The Top 10 Greatest Sega Genesis Games...According to You!

The Genesis/Mega Drive is considered one of the best consoles of its generation and was a true rival to the Super Nintendo, but what were the ten best games? And how many of them were Sonic? The system had a ton to offer so join Derrick and Jon as they discuss the results and stats!
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[@arios6443]

Another installment of Derrick tormenting Jon by forcing him to guess one game out of hundreds, ten times in a row. You love to see it.

[@StrangeDad]

Yes, I feel like Jon should have at least some sort of choice. 🥹

[@markasscop]

well more so out of tens, you typically see the same games on these lists so it's usually a matter of order, hence jon is able to guess it right sometimes

[@nutbutter1410]

The ps2 episode is gonna be a bloodbath

[@cjt217]

And I'll watch it every damn time

[@arios6443]

@@nutbutter1410 Maximilian Dood did a collaborative Top 10 PS2 Games with his friends and it was brutal. Some of them came unglued when their picks got shot down. Very entertaining.

[@GelidPrince]

For world of illusion, you didn't have to do co op for a true ending. There were 3 different campaigns. Mickey solo, Donald solo, and Co op. There were even different levels for each campaign.

[@JillRegina]

Yeah, world was always my favorite..so engrossing as a child, the wonderment of it all

[@nhodgie]

yeah World of illusion was one that I regularly cracked opened to play. It's a great game that doesn't get the recognition it deserves these days.

[@TheLonelyGoomba]

I guess it makes sense Sonic was on the list so much but it also pushed out a ton of great games. Toejam and Earl I think deserves to be on the list, and Bonanza Bros are great games. Especially if playing 2 player.

[@MichaelHeide]

Panic on Funkotron was my #3. But just a single one of the games I named (Sonic 2) made the final Top 10 list (most of the ones here ended up in my Top 25 though). Mega Drive/Genesis players were really spoilt for choice.

[@Rubberman202]

Sonic was always going to dominate the list and push out other worthy additions. I'm not sure how well Bonanza Bros. would have done, but Toejam and Earl definitely feels like top 10 material.

[@JillRegina]

TJ and earl is my fav game of all time, love funkotron too..Sega CD games being on here is weak imo

[@SeveredLegs]

Sonic 3 & Knuckles is my favorite Genesis game, and I think it's the best game on the system. Everything is so balanced and it's still a satisfying playthrough these days. I am more favorable to the S&K levels, but this game rewards veteran players with exploration. And the alternate paths are designed in such a way that I occasionally / accidentally go a different way and it always feels slightly new.

[@CrowTRobot]

Perfectly said. I was once a knight for Sonic 2 but one of my close friends showed me the light (both games rule tbh). Sonic 3&K is a masterpiece.

[@SeveredLegs]

@@CrowTRobot Yessir. Sonic 2 is really cool as well. Can't go wrong either way. S3&K is maybe the pinnacle of '90s platformer design. I place it ahead of pretty much anything. Cool to see a company firing on all cylinders.

[@VideoGameOwnage123]

I also have Sonic 3 & Knuckles as my favorite Genesis game. However, I can't really say it's the best. Streets of Rage 2 is the best Genesis game in my book because I think it's the game that is the peak of the genre that defined that generation. Beat em' Ups. I'm a Sonic fan so I have a bias towards S3&K. I didn't play Streets of Rage 2 until a few years ago when I wanted to get the most out of my NSO Expansion Pass so there's no bias or nostalgia. I just couldn't stop replaying it. The graphics are really appealing for a 16 meg game, the music's amazing, and it's co-op. Kinda hard to one up that one. Maybe, someone can argue Gunstar Heroes, Shinobi 3, Shining Force 2 or Castlevania Bloodlines but it's gonna be SoR 2 for me.

[@SeveredLegs]

@@VideoGameOwnage123 SOR2 is one of the all-time greats, yes. I may have it slightly ahead of Super Street Fighter II because SSF2 has some audio issues (which I don't think are a big deal, but push it slightly behind SOR2). SOR2 is an example of a perfect game. I've never heard a single critique of the game that didn't just amount to someone's particularly preference. If they make a Streets of Rage 5, it needs to be in the old style, like how Sonic Mania, Mega Man 9, etc. were made.

