Sega Genesis Mini: All the available games

Splish splash

Ecco the Dolphin was a real game changer when it first appeared on the Genesis. With its unique, underwater gameplay, it took the traditional platformer and turned it on its head.

Mosnters and whips

Castlevania is apparently the eleventh game in the series and the first and only to appear on the Sega Genesis. The Castlevania series is fan favorite all around the world, spawning multitudes of games and even a Netflix show.

Not a winner

I know next to nothing about Space Harrier 2 except to say it looks like a terrible shooting/flying game and I am unlikely to ever actually play it on the Genesis Mini. Some games look to be amazing retro classics, others, not so much.

JRPG fun

Shining force is a pretty fun RPG. It's a turn-based game where you get to control multiple people in an almost tactics style of gameplay.

Franchise power!

Dr. Robotnik, the antagonist of Sonic the Hedgehog, got his own video game once upon a time. The mean bean machine is a cross between Gems on the Master System and Tetris. The beans fall from the sky and you have to connect to continue through the levels.

Cult classic

Toe Jam & Earl is another cult classic that, when you look back at the original game, is actually quite bad. What made the game a favorite was the irreverence the developers took with even their own characters.

Distinct platformer

I had never seen this game before today! How did I not play this game? it looks awesome! You are a comic artist trying to fight out of your comic which is cool, but then you can use the comic to move through the platforms.

Sega's mascot

Of course, Sonic is on the Sega Genesis mini, Sonic is Sega. I assume at least one or two more games will be on the Mini as well. We all want to see Tails after all, don't we?

GRRR ARGHH

Ahh, Altered Beast. Another terrible game masquerading as a cult classic. While the premise of the game was excellent, the gameplay mechanics were just awful. I honestly can't wait to show my 12-year-old kid how hard his Dad had it when he was young.

Kid Contra

Gunstar Heroes is another game I hadn't heard of until today, but it actually looks like a lot of fun. It has a Contra vibe mixed with childlike manga heroes, with just a pinch of Streets of Rage mixed in.

Body Whip!

Earthworm Jim is a cult classic. For those of us who grew up in the '90s, we had the game sure, but we also had a cartoon that was irreverent, funny, and has moments that stick in my mind 25 years later.

Helicopter Tails

Looks like our hope paid off. It makes sense for Sonic 2 to be on here as well, it cemented the game mechanics and is, arguably, the best one.

Disney classic

Castle of Illusion is an excellent platformer that cemented Disney as a player in the gaming space. It's exciting to see Disney games on this list and gives me hope we might see Alladin or the Lion King games too.

Disney Classic Redux

The natural progression from Castle of Illusion and the addition of a two-player component makes World of Illusion a worthy game for this system. The more Disney the better right? Also, don't these feel like the beginnings of Kingdom Hearts?

Super soldiers

I remember Contra being one of the games my sister loved. She could actually play as a girl, and she got to shoot the place up. It was an awesome side scroller.

Side scrolling king

Streets of Rage 2 is another classic that I adore. The side-scrolling, beat em up continued to be a favorite because of its replayability, and the chance to play has different characters.

R-type clone

I have never heard of this one but it looks like a classic R-Type clone, side-scrolling with frantic gameplay with bullets everywhere. Looks like a lot of fun for anyone who loves R-Type.

Cutesy R-type

This looks very similar to the game we just looked at but with cute graphics and a bubbly theme. I can safely say this game will not grace the screens at my home.

Ninja chop!

I remember Shinobi and Strider being some of the very best Genesis games. The side-scrolling action with ninja moves always gave me a lot of fun.

The Smegends of Shmelda

This game is definitely not the Legends of Zelda. Nope. No green glad, elf-looking kid killing people with a sword here sir. What's that Mr. Nintendo? A rip off of Link? Gracious no, this is a completely unique game experience.

Still great

Mega Man is a franchise that survives the test of time because it always had fun gameplay, and Wily Wars is no exception. Another game I'm looking forward to revisiting

RYUKEN!

Does this game need me to explain what it is? I don't think so. There is an entire genre of games that exist specifically because of this game.

Cash Grab

This game feels like it came directly from the casino levels in Sonic the Hedgehog. It's a great game though something of a money grab, cashing in on Sonic mania.

RPG fun!

Phantasy Star IV looks like it could be either a lot of fun or tediously dull. It's hard to tell and I don't remember playing it. I'm looking forward to trying it out.

Not Wonderwall

Beyond Oasis has a wonderful cartoon feel to it. The hack and slash gameplay are fairly generic but the visuals really pop on screen.

Shiny Knights

Why did these games have such terrible jumping mechanics? It was maddening! still, Ghouls 'N Ghosts is a classic and I love it.

The other game

Sure, Alex Kidd in the Enchanted Castle is a good game, we can all agree, but is it as good as Alex Kidd in Miracle World? No. No, it isn't.

Traditional tropes!

Golden Axe is the perfect trope machine. a Dwarf with an ax? check. A scantily clad woman with a sword? check. A barbarian with more muscles than human beings possess? check. Perfect game.

Wall-e with guns

The Earth is a wasteland and the robots have taken over. Can you side-scroll, and bullet-storm your way through? Sure you can.

Arcade classic

I think the Wonderboy games will always shine bright in my memory as the arcade classic they were. I can't wait to play this again.

BONUS CONTENT

We all know what Tetris is and what Tetris does don't we? I bet you are thinking of the theme tune right now, aren't you? Yeah, me too.

BONUS CONTENT

Darius wasn't in the original lineup. It's listed as a bonus game which is pretty cool. It's also been remastered from the original to improve the quality somewhat.

Dungeon fun

Light Crusader has a definite dungeon crawl feel to it. Much like Zelda or even Diablo, you get to solve puzzles and fight monsters. You even get a fairy.

Voxel punching

Virtua Fighter is the precursor to almost all 3D fighting games. The second game pushed what the Genesis was capable of to the limit.

Lady Gaiden

Alisia Dragoon is a game much like Strider and Ninja Gaiden with its side-scrolling action. More interestingly, it's also the reason for my daughter's name. I loved this game.

Fun with friends

Despite its scary-sounding title, Monster World 4 is actually a cute little platformer where you and your little floating friend travel the world fighting equally cute "monsters."

Lots of jobs!

Kid Chameleon is a standard platformer with some non-standard power-ups. You get to change your character a lot in this game to help you succeed.

Motorcycle mayhem

Do you know what was always missing from racing games before Road Rash? Chains to hit people with. They are here now so all is good.

Beat 'em up

Eternal Champions was a little like Street fighter but with more of a story and a little more flair. It's still not as good as Street Fighter though.

Future Gaiden

I remember strider as one of my favorite games on the Mega Drive. It was an excellent platformer and I cannot wait to play it again.

Not Tetris

Sega had its own version of Tetris. It was good, but never quite as good as the original. I did enjoy it on the Game Gear though.

Boom! headshot

I don't know how to describe this really. It's a side-scrolling platformer, mixed with R-Type, mixed with fighting games. Oh and you throw your head as a weapon.