My “HIGH 54” Top Sega Master System Games That Are Still Fun Playing Now
As I mentioned in my other top/fave retro video games lists, 2020 was the year I got back into playing retro video games from my youth. This was heavily influenced by me ordering a Sega Mini to hook up to the 50-inch flatscreen tv I won at a local pub’s Super Bowl party right before the world went on a long-running lockdown quarantine — remember those days?
However, the thing that really kicked the new hobby up a notch was realizing that my Sega Mini could be ‘hacked’ to add ANY old retro video game from any old retro video game console — BECAUSE — once one goes down that online retro video game rabbit hole, one eventually realizes that one could have been playing any old retro video game right on one’s old iMac the whole dang time (not to mention you can just buy emulators pre-loaded with every dang game that came out from back in the day from online retailers, not to mention all the retro releases on modern consoles & etc).
I guess that’s why they say hindsight is 20/20.
I have since passed on an Unclefied version of my “hacked” Sega Mini to my little nieces during Xmas ‘21 — the yellow sticky notes are the games I added to customize the 42 games that show up on their system (their age range was 6-12 at the time + I only wanted to add games that worked with the Sega Mini emulator).
And after blahg’n about some of my own Sega Mini adventures, I started noticing that my most visited website pages, month after month, were my blog posts about retro video gaming (even though I was always more of a ‘not a music blog, not not a music blog’ kind of website). And most of those visits were coming from Google’rs.
So, since I also did a lot of searching for “best Sega Master System games” or “most underrated Sega Master System games” or “top Sega Master System games that are still worth playing today” after I was done googling the same kind of “how to hack a sega mini” queries that had started directing people to my blahg on the regular… I figured I should put together some console specific lists myself — because SEO, innit?
//
//
Please keep in mind that this list is not really in a ranked order and it is definitely not an attempt at creating a “best Sega Master System games EVER” list (so prepare to adjust your “how could you not include ___?!” outrage appropriately). This is just a list of games that I still find personally enjoyable playing as an elder millennial in the 2020s. And please note that I don’t personally care much for button-mashing fighting games or turn-based strategy RPG games (no matter how ‘critically acclaimed’ they are on the Youtubes & Reddits by more serious gamers).
I will also note that I added some ‘eBay search affiliate links’ to my personally recommended games, which means I may earn a small commission if someone snags a game after clicking away to eBay from this post (which, if it happens, that money will go towards keeping this blog online — same thing with the Google ads that have been added) ✌️
.
.
AND NOW THAT WE’VE GOT ALL THE EXPLAINERS & DISCLAIMERS OUT OF THE WAY… HERE’S MY subjective LIST OF Sega Master System GAMES that my millennial brain still finds engaging to play now:
#1 - Aladdin
Aladdin made my “High 54” lists on both the Genesis and the SNES, but this Master System version is not getting a nod because it’s just an 8-bit version of one of those great 16-bit games, the gameplay here is actually quite a lot different and offers its own completely different experience. And the experience is a fairly fun running and jumping game that still looks pretty good for the downgrade in graphic capabilities. Y’know, you really gotta hand to Aladdin for managing to be great in the 3 different gaming iterations (must be the hammer pants).
*****
#2 - Maze Hunter 3-D
I do seem to like games where you walk around maze-like levels, with a top down view. I don’t know, maybe it’s the huge amount of left-to-right platformer games that existed in the 8-bit and 16-bit era that just makes these games stand out as a bit more fun to bum around in. Unfortunately, I don’t have the Sega Scope 3-D glasses that apparently can be used on this game to take the visuals to a whole other level, but I find that it’s a pretty enjoyable game to play in plain old 2-D as well. As with most other games from the era, things start off pretty easy, but it’ll start offering enough of a challenge to keep you interested in trying to hunt yourself completely out of all the mazes, bopping things on the head with your stick as you go.
*****
#3 Castle of Illusion + #4 Land of Illusion + #5 Legend of Illusion (*starring Mickey Mouse)
There are three Mickey Mouse games on the Master System, and they’re all of a similarly high “this is surprisingly good for an 8-bit Disney game” quality — so it feels wrong to only recommend one of them. They all look great, handle smoothly, and offer slightly different takes on the same formula (and Castle isn’t just a de-make of the Genesis classic — it’s its own version). All that said, if I had to pick just one, I might lean a bit toward Legend of Illusion, as it’s the one that’s kept me engaged all the way through to the end (whereas I’ve never quite stuck with the other two long enough to finish them). But really, you can’t go wrong with any of the three — they’re all among the better platformers on the system, and another reminder of how well Sega handled Disney games back in the day.
