My Top 25 Sega CD Games That Are Still Fun Playing All These Years Later
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 tv I won at a Super Bowl party right before the world went on a lockdown quarantine, but the thing that really kicked the new hobby up a notch was realizing that that Sega Mini could be hacked to add any old retro video game from any old retro video game console. And once one goes down that online retro video gaming rabbit hole, one eventually realizes that one could have been playing any old retro video game right on one’s old iMac the whole time. I guess that’s why they say hindsight is 2020.
More recently, I’ve been noticing that my most visited website pages, month after month, were my blog posts about retro video gaming (even though I am very clearly a ‘not a music blog, not not a music blog’), and most of those visits were coming from Google’rs. So, since I also did a lot of searching for “best Sega CD games” or “most underrated Sega CD games” or “Sega CD games that are still worth playing today” or “hidden gem Sega CD games” once I was done googling the same “how to hack a sega mini” queries that have been directing people to my blahg quite consistently, I figured I should put together some console specific lists too… 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 “greatest Sega CD 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 & the ones that I find myself reaching for most often + it should be noted that I don’t really care much for fighting games or turn based strategy RPG games or ‘point and click’ games (no matter how ‘critically acclaimed’ they are on the Youtubes & Reddits) AND, in the case of the Sega CD, I also don’t fancy those FMV games (which really have not aged well + I also don’t have any built-in nostalgia for the Sega CD, as I never owned one back in the day).
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AND NOW THAT WE’VE GOT ALL THE EXPLAINERS & DISCLAIMERS OUT OF THE WAY… HERE’S MY LIST OF 25 Sega CD GAMES THAT ARE STILL FUN TO PLAY TODAY (if you have similar gaming tastes):
#1 - The Terminator
For the most part, my experience with Sega CD games has been an underwhelming “this doesn’t seem like much of an improvement on the version that exists on the Genesis”, so I was delightfully surprised by how very good the Sega CD Terminator game is. In a way, it’s your standard kind of 2-D run & gun platformer, but there’s some very nice graphics and an amazing soundtrack that really make this one stand out. And, unlike a lot of Sega CD games that weren’t in the horrible Night Trap style, they didn’t just repackage something that already existed on the Sega Genesis here with some slightly better sound. This game is a total improvement on any of the (frankly quite bad) Terminator games that came out on the Genesis and SNES (and NES), and it really gives a taste of how much better this movie franchise could have been handled in the retro gaming era. For me & my tastes, hands down the best game on this console.
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#2 - Heart of the Alien
If you happened to have checked out my favourite Genesis games list, you shouldn’t be surprised to see the sequel to Out of this World on my Sega CD list (as it not only contains a whole new continuation of the weird story to play out, but it also contains the original Out Of This World to play too, so kinda the definitive version for fans of this title). Now, for the unfamiliar, this game is weird and frustrating and doesn’t play like any other game from the 16-bit era, but there is also something about that weirdness/uniqueness that makes it such a strangely addictive play… as you can’t help but be intrigued to try and figure out what the hell is going on + how to push the oddly animated story along further (although, god bless being able to now refer to Youtube play-throughs, as this game can be a real head scratcher / hair puller at times).
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#3 -
Earthworm Jim - Special Edition
Already a (mostly) agreed-upon classic on the Genesis / SNES, the Sega CD version of Earthworm Jim gets a ‘special edition’ treatment that sees enhanced levels as well as a new extra level (and the usual Sega CD ‘slightly better’ sound quality) — which kinda makes this version of Earthworm Jim the “best” version to play if one were looking to jump in for the first time or if one were looking to re-jump into the game after having played out the original Genesis or SNES version (as you will literally find some new stuff in this special edition).
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#4 - Flink
Another game that also has a Genesis version (won’t be the last time that happens on this list), and the thing that really stands out about Flink is just how amazing the sprite work / graphics are. It really is quite impressive to look at for that time period (and, if like me, you also were a fan of the gorgeous 2D PS1 game The Adventures of Lomax, you’ll probably recognize the look and feel here as a precursor to that game). Once you get past the beautiful visuals, you’re kinda left with your standard action platformer, but that’s not really a knock, because that just means that what you’re left with is a beautiful looking action platformer (and who doesn’t like stumbling on stuff like that when perusing through the piles of retro video games that just don’t come close to the visuals on display here).
