The Sega Genesis (also known as the Mega Drive) is one of the most important video game consoles ever released. It may not have established SEGA as an eternal competitor, but it gave Nintendo a run for its money. It finally created true opposition for the Big N and part of the reason it did that was its classic library.
Everyone knows the killer app of Sonic the Hedgehog. After all, it's one of the few IPs from this time that SEGA still has an interest in using. But there are other more obscure games and third-party hits that grace the 16-bit behemoth. Fans on Ranker have come together to vote on their picks for the best games on the machine.
Note: Ranker lists are fan-voted, live, and continue to accrue votes, so some rankings may have changed after this publishing.
Mortal Kombat II
Mortal Kombat is almost taken for granted nowadays. It's one of those video game franchises that releases a game every few years, no matter what. It makes it easy to ignore the trademark violence that was once so controversial. Mortal Kombat II on Genesis definitely didn't forget about it being the appeal.
Console ports of MK often didn't have the blood that was so essential to the series. The Genesis version stood out by being able to return the gore using a special code. This was one of the hallmarks of the "SEGA does what Nintendon't" campaign. Not only did it make this version better, but it's also a pretty good port with few lost details.
Disney's Aladdin
While licensed games have always had a bad reputation, Disney games are some of the best. Aladdin on Genesis is an exciting action platformer. It was also released on SNES, but that version is completely different. This one sees Aladdin always armed with a sword.
The game features levels based on various set pieces from the movie. There are levels based on the opening musical number and "Friend Like Me." There are also a few varieties of levels where the mechanics are different. The flying carpet escape level remains one of the most infamous missions on Genesis.
Sonic & Knuckles
Sonic the Hedgehog 3 had one of the most complex development cycles in the series. The game took too long in development and was cut in half. That second half was Sonic & Knuckles, which featured the Echidna as playable and a unique cartridge. The cartridge had a slot other games could be placed into.
If a compatible game was inserted, the game would be modified to include Knuckles. It's a pretty unique feature that may have only worked with a few games but was still quite exciting. The base game was also quite exciting as well. It features some complex levels like Flying Battery Zone and some very dynamic music.
Sonic The Hedgehog
While the Master System did see modest success in Europe and Japan, it wasn't the big competitor to Nintendo SEGA hoped for. They knew they needed an even more attractive mascot than Alex Kidd. Their solution was Yuji Naka's Mr. Needlemouse, Sonic the Hedgehog, who clowned Mario with bigger levels and faster gameplay. While not as refined as its sequels, this game is still iconic.
The game introduced a lot of the iconic hallmarks of the franchise. Dr. Eggman, drowning, and loop-de-loops are all present and accounted for. While it is missing features like Tails and certain spin-moves re-releases add these features. Additionally, the first-level Green Hill Zone is among the most iconic video game levels ever made.
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Hyperstone Heist
While not as iconic as its alternate version Turtles in Time, Hyperstone Heist is still an excellent TMNT game. Technically it's a modified port of TMNT Turtles in Time but it has enough unique elements of its own. It's even considered its own separate game on the TMNT Cowabunga Collection. It's also the first game Konami ever made on SEGA Genesis.
The game begins with Shredder shrinking Manhattan Island. He then hijacks the airwaves and announces he did it with the Hyperstone from Dimension X. After that the player is prompted to pick their turtle hero and head into the levels. There are five in total that include returning stages from Turtles in Time, the first arcade game, and new locations.
Streets Of Rage
One of SEGA's best non-Sonic game franchises is Streets of Rage. Also known as Bare Knuckle, this series focuses on a group of ex-police vigilantes. They take to the streets in order to take down the crime syndicate led by Mr. X. In the first game, the playable characters are Adam, Axel, and Blaze.
Each hero has around 40 unique attacks and moves to unleash on enemies. They traverse eight levels filled with enemies and weapons to pick up and use. Unlike SEGA's other Beat-em-up series Golden Axe, Streets of Rage was designed for Genesis. As a result, even this less optimized first entry ran great.
Street Fighter II: Special Champion Edition
Street Fighter II completely revolutionized the fighting game genre. It featured tons of excellent characters and complex moves. Plenty of console ports were made of the classic, but Genesis had the best. Most notably, it was one of the first console ports to include content from the Turbo version of the game.
SEGA also made an effort to accommodate SFII's gameplay. They released a controller with six face buttons so that the game would be easier played on Genesis. As such, no part of the gameplay was lost when moving from the larger arcade release. SEGA has even collaborated with Capcom to rerelease this version because of how beloved it is.
Castlevania: Bloodlines
Castlevania was chiefly thought of as a Nintendo series in the '90s. This was before when the franchise became synonymous with the Metroidvania genre, so it focuses on the classic platforming gameplay. It does differentiate itself from the Nintendo entries, though. In Bloodlines, players don't actually control a member of Castlevania's famous Belmont clan.
The game's plot concerns a vampire named Elizabeth Bartley attempting to bring Dracula back to life. Opposing her are the heroes Eric Lecard and John Morris. John is actually the son of Quincy Morris, which ties the story into the plot of the original Dracula novel. These two separate playable characters gave the game replayability, which makes it one of Genesis' best.
Sonic The Hedgehog 2
Sonic the Hedgehog 2 perfectly delivered on the potential of the first. Unlike the first game, this game was a collaboration between SEGA of America and Japan. This led to a lot of off-the-wall ideas that would become iconic. This included the 3D bonus stages and everyone's favorite second-player mutant squirrel, Tails the Fox.
Most important though was the increased gameplay speed. Levels were designed with more alternate paths in mind. The speed of the loop-de-loops was increased and more boost elements were added to stages. Sonic the Hedgehog 2 is just as fun to play today as it was then, with tons of light-speed laughs to be had.
Streets Of Rage 2
As previously mentioned, video game sequels can refine what is there in a slightly rough original. What's true for the hedgehog is also true for the Streets of Rage, as the folks of Ranker have voted its second installment as the best Genesis game. Much like Sonic 2, SoR2 was developed by multiple companies in concert, though SEGA still did the programming. The music was done by Yuzo Koshiro, who is widely considered one of the best chiptune music artists.
After the events of the first game, Adam has been kidnapped by Mr. X. Blaze and Axel (alongside new characters Thunder and Skate) set off to rescue him. In addition to most attacks from the first game, all characters now have two new super moves called Blitz Attacks and Special Attacks that can be activated under certain circumstances to deal extra damage. The game also features a multiplayer versus mode. With all of these features and refinements, it is no surprise that Streets of Rage 2 is thought of so highly.