Bolted onto the Mega Drive, the Mega-CD add-on opened the console CD-ROM era with full-motion-video games and gems: Sonic CD, Lunar, Snatcher. This Top 30 gathers the best of Sega's peripheral, re-tested and re-ranked by RomWize, each title with its re-evaluated score, its versions, their rarity and their collector value — a highly prized area for collectors.
"Snatcher on MegaCD is Hideo Kojima's cyberpunk at the peak of his art. Neo Kobe 2047, Snatchers replacing humans. Cinematic adventure, brilliant dialogue, oppressive atmosphere. An absolute masterpiece."
"Lunar Eternal Blue is a masterful JRPG on MegaCD. Hiro and Lucia's story in a world of magic and legends. Emotional writing, orchestral CD music, unforgettable characters. A genre masterpiece."
"Sonic CD is the best 2D Sonic ever made. Travel to the past and future to change zones' fate. The legendary CD soundtrack, intro-outro animations, Metal Sonic. A video game monument."
"Lords of Thunder is an extraordinary horizontal shoot'em up on MegaCD. Legendary heavy metal CD music, intense gameplay with elemental armours. One of the best shmups on Japanese console. Cult."
"Syndicate on MegaCD, Bullfrog's real-time strategy classic. Command cybernetic agents in a dystopian corporate world. Missions in cyberpunk cities. Excellent port of a PC classic."
"Flashback on MegaCD, CD version of Delphine Software's masterpiece. Amnesiac Conrad B. Hart in a dystopian future. Masterful rotoscoped animations, perfect game design. Timeless classic."
"Road Rash on MegaCD with the legendary rock CD soundtrack. Motorcycle races with fistfights in their best 16-bit version. The CD music completely transforms the experience."
"Final Fight CD on MegaCD is the definitive version of Capcom's beat'em up. All three playable characters including Guy absent from the SNES, both arcade rounds, superb CD soundtrack. Perfect."
"Lunar The Silver Star is the founding JRPG on MegaCD. Alex the Dragon Master's adventure in the world of Lunar. Masterful CD soundtrack and epic romantic story. An absolute JRPG monument to own."
"Earthworm Jim Special Edition on MegaCD with extra levels and spectacular CD soundtrack. The humorous space worm in its best console version. Visuals and music in a class of their own."
"The Secret of Monkey Island on MegaCD with digitised voices and CD music. Guybrush Threepwood's sharp humour in his quest to become a pirate. One of the greatest point-and-click games ever made."
"Ecco the Tides of Time on MegaCD with full orchestral CD soundtrack. The dolphin exploring temporal universes with a sublimely melancholic atmosphere. Better than the first."
"Ecco the Dolphin on MegaCD with improved CD music. The dolphin's contemplative underwater adventure to the sound of soaring compositions. The CD version is clearly superior to the cartridge."
"Silpheed on MegaCD is a visual revolution. Polygonal 3D backgrounds animated as backdrop with a sprite ship on top. Breathtaking technical performance, spectacular shoot'em up. A technical masterpiece."
"Dune on MegaCD is a masterful adaptation of Frank Herbert's novel. Spice management, House politics and strategic battles on Arrakis. An exceptional narrative RTS with an enchanting soundtrack."
"Android Assault is a very high-quality vertical shoot'em up on MegaCD. Impressive visuals, varied power-ups and sumptuous bosses. One of the best shmups available on the console. Essential."
"Shining Force CD is the reference TRPG on MegaCD. Two campaign arcs from the Shining Force saga with deep tactical battles. The franchise's classic characters in their definitive CD version."
"Keio Flying Squadron is a unique shoot'em up on MegaCD. A Japanese shrine maiden on a dragon in ultra-colourful, absurdly humorous levels. Excellent gameplay, fairy-tale visuals. A treasure."
"Starblade on MegaCD: Namco's space rail shooter in CD version with improved soundtrack and cinematics. Destroy the Red Eye enemy fortress in a smooth 3D rail shooter. Superior CD version."
"Flink on MegaCD is a Psygnosis platformer with magnificent fairy-tale visuals. An elven apprentice sorcerer in enchanted worlds. Among the finest visuals on the console. An overlooked gem."