[@CrowTRobot]

@ hell yeah. and people say that the Deus Ex face indicates a bad take. SoR2 is goated. I only hope the upcoming Streets of Rage game is half as good as 2 or 4 🤞

[@gregster1016]

As someone who didn't have a Genesis as a kid (it was before my time), I've grown to really respect it over the years after playing more of it's library through NSO, with Gunstar Heroes becoming one of my favorite games of all time. A shame that Dynamite Headdy didn't make the Top 10, but overall, such a great system!

[@Geek306]

Ristar is a classic, most underrated Genesis game

[@SeveredLegs]

I'm often impressed at how many times Jon is able to guess the correct order. A more sporting way for the average enthusiast might be to let them know if one of their guesses is a future # on the list to help him further....and yet, he manages to guess many of these correctly regardless.

[@datalphalion]

Nobody sleep on Castlevania Bloodlines and Contra Hard Corps! I may actually like these games more than their SNES counterparts.

[@boboyqc]

Never played Contra Hard Corps but I'm curious now. Contra 3 got in my top 10 SNES but not Castlevania 4. Bloodlines definitely deserves to be in the top 10 though, what a beautiful game!

[@Lost_n_Found_1]

A lot of folks sleep on Hard Corps!

[@mschmalfeldt]

Castlevania IV is a masterpiece you blasphemer

[@boboyqc]

@@mschmalfeldt Okay. I still think Bloodlines is wayyyy better which makes no sense if Castlevania 4 is a masterpiece already.

[@thesatellite54]

Bloodlines is my favorite Classicvania. CV4 is a lot lower on that list. I appreciate a lot of what it does, but its soundtrack isn't energetic enough for me, and some later stages are outright obnoxious. (No, not "too hard," obnoxious. There's a difference.)

[@MyGoodFriendJon]

ToeJam & Earl was my jam! Other deep cuts I enjoyed were Subterrania, Aero the Acrobat, and Gadget Twins

[@Michirin9801]

Happy Ristar made it, NOT happy Shinobi III and Rocket Knight didn't. Also, BIG shout-outs to Panorama Cotton

[@Spacething7474]

If there's no Barney's Hide & Seek Game then this list is completely worthless.

[@Rubberman202]

I actually owned that game as a kid! XD

[@Nay089]

I remember really wanting that game when I was like 4 😂 it was shown on the back of the Genesis box

[@CrowTRobot]

Ugh I knew they would leave this out. Awful.

[@sonicslm4844]

My personal favourite is Sonic 2. This game was just perfect and is still a masterpiece in my eyes.

[@ChrisReactor1]

Sonic 3 and Knuckles is still to this day one of my favourite games. The story felt like a big step up from previous games.

[@infernofoxgaming10]

Love these, and am so grateful for these guys and the community for putting this together!

[@djb5255]

Finding Sega games in plastic boxes CIB 30+ years later gives them so much esteem over their retro counterparts.

[@heroic_teddy]

This series has been so enjoyable! Keep up the good work, gentlemen!

[@ChuckFinley-m5e]

I said it in my Bluesky post, but on my top ten list, Shining Force took the number one spot. As the first in the Shining series of strategy RPGs, and the second Shining game overall, it was quite a fun romp as an option compared to the SNES and FireEmblem on Nintendo. And as a fan of Sonic 3 & Knuckles, it's had to think of another game that outdoes it... but that's WHY Shining Force is my number one, and not the obvious choice.

[@parappatherapper4141]

I actually learned how to deal with Tails delay throughout the special stages. Got to master them so much that I ended up having all 7 emeralds by the end of Emerald Hill stage 2. Being able to blast through Chemical Plant with Super Sonic was the best thing ever back then, I felt like god. Miss those times

[@DannoTA]

I am SO proud of our community 🥹 Sonic 3 & Knuckles FOREVER BABY WOOOO. Literally the GOAT. and John you worded it perfectly. Sonic 2 is fantastic but it really hits a low at the end. Sonic 3 is THE grand finale to the trilogy and it rarely hits a low. So happy rn

[@mattb6522]

Good list! I still love the Sonic Genesis trilogy, Sonic CD, Ristar, Gunstar Heroes, and Castlevania Bloodlines! It honestly is hard to pick a top 10 as the Genesis actually has a lot of excellent games! I'd also give a shout for Contra Hard Corps, Dynamite Headdy, Rocket Knight Adventures, Lightening Force (Thunder Force IV), Castle of Illusion, Vectorman and Earthworm Jim 1&2!