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#5 - Wolfchild
This won’t be the first time I make a comment like this, BUT, because the Sega Genesis had such a massive and oftentimes amazing catalogue of games, there were certain titles that just didn’t grab/hold my attention when compared to all the other Genesis games that grabbed/held my attention more (and you can only focus on so many games). But then you start exploring what the Sega CD had on offer in its much smaller catalogue, and once you filter out all the FMV games that just didn’t age well, you start bumping into familiar 16-bit games like Wolfchild that didn’t really make much of an impression as a Genesis game — BUT — for reasons that seem to go beyond just enhanced audio… the Sega CD version of the game becomes enjoyable on a level where you start to wonder why the Genesis version felt so forgettable. Perhaps that’s the true power of all the FMV rubbish on Sega CD… it makes one appreciate the non-FMV titles so much more, even if similar versions on the non-CD 16-bit consoles went previously under appreciated (especially when the differences aren’t even that dramatic). And, for me, Wolfchild is the best example of this phenomena, as I genuinely find myself enjoying the Sega CD version of this game on a level where it makes me question my original apathy to the Genesis version (because I now really quite like playing this game and I couldn’t give a toss about it before).
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#6 - Android Assault - The Revenge of Bari-Arm
Although the FMV games seem to be the first thing that comes to mind when mentioning the Sega CD, when you really jump into the catalogue, it’s probably the pretty decent collection of SHMUPS that stand out the most as something the Sega CD did quite well (and I’m not even the biggest fan of shooters, due to me not being that great at them). Now, this won’t be the only shooter that makes my Top 25 list, but if I had to only select one, I think Android Assault would probably be the one that I find myself reaching for the most to see if I can get a bit further than last time, as it seems to have the nicest mix of challenge + still being able to progress thru levels without getting completely overwhelmed by onscreen action.
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#7 - Keio Flying Squadron
Another horizontal shooter, although this one could be more classified as a ‘cutesy shooter’, as you are a young girl in a bunny suit riding a little dragon while firing at racoons in row boats floating through the air + anime cut scenes & et cutera. But, just because something swaps out spaceships for cuteness, it doesn’t mean that there isn’t still plenty of challenge in shooting baddies while trying to avoid getting shot yourself, and this one provides a good mix of challenge + still being able to progress thru the levels (which is the main thing my brain is looking for in a SHMUP that’s worth jumping back into every now & again when I’m not sure what else I’d like to play or if I’m looking for something to multi-task listening to a podcast/audiobook).
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#8 - Final Fight CD
Now, usually I am not the biggest fan of beat ‘em ups, but there is no denying that Final Fight on the Sega CD is one of the better and more satisfying titles from the genre (especially with its massive characters and nice soundtrack). I think one of the reasons beat ‘em ups don’t usually appeal to me is because they really are more fun to play with a 2nd player to help beat up the never-ending onslaught of baddies coming from the left & the right, and… I tend to just play retro games by myself — BUT — if you’re not a lone wolf in your video retro video gaming (ie. if you have friends to play with), I think it’s in the co-op mode that this game’s fun time vibes really get unlocked.
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#9 - Sonic CD
As I mentioned in my Sega Genesis list, I’m not really the biggest fan of the Sonic games, as I just don’t love the whole ‘go really fast & not be able to see where you’re going or when things that hurt you will appear’ style of platforming. But there is no denying that all these Sonic games are really well designed and made, and Sonic CD is no exception to that rule (hence why it is so well regarded by all those who really love the Sonic style of game play… and why I keep finding myself trying to give it another spin every now & again, despite my frustrations navigating the pinball level).
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#10 - Jaguar XJ220
When it comes to the 16-bit era driving games that aren’t Super Mario Kart, I really think Jaguar XJ220 on the Sega CD is one of the overlooked ones (especially in regards to how things look and handle). Personally, I still prefer the more cartoonish 16-bit driving of Mario Kart, BUT, if you’re going to go for a more ‘realistic’ driving experience on the pre-PS1 consoles, hopping into a jaguar on the Sega CD is a pretty decent experience (and one that you don’t often see too many people shouting out online).
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#11 - Pitfall: The Mayan Adventure
Here comes another game where a version that looks/plays very quite similar already exists on the Genesis / Mega Drive — BUT — like with Wolfchild, given the much smaller catalogue of the Sega CD, this Pitfall version becomes more appealing to play given the overall lack of better Sega CD games in the same genre, which has actually made me appreciate playing this 16-bit version of Pitfall much more than when I had the option of playing the Genesis / Mega Drive version. And that might not be the most glowing review, but sometimes it takes comparing a game to the other available options on a specific console to make one spend enough time to start to appreciate the overlooked decentness contained within. And Pitfall is a pretty decent little platformer, especially once you get used to the controls & how your character moves around (also, it looks quite nice + I believe this Sega CD version comes with some some extra levels, to go along with the enhanced sound, making it the '“if you’re only going to play one version of 16-bit Pitfall” version to play).