*****
#6 The Lucky Dime Caper + #7 Deep Duck Trouble (*starring Donald Duck)
Like with the Mickey Mouse games on the Master System, the Donald Duck games are also really nice-looking 8-bit platformers that play better than you might expect at first glance. Lucky Dime Caper probably feels a bit smoother to play, but Deep Duck Trouble is no slouch either. Both games end up being more challenging than they first appear, but once you get the hang of things, they’re solid little platformers worth working your way through — and, once again, a nice reminder of how well Sega handled Disney games (especially with cartoon graphics).
*****
#8 - Shinobi
If you were only allowed to choose one retro Shinobi game to play, you’d be better off playing one of the 16-bit versions on the Genesis / Mega Drive — HOWEVER — you’re not forced to only play only one AND the 8-bit version of Shinobi on the Master System is actually quite enjoyable in its own right. Sure, you move around a little slower, but once you get used to the pace, it becomes a fun little ninja game to progress through (throwing throwing stars at baddies and saving little kids along the way, little kids who also give you bonus items the more you save, including a bonus stage where you throw more throwing starts at ninjas like in a county fair game). The 80s sure loved ninja action.
*****
#9 - Alex Kidd in Shinobi World
Something that used to happen a lot in the 80s and 90s is tv sitcoms would have crossover episodes where the characters from one show would appear on another show (usually from the same network). And I guess this is sort of like one of those 80s/90s crossover episodes — except here you take the Alex Kidd character from the long-running Alex Kidd series, and you pop him into the ninja/baddie filled world of Shinobi, and… what you get is the best Alex Kidd game (at least according to my tastes). But I’ve never been a big fan of the other Alex Kidd games, they always felt like they were lacking something — and, I guess the thing they were lacking all along was ninjas.
*****
#10 - Forgotten Worlds
Forgotten Worlds is a fairly unique shooter in the sense that you are A) a flying guy instead of a jet or spaceship; and B) instead of just shooting forward and dodging bullets, you are constantly rotating which direction you are shooting 360 degrees. I think I also prefer playing this 8-bit Master System version as opposed to the 16-bit Genesis version as, even though there’s a drop in graphic quality, the character is much easier to control as your shoot button is automatically pressed down on the Master System version, so all you have to worry about is moving your guy around and the direction you’re shooting. Maybe that makes the game easier, but, also, it makes it funner to play. And when you get into the store that pops up on levels, I’d highly recommend you grab the heat-seeking missiles because that is definitely the way to go.
*****
.
•
🗣️ And now a quick word from some advertisers……and now back to the list! 👇•
.
#11 - Astro Warrior / Pit Pot
This is a bit of 2-for-1 cheat, but… the way that I’ve experienced playing Astro Warrior, which is a nice old skool vertical shooter, is on a combo cartridge rom that also includes Pit Pot, which is nice old skool classic arcade game (which feels a bit Atari in the retro looks). But I actually enjoy playing both of these games on their own, so the fact that I can technically combine them both as one spot on this list of 25 feels like the right move (especially since it opens up a spot and makes me have to make one less cut).
*****
#12 - Batman Returns
When talking about retro Batman games, the NES Batman is the one that often gets mentioned the most online, but I actually quite enjoy the less beat-em-up and more batarang-throwing approach of Batman Returns on the Master System (and visually it’s a nice looking 8-bit effort). You also get a grapple hook that comes into play quite often, which is a fun touch. My only gripe is that I really wished you had a hit bar instead of dying any/every time you get touched, as that can really add a level of frustration / difficulty to the game that sometimes takes away from the overall enjoyment. Which is a bummer because, overall, it’s a really good licensed action platformer (and I guess I just need to get better at avoiding getting hit — and this game is good enough to make you want to get better at it).
*****
#13 Sonic The Hedgehog + #14 Sonic The Hedgehog 2
If you checked out my Sega Genesis “HIGH 54,” you may already know that I’m not the biggest fan of the “run really fast to the right and hope for the best” style of Sonic gameplay. However, the Master System versions of Sonic the Hedgehog take a noticeably different approach (as they’re not just demakes of the 16-bit games, they’re their own thing) — and it’s an approach that feels much more in line with the kind of platforming I tend to enjoy more. Things move at a slightly slower, more manageable pace, with more emphasis on exploring levels and figuring out where to go next rather than just reacting at top speed. They also look great for 8-bit games… and might just be my preferred way to spend time with Sonic.
