Best Sega Games of All Time
Today, there are many great games to look forward to. Whether it comes from a small indie studio or a triple AAA developer, fans always get excited to explore new worlds brimming with incredible narratives, remarkable characters, and fun gameplay mechanics. To celebrate gaming, we’re here to shine a spotlight on the latest and greatest games to be developed or published by Sega.
This gaming company has a slew of properties under its belt. From the iconic adventures of Sonic the Hedgehog to beat-em-up brawlers like Streets of Rage, there’s sure to be a game here that will vibe with your interests.
Of course, if we’ve missed any of your favorites, feel free to comment below and we’ll get them added on!
Streets of Rage 4
Streets of Rage 4 is a stylish, beat-em-up game that’ll get your heart racing. It features colorful characters, catchy music, and fun action-centric gameplay. Compared to previous installments, this one has grander visuals and more playable characters. It also does an outstanding job of revitalizing the series for modern and retro audiences alike.
Each character offers wonderful variety in their move-set. The hand-drawn animations and visual effects pack a punch and you’ll find yourself glued to your screens with how dashing everything looks. The game’s length and control options could be better though. You’ll find yourself replaying the game solely to unlock things. Nonetheless, if you’re looking for a fun-filled beat-em-up game with a great soundtrack and likable cast, check out the fourth entry.
Sonic The Hedgehog 3
Sonic The Hedgehog 3 is one of the best 2D Sonic experiences you’ll ever have. This game features gorgeous 16-bit graphics, and an outstanding soundtrack, and introduces one of the best characters to the franchise, Knuckles the Echidna. The premise is similar to previous games, though. You’ll traverse levels while collecting rings and defeating each menace that stands in your way.
You must help Sonic and Tails retrieve the Chaos Emeralds to stop Eggman from relaunching his space station, the Death Egg. However, Knuckles will assist Eggman in thwarting your efforts by laying traps for Sonic and Tails. In Sonic 3, Tails can fly for a short time and spin his twin tails like a helicopter, and can swim underwater.
The game also includes two types of special stages. One involves a gumball machine while the other has you traverse a 3D map, forcing you to run through countless blue spheres to turn them into red ones. If you’re looking for a fabulous 2D Sonic game with incredible music and fast-paced side-scrolling gameplay, check out Sonic the Hedgehog 3.
Shining Force II
Jet Set Radio
Jet Set Radio (Jet Grind Radio in the U.S.) is a stylish action game published by Sega for its Dreamcast game system. In it, you control a member of the GGs youth gang. You’ll wander the streets of Tokyo using your inline skates. Alongside performing neat skating tricks you can spray graffiti, challenge rival gangs, and evade authoritative figures.
This game took inspiration from Tokyo’s shopping districts like Shibuya and Shinjuku. It was the first game to use a cel-shaed art style, which still holds up well compared to other titles released at the time. The game consists of three types of levels called Street, Rival Showdown, and Trial. The former has you spraying graffiti over rivals’ art pieces.
Rival Showdown serves as the game’s boss battle. You’ll spray rival gangs with graffiti to defeat them. You’ll gain access to the game’s Trial levels after you’ve cleared its Street and Rival Showdown levels. With its desirable unlockables, mesmerizing art style, and unique gameplay loop, you’re in for a treat with Jet Set Radio.
Yakuza: Like A Dragon
Yakuza: Like A Dragon is the JRPG equivalent to Grand Theft Auto. It contains a dramatic narrative filled with hilarious dialogue and stellar combat scenes. It’s a game that’ll get you pumped up. It tackles serious topics but doesn’t hold back with its comedic punchlines. For those who grow tired of robbing stores or beating up NPCs, Like A Dragon is an excellent alternative to play.
The game offers classic turn-based combat. However, the action scenes play out similarly to those found in classic Kung-fu films. Nevertheless, you can participate in activities that don’t involve beating people up, though. The game offers other activities to indulge in like kart racing and crane games. Like A Dragon’s world is lively and fun to explore, too.
The story is enjoyable. It harbors themes concerning betrayal, loyalty, family, and honor. While the turn-based combat can feel repetitive, the developers implement subtle twists on it to make things feel refreshing and less bothersome. If you’re looking for a game that modernizes RPG gameplay, but will give you a GTA-like experience, check out Yakuza: Like A Dragon.
You can read our thoughts on Yakuza: Like A Dragon in our game review here!
Gunstar Heroes
Gunstar Heroes is a run-and-gun video game praised for its frenetic action and fascinating visuals. The game follows a heroic group called the Gunstars who must stop an evil empire from collecting four powerful gems. The Gunstar heroes have incredible athleticism, personality, and gunslinger abilities. You can also combine specific weapons to create a more powerful device.
