master (a.k.a. The Super Shinobi II) :  A+

11 Phantasy Star IV : The End of The Millennium :  A+

10 Comix Zone :  A+

9 Streets of Rage 2 (a.k.a. Bare Knuckle 2):  A+

8 LandStalker: The Treasures of King Nole : A+

7 Eternal Champions : A+

6 Sonic The Hedgehog : A+

5 Sonic The Hedgehog 2 : A+


4 Beyond Oasis (a.k.a. The Story of Thor: A Successor of The Light) : A+

3 Toe Jam & Earl : A+

2 Strider (the Japanese original is better) : A+   (this is the best version of this game)

1 Shining Force II: The Ancient Seal  : A+

Games not included  in this list:

Demons of Asteborg; grade: A+ (released in 2021)

Arkagis Revolution; grade A- (released in 2021) 

Tänzer (released in 2019) ; grade: A

UltraCore  (released in 2019) ; grade: A

Xeno Crisis (released in 2019) ; grade: A

Tanglewood (released in 2018); grade: A

Cofee Crisis (released in 2017); grade: A-

Canon - Legends Of The New Gods /aka Feng Shen Ying Jie Chuan (released in 2019)

Brave Battle Saga - The Legend of the Magic Warrior (translation released in 2016)

Sacred Line Genesis (digital release)

The Sims 2 (other hardware?) 

Guitar Idol (other hardware?) 

Sim City 4 (other hardware?) 

Need for Speed: ProStreet (other hardware?) 

Commandos: Behind Enemy Lines (unlicensed port)

Garfield: the Lost Levels (Sega Channel exclusive)

Scholastic’s Magic School Bus: Space Exploration Game (for children)

Richard Scarry’s Busytown (for children)

See also: Console Wars - Sega Genesis vs SNES comparison: the complete list of multiplatform games: http://segaclassics.blogspot.com/2019/07/console-wars-sega-genesis-vs-snes.html

Genesis Multiplayer Co-Op Games – The Complete List

Genesis Multiplayer Co-Op Games – The Complete List !
 
The complete list (I hope so) of Sega Genesis - Mega Drive simultaneous multiplayer co-op games - excluding sports games.


UPDATED: 07/04/2021

Other games out of this list besides sports games:

Xeno Crisis (released in 2019) - 9.0

Paprium (a.k.a. Project Y) - 9.5 (released in December 15, 2020 as a 80-MEG game cartridge)

Coffee Crisis (released in 2017) - 8.5

Sonic Classic Heroes (hack) - 9.81

Sonic 2 Long Version v1.10 (hack, 2021) - 9.75

Streets of Rage 2 - Syndicate Wars (hack) - 9.81

Streets of Rage 2: Ultimate Alliance (hack) - 9.75

Streets of Rage 2: Barbon (hack) - 9.75

Streets of Rage 2: Final Fight Edition (hack) - 9.50

Streets of Rage 2: Extreme Punishment Edition (hack) - 9.50

Streets of Rage 2: DC Comics Edition (Batman & Superman) (hack) - 9.50

Streets of Rage 2: Turtles of Rage (hack) - 9.50

Stone Protectors (unreleased / Beta) - 6.06

Airstriker (homebrew)

T-GUN II (homebrew)



Rank     Game     Score

110  Chip 'n Dale Rescue Rangers (unlicensed - almost identical to the NES game) - 3.00

109 Squirrel King (unlicensed) - 4.50

108 The Adventures of Mighty Max - 4.50 (the best version of this game)

107 Bubsy 2  - 4.50 (the best version of this game)

106  Earth Defense (unlicensed) - 6.06

105 Double Dragon III - 6.06 

104 Batman Forever  - 6.06 (the best version of this game) 

103  Super Smash T.V. - 6.63 

102  Super Bubble Bobble MD (unlicensed) - 6.63

101 Tenchi wo Kurau III: Sangokushi Gaiden / Warriors of Fate (unlicensed) - 6.63

100 Cutthroat Island - 6.63 (the best version of this game)

99 Revolution X  - 6.63  (the best console version of this game)

98 Ms. Pac-Man - 6.63

97 Talespin - 6.63

96 Clan of Warriors - Generals of the Yang Family - 6.63 

95 The Berenstain Bears' Camping Adventure - 6.69

94 Battle Squadron - 6.75

93 Double Dragon II - 6.75

92 Wonder Boy III: Monster Lair - 6.88

91 Gadget Twins  - 6.88

90 Battletoads and Double Dragon - 6.94 (the best version of this game)

89 Tom and Jerry: Frantic Antics - 6.94  (the best version of this game)

88 Wani Wani World - 7.00

87 Snake Rattle'n Roll - 7.00 (the best version of this game)

86 Todd's Adventures in Slime World - 7.00

85 Snow Bros. - 7.00 (the best version of this game)

84 Zoom - 7.13

83 3 Ninjas Kick Back  - 7.13  (the best version of this game)

