GENESIS
Genesis Games
Sega's Genesis, known as the Mega Drive outside North America, brought arcade-style speed and attitude to the 16-bit era. Play classic Genesis games free in your browser, from Sonic the Hedgehog 2 and Streets of Rage 2 to cult favorites like Gunstar Heroes and Comix Zone.
Contra: Hard Corps
Konami's 1994 run-and-gun with four playable heroes, branching paths and multiple endings. Play free in your browser.
Sub-Terrania
Zyrinx's 1994 gravity-based shooter, praised for originality despite brutal difficulty. Play free in your browser.
Truxton
Toaplan's 1988 vertical shooter, voted best shooting game at the 1989 Gamest Awards. Play free in your browser.
Darius II
Taito's 1989 branching-path shooter, ported to Genesis as Sagaia in 1990. Play free in your browser.
Smash TV
Williams' 1990 twin-stick arcade shooter, a spiritual successor to Robotron: 2084. Play free in your browser.
Gemfire
Koei's fantasy strategy game, applying their historical-conquest formula to an invented medieval world. Play free in your browser.
Syndicate
Bullfrog Productions' cyberpunk squad-strategy classic, ported to Genesis in 1994. Play free in your browser.
Warrior of Rome
Micronet's 1991 real-time strategy game, commanding Roman legions under Julius Caesar. Play free in your browser.
Langrisser
NCS/Masaya's 1991 tactical strategy RPG, often compared to Fire Emblem. Play free in your browser.
Cool Spot
Virgin Games' 1993 platformer starring the 7 Up soda mascot, praised for genuinely strong design. Play free in your browser.
The Addams Family
Ocean Software's 1992 movie tie-in platformer, exploring the Addams mansion room by room. Play free in your browser.
Golden Axe II
Sega's 1991 fantasy beat-'em-up sequel, refining the original Golden Axe's combat. Play free in your browser.
Golden Axe III
Sega's 1993 Japan-only beat-'em-up sequel, later reaching the West via Sega Channel. Play free in your browser.
Shining in the Darkness
Climax Entertainment's 1991 first-person dungeon crawler, the debut entry in Sega's Shining series. Play free in your browser.
Dr. Robotnik’s Mean Bean Machine
Compile's 1993 falling-block puzzle game, a Sonic-themed reskin of the original Puyo Puyo. Play free in your browser.
Sonic Spinball
Sega Technical Institute's rushed Nov. 1993 pinball spin-off, built to fill a holiday gap left by Sonic 3. Play free in your browser.
Phantasy Star II
Sega's 1989/90 RPG sequel, designed by Rieko Kodama and programmed by Yuji Naka. Play free in your browser.
Madden NFL ’94 (Genesis)
EA's Nov. 1993 Genesis edition, built separately by High Score Productions with added voice clips. Play free in your browser.
Super Hang-On
Sega's 1987 arcade racer, ported to Genesis in 1989 with an added career-style Original mode. Play free in your browser.
Road Rash
Electronic Arts' 1991 Genesis original, blending street racing with biker-brawl combat. Play free in your browser.
Cannon Fodder
Sensible Software's 1993 action-strategy classic, ported to Genesis in 1995 — cartoonish on the surface, anti-war underneath. Play free in your browser.
General Chaos
Electronic Arts' 1994 satirical squad war game, one of the earliest console real-time tactics titles. Play free in your browser.
Streets of Rage 3
Sega's 1994 trilogy closer, with a bioterrorism plot and branching stage paths. Play free in your browser.
Comix Zone
Sega's 1995 beat-'em-up framed as a literal comic book, starring artist Sketch Turner. Play free in your browser.
Ristar
Sega's 1995 platformer built around a stretchable-arm grab mechanic instead of running and jumping. Play free in your browser.
Herzog Zwei
Technosoft's 1989 title, widely credited as one of the earliest real-time strategy games. Play free in your browser.
Sonic the Hedgehog 3
Sega's 1994 sequel, introducing Knuckles and a save feature for the first time. Play free in your browser.