Players can play the game solo or with a friend. It has you traversing various levels from a side-scrolling point of view. The game features seven stages and the first four can be tackled in any fashion that appeals to you. Players will be bewildered by the different format changes per level. Some have you battling enemies on a helicopter while others have you participate in a board game.
It’s imaginative, insane, and fun. The game’s controls are straightforward and varied. The weapons you can choose from have different strengths and weaknesses, encouraging players to experiment during their expedition. With its colorful visuals, enjoyable gun-slinging and acrobatic gameplay, and amusing dialogue, you’re in for a swell time with this Sega classic.
Puyo Puyo Tetris 2
Puyo Puyo Tetris is a mix between the Puyo Puyo series and the Tetris franchise. It expands on the formula by including a straightforward plot, charming cast, and colorful world. Puyo Puyo Tetris 2 offers similar gameplay to Puyo Puyo Tetris 1. You can choose between Puyo or Tetris-styled gameplay.
You’ll compete against an enemy player in either format. The goal is to send your garbage to your opponents’ board, causing their playing field to overflow. It contains all the modes from the previous game like Swap and Fusion. However, this title introduces several new plotlines and characters into the mix to make it more enticing for returning players.
Furthermore, Puyo Puyo Tetris 2 introduces Skill Battles. In Skill Battles, character-based skills and items can be used during bouts to make them feel more unpredictable and intense. The game’s Adventure Mode is equally enticing, as you’ll traverse an overworld and engage in numerous Skill Battles with characters from the Puyo series. In addition to having an improved online mode, you’re guaranteed to enjoy this one over the original.
Nights Into Dreams
Nights Into Dreams is an incredible adventure game brimming with magical qualities. It follows two humans named Elliot and Claris who enter a dream world called Nightopia. With the help of Nights, they embark on a quest to stop the evil ruler Wizeman from eradicating Nightopia and the real world. It’s a surrealist game with fantastical imagery and colorful surroundings.
You’ll help Nights navigate through Elliot and Claris’s minds. By doing so, you’ll collect energy capable of defeating Wizeman. The game’s levels are well-designed but impose a time limit. It’s in players’ best interest not to get lost in the visuals if they hope to accumulate the points necessary of advancing the plot forward.
After completing its levels, you can return to them to improve your scores. The game includes challenging and memorable boss fights, though. However, the majority of Nights Into Dreams gameplay consists of flying sequences. While it can feel repetitive at times, each locale harbors enough engaging aspects for you to overlook this issue. If you’re looking for a sensational Sega game to play, Nights Into Dreams is worth your time.
Panzer Dragoon – Remake
Panzer Dragoon is Sega’s equivalent to Nintendo’s Star Fox. It’s an enjoyable on-rails shooter title with engaging worlds and delightful gameplay. It involves players traveling to a lone planet while atop a strange-looking dragon.
You must navigate the dragon through numerous obstacles to prevent the Prototype Dragon from arriving at a specific tower. Players will have a blast soaring above the planet’s enchanting oceans and dodging its ancient stone pillars. If that’s not enough, the game incorporates several baddies for you to defeat and hazards to avoid. The remastered version improves the game’s controls, targeting features, and visuals. So if you want to try this game out, I’d suggest grabbing a copy of the remake.
Phantasy Star
Although many know Sega for its colorful platformers and frenetic puzzle games, many may not know that they’ve made some stellar JRPGs in their time, too. Phantasy Star is one of their better JRPG series known for its gripping plot, enjoyable gameplay, and beautiful graphics. It follows Alis, a female who journeys out to defeat the evil ruler of her star system, King Lassic.
Alis will visit multiple planets and befriend numerous fighters who’ll join her on her quest. The gameplay consists of you running into random enemies, earning experience points, etc. Each person Alias meets along the way has a unique personality and ability. Many hold Phantasy Star in high regard for having predetermined characters and a gorgeous science fantasy setting.
Each planet has incredible civilizations, towns, and enemies worth interacting with. Phantasy Star’s dungeons carry many hidden secrets and can be a pain to navigate through. Although you’ll adore fighting enemies, Phantasy Star offers players a chance to talk things out with their adversaries. Regardless, you’ll gain experience points and noteworthy treasure after defeating foes. If you’re looking for a classic JRPG to play from Sega’s catalog, Phantasy Star’s worth it.
So, there we have it, our pick for the best Sega video games through the years!
What do you think of our picks? Do you agree? Are there any notable omissions? Let us know in the comments below!