*****
#15 - Bonanza Bros
Bonanza Bros is a classic arcade game where you go around as crooks stealing loot and avoiding the coppers (often shooting them or bashing with doors to stun them as you move along the level), and then once you have all the loot collected you make your way to the exists and do it all again on the next level. Simple and fun, which is all I’m looking for a lot of the times. If you have a friend to play with, you’re better off jumping onto the Genesis / Mega Drive version, as that has 2-player co-op play, but, since I am usually going down the retro video game rabbit hole on my own, I’ve got no problem with the Master System version being only 1 player (and since I tend to reach for different games when playing on the Genesis, I find Bonanza Bros grabs my attention more when I’m looking thru which Master System games to jump into).
*****
#16 - Cloud Master
This horizontal shooter is a little bit like Forgotten Worlds in that you are a person and not a spaceship (although here you are a person riding a cloud and you can only shoot left to right), combined with the cartoon-y and weird enemies of a Fantasy Zone game (ie. sometimes the bad guys are things like bowls of cereal and teeth, at least I think that’s what they are). And for whatever reason, that combination makes for quite an enjoyable little shooter — one that starts of easy enough to get the hang of, but, like with most shooters, starts getting quite a lot harder (I find the enemy projectiles move at a nice pace to dodge around here, although, the fact that your character is so big on the screen, it does get tricky avoiding hits — and it’s one of those “one hit and that’s it'“ games).
*****
#17 Fantasy Zone + #18 Fantasy Zone II: The Tears of Opa-Opa
Speaking of the cartoon-y baddies of the Fantasy Zone world, both Fantasy Zone and Fantasy Zone II are solid entries on the Master System and easy recommendations for anyone who enjoys this style of shooter. If you’ve played a Fantasy Zone game before, you already know the deal — bright colours, quirky enemies, and flying left and right across levels to take out enemy generators before the boss shows up. It’s a simple formula, but one that still holds up well here. Both games look great, handle smoothly, and offer a nice change of pace from the usual sci-fi space shooters.
*****
#19 - The New Zealand Story
Like with Fantasy Zone, The New Zealand Story looks really nice and cutesy cartoony (and also exists on other consoles) — but don’t let the nice looking cutesy-ness mislead you into thinking this game is easy. A kind of run n’ gun platformer that sees you playing as a little bird that shoots arrows while you try and rescue other birds (Tikis), this game quickly lets you know that it’s a lot harder than you first thought it’d be. But it handles nicely, so the challenge becomes the kind of frustrating that you want to get better at — although the music can get a little grating on the ears with its literal chirpiness, so you might want to turn it down a pinch lower than the other games you play.
*****
#20 - Columns
Sure, Columns on the Genesis / Mega Drive looks a little bit nicer (or at least ‘bigger’ & ‘shinier’), but, when it comes to a game like Columns, you don’t really need 16-bits in order to get the same kind of addicting game play that you can get on an 8-bit system, and, if I find myself reaching for a game of Columns, I tend to find myself reaching for the Master System version. And in a little bit of 2-for-1 list cheating fashion, I would say that I have very similar feelings to Dr. Robotnik's Mean Bean Machine (ie. I tend to reach for the Master System version over the Genesis version — because I guess you don’t really need that many bits to make a good bean based game either).
*****
#21 Wonder Boy III: The Dragon's Trap + #22 Wonder Boy in Monster World
On the topic of 8-bits being more than enough, Wonder Boy III: The Dragon’s Trap and Wonder Boy in Monster World are two games that not only look fantastic, but also pack a whole lotta game into a small package. There’s just so much to explore across these action/adventure platformers with RPG elements (including moments where you think you missed a jump, only to realize there’s a whole little world hiding just out of sight). Dragon’s Trap leans more into the open-ended exploration side of things (and is probably the better game if you’re only picking one), while Monster World adds a bit more structure with towns, upgrades, and a more traditional adventure feel (but dang is your sword small) — but both deliver way more depth than you might expect from an 8-bit system. It’s all done so well that, if you didn’t know better, you might think you were playing a 16-bit game.
*****
#23 - Chuck Rock II: Son of Chuck
Chuck Rock II is one of those games when, if you play it on the more powerful Genesis / Mega Drive system, it can feel like a kind of underwhelming ‘meh’ game (especially when compared to the other 16-bit platformers on offer) — BUT — when you drop things down to 8-bits, this game becomes a platformer that really stands out in comparison to the other games in the Master System catalogue. It looks good (if not a little dark in the overall colours) + it also handles quite nicely — making for quite an enjoyable play (and it’s even made me go back and appreciate the 16-bit version a bit more).
