How about a dose of nostalgia? Remember the Mega Drive? The console was launched by Sega in 1988 in Japan as the Sega Genesis and represents a milestone in the history of video games. As a tribute to the old days, we’ve listed the greatest Mega Drive games of all time.
While competing with Nintendo and its NES (Nintendo Entertainment System) console, the Mega Drive stood out with its powerful 16-bit technology and a series of innovative games. Check out the best.
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The greatest Mega Drive games of all time
1 – Sonic the Hedgehog 2 (1992)
The Sonic the Hedgehog 2 is a classic platform game that continues the journey of the iconic Sonic as he teams up with his new friend, Tails, to stop the evil Dr. Robotnik. Players race through colorful levels, collecting rings and defeating enemies while trying to save the animals of the South Island Forest.
2 – Streets of Rage 2 (1992)
A classic beat ’em up game where players take control of a group of heroes fighting crime in a city dominated by gangs. With vibrant graphics and a striking soundtrack, players traverse the streets facing hordes of enemies and challenging bosses.
3 – Golden Axe (1989)
Sega’s classic hack and slash game. Players take on the role of one of three heroes – a warrior, an Amazon or a dwarf – as they embark on an epic journey to defeat the evil tyrant Death Adder and rescue the kidnapped princess.
4 – Mortal Kombat II (1993)
As a sequel to the revolutionary original, Mortal Kombat II took the franchise to new heights of popularity and controversy. Developed by Midway, the game features the arrival of new fighters who have become legendary, such as Kitana and Jax, and in addition to the special moves and well-known fatalities, it innovates with fun friendships. It certainly deserves to be among the greatest Mega Drive games of all time.
5 – Phantasy Star IV (1993)
As the latest chapter in Sega’s classic RPG series, Phantasy Star IV continues the epic saga in the world of Algol. The game features a turn-based combat system, where players can control up to five characters in battles.
6 – Shining Force II (1993)
This tactical RPG from Sega follows the journey of a young warrior called Bowie and his companions as they try to protect the kingdom of Granseal from evil forces. Players recruit and command a variety of characters in turn-based battles.
7 – Gunstar Heroes (1993)
A frantic action-shooter where players take on the role of one of the “Gunstars” on a mission to save the world from the evil Empire. With a variety of weapons and a fluid combat system, players make their way through levels full of enemies and challenging bosses.
8 – Streets of Rage 3 (1994)
The third entry in Sega’s classic beat ’em up series, Streets of Rage 3 continues the story of ex-cops Axel, Blaze and Skate as they battle the Syndicate crime syndicate. Players face hordes of enemies in urban environments, using a variety of special moves and abilities.
9 – Sonic the Hedgehog 3 (1994)
Sonic and Tails join forces to stop the evil Dr. Robotnik as he attempts to take over the world with his new weapon, the Death Egg. Players race through zones full of obstacles and enemies, collecting chaos rings and emeralds as they try to stop the villain’s plans.
10 – Shinobi III: Return of the Ninja Master (1993)
Players take on the role of ninja Joe Musashi on a mission to defeat the evil Neo Zeed Syndicate and save the world. With detailed graphics and a striking soundtrack, players face a variety of enemies using a combination of melee attacks and shurikens as they traverse levels.
11 – Castlevania: Bloodlines (1994)
This title in the Castlevania series for the Mega Drive takes players on an epic vampire-hunting journey in various locations around the world. Players take on the role of two vampire hunters, John Morris and Eric Lecarde, as they face a series of monsters and challenges to defeat the evil Count Dracula.
12 – Altered Beast (1988)
It puts players in the role of a resurrected centurion with the mission of rescuing Zeus’ daughter from the domain of Neff, the Dark Lord. Transforming into various mythological creatures, players face hordes of monsters in dark environments.
13 – Comix Zone (1995)
In this action-platformer, players take on the role of Sketch Turner, a cartoonist mysteriously transported into his own comic pages.
14 – Ecco the Dolphin (1992)
In this underwater adventure game, players take on the role of Ecco, a dolphin who must explore the oceans to find his family and uncover the mystery behind a threatening alien force.
15 – Earthworm Jim (1994)
This action-platformer follows the adventures of Jim, a worm in a super-powered spacesuit. Players face a series of bizarre enemies and surreal challenges while trying to save a blind princess that Jim has inadvertently hit with his spaceship.
16 – Contra: Hard Corps (1994)
This title in the classic Contra series is a game of action and frantic shooting. Players take on the role of highly trained soldiers on a mission to stop an alien invasion of a futuristic city.
17 – Thunder Force IV (1992)
This side-scrolling space shooter puts players in control of a heavily armed spaceship on a mission to defend the Earth against an alien threat.
18 – Mega Man: The Wily Wars (1994)
A compilation of the first three games in the Mega Man series, with improved graphics and some content additions. Players take on the role of Mega Man in his fight against the evil Dr. Wily and his armies of evil robots.
19 – Streets of Rage (1991)
This beat ’em up game puts players in control of a group of ex-policemen determined to clean up the streets of a corrupt city dominated by criminals. Players face a variety of enemies, from street punks to powerful bosses, using a combination of melee attacks and special abilities.
