Best Game Gear games

[old man]

Let's start this off right. I don't know much about Game Gear titles so hopefully you guys can recommend a few.

[Thierry Henry]

Haven't played all that many GG titles, but I did really enjoy the Shinobi games. I'd definitely recommend those.

[zetastrike]

This is what I own and recommend:

GG Aleste 2
Batman Returns (no one hit kills, different weapon system on GG. I think these changes from the SMS are for the better)
SoR2 (better hit detection and colors look nicer on GG)
Lucky Dime Caper
Land of Illusion
Bubble Bobble
Sonic 1
Sonic 2
Sonic Chaos
Sonic Triple Trouble
Shinobi 1
Samurai Showdown
Super Columns
Columns (a much nicer presentation than the SMS version)
GP Rider (much better than the SMS version, which is split screen even in 1p mode. This is like Super Hang On on the GG)
Psychic World
NBA Jam TE

Games in blue are either not available on the SMS or are better on the GG. I would recommend owning all of these, though. I was a little skeptical when I bought my GG, seeing as I already own an everdrive with the complete SMS library, but I'm very happy with it and find it a fun, cheap system to collect for. I don't mind owning games that are also on the SMS. Like many will point out, there's often real differences between the two versions.

[Baloo]

Not a whole lot of GG games have aged well, but this is an underrated gem in the library.

[FuturePrimitive]

I haven't been able to play many of the Game Gear exclusive titles, but I will recommend Tails Adventure! Definitely a hidden gem.

[Kamahl]

GG Power Rangers is a way better than genesis Power Rangers lol.

[j_factor]

It's weird how that Power Rangers game actually has competent production. A lot of licensed games for the Game Gear (and Game Boy as well) are incomplete junk. I wouldn't actually recommend it though, because that style of gameplay gets boring quick IMO.

The Game Gear did well with puzzle games. I wish there were more. Here's some:

Columns (better than the SMS version, differentiated from the Genesis version)
Super Columns (GG exclusive)
Zoop (not as good as the console versions, but nice)
Klax (not as nice as the Lynx version, but still good)
Tesserae (better than the GB vesion, otherwise only on computers)
Gear Works (same situation as Tesserae)
Slider (not sure how it compares to the obscure PC Engine version, but good game)
Baku Baku (obv not as good as the Saturn version, but still great)
Magical Puzzle Popils (GG exclusive)
Puyo Puyo (only version with English text)
Lemmings (a bit different from other versions)
Bust A Move (not the best version of this game, but solid)

In general, the puzzle genre is a pretty safe bet on the Game Gear. The only one that I would specifically not recommend is Pac-Attack. Not because of the port job, just the game itself.

Other recommendations:

Halley Wars
Defenders of Oasis
Shinobi
Tails Adventure
Sonic Triple Trouble
Dynamite Headdy
Ristar
Pengo
Ninja Gaiden
Virtua Fighter Animation
Global Gladiators (if only for the soundtrack )

[QuickSciFi]

I'd recommend from the ones I've played in order of awesomeness:
1. Defenders of Oasis
2. Crystal Warriors
3. Ax Battler: A Legend of Golden Axe
4. ALL the SONIC games: All the Sonic games are amazing (including spin-offs).
5. Vampire: Master of Darkness
6. Disney's Aladdin (you are in for quite a nice surprise. Think Prince of Persia meets Phantasy Star IV )
7. Mortal Kombat II (surprisingly similar to the Genesis version)
8. Alien 3: Yup, these games play better on an 8-bit system
9. Hook: Same here. The jump action is all F'd up on the Genesis. But not here.
10. Disney's The Lucky Dime Caper starring Donald Duck (Very tough, but beautiful)
11. U.S. Gold Presents Star Wars (I'd imagine this game plays just as awesome in all of its 8-bit counterparts. Looks amazing on the GG)
12. Streets of Rage 2 (I mention it over part 1 on the GG, simply because part 2 is easier and smoother).

[Cornholio857]

Like QuickSciFi, this is a list of the games that I have played and enjoyed.

-Sonic 1: Good version of Sonic 1 with exclusive Zones. Good, colorful graphics and a great soundtrack by Yuzo Koshiro. Bridge Zone music FTW (No wonder Janet Jackson sampled it).

-Sonic 2: The first Game Gear game I played as it came with the system. As everyone knows, the first boss is ridiculous, for two reasons. One, the Game Gear's lower screen resolution and two, for whatever reason, Aspect decided to randomize the way the bombs drop (unlike the SMS version). Honestly, I have never beaten him so I was glad there was a Level Select code. But after Underground Zone, the game is much easier (to me).

-Sonic Chaos: MUCH easier than Sonic 2. I guess Aspect heard a lot about Sonic 2's difficulty. LOL Again, great graphics and music. Gigapolis Zone is my favorite BGM in the game. Also the first Sonic game to let you control Tails' flight.

-Sonic Triple Trouble: Bigger Zones equals more to explore! I had a lot of fun with this one. The difficulty is just right and never annoying. Graphics wise it puts the Game Gear's expanded color palette to good use.

-Sonic Drift 1/2: A good cart-style racer for killing some time. I did this a lot on the bus playing Sonic Drift 2.

-Ristar: One of the most colorful Game Gear games I have seen with multiple scrolling layers. The Game Gear's renditions of the Genesis music is great. Highly recommended!

-Columns: Great version for playing on-the-go.

That's all I can think of for now.

[Zz Badnusty]

Zenki is one I always like to recommend.

[tryphon]

I've heard good about Fatal Fury Special.

[highlandcattle]

Wonderboy III the dragon's trap. Sadly it has a password save instead of a battery safe.
Haley Wars
Woody Pop
Cool Spot
Ninja Gaiden
Wonderboy
these are games I own and love

[Jeckidy]

Tails Adventures is my no. 1 followed by Sonic 1, 2, Chaos and Triple Trouble.

[Baloo]

Also have to recommend all of the Disney games for the system. Castle of Illusion, Land of Illusion, Legend of Illusion, Lucky Dime Caper, and Deep Duck Trouble are all excellent platformers and on par with the similar Genesis games. I personally like them more than the Sonic games on the Game Gear. Sonic Chaos is the only one I really like for Game Gear, and even then it's very easy. Sonic 1 has a bunch of slowdown, Sonic 2 has poor level design, and Triple Trouble has even more slowdown than Sonic 1. Sonic Blast is junk.

Tails Adventure I'll give another thumbs-up to that as well.

[Alianger]

Let's not forget the recently translated Royal Stone (SRPG):
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WXAzjFQL0Kw