Vectorman
BlueSky Software's 1995 run-and-gun platformer with pre-rendered 3D-modeled sprites. Play free in your browser.
Streets of Rage
Sega's 1991 beat-'em-up starring three ex-cops, with Yuzo Koshiro's techno-influenced soundtrack. Play free in your browser.
ToeJam & Earl
Johnson Voorsanger Productions' 1991 roguelike-style exploration game starring two funk aliens. Play free in your browser.
Gunstar Heroes
Treasure's 1993 run-and-gun debut, built around mixable weapon combinations. Play free in your browser.
Sonic the Hedgehog 2
Sega's 1992 sequel, introducing Tails and the Spin Dash. Play free in your browser.
Beyond Oasis
Ancient's 1994 action-adventure built around a spirit-summoning magic gauntlet, released elsewhere as The Story of Thor. Play free in your browser.
Landstalker
Climax Entertainment's 1992 isometric action-adventure starring treasure-hunting elf Nigel. Play free in your browser.
Crusader of Centy
Nextech's 1994 top-down action-adventure with a rotating cast of talking animal companions. Play free in your browser.
Gaiares
Telenet Japan's 1990 shoot-'em-up with a mechanic that lets you steal enemy weapons mid-fight. Play free in your browser.
Space Harrier II
Sega's 1988 Genesis launch-window pseudo-3D shooter sequel. Play free in your browser.
Thunder Force II
Technosoft's 1988 shoot-'em-up alternating horizontal stages with free-roaming overhead levels. Play free in your browser.
Zero Wing
Toaplan's 1989 shoot-'em-up, later famous for its 'All your base' cutscene localization. Play free in your browser.
Sonic the Hedgehog
Sega's 1991 mascot platformer built by Sonic Team, defined by fast, loop-filled stages. Play free in your browser.
Hellfire
Toaplan's 1990 horizontal shooter with a rotating four-directional weapon system. Play free in your browser.
Super Thunder Blade
A 1989 Genesis launch title converting Sega's arcade helicopter shooter Thunder Blade to 16-bit hardware. Play free in your browser.
Zero Tolerance
A 1994 first-person shooter built specifically for the Genesis by Technopop, published by Accolade. Play free in your browser.
Fire Shark
Toaplan's 1990 vertical-scrolling biplane shoot-'em-up, ported to Genesis by Seismic Software in 1993. Play free in your browser.
Galaxy Force II
Sega's 1988 pseudo-3D rail shooter on Super Scaler arcade hardware, converted for Genesis by Activision in 1990. Play free in your browser.
Mortal Kombat
The uncensored 1993 Genesis port of Midway's 1992 fighting game — Fatalities intact. Play free in your browser.
Shining Force
Sega's 1992 turn-based tactical RPG for the Genesis, commanding a growing army of knights, mages, and non-human recruits. Play free in your browser.
Ecco the Dolphin
A 1992 underwater action-adventure for the Genesis where you play a bottlenose dolphin solving a first-contact mystery. Play free in your browser.
Golden Axe
A 1989 Sega hack-and-slash beat-'em-up for the Genesis, choose one of three warriors to take down the tyrant Death Adder. Play free in your browser.
Altered Beast
A 1988 Sega beat-'em-up and early Genesis pack-in title — transform into a werewolf and other beasts to rescue Athena from the underworld. Play free in your browser.
Air Diver
A 1990 cockpit-view flight combat shooter for the Sega Genesis by Asmik, in the After Burner/G-LOC style. Play free in your browser.
Sylvester and Tweety in Cagey Capers
1994 Looney Tunes platformer where Sylvester chases Tweety past Granny and Hector. Play free in your browser.
Shikinjoh
Introduction Shikinjoh or Shi Kin Joh or Shi-Kin-Joh or Shikinjou is a 1989/1990 puzzle game by Scap Trust for the NEC PC-88 and NEC PC-98. Sunsoft ported it to the Sega Mega Drive and Sega Game Gear in 1991, with the Mega Drive version having added Sega Mega Modem capabilities. No version has left […]
Cal Ripken Jr. Baseball
1992 arcade-style baseball game endorsed by Cal Ripken Jr., with season and home run derby modes. Play free in your browser.