[@davemurrells3780]

I cant believe hyperstone heist was not in the entire list

[@rodrigo.queluz]

As a genesis kid, this video hit home for me. There are so many awesome games for me that missed the list. DecapAttack, Toejam & Earl, Desert Strike, Flashback, Quackshot, Michael Jackson, SevenUp, TinyToon adventures, Taz Mania, among soo many others

[@georgefrankly]

"Big voice man talks about Sega" is my favorite genre of video content

[@Rubberman202]

Ironically, while the Sega Genesis was the first console I ever owned, I didn't own that many of the classics lauded as the console's best games, it was mostly just Sonic and licensed games for me growing up. I did play more of the console's games as time went on, though the Sega CD and 32X are still mostly a mystery to me. Still, I can't help but love the Genesis, and in particular the unique music and sound that system generated, it tickles the nostalgia section of my brain real good. Incidentally, while looking over people's votes, I found it fascinating to see how many of them ranked Sonic the Hedgehog 2 over Sonic the Hedgehog 3 & Knuckles. Don't get me wrong, I love Sonic 2, it was my first game in fact, but to me at least, Sonic 3 & Knuckles feels bigger and better in so many ways. I wouldn't mind hearing people's reasoning for why they prefer Sonic 2 over Sonic 3 & Knuckles, actually...

[@ChrisLT]

This should be fun, hope y'all voted in Dynamite Headdy.

[@xalrons4831]

Dynamite Headdy is so underrated. It's my second favorite Genesis game after Sonic 2.

[@sendingevac]

I can’t think of Sonic 2 without remembering how painful the special stage challenges can be

[@baileypalmer103]

Comix Zone would be a great game to get a modern day remake or sequel. Imagining it with an actual hand drawn art style would be sick

[@hyrulehero2773]

There’s honestly still so many games across the Genesis family that I desperately need to play, but I still feel pretty good about the list I do have here regardless: 1. Sonic the Hedgehog 2. Gunstar Heroes 3. Shinobi III: Return of the Ninja Master 4. Sonic CD 5. Puyo Puyo 6. Sonic the Hedgehog 3 & Knuckles 7. Castlevania: Bloodlines 8. Sonic the Hedgehog 2 9. Shadow Dancer: The Secret of Shinobi 10. Knuckles’ Chaotix

[@randombread1456]

As a kid I loved playing all the Sonic MD games but I could never get to grips with Sonic 3, it just always felt like the weird one of the bunch for me. With 1, CD and especially 2 I loved playing those, but with 3 I'd play through Angel Island, then Hydro City Act 1 and then just get lost and give up by Act 2. To give it credit though I loved the Special Stages with the blue spheres and I was so happy they put those in Mania.

[@dash5933]

When I was younger my dad had a CD with Sega roms on it but you couldn't save them. I loved James Pond, Ristar and Sonic. I could never get passed the rising purple water in Sonic 2. I only managed to beat the first 3 Sonic games in Sonic Orgins recently.

[@EarthboundBenjy]

random fact of the day: look at the rings Sonic collects in Metropolis at 35:54 in this video. For whatever reason these three rings (and only these specific ones) are each actually four rings stacked perfectly overlapping each other. Look at how Sonic collects 2 rings but actually receives 8. Cool stuff huh.

[@thecurmudgeon7350]

For me Thunder Force IV Ranger X Sonic 3 & Knuckles Alien Soldier Contra Hard Corps Shinobi III Streets of Rage 2 Ristar Gunstar Heroes Rocket Knight Adventures

[@VideoGameOwnage123]

Genesis online has the best selection on NSO I will die on that hill. Only one to have Castlevania, Mega Man(besides Gameboy now), and Contra available on it. You also get Sonic 2, SoR 2, Shinobi 3, Ristar, Gunstar Heroes, Phantasy Star 4, Golden Axe 2, MUSHA, Shining Force 2 and CRUSADER OF CENTY??? That's worth it for just those games alone and there is so much more that they can put on there that I didn't mention. There's also great games on there I didn't mention too because the selection is way too good.

[@Karxrida]

Genesis NSO is fantastic. Many of the games are also rare or haven't had other re-releases, like Centy.

[@JacobDragyn]

"Sonic 3" was my favorite for awhile because it was the only one with a save system.