*****
#24 - Master of Darkness
Master of Darkness is a good example of how the NES had a much deeper and more original library than the Master System. Because, not only is this a big time rip off of Castlevania (right down to the stairs and annoying flying things), but also, when putting together my top 25 NES games, I never put a Castlevania game in it (as I enjoy playing too many other NES games more), but, when narrowing the Master System catalogue down to the 25 that appeal to me the most, Master of Darkness stands out as one of the best. All that being said, Master of Darkness is more than just a good Castlevania rip off — it has it’s own elements & story that work good and the gameplay is enjoyable to stick with it (but boy oh boy did they ever just hand in homework they obviously copied from the A+ student). Or, maybe this is just the best 8-bit Castlevania game?
*****
#25 - R-Type
I’m sure R-Type on the more powerful systems are considered better than this 8-bit version, but me not being the biggest fan of shooters had me always reaching for and sticking to different 16-bit games than the R-Types on offer — so, when you get down into the Master System catalogue, this version of R-Type really stands out as one of the games worth more of your time and, for those reasons and others, it holds my attention and desire to keep trying again & again, at least much more than any other Type of R I’ve tried.
*****
.
•
🗣️ And now a quick word from some advertisers……and now back to the list! 👇•
.
#26 - Air Rescue
If you’ve ever played Choplifter before, this game will probably remind you of that (both games involve rescuing people and taking them back to home base on chopter afterall), although, there’s a little more focus on maneuvering your helicopter through obstacles on Air Rescue (where as Choplifter has a lot more shooting stuff & avoiding being shot by more stuff). And there is a Choplifter game on the Master System if that’s the style you prefer, although I found it a bit harder to get into (on account of me dying a bunch right from the beginning), which is not to say that you won’t find yourself dying a bunch in Air Rescue too — because you will and it’ll often feel a bit cheap with the controls and barely bumping into things — but once you get locked into how things handle, I find Air Rescue to be the Master System chopter game that holds my interest more.
*****
#27 - Line of Fire
This game is a little bit like Jackal on the NES (which was one of my “HIGH 54”), except it has less to the game play and is definitely not as good. That being said, it’s still a nice 8-bit vertical shooter where you drive a jeep that can shoot bullets and fire missiles (the missiles being something that you can control the direction of once you fire — which is almost a cool thing, except you also control your jeep’s direction at the same time, so you often find yourself dodging bullets while messing up the aim of your missile, which results in more bullets being fired at you from the fighter jet your missile just missed). Still, it’s a nice game to jump into overall (and I like a shooter game that gives you a hit bar to take a bit of damage instead of the “one hit and that’s it” style you often find with shooters).
*****
#28 - Asterix
As a kid that liked comic books, Asterix was always that fun looking comic book you could find in the library, except… it was always in french and I had no idea what they were saying (so I just looked at the pictures). So, there’s like a weird kind of nostalgia that this platformer gives me, as I kind of recognize everybody, but I also don’t really have too much other context. But, when playing an old 8-bit platformer, you don’t really need to much extra context and this one (as well as the Great Rescue and Secret Mission games in the series) look quite nice and handle pretty well, which make them decent games to jump into (and there’s a nice touch where you take turns between playing as Asterix and Obelix, who have different skills sets, which has you approaching each level with different strategies).
*****
#29 - Baku Baku Animal
This is a different take on your Columns / Tetris style puzzler, that’ll have you thinking a bit like pre-schooler while you play as you try to line up animal heads with the objects they’re most known to eat (ie. “monkeys eat bananas and bones… go with doggies!”). And just like with most puzzlers, once you get into the concept, the game itself can become quite addicting (and it can be quite satisfying when you get your animal head lined up with a huge take down of all the connected edibles that match up with it and you see it chomp away massive chunks of your filled-up screen).
*****
#30 - Micro Machines
For an 8-bit console, the Master System can really look quite nice on some games, and Micro Machines seems to be one of those titles that fits perfectly for the lower graphic capabilities (I guess when your machines are micro, they’re easier to render in 8-bit technology). As far as driving games go, I’m not a huge fan of the ‘looking down on the track’ view, as the steering can be quite counter-intuitive at times + you can’t really get a sense of what’s coming up until it’s almost too late, but, overall this one is pretty fun to play once you get used to how things control + each track looks nice. Although, the way Micro Machines handles 2-player mode isn’t great (instead of split screen, you both need to be on the same screen at the same time, which doesn’t work great), so much better played as 1-person (which suits my old no-friend-having-ass just fine).
*****
#31 -
Alien Syndrome
On Alien Syndrome you walk around maze-like levels, shooting aliens and rescuing hostages until there are no hostages left to rescue and you can make your way to the exit. You don’t want to spend too much time trying to shoot all the aliens as they eventually just reappear, so just walk around trying to find people to save without getting hit and keep an eye out for symbols on the wall that can give you different guns and whatnot. Kinda slow paced at times, but also kinda calming to just slowly walk around saving hostages and shooting aliens.
