Known as the Genesis in North America, the Mega Drive gave Sega its hour of glory and a rock attitude: Sonic, Streets of Rage, Gunstar Heroes, Phantasy Star. This Top 100 gathers the best of Sega's 16-bit, re-tested and re-ranked by RomWize, each title with its re-evaluated score, its versions, their rarity and their collector value.
"NHL 94, one of the peaks of EA hockey on Mega Drive. Smooth gameplay, NHL atmosphere, legendary local multi, a classic still playable today."
"Virgin's Aladdin remains a visual peak on the Mega Drive, with animation worthy of a Disney cartoon. Short, but its smoothness and charm hold up perfectly."
"The lock-on combination of Sonic & Knuckles with Sonic 3, forming Sonic 3 & Knuckles. The best 16-bit Sonic adventure, an absolute must."
"The excellent Mega Drive port of Mortal Kombat II, far more accomplished than the first. Arcade-faithful, fun in multi, a console fighter classic."
"The Ecco sequel, even more beautiful and mysterious, with its mesmerising underwater atmosphere. Still demanding and cryptic, with a poetry all its own."
"The very first Sonic, the game that propelled the Mega Drive into the spotlight. Short but legendary, an absolute must for its historical role."
"The great Dune II on Mega Drive, the first true console RTS. Controls adapted to the pad, depth fully preserved : a monument of real-time strategy."
"The excellent Sega World of Illusion, a Disney co-op platformer with Mickey and Donald. Gorgeous, varied, one of the prettiest co-op platformers on the console."
"The Japanese name of Ecco The Tides of Time, identical at heart. Mainly a pick for collectors, with a few minor presentation differences."
"An absolute peak of the run-and-gun genre by Treasure, with eight switchable weapons and gloriously over-the-top bosses. Brutal yet exhilarating, a true cult game."
"The Turbo Tournament 96 version of Micro Machines, more complete, playable up to eight with adapter. A multiplayer peak on Mega Drive, an essential party game."
"The original Midway NBA Jam, the 90s peak of arcade basketball. Wild dunks, hyped atmosphere, brilliant local multiplayer, an essential party game."
"A Micro Machines 2 sequel more generous in tracks and vehicles, as addictive as ever. Excellent in local multi, no surprises for fans."
"A Psygnosis Wiz N Liz platformer, original and frenetic, with rabbits to rescue. Colourful, funny, fun in two-player."
"A Japanese Sega Mickey platformer, distinct from Castle of Illusion. Cute, colourful, polished, worth discovering for Disney mascot fans."
"The excellent Bullfrog Syndicate, a cult cyberpunk real-time strategy. Deep, original, immersive, one of the console's greats for studio fans."
"The German release of Dune II, identical at heart. The very first major console RTS, genre-defining, still well worth rediscovering today."
"The full title of Wiz N Liz, identical at heart. Naming variant for collectors."
"The very first major Disney platformer on the Mega Drive, gorgeous and inventive for its time. Ageing but still charming, a true must-play classic."
"A Shiny Entertainment gem starring an earthworm in a spacesuit, absurdly hilarious. Beautiful animation and varied level design, a must-play classic."