[@Karxrida]

The fact that the list was unnecessarily dominated by Sonic (only 2 and 3&K should be on here imo) really highlights the flaws of the popular vote method and how you guys should make follow-up videos to each console list to highlight lesser known gems. The Genesis is so much more than a Sonic machine.

[@retromaster6163]

The mega-drive/Genesis has lots of good games. My favourite is Sonic 3 & Knuckles.

[@BagofSchmidt]

No rocket knight or thunder force 4? These lists always disappoint

[@MorphBallMedia]

Here's the thing about the original _Sonic the Hedgehog,_ Sega sort of undermined the game by drilling it into everyone's heads the game was all about speed. I've seen Sonic Team people talk about this before. Do you know why some levels are fast and others aren't? They designed it that way so people who were good at the game could race through the earlier parts of the game. Despite public perception, Sonic was *meant* to be a standard platformer. So that was their solution: design the game so that, if you played it a lot, you could get deeper into the game faster. The fly in the ointment is the original stage progression was scrapped. Things like Labyrinth Zone and Marble Zone were intended to appear deeper in the game. But that was altered during testing.

[@RedKing12000]

Friendly Reminder to any of my fellow stubborn KZbin watchers: The gap between data gathering and a list’s completion and upload is somewhat substantial. AKA, even though the SNES list is the next video, voting for it has already closed. As, for that matter, has voting for the following system, the SEGA GameGear. At the time of posting, the SEGA Saturn is the system currently on the block. For Jon’s sake, here’s hoping the Shining Force 3 fans come out on mass

[@SabelXDlol]

I’m another of the S3&K as top spot viewers, my next 4 would probably be 2. Streets of Rage 2 3. Castlevania Bloodlines 4. Thunderforce IV / Lightening Force 5. Rocket Knight Adventures

[@fernando98322]

Ristar has been on NSO from the start actually!

[@sebastianesilva398]

One of my dream games that'll probably never happen is a remake of Sonic CD, but redone as a full-on metroidvania. Could work.

[@businesscat380]

Clearly shmups have fallen far out of fashion. No Thunder Force 4 or M.U.S.H.A...so sad 😑 Other great games not getting an airing: Flashback, Desert Strike, Ghouls n Ghosts, Mortal Kombat 2, Street Fighter 2: SCE, Road Rash, Robocop vs Terminator...such a deep library!

[@roskiart8750]

Honestly, as much as this was a matter of popular vote I find quite boring that around half the list was Sonic games. Can't blame the hosts for that one but Jesus; there's so many cool games in other genres for the Genesis that never got a chance here because people prefer to talk about Sonic CD (and keep in mind my problem isn't even Sonic CD's quality as a game). And people say Nintendo is all Mario. So glad Castlevania Bloodlines got a spot on the list, though.

[@yoshibrothers9982]

If it were me I'd swap out CD and Sonic 1 for Shinobi III and Dynamite Headdy easily

[@roskiart8750]

@@yoshibrothers9982 Shinobi III and Beyond Oasis not being on the list feel like a crime

[@shongu]

When this is all done can we get like an Excel document with the top 20 of each console?

[@bakuiel1901]

I'm not completely disappointed as a lot of my games did hit top 40 but I wish more people knew and loved Shadowrun

[@Lost_n_Found_1]

I play Shadowrun on the tabletop where it's meant to be, lol

[@bakuiel1901]

@Lost_n_Found_1 that's good too, but the Genesis game is closest we've had a video game be to the P&P rules

[@Lost_n_Found_1]

@@bakuiel1901 I was just being funny, it's a good game 😊

[@bakuiel1901]

@@Lost_n_Found_1 no worries it's just one of my favorite games

[@Lost_n_Found_1]

@@bakuiel1901 Awesome! I'm gonna check it out later today!

[@TheJmack90]

Too many Sonic games on this list, and I’m a Sonic fan…I get it… But it’s very telling how unfamiliar the audience doing these polls are with the Genesis library. Play more of them… Shinobi 3 Contra Hard Corps Alien Soldier Beyond Oasis Lightening Force MUSHA Shining Force 1 and/or 2 These are definitely top 10 games. Cmon ya’ll

[@dcashley303]

I think it's that EVERY list will at least have one Sonic game on it and usually highly placed. Overall they're incredible game, super popular and iconic. They were bound to dominate.