*****
#32 Bubble Bobble + #33 Rainbow Islands: The Story of Bubble Bobble 2
If you’re in the mood for something a bit more arcade-y, Bubble Bobble and Rainbow Islands are two easy recommendations on the Master System. They share the same colourful, cartoon-style charm, but play quite differently. Bubble Bobble keeps things contained to single-screen levels where you trap enemies in bubbles and pop them, while Rainbow Islands opens things up into vertical stages where you climb upward using rainbows as both platforms and weapons. Both are simple to understand, but have that addictive “just one more go” feel once you get into them (and both are showcases for how good a Sega Master System game could look).
*****
#34 - RoboCop vs The Terminator
As a fan of the Genesis version of RoboCop vs Terminator (which made my HIGH 54 list on that console as well), the Master System version plays like a scaled-down take on that 16-bit gem — with slightly floatier controls and some slowdown and jank here and there. But once you get used to it, it still settles into a decent “walk-and-gun” rhythm. And yes… enemies still explode into pools of blood, even in 8-bit form (and who doesn’t like walking around as Robocop blasting away at thugs and Terminators).
*****
#35 - Rambo
Speaking of games based on 80s action heroes where you go around shooting everything that’s trying to shoot you, Rambo is a nice-looking top-down run-and-gun on the Master System. It plays well enough once you get into it, but getting to that point can take a bit of patience — as it’s pretty easy to die often and quickly right from the jump, which can make it tough to get into at first. But if you stick with it long enough to get a feel for how things play, there’s a solid little 8-bit action game underneath the difficulty.
*****
#36 - Gain Ground
Gain Ground can come across as pretty basic in its presentation and gameplay… but after a while, that simplicity becomes part of the charm (even if this 8-bit version can come with some slowdown when there’s a bunch happening on screen). You choose different characters with different weapons and attack ranges, then carefully work your way to the exit — or try to clear out every enemy on the screen. Rescue fallen teammates, experiment with who works best on each stage, and then do it all again on the next level. It’s repetitive in theory, but pleasantly addictive in practice.
*****
#37 - Power Strike II
Power Strike II is one of the best shooters on the Master System — it follows a familiar formula as far as vertical shooters go, but it feels smooth, responsive, and nicely balanced throughout (and a noticeable upgrade from the first Power Strike). There’s nothing overly flashy here, but when a game plays this well, it doesn’t really need to. If you’re looking for a solid, no-nonsense shooter on the system, this is an easy one to recommend jumping into.
*****
#38 - Dr. Robotnik's Mean Bean Machine sega master system
Like the previously mentioned Columns, Dr. Robotnik’s Mean Bean Machine takes a familiar 16-bit formula (whether you’re a Mean Beaner or more of a Puyo Puyo fan) and scales it down into a simpler 8-bit version — but one that still packs most of the same puzzling punch. It’s an easy concept to understand (match coloured beans in groups of four or more), but not always easy to keep up with as the pace ramps up. There’s a nice rhythm to it once you settle in, and it doesn’t take long before you’re going back for another round.
*****
#39 - #54
I’ll be continuing to update this list as I spend more time revisiting the Sega Master System library and working toward a full “HIGH 54” lineup. For now, consider this a placeholder for the remaining spots — a mix of games I haven’t had enough time with yet, along with a few that I still need to decide whether they make the cut.
Ok, that’s it for my personal ‘Top Sega Master System Games That Are Still Fun To Play Now’ list — I know that there may be some classic titles that seem crazy not to have included, BUT, again, this is not meant to be a ‘Top All-Time Best Ever’ list and it’s also not meant to be your list (also, I never had a Master System growing up, so this list is based entirely on games that need to appeal to my old ass with almost zero built-in nostalgia).
Besides, reading another list that just confirms what’s on every other ‘best of sega’ list is a bit boring and pointless, especially if you’re looking for games that might not be top of mind (and especially when you consider how all this stuff is individually subjective & doesn’t really matter beyond the enjoyment that comes from thinking/talking about your own experience & finding temporary moments of connection/agreement/discovery with others, if you even find time to actually play).
So, on that note, here’s my other lists of retro video games that are still fun playing today if you happen to be looking for more than just Sega Master System games to add to your own collection:
And please feel warmly encouraged to hit up the comments below if there’s any games that I left off that would definitely be on your ‘Fave Sega Master System games games’ list (as I’ve been known to make tweaks to my lists when a new old game starts making a strong case for my limited attention) ↓
--
JEREMY / @HI54LOFI
▲54▼
