Top 15 Best Sega Genesis Multiplayer and Co-Op Games

There’s nothing quite like getting a few friends together and playing video games together. It doesn’t matter if it’s competitively or co-operatively. It’s all good. Unfortunately video games have steered away from this. Now just about everything has a focus on online play. This has it’s benefits no doubt, but it’s another beast entirely. Some of my best video game memories however come from playing with friends in the same room. This is why when it comes to multiplayer I tend to lean toward retro games. I’ve already written a feature describing the best SNES multiplayer games. That was easy. I just knew I also had to do one for the Sega Genesis, but I wasn’t sure when I’d get to it. Well today is that day. Here is my list of the top 15 best Sega Genesis multiplayer games of all time.

#15. – Contra: Hard Corps

Contra is absolutely one of the most iconic games on the original NES. If you had the console, two controllers, a copy of it, and another player then you were in for an absolute blast. Unfortunately Konami was never quite able to re-capture the magic. The franchise continued for several generations but the developers seemed to have lost what made the original so special. Contra: Hard Corps came out on the Sega Genesis, and while it failed to reach the heights of the original it’s still a good time. It’s the typical run and gun style of gameplay allowing for two player simultaneous play. It’s also hard as nails, but that’s half the fun, right? This game didn’t move the series forward significantly. You can choose from multiple characters to play as, and some sequences have you ride atop hoverbikes. Contra: Hard Corps is a great multiplayer game.

#14. – Sunset Riders

Sunset Riders is a very different beast depending on which console you’re playing it on. Personally I prefer the SNES version, but the Sega Genesis edition is nothing to slouch at. This release of Sunset Riders has you select one of two gunslingers (or both if you’re playing with a friend) as you pew pew your way through the wild west. The gameplay is fast and frenetic with lots of enemies and their shots coming at you at once. It can be difficult to tell what’s going on, but in this case I didn’t mind. You shoot first and ask questions later. What I found interesting in this release is the fact that you have two separate shoot buttons. One allows you to walk forward while firing, but only straight. The other makes your character stationary while firing but you can spray bullets in all six directions.

#13. – Lost Vikings

This one I prefer on the Super Nintendo, but I’m definitely not going to knock this one. The Lost Vikings is a 2D platformer with some heavy puzzle elements. You have three vikings at your command and each has a different ability. One can run faster and jump better while being able to bash through some obstacles. Another has a bow and sword that can be used to hit switches. The last of the bunch has a shield. This can not only be used to block projectiles but also as a makeshift hanglider. The best part of the Lost Vikings is that you can play with a friend hence it’s placement on this list. You and a buddy can freely switch between the inactive character and it’s a load of fun to figure out the puzzles with another human player.

#12. – Snow Brothers

I’ve often talked about how amazing this title is on the NES. Snow Brothers was an incredible co-op 8-bit single screen action platformer. It can best be considered Bubble Bobble with snow, and a few other enhancements. One thing I’ve never done is mention the Sega Genesis version. Snow Brothers on the Sega Genesis has all of the fun gameplay of the original release, but with better graphics and sound. Snow Brothers has you and another player defeating loads of enemies while playing as two snowmen. They defeat foes by throwing snowballs at them, and when they’ve been hit enough foes become large snowballs that you can roll across the stage. It’s a really cool game, and actually better than the NES release.

#11. – NBA Jam: Tournament Edition

I’m not a fan of sports games. Despite this I’ve long given the gospel of NBA Jam, and this enhanced Genesis version is no slouch. The only differences between it and the SNES release as far as I can tell is that the music and graphics are worse here. If you like basketball games, but don’t want to go through the hassle of a simulation then this is the one for you. You simply choose your team and you’re off. NBA Jam: Tournament Edition is good arcade style fun. Realistic this game