Chakan: The Forever Man
1992 dark action platformer about an immortal swordsman cursed by Death. Play free in your browser.
Desert Strike
EA's 1992 isometric helicopter shooter with fuel, ammo and hostage-rescue missions. Play free in your browser.
Joe & Mac Caveman Ninja
Data East's 1991 caveman run-and-gun platformer with two-player co-op. Play free in your browser.
Desert Demolition Starring Road Runner and Wile E. Coyote
Sega's 1995 Looney Tunes platformer: play as Road Runner or Wile E. Coyote. Play free in your browser.
Férias Frustradas do Pica-Pau
Brazil-exclusive Mega Drive platformer starring Woody Woodpecker. Play free in your browser.
ATP Tour Championship Tennis
Licensed Sega Genesis tennis game with real ATP pros and a create-a-player career mode. Play free in your browser.
Alisia Dragoon
Game Arts' 1992 Genesis action platformer with homing lightning and animal companions. Play free in your browser.
Hit the Ice
Taito's 1990 arcade ice hockey game with checks, fights and big slap shots. Play free in your browser.
ESPN Speed World
1994 Sega Genesis stock car racer with car tuning and split-screen racing. Play free in your browser.
Goofy’s Hysterical History Tour
1993 Disney platformer where Goofy travels through history with his Extend-O-Hand. Play free in your browser.
Final Blow
Introduction Final Blow is a boxing arcade game created in 1988 by Taito. The name would remain the same for all ported platforms, except for the Sega Mega Drive/Genesis versions, which Sega released outside of Japan as James ‘Buster’ Douglas Knockout Boxing featuring Buster Douglas himself in 1990 immediately after his victory over Mike Tyson […]
The Second Samurai
Vivid Image's 1994 samurai action platformer that travels through time. Play free in your browser.
Strider
Capcom's 1989 futuristic ninja classic in its acclaimed Genesis version. Play free in your browser.
Eternal Champions
Introduction Eternal Champions is a fighting game originally conceived by Scott Berfield, produced by Mike Latham for Sega of America, and developed by Sega Interactive Development Division in 1993. It was one of the only fighting games of its time developed from the ground up as a home console title, rather than being released in […]
X-Men
1993 Sega Genesis X-Men action platformer starring Wolverine, Cyclops, Gambit and Nightcrawler. Play free in your browser.
Batman: Return of the Joker
Sunsoft's 1991 Batman run-and-gun with upgradeable weapons and jetpack levels. Play free in your browser.
European Club Soccer
:DESCRIPTION European Club Soccer (known as World Trophy Soccer in North America and J-League Champion Soccer is a 1992 soccer/football video game by Krisalis Software released for the Sega Mega Drive/Genesis and is mostly based on Manchester United Europe, released one year before for the Commodore Amiga, among other platforms. Like the previously endorsed game, […]
Dragon Ball Z: Buyū Retsuden
1994 Japan-only Mega Drive Dragon Ball Z fighter with split-screen ki battles. Play free in your browser.
Columns
Sega's 1990 gem-matching puzzle classic for the Genesis. Play free in your browser.
Shadowrun
:DESCRIPTION Shadowrun is an action role-playing game for the Sega Genesis, released in 1994 in North America only. It was adapted from the cyberpunk role-playing game Shadowrun by FASA, and developed by BlueSky Software. The game is the second video game adapted from Shadowrun, and has a more open ended style of gameplay than its […]
Arcade Classics
1996 Sega Genesis compilation of Centipede, Missile Command and Pong. Play free in your browser.
F1 Hero MD
1992 Mega Drive Formula One racer endorsed by Satoru Nakajima. Play free in your browser.
Disney’s Magical Quest
:DESCRIPTION Disney’s Magical Quest, known in Japan as Mickey’s Magical Adventure , is a Disney platform game trilogy released by Capcom. The games star Mickey Mouse and, (depending on the game version), either Minnie Mouse or Donald Duck, who must defeat Peg-Leg Pete. The gameplay is similar among all games in the series: the player […]
Alien 3
Probe's 1992 Alien 3 action platformer: rescue prisoners on Fiorina 161 before time runs out. Play free in your browser.