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#12 - Puggsy
Speaking of games that also exist on the Genesis / Mega Drive that I never really gave much of a chance until I started exploring the Sega CD catalogue, Puggsy is a game that I went from thinking “what kind of lame European children’s game is this?” to thinking “am I lame European child now?” as I slowly started to realize that this puzzle platformer, with its weird physics & feel, is actually kind of enjoyable once you figure out what's going on / what you’re supposed to do. Definitely chalk this one up to something I probably never would have given the proper amount of time to if it wasn’t for me being so relieved whenever I got to try out a non-FMV game on the Sega CD — and Puggsy is definitely more of a grow’r than an initial show’r (and I’m glad I eventually gave it the time it takes to get into the gameplay on offer).
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#13 - Lords of Thunder
When it comes to music I tend to lean towards, heavy metal is pretty far down on my list — BUT — there is no denying that when you are flying around as some kind of Lord of Thunder, shooting fire balls out of your hands & whatnot, there really is no soundtrack that could be more fitting than a bunch of metal riffs. Now, this game can quickly become one of those shooters where there is way too much stuff going on screen for my brain to compute & dodge, but there is also nice continue feature that lets you take all the coin you collected before dying to buy yourself some very handy power-ups to restart the level with… and that’s when you really start cooking as a thunder lord powered by heavy metal.
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#14 - Sol-Feace
Another quality horizontal shooter here — nothing that will blow your socks off in the visuals or audio (and there’s also a Genesis / Mega Drive version), but Sol-Feace on the Sega CD still makes for a fairly enjoyable SHMUP to jump into whenever you get the urge to shoot and/or dodge stuff in space (and I like how you can adjust the angle that your guns fire at by pressing up or down when you’re not firing). Overall, it’s a pretty basic ‘all 3 buttons do the same thing’ shooter that requires you to do quite a lot of dodging of things that you can’t really shoot… but there’s fun & challenge to be found in it (and you ship handles well).
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#15 - Chuck Rock II: Son of Chuck
Much like when I included Chuck Rock 2 on my Sega Master System list of faves, the Sega CD version also makes my list because, once you remove some of the better 16-bit platformers that served as competition in the Genesis catalogue, I actually have a decent amount of enjoyment playing this game when I actually give it the required amount of time to get into how things work. And, as mentioned before (and as I’ll mention again), when you get down to comparing this game to other games in the Sega CD catalogue, it quickly climbs its way up my list of Sega CD games that I’m most likely to throw on over the other Sega CD options.
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#16 - Chuck Rock
In the same vein as Chuck Rock 2, the original Chuck Rock also gets a bump in playability in my books from the Sega CD’s overall lack of competition in a genre of retro games that I tend to enjoy playing (aka: platformers). Which is not to say that Chuck Rock would otherwise be considered “not good” — it’s a perfectly fine looking & handling platformer in its own right — but sometimes it takes the lack of other more appealing options on a specific console to make one take the time to appreciate what’s on offer in the games that don’t initially rock your socks off. Also, Chuck Rock on the Sega CD comes with some better sound and some longer levels, so, really, if you’re only going to play one version of CR, it should probably be this CD one.
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#17 - NHL '94
It’s fairly common knowledge that the NHL series hit its stride in the 16-bit era with NHL ‘94 (and, for some, that’s the high water mark for the series… although, I found they kept slightly improving on the formula and often find myself playing ‘96 or ‘98 on the Genesis the most), SO, considering that the Sega CD only has NHL ‘94 in its catalogue, and even though the ‘Sega CD enhancemenst’ really aren’t all that enhanced here (ie. the CD audio for the crowd is a bit underwhelming, and unless you want to hear Ron Barr slowly read out canned sports talk before the game, there really isn’t too much extra in the audio), this is still a fun game to pick up on your own or to have some friends over and plug in a few more controllers (as you can play up to 4 people on this one).
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#18 - Flashback - The Quest for Identity
Flashback on the Genesis is one of my favourite games of all time (and one of the few games where I’ve actually stuck things thru as an adult to play right up to the finish), so, even though I think the ‘enhanced’ cut scenes actually look worse than the art style that the Genesis used so effectively, I’m including the Sega CD version of Flashback because, if I was ever going to try playing this game thru all over again, I think I’d want to give it a go on the Sega CD so I could experience the slightly different experience of what is, in my opinion, one of the best games of the 16-bit retro era.
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#19 - Silpheed
This game definitely gets points for trying to be something a bit different than your usual vertical shooter, with it’s polygonal 3D-ish style, which gives it a very unique look and feel (although sometimes that can result in it being hard to see what you’re shooting / dodging or whether you’re actually shooting / dodging what you’re supposed to). Which is another way of me saying that I don’t appear to be very good at this game, but something about it makes me keep trying to come back and see if I can do a little bit better (and sometimes that’s all you can really ask from a game from the 1990s).
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#20 - Wonder Dog
Now, here is a rare Sega CD platformer that wasn’t also available on the Genesis — if it had been, I probably would have also overlooked it based on my first impressions + the competition from other Genesis platformers, BUT, since the Sega CD catalogue is one that makes you spend a bit more time with titles you might often skip over, I must say that Wonder Dog eventually starts to grow on you (once you get used to the slippery way your character controls and the weird way that your character shoots stars… and once you get over the ‘happy music’ soundtrack & how your dog does a Homer “doh!” whenever getting hit). I doubt it would make anybody’s ‘Best Games Across All Consoles’ list, but if you’re looking for something Sega CD specific/exclusive, there’s a unique-in-its-own-way platformer here that might hold your attention more than you first think.
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#21 - Dungeon Explorer
This is a nice looking action RPG that feels quite a lot like jumping into a slightly different version of Gauntlet (ie. enemies that keep spawning until you can destroy their point of entry). And just like with Gauntlet, sometimes the swarm of baddies can feel quite unrelenting, which, I suppose, makes it all the more satisfying when you can keep them at bay long enough to destroy the portal that keeps sh*tting them out and then you get to pocket some gold too, eventually, making it back to where you can spend that gold on some weapon upgrades (although, expect to do quite a lot of ‘grinding’ in order to afford better upgrades… like, A LOT of grinding). Y’know, standard dungeon c̶r̶a̶w̶l̶e̶r̶ explorer stuff.
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#22 - Robo Aleste
Here we have a vertical shooter follow-up to the much-loved-by-the-internet MUSHA game and… much like its predecessor, Robo Aleste delivers a nice looking and unique feeling game that has you take control of a flying robot that can shoot stuff. This is one of those shooters that can have quite A LOT of stuff on screen, which is another way of me saying that this is one of those shooters where I die quite easily… but there’s an obvious quality to the game that makes you want to keep coming back and trying again (even if it means coming back to give things a whirl on the ‘Easy’ setting after getting overwhelmed on the higher difficulty settings).
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#23 - Demolition Man
Once again, another Sega CD game that has a Genesis version that doesn’t look or feel all that different makes my list because, once you filter the available games down to what’s in the Sega CD catalogue, Demolition Man starts becoming one of those games where you go, “you know what? I actually kinda maybe enjoy this game”. This is especially true once you get better acquainted with the not-always-intuitive way that your character controls/shoots (although, there is a general ‘jumpy-ness’ that is unavoidable here). There doesn’t appear to be a tonne of difference between the Genesis and Sega CD version, besides some audio and grainy cut scenes, BUT, when perusing thru the Sega CD library, I often find Demolition Man grabbing my attention more than it does when I’m perusing the Genesis library.
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#24 - Popful Mail
A very nice looking and handling action RPG that comes equipped with anime-style cut scenes as well as actual voice actors reading your typical RPG dialogue boxes (and, although the voice acting is a nice touch for anyone looking for that kind of extra feature that really takes advantage of the Sega CD capabilities, there is also an option to turn of the voice reading, as it can really add a lot of extra time to the play time… and I tend to find RPGs already have enough time spent on dialogue when I’m the one doing a speed read). I find the gameplay / style really reminded me of the Monster World games on the Genesis, which is a combination of ‘good’ but also something that doesn’t always hold my attention for long stretches (especially when there’s that feeling of grinding away too much for coins). BUT… this is definitely a high quality game that is worth putting some time into (ESPECIALLY if action RPGs are your main jam).
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#25 - Ecco the Dolphin
This game is way weirder than it has any right being (especially for how un-weird it looks like it should be at first glance) and the way the game is so cryptic about what you are even supposed to do quickly makes you realize that Ecco The Dolphin is not like any other game from the 90s. And the Sega CD version comes with a nice CD quality soundtrack + some extra levels, making this the version of Ecco that I like to fire up whenever I feel like confusingly controlling a dolphin in a mysterious puzzle timeline (tbf the Genesis version also has a nice soundtrack for its hardware). Can’t say I’m very good at this game, but there is something quite intriguing about trying to figure out what the hell is going on (and there’s also a general ambient atmosphere that is really easy to get lost in).
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Ok, that’s it for my personal ‘Top 25 Sega CD Games That Are Still Fun To Play Now’ list — I know that there are some classic titles that seem crazy not to have included, but, again, this is not meant to be a ‘Top 25 All-Time Best Ever’ list and it’s also not meant to be your list (so apologies that Snatcher, an obviously well-made game, is just not a style of play that I can get into… same with the highly regarded turn-based RPGs on the Sega CD). Besides, reading another list that just confirms what’s on every other ‘best of’ list is a bit boring and pointless, especially if you’re looking for titles that might not always 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).
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 CD 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 25 Sega CD games’ list (as I’ve been known to make tweaks to my lists when a new old game starts making a stronger case for more of my limited attention span) ↓
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JEREMY / @HI54LOFI
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