9. Mega Lo Mania
Though this sort of game would work better on a PC (for obvious reasons), Mega Lo Mania is a blast on the Mega Drive. This type of game isn’t for everyone, but there is something welcoming and pick-up-and-play about Mega Lo Mania that actually makes it one of the most accessible strategy games available. It’s so much fun to watch your civilization grow against your opponents who are still working out how sticks work, and it’s even more fun to strike up an alliance with them and then STAB THEM IN THE BACK. Awesome.
10. Toejam and Earl
Toejam and Earl is unlike any other game of the Mega Drive – or SNES for that matter – and its one of the reasons its remembered so fondly. You play in and explore an isometric world looking for the pieces of your ship so you can get home, while avoiding angry tourists, crazy scientists, boogeymen and dudes with lawnmowers. The game is also extremely difficult as its different everytime you boot up the system. Each level is randomly generated, and the mysterious presents you pick up along the way are also randomised. Think you’re selecting the power sneakers to run faster? Nope, it’s the rain cloud and now you’re dead. Bummer. Toejam and Earl is totally radical, dude.
11. Ecco the Dolphin
When I was a kid, I didn’t ‘get’ Ecco the Dolphin. It was a platformer, but not a platformer. It featured all the mechanics of a regular game, without feeling like a regular game. It was so wildly different to anything I’d ever encountered before, and it wasn’t until I became much older that I appreciated what Ed Annunziata was going for. Ecco the Dolphin is an incredible immersive game, and it really goes take you to depths of the ocean as you try and find your way back home. It really isn’t for everyone, and there is a reason why people dismissed it at the time, but Ecco the Dolphin is a worthy addition to this list.
12. Skitchin’
Now this is a product of its time. It’s a racing game on rollerblades to kickin’ rock tunes, but you’re also able to grab onto the back of cars to assist you in your race. Don’t hold on for too long though, as the drivers may get sick of your antics and pull over to stop – or you’ll get arrested. And don’t hold on to the cop cars for too long, as you’ll get arrested. Again. You can also pick up weapons along the way to use against your fellow racers who are also trying to latch onto the car you’ve skitched on to. What a gaming experience this is. The trick part of the game feels a bit tacked on and is very difficult to master, but Skitchin’ is a game that will keep you going for hours as you try and win every race. The difficulty ramps up as the game goes on, so get as much money as possible to buy the best equipment. To be honest, this is probably one of the most underrated games for the Mega Drive.
13. NBA Jam
FROM DOWN TOWN!
HE’S ON FIRE!
BOOM SHAKALAKA!
Do we need to say anything else?
14. Micro Machines 2: Turbo Tournament
The first Micro Machines game was remarkably fun, just as the toys were, but the sequel Micro Machines 2: Turbo Tournament shifted things into another gear. Like a lot of games on this list, it’s the perfect sequel in that it takes everything fun about the first one, removes any annoyances and adds more gamplay value in. More vehicles, bigger and more creative tracks, new characters and new obstacles to overcome. Some races are incredibly frustrating, but it’s all part of the fun. Plus, you can create your own tracks and then share them with your friends. Well, I say ‘share’ them with your friends. This is hardly Mario Maker, let’s be honest. You basically were given a long string of letters, numbers and punctuation that your friend would then input into their version of the game. So you then spend half an hour typing in these codes – only for you to have made a mistake or your friend wrote something down wrong. It would actually be quicker for them to simply build the track again on your game from scratch.
15. Chuck Rock
Is this one of the best games to showcase the Sega Mega Drive? Perhaps not. Is it one of the most fun platformers on the system? Oh hell yes. From its catchy beats to its gorgeously enjoyable gameplay, Chuck Rock is the perfect piece of nostalgic gaming. It’s everything a platformer needs to be. It’s wonderfully cartoon-y, incredibly wacky and an insane amount of fun. Some could argue that games like Ristar, Dynamite Heady or Alien Soldier should be on this list, but Chuck Rock is a game that shouldn’t be ignored. Pick it up on eBay if you haven’t already.
16. Mortal Kombat
If there is one game release that people of a certain generation will remember vividly, it’s Mortal Kombat. The controversy, the hoopla and the ballyhoo about this game was incredible – and the hype was totally worth it. The game was incredibly violent in the arcades, and the Mega Drive had the full version intact – while the SNES version was toned down for its family-friendly audience. As a kid, this was very important in appearing cool in the playground. Of course, you have to access the violence via a code, but the code was so easy to remember (A, B, A, C, A, B, B) that it didn’t matter. And, personally, I actually think Mortal Komabt is better than its sequels. Mostly because it was easier to master, and performing the fatalities was incredibly fun. Mortal Kombat II did have more characters and more explosive kills, but the simplicity of Mortal Kombat, for me, makes it a better game.
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What did you make of our list? What would be on your Mega Drive list?
Luke Owen is the Deputy Editor of Flickering Myth and a contributor on The Flickering Myth Movie Show. You can follow him on Twitter @ThisisLukeOwen.
Originally published November 30, 2015. Updated April 15, 2018.