82 Toxic Crusaders - 7.13 (the best version of this game)

81 Spider-Man & Venon: Separation Anxiety - 7.13   (the best version of this game)

80 Mega SWIV (a.k.a. Firepower 2000) - 7.13

79 Crack Down - 7.25

78 Mega Bomberman (4 players) - 7.25

77 Battletoads - 7.25 (the best version of this game)

76 Soldiers of Fortune (a.k.a. The Chaos Engine) - 7.25  (the best version of this game)

75 Gain Ground - 7.31

74 Devilish: the Next Possession (a.k.a. Bad Omen) – 7.37

73 Double Dragon - 7.50 (the best console version of this game)

72 Joe & Mac - 7.50 (the best version of this game)

71 Man Overboard! - 7.60

70 Dragon: Bruce Lee Story - 7.69 (the best version of this game)  

69 Vapor Trail - 7.69

68 Shui Hu- Feng Yun Zhuan (Water Margin — The Tales of Clouds and Winds) -  7.75

67 Shadow Blasters - 7.75

66 Air Buster (Aero Blaster) - 7.75 (the best version of this game)

65 Exo Squad - 7.75

64 The Great Circus Mystery starring Mickey & Minnie  - 7.88

63 Wrestlemania: the Arcade Game (4 players) - 7.88

62 Golden Axe III  - 8.00  

61 Tom Mason's Dinosaurs for Hire  - 8.00

60 Columns   - 8.00

59 Beavis and Butt-head  - 8.00 (the best version of this game)

58 Forgotten Worlds  - 8.00

57 Second Samurai  - 8.00

56 Grind Stormer (V-Five)  - 8.00

55 Cadash   - 8.00

54 Uchuu Senkan Gomora (Bio-ship Paladin) - 8.00

53 Skeleton Crew - 8.00

52 X-men - 8.00

51 Doom Troopers - 8.00 (the best version of this game)

50 Animaniacs - 8.00  (the best version of this game)

49 Gauntlet IV (4 players) - 8.06  (the best version of this game)

48 Arcus Odissey - 8.06  (the best version of this game)

47 Mystical Fighters - 8.13

46 Sailor Moon - 8.13

45 The Ren & Stimpy Show Presents Stimpy's Invention  - 8.13

44 Mighty Morphin Power Ranger the Movie  - 8.19

43 WWF Raw (4 players) - 8.19 

42 WWF Royal Rumble - 8.19

41 Cyborg Justice - 8.19 

40 Zombies Ate My Neighbors - 8.25

39 T2: Arcade Game - 8.25

38 Lethal Enforces - 8.31

37 Body Count - 8.31

36 The Punisher - 8.38

35 Nightmare Circus - 8.38

34 Captain America and the Avengers - 8.43 (the best console version of this game)

33 Lethal Enforces II - 8.43

32 Battletech: a Game of Armored Combat - 8.43 (the best version of this game)

31 Blades of Vengeance - 8.50  

30 Golden Axe 2 - 8.50 

29  Biohazard Battle - 8.50 

28. Zero Tolerance (with a link cable) - 8.63

27  The Lost Vikings (3 players) - 8.63 (the only version of any Lost Vikings game to support three players if a multitap is used! The Genesis/Mega Drive version has five exclusive levels that are not present in any other version of the game, bringing the level count up from 37 to 42.)

26 Bimini Run – 8.63

25 General Chaos (4 players)- 8.75

24 Bonanza Brothers - 8.75 

23 Two Crude Dudes - 8.75

22 The Lost World: Jurassic Park - 8.75

21 Alien Storm - 8.88

20 Altered Beast - 8.88

19 Rolling Thunder 2 - 9.12 

18 Golden Axe - 9.12

17 The Adventures of Batman & Robin - 9.12

16 World of Illusion Starring Mickey Mouse and Donald Duck - 9.12

15 Sunset Riders - 9.12

14 Yu Yu Hakusho Makyô Toitsusen (4 players) - 9.12

13 Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Hyperstone Heist - 9.12

12 X-men 2: Clone Wars - 9.19

11 Toe Jam and Earl 2 - 9.19

10 Thunder Force IV - 9.19

9 Contra Hard Corps - 9.19


8. Pit Fighter - 9.50 (the best version of this game) 

7. 8 Streets of Rage 3 (Bare Knuckle III - the Japanese original is better) - 9.50

6 Sonic 3 & Knuckles - 9.56

5 Gunstar Heroes - 9.56

4 Streets of Rage - 9.56

3 Streets of Rage 2 - 9.75

2 Sonic The Hedgehog 2 - 9.81

1 Toe Jam & Earl - 9.81



For more information on "The Real and Most Complete Sega Genesis / Mega Drive Sales Figures ever": https://segaclassics.blogspot.com/2020/07/console-wars-real-sega-genesis-mega.html