Your 20 favorite Mega Drive/Genesis games?

[Seingalt]

Forum members allocated a total of 10221 points to 194 different games with the no.1 reaching a score of 537. Since the first place of each individual list collects 40 points, I opine that only games with a total score of 41 or more should be included in the final list. 63 different games reached that threshold, not enough to make Top 100 but I think that the Top 50 are reasonably representative.
I calculated the results without differentiating between the various regional releases. For easier identification I mention the European, American and Japanese title of each game even if only one version has been voted for.


50. Truxton / Tatsujin
47. The Story of Thor / Beyond Oasis
47. Earthworm Jim 2
47. Dr. Robotnik’s Mean Bean Machine / Puyo Puyo
46. Ecco the Dolphin
45. The Adventures of Batman & Robin
44. Kid Chameleon
43. Ranger X / Ex-Ranza
42. Battle Mania Daiginjou
41. Comix Zone
39. Streets of Rage / Bare Knuckle
39. Monster World IV
38. Golden Axe II
37. Golden Axe
36. Wonderboy in Monsterworld / Wonder Boy V: Monster World III
33. Toy Story
33. Quackshot
33. Ghouls’n Ghosts / Dai Makaimura
32. Shadow Dancer
31. Teenage Mutant Hero/Ninja Turtles: The Hyperstone Heist / Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Return of the Shredder
30. ToeJam & Earl in Panic on Funkotron
29. Mega Bomberman
28. Dynamite Headdy
27. Flashback
26. Herzog Zwei
25. Earthworm Jim
24. Vectorman
23. Ristar
22. Thunder Force III
20. Castle of Illusion
20. Panorama Cotton
19. Shining Force 2
18. ToeJam & Earl
17. Aladdin
16. Streets of Rage 3 / Bare Knuckle 3
15. M. U. S. H. A. / Musha Aleste
14. Castlevania / Vampire Killer
13. Landstalker
12. Rocket Knight Adventures
11. Alien Soldier
10. Thunder Force IV / Lightening Force
9. Shinobi 3: Return of the Ninja Master / The Super Shinobi II
8. Phantasy Star IV
7. Probotector / Contra: Hard Corps
6. The Revenge of Shinobi / The Super Shinobi
5. Sonic the Hedgehog
4. Gunstar Heroes
3. Streets of Rage 2 / Bare Knuckle 2
2. Sonic 3 & Knuckles
1. Sonic 2



My first post asked to list only one game per series for certain genres. Because of the high similarity of these type of games “double entries” would provide no meaningful information for the most part. Also it would be pointless if an American Football fan clutters his Top 20 with 8 different installments of Madden.
However to avoid a disadvantage for series-games I decided to offer an alternative list with the points all games of the same sports-, racing- or fighting-series received added up under one entry. Nevertheless only two series reached the Top 50 (see no. 43 and 45)


49. The Story of Thor / Beyond Oasis
49. Earthworm Jim 2
49. Dr. Robotnik’s Mean Bean Machine / Puyo Puyo
48. Ecco the Dolphin
47. The Adventures of Batman & Robin
46. Kid Chameleon
45. Street Fighter II Series (Street Fighter II: Championship Edition and Super Street Fighter II)
44. Ranger X / Ex-Ranza
43. NHL Series (votes for NHL 94, NHL 98 and Elitserien 96)
42. Battle Mania Daiginjou
41. Comix Zone
39. Streets of Rage / Bare Knuckle
39. Monster World IV
38. Golden Axe II
37. Golden Axe
36. Wonderboy in Monsterworld / Wonder Boy V: Monster World III
33. Toy Story
33. Quackshot
33. Ghouls’n Ghosts / Dai Makaimura
32. Shadow Dancer
31. Teenage Mutant Hero/Ninja Turtles: The Hyperstone Heist / Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Return of the Shredder
30. ToeJam & Earl in Panic on Funkotron
29. Mega Bomberman
28. Dynamite Headdy
27. Flashback
26. Herzog Zwei
25. Earthworm Jim
24. Vectorman
23. Ristar
22. Thunder Force III
20. Castle of Illusion
20. Panorama Cotton
19. Shining Force 2
18. ToeJam & Earl
17. Aladdin
16. Streets of Rage 3 / Bare Knuckle 3
15. M. U. S. H. A. / Musha Aleste
14. Castlevania / Vampire Killer
13. Landstalker
12. Rocket Knight Adventures
11. Alien Soldier
10. Thunder Force IV / Lightening Force
9. Shinobi 3: Return of the Ninja Master / The Super Shinobi II
8. Phantasy Star IV
7. Probotector / Contra: Hard Corps
6. The Revenge of Shinobi / The Super Shinobi
5. Sonic the Hedgehog
4. Gunstar Heroes
3. Streets of Rage 2 / Bare Knuckle 2
2. Sonic 3 & Knuckles
1. Sonic 2



Many thanks to everyone who participated in the poll. I hope that this project doesn’t end at this point but rather that some more Top 20 lists are added in the future. In that case I will update the list at regular intervals to include the ballots of newer voters and reflect changes in taste.