[@TheJmack90]

@@dcashley303 Like I said, I’m a Sonic fan! I totally get it! But I recommended the games that I did because I believe they’re much better experiences than some of these Sonic games. Sonic 2 deserves to be on this list 100%. I’ll even give it to Sonic CD. Sonic 1 though? Sonic 3 on its own?

[@robinhatherall6779]

Based on how much I played back in the day and the fact not even Sonic was well implemented on pal systems NHL ‘94 would be my pick.

[@nmoharo829]

I remember when Sega gave Sonic CD as free download on PC from their website, but when I tried it, I was so confused. The gameplay is very different

[@dcashley303]

Don't sleep on Super Fantasy Zone... one of the best in a really underrated series.

[@virajkathwadia4565]

Interesting comment about Phantasy Star IV looking like it has a lot of tech that you'd expect to have for Sega CD as it was designed as a Sega CD game but then realized it's best to port it on Mega Drive. Sonic 1 is the game that got me into wanting to play video games in the first place as a 6 year old so yeah I get why it's in the top 10.

[@DGJ206]

Streets of rage 2 has the number 1 spot for me. The GOAT

[@kidkytes6233]

Y’all should try Alisia Dragoon that is included in the NSO, it’s fantastic!

[@Entropic_Alloy]

Sonic fans really just poisoned the well with this. It is insanely boring having half the list be Sonic games, when realistically Sonic 1 and CD don't deserve to be on this list over games like Dynamite Headdy, Rocket Knight, Beyond Oasis, Crusader of Centy, Shining Force, Shadowrun, Hard Corps, and so many other games.

[@joaodiogorp]

How delusional are you to not think Sonic 1 should absolutely be there?

[@Karxrida]

I mean even Derrick said it probably doesn't deserve to be on the list lol.

[@timelyenigma]

@@joaodiogorp there are better games on the genesis

[@nelson-haha89]

Earthworm Jim! That's my favorite Genesis game.

[@MegaNerdX]

Honestly, I always preferred playing Knuckles’ Chaotix over Sonic CD

[@Vuldari]

Sonic 2 is a better singular game than Sonic 3 or Sonic & Knuckles ... but the epic adventure of playing through 'Sonic 3 + Knuckles' as a combo game is to this day the PEAK of the Sonic franchise, and has yet to be surpassed. I wish I could get my Nephew to be patient enough to sit through a full playthrough with me as Sonic and Tails. It is just such a special gameplay adventure.

[@stephanpalaczky2963]

Big up ristar! But sad that rocket knight just missed the top 10.

[@Joel97_]

SNES is going to be a wild ride

[@roskiart8750]

Is it? The top 5 has been set on stone for decades.

[@Joel97_]

@roskiart8750 I would say even the top 10 or even 15 are quite set already but the actual order might cause a few upsets I feel

[@roskiart8750]

@ Maybe. I can't see ANY of the big JRPGs (as in, ANY of them) above Super Metroid, A Link to the Past and Super Mario World. And most of what follows is below those JPRGs (by which I mean Final Fantasy VI, Chrono Trigger and as of late Earthbound)

[@LunarWingCloud]

Phantasy Star IV is one of my new favorite games of all time, what a fantastic title My top 10 are probably 1. Sonic the Hedgehog 2 2. Phantasy Star IV 3. Sonic 3 & Knuckles 4. Dr. Robotnik's Mean Bean Machine 5. Ristar 6. Sonic the Hedgehog 7. World of Illusion starring Mickey Mouse and Donald Duck 8. Gunstar Heroes 9. Streets of Rage 2 10. Phantasy Star II

[@morlocksls5]

No Ranger X or X-Men 2: Clone Wars? They'd be in my top 10 for sure.

[@BKaimana]

When the SNES ranking comes around, you need to rank which version of Aladdin got more votes

[@Spare_Ombres]

Well I guess people really like their platformer! For me my top would be PS4 of course, but the Lunars, Shining Force 2, Warsong! But there are so many good games in there! But thanks for that!

[@Jdogg1022]

Honestly should of been one game per franchise. That's the only way you can have a top 10 list without it being taken over by one franchise.