Dyna Brothers
1992 Japan-only Mega Drive strategy game where you raise a dinosaur army. Play free in your browser.
Ecco: The Tides of Time
:DESCRIPTION Ecco: The Tides of Time is the second game in the Ecco the Dolphin series is the sequel to Ecco the Dolphin for the Sega Mega Drive, Game Gear, and Mega-CD, developed by Novotrade International and released in 1994. The Tides of Time continued the story of the first game and featured similar gameplay […]
Sword of Sodan
1988 dark fantasy hack-and-slash with huge sprites and brutal sword combat. Play free in your browser.
Castle of Illusion Starring Mickey Mouse
Sega's 1990 Mickey Mouse platformer, one of the Genesis's earliest hits. Play free in your browser.
Flashback
:DESCRIPTION Flashback, released as Flashback: The Quest for Identity in the United States, is a 1992 science fiction cinematic platform game developed by Delphine Software of France and published by U.S. Gold in United States and Europe, and Sunsoft in Japan. The game was directed, written/designed and partially programmed by Paul Cuisset, who had previously […]
Asterix and the Great Rescue online
Core Design's 1993 Asterix and Obelix platformer for the Sega Genesis. Play free in your browser.
The Incredible Hulk
1994 Incredible Hulk action game where the Hulk smashes the Leader's robot army. Play free in your browser.
Rolling Thunder 3
:DESCRIPTION Rolling Thunder 3 is a 1993 run and gun video game published by Namco released for the Sega Genesis. It is a sequel to Rolling Thunder 2. The game was made specifically for home consoles, which allowed the developers to implement more extensive gameplay features that otherwise would not had been possible in a […]
Jelly Boy
Probe's 1995 shape-shifting platformer starring a living jelly sweet. Play free in your browser.
Rainbow Islands
Taito's 1987 sequel to Bubble Bobble, where rainbows are weapons and bridges. Play free in your browser.
Cliffhanger
1993 action game based on the Stallone film, with brawling, climbing and snowboarding. Play free in your browser.
Panorama Cotton
Success's 1994 Japan-only Mega Drive rail shooter starring the witch Cotton. Play free in your browser.
Sword of Vermilion
Sega's 1989 action RPG with first-person exploration and real-time battles. Play free in your browser.
Double Dragon II
Technōs Japan's 1988 beat 'em up sequel, where Billy and Jimmy Lee seek revenge. Play free in your browser.
Krusty’s Fun House
1992 Simpsons puzzle platformer where Krusty guides rats into traps, Lemmings-style. Play free in your browser.
Streets of Rage 2
Sega's 1992 beat 'em up classic with Axel, Blaze, Max and Skate. Play free in your browser.
About Genesis games
The Mega Drive launched in Japan in 1988 and arrived in North America as the Genesis in 1989, built around the same Motorola 68000 processor used in many arcade boards of the time. Sega marketed it aggressively against Nintendo with slogans like "Genesis does what Nintendon't", and the 1991 release of Sonic the Hedgehog turned it into a serious rival to the SNES. It sold more than 30 million units worldwide.
The Genesis was especially strong in fast action games. Treasure's Gunstar Heroes and Konami's Contra: Hard Corps are still considered among the best run-and-guns ever made, while Streets of Rage 2 and Golden Axe defined the console beat-'em-up. The system also had an excellent RPG and strategy lineup, including Phantasy Star II and Shining Force, plus unique experiments like Ecco the Dolphin and ToeJam & Earl.
Later games such as Vectorman showed how much the hardware could still do near the end of its life. Choose any game below to play it instantly.