[zetastrike]

1) Revenge of Shinobi
2) Contra Hard Corps
3) Streets of Rage 2
4) Sonic 3
5) Thunder Force IV
6) Shinobi III
7) Ranger X
8) Vectorman 2
9) Castlevania Bloodlines
10) Sonic 1
11) Gunstar Hereos
12) NBA Jam TE
13) Street Fighter 2 SCE
14) NHL 97
15) Super Hang On
16) Streets of Rage 1
17) TMNT Hyperstone Heist
18) Comix Zone
19) Alisia Dragoon
20) Rocket Knight Adventures

[PHANTOM2040]

Alien Soldier
BK3
Forgotten Worlds
Strider
Ghouls'N'Ghosts
Shinobi 3
Truxton
Super Hang-on
Golden Axe 2
Altered Beast
Eternal Champions
Dynamite Duke
The Punisher
Rastan Saga 2
Deadly Moves
Fighting Masters
Outrun 2019
Growl
Decap Attack
Mystical Fighter

[Growl]

1. Splatterhouse 2
2. Splatterhouse 3
3. El Viento
4. Growl
5. Shining Force 2
6. Phelios
7. Gaiares
8. Alex Kidd in Enchanted Castle
9. Zombies ate my Neighbors
10. Sword of Vermillion
11. Syndicate
12. Herzog Zwei
13. Crusader of Centy
14. MUSHA
15. Mutant League Hockey
16. Lion King
17. Sonic 2
18. Ghostbusters
19. Shadowrun
20. Toejam and Earl

[Mark Robert]

My newly revised top twenty:

1) Streets of Rage 2
2) Bare Knuckle 3
3) Battle Mania Daiginjou
4) Alien Soldier
5) Contra Hard Corps
6) M.U.S.H.A.
7) Gunstar Heroes
8) Sparkster
9) Dynamite Headdy
10) Mega Turrican
11) Castlevania Bloodlines
12) Robocop vs. the Terminator
13) Midnight Resistance
14) Misadventures of Flink
15) Biohazard Battle
16) Lightening Force
17) Air Buster
18) Hellfire
19) Gaiares
20) Sol-Deace

[Obviously]

Man this is tough and probably changes depending on what mood I'm in... I always feel like I'm leaving things out when I make lists like this probably because I am.

1. Sonic 3 and Knuckles
2. M.U.S.H.A.
3. Gunstar Heroes
4. Streets of Rage 2
5. Rocket Knight Adventures
6. Ranger X
7. Ghostbusters
8. Battletech
9. Mega Turrican
10. Thunderforce 3
11. Contra Hard Corps
12. Starflight
13. General Chaos
14. Fatal Fury 2
15. Dynamite Headdy
16. Castlevania Bloodlines
17. Vectorman
18. Road Rash III
19. Earthworm Jim
20. Arrow Flash

[TidalTempest]

1. Sonic 3 & Knuckles
2. Gunstar Heroes
3. Rocket Knight Adventures
4. Ghouls 'N Ghosts
5. Phantasy Star IV
6. Thunderforce IV
7. Virtua Racing
8. Sonic the Hedgehog
9. Street Fighter II Championship Edition
10. NBA Jam
11. Aladdin
12. Road Rash II
13. Prince of Persia
14. The Lion King
15. Sonic the Hedgehog 2
16. Ecco the Dolphin
17. Lemmings
18. Ecco the Dolphin 2: The Tides of Times
19. The Revenge of Shinobi
20. Columns

[icisen]

Are u play Tecmo cup football?
I think it good,like tsubasa

[sketch]

This is a very entertaining thread. And while you can always debate any top XX list, as well as the results of this one, there is no denying that is a list of awesome games. And Truxton made the list (yay!)!

[Olls]

It's definitely a good list, and I'd have expected most of these games to make it on there, except for Truxton and Toy Story.
The US/JP balance is actually pretty good.

A few surprises:
- No Eternal Champions, Langrisser II, Mega Turrican, Strider, Super Fantasy Zone, Yuu Yuu Hakusho or Snake Rattle & Roll. Probably because a few of these haven't been released in the States.
- 2 Golden Axe games! People always complain about them not being top 100 worthy, but here they are, both in a top 50 nontheless.

[sketch]

It's definitely a good list, and I'd have expected most of these games to make it on there, except for Truxton and Toy Story.
The US/JP balance is actually pretty good.

I agree; even though I personally dig Truxton, I know it gets polar responses from people. I wouldn't expect it to get enough votes to hit the top 50 as well. As you said, most of these games you'd expect to be there...

[Seingalt]

A few surprises:
- No Eternal Champions, Langrisser II, Mega Turrican, Strider, Super Fantasy Zone, Yuu Yuu Hakusho or Snake Rattle & Roll. Probably because a few of these haven't been released in the States.

No Strider surprised me too. But for me the biggest surprise was that Shining Force 1 is not at the list. Also I expected Pulseman, Gley Lancer, the Micro Machines and NBA Jam Series to make it in the Top 50.

[Olls]

Hmm, indeed. No Shining Force.
Although Shining Force II is just more of the same, but better. So the absence of part I is not as surprising.
The reason that so many sports titles are missing is probably not because they're bad, but because not many would actually put sports titles in a top 20.
As for the Japanese titles such as Gleylancer and Pulseman, the reason is probably lack of exposure.

[Thenewguy]

A few surprises:
- No Eternal Champions, Langrisser II, Mega Turrican, Strider, Super Fantasy Zone, Yuu Yuu Hakusho or Snake Rattle & Roll. Probably because a few of these haven't been released in the States.

Mega Turrican should've been on the list anyway, it scored more points than Truxton.

[Olls]

I call for a recount!