[@ahimsamovies4484]

That makes zero sense. If they're all great (and different) games, what does it matter if they're from the same franchise? If they're among the best top 10 games in the console, then they should be in the top 10. Imagine making it so only one of FF7-9 + Tactics can make the PS1 top 10, even though they're all radically different, just because they belong to the same brand.

[@Scrubber89]

Sonic 2 will always be my #1

[@TeamSoraPresents]

This is one of those console Top 10 lists that I am the least surprised by. Specifically, the Gold and Silver medal winners.

[@That_Lady_Charlie]

personally, I'd give the slightest edge to Sonic 2 over S3&K. but both defined the Genesis.

[@CarlMakesVideos]

I've never understood the complaints about Tails in the Sonic 2 special stages. Tails can only lose the rings he collected. If you didn't have him, you wouldn't have had the rings he lost when he got hit in the first place. That is, unless you get hit by a bomb and wind up behind him, but no one ever mentions that happening.

[@DancesRainyStreets]

Tails could be a pain sometimes, but i always brought him along for the ride. The second game has more charm, the first is more stylish.

[@DancesRainyStreets]

Tails could be a pain sometimes, but i always brought him along for the ride. The second game has more charm, the first is more stylish.

[@JanTheMangaMan]

Castlevania Bloodlines made it. Peak list

[@Nobunaga1983]

That’s the cool thing about the Genesis some many different top ten lists. My top ten wouldn’t include any of these games except sonic 3 and knuckles. SNES top ten list is always the same

[@mageius]

Honestly, if the voting hasn't already happened yet, I can't wait for the N64 one where Joel at Medical see the first instance of a license game or two making the top 10. GoldenEye and WWF No Mercy (Still looked at the best/2nd best wrestling game of all time all these years later. ) So gonna be really interesting to see what else makes it because so much 1st party love that it could take over the entire top 10. Might hate to do a video just on non first party titles for that system.

[@roskiart8750]

...are we REALLY kidding ourselves about what the top five of that system's gonna be? Like, we already KNOW the top one there.

[@Spacething7474]

​@@roskiart8750yeah, Lego Racers.

[@mageius]

@roskiart8750 Not just top 5, that system is a bloodbath for the great third-party titles that were on it. Although most people don't think about the great third-party titles that were on the system because there were so many good 1st and 2nd party titles Star Wars Rogue Squadron, WWF No Mercy, Mischief Makers, Doom 64, both Bomberman 64 games, Turok 2, NFL Blitz, and that's just off the top of my head. Almost all the real good multiplayer games we're better on the system because of 4 player. That's not even counting the ones that innovated on a lot of different things. No Mercy, for example, was the 1st to have a storyline for each title, included Branson story lines, create a character, entrance music, it's basically THE game people think of when play think of those types of games. And that's just going it details on just 1 of the examples.

[@roskiart8750]

@@mageius ...what I meant is the top 5 WON'T be Third party at all besides Goldeneye. There's not a chance in hell the top pick isn't Ocarina of Time(as it always is) and the subsequent picks include Majora's Mask, Mario 64, Banjo Kazooie and Pokemon Snap. The other spots though? Yeah, maybe they're up for grabs unless someone's REALLY crazy about Yoshi's Story.

[@davemurrells3780]

I've not watched the video yet but my top 10 predictions 10 - Golden Axe 2 9 - Rocket Knight Adventures 8 - Gunstar Heroes 7 - Streets of Rage 6 - Shinobi 3 5 - Street Fighter 2 4 - Sonic 1 3 - Hyperstone Heist 2 - Streets of Rage 2 1. Sonic 2 Just watched Video..........I was well wrong! :D

[@SuperTeeter64]

I was hoping Ristar was higher up. Because honestly I like Ristar more than any other Sonic game. That’s just me though. So many great games here though. I was a lucky kid to grow up with a NES, SNES, and Genesis. Oh and Game Boy.

[@WeWontGoAlone]

Contra hard corps is the best game on the Genesis. If you haven't played it I would highly recommend trying the easier Japanese version, and once you're used to it going for the American.