20 – Vectorman (1995)
The game transports you to a dystopian future where the Earth has been taken over by evil robots. Players take on the role of Vectorman, a cleaning robot who becomes humanity’s last hope against the evil Warhead.
21 – The Revenge of Shinobi (1989)
In this classic Sega action-platformer, players once again take on the role of ninja Joe Musashi on a mission to defeat the evil Neo Zeed Syndicate and save the world.
22 – Landstalker (1992)
This action role-playing game from Sega puts players in control of Nigel, an adventurer searching for treasure in a magical and dangerous land. With a unique blend of exploration, puzzles and combat, players explore dungeons, interact with colorful characters and unravel the mystery behind an ancient civilization.
23 – Phantasy Star II (1989)
Another of the greatest Mega Drive games of all time is this RPG set in Algol, where players take on the role of a group of heroes on a journey to defeat the evil Dark Force and save the universe.
24 – Ristar (1995)
The protagonist is Ristar, a shooting star, who finds himself on a mission to save his father and defeat the evil Kaiser Greedy. Players explore vibrant worlds, face challenging enemies and solve puzzles on their heroic journey.
25 – Sonic & Knuckles (1994)
Sonic or Knuckles? You choose who you want to be in this adventure to stop the evil Dr. Robotnik. An interesting curiosity is that Sonic & Knuckles features an exclusive feature that allows players to connect other games in the Sonic series, such as Sonic the Hedgehog 2 and Sonic the Hedgehog 3, unlocking additional content and expanding the gameplay.
26 – Shadowrun (1994)
Based on the famous tabletop role-playing game, Shadowrun for the Mega Drive is set in a dark, dystopian cyberpunk future. Players take on the role of an urban mercenary as they explore a futuristic Seattle and face a variety of challenges, including tactical combat, computer hacking and negotiating with NPCs.
27 – NBA Jam Tournament Edition (1994)
Midway’s arcade basketball game is an enhanced version of the original NBA Jam, offering fast and frantic gameplay with NBA teams and recognizable players. Players compete in two-on-two matches, executing dunks, incredible blocks and three-point baskets.
28 – Virtua Fighter 2 (1996)
As one of the first entries in Sega’s iconic 3D fighting game series, Virtua Fighter 2 is an adaptation of the original arcade game. Players choose from a variety of skilled fighters and compete in intense combats using a variety of martial arts moves and techniques.
29 – Rocket Knight Adventures (1993)
The protagonist is Sparkster, a raccoon warrior in jet armor, on a mission to rescue the kingdom of Zephyrus from the evil pig army. Players race through levels full of enemies, challenging bosses and spectacular action sequences.
30 – Beyond Oasis (The Story of Thor) (1994)
In this action-adventure game from Sega, players take on the role of a young prince called Ali on a journey to find and protect the four elemental spirits from the forces of evil.
31 – Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Hyperstone Heist (1992)
Another of the greatest Mega Drive games of all time, this nostalgic action-platformer lets you control the Ninja Turtles on a mission to rescue April O’Neil and stop the villainous Shredder, who has stolen the city of Manhattan and shrunk it with the powerful “Hyperstone”.
32 – Sonic Spinball (1993)
In this Sonic-themed pinball game developed by the Sega Technical Institute, players take control of the world’s fastest blue hedgehog as he hurtles through levels based on pinball tables.
33 – Alien Soldier (1995)
Alien Soldier is an action game that challenges players to face a variety of alien enemies in futuristic environments. In it, you have to take control of Epsilon-Eagle, a genetically modified super soldier, on a mission to defeat the evil supercomputer “Scarab” and prevent the destruction of the Earth.
34 – Sonic 3D Blast (1996)
Sega’s isometric platformer puts the famous Sonic on a journey to rescue the animals of the South Island Forest from the clutches of Dr. Robotnik. It was the first game in the Sonic series to feature fully rendered 3D graphics, while still maintaining a mainly two-dimensional gameplay.
35 – ToeJam & Earl (1991)
The aliens ToeJam and Earl are on a mission to recover the parts of their spaceship that have been scattered across the Earth. The game is known for its unique gameplay and quirky humor, making it a favorite among Mega Drive fans and a cult classic of the genre.
Os 35 dos maiores jogos do Mega Drive de todos os tempos
- Sonic the Hedgehog 2
- Streets of Rage 2
- Golden Axe
- Mortal Kombat II
- Phantasy Star IV
- Shining Force II
- Gunstar Heroes
- Streets of Rage 3
- Sonic the Hedgehog 3
- Shinobi III: Return of the Ninja Master
- Castlevania: Bloodlines
- Altered Beast
- Comix Zone
- Ecco the Dolphin
- Earthworm Jim
- Contra: Hard Corps
- Thunder Force IV (Lightening Force: Quest for the Darkstar)
- Mega Man: The Wily Wars
- Streets of Rage
- Vectorman
- The Revenge of Shinobi
- Landstalker
- Phantasy Star II
- Ristar
- Sonic & Knuckles
- Shadowrun
- NBA Jam Tournament Edition
- Virtua Fighter 2
- Rocket Knight Adventures
- Beyond Oasis (The Story of Thor)
- Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Hyperstone Heist
- Sonic Spinball
- Alien Soldier
- Sonic 3D Blast
- ToeJam & Earl
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