[@ahimsamovies4484]

This is SA1 vs SA2 all over lol. You claimed SA1 was better because the non-Sonic/Shadow stages in SA2 weren't as good, whilst ignoring the fact that the same applies to SA1 (even more so IMO). Likewise, when it comes to lesser stages in the 2D games, the only real "low point" of Sonic 2 is Metropolis, while in Sonic 3 you have: Marble Garden, where you spend half the time trying to get an awkward, gimmicky platform to cooperate with you, Carnival Night, which is basically a vastly inferior and much more annoying version of Sonic 2's Casino Night, and fucking Sandopolis with those awful ghosts and lamps. So yeah, as far as I'm concerned, Sonic 2 is the more consistent of the two, and the best classic Sonic game. I'm not sure why public opinion has shifted towards Sonic 3 over the years, but if I were to guess it's because it has more content and people often feel more = better (which obviously isn't necessarily the case). Sonic 2 introduced so much more to the franchise than Sonic 3. The spin dash, playable Super Sonic, a second playable character, co-op multiplayer, VS multiplayer, invincibility frames after spikes so you don't immediately die whenever you fall into a spiked pit, story scenes in stages (i.e. Tails plummeting to his apparent death at the beginning of Wing Fortress), etc. Sonic 3, Knuckles and Mania all just walked in Sonic 2's footsteps.

[@SeveredLegs]

Mega Man: The Wily Wars is overall not good. The platforming feels off and the lemons fly at extremely slow speeds. Might as well just play the originals.

[@philosophyoftrucking]

The first console that I bought with my own money.

[@themothreborn]

the trajedy of super nintendo will b that not enough ppl have played dragon quest v

[@Klaxynd]

One of my biggest gaming related disappointments is I managed to get Sonic 3 before the Wii Shop Channel closed... didn't have enough to get Sonic & Knuckles.

[@cassiodvieira]

Streets of Rage 2 in the top 5! LFG!!

[@nebben6470]

Sonic is the only game I know on this console so it must be on here!

[@markasscop]

wait if the whole point is to narrow down the top #1 game ever, why bother asking a top 10 for these? why not just ask a straight "what's your favorite game for this system?" and you can just make a top 10 list per console out of that if you still wanted to?

[@kaynewoolley9104]

Wow wonderboy in monster world not mentioned even in the top 30. Ouch. Glad that monster world 4 at least made the top 20

[@ahimsamovies4484]

Needs more Mega Bomberman.

[@JetSpiegel88]

No Contra Hard Corps in the top 10 is a travesty

[@mjdf122]

Sega Genesis Top 10 Time with GVG

[@Filmonaut]

Great list but no Rocket Knight Adventures 😕

[@JEANS__]

More people should play crusader of Centy. And if people care about 'offical' accessibility it's on NSO so it's not a worry :)

[@danielnicholson6174]

As a launch day Megadrive owner, how the hell is Bloodlines in this list before a masterpiece like Revenge of Shinobi. Bloodlines feels rushed compared to Super Castlevania 4.

[@inktendo]

I cannot stand the special stages in Sonic 3 & Knuckles, I'd play every Sonic 2 special stage a 1000x but don't make me play Blue Spheres

[@sonicsean34]

Derrick reminding me of Sonic 1&2 having no rings in the Final boss stages. Why Sega why!? Just put 3 rings at the start as a token gesture

[@sonicsean34]

Also, S3&K always felt like this huge epic and nothing ever compared to it. Not just on the mega drive but none of the Mario games as much as I loved them matched up to that (tho I’m also an SMB3>SMW Guy)

[@nikoforu]

Sonic 2, while uneven, has better zones. Sonic 3 has better play mechanics.

[@sendingevac]

That list from 10 to 20 has a few too many platformers. Where’s thunder force or alien soldier or ranger-x

[@falksi3182]

Bullshit list. Not 1 SHMUP on a system which is one of the kings of SHMUPs. This is why mass opinion is trash, because the majority are casual gamers with 0 clue about the games and system beyond the very mainstream stuff.

[@RenniUltraFox]

No Dynamite Headdy? Shameful.

[@MercLazarus]

Gaming

[@MegacoreTeamJake]

why can't we vote here? I'm not making a cringey bluesky account

[@mrpiccionedivino5598]

if i remember correctly you can now vote on the respective yt community posts

[@KorenLesthe]

No Mega Turrican ? Boo ! ^^

[@Biggi87]

Bummed that I missed the voting on this one. Good list in the end, even if it was WAY too Sonic-focused. But that was bound to happen. I guess this is why some people invoke a "Only one game per series" rule in their top lists.

[@bigcal27]

Too much sonic for my liking. As a result a bunch of actual good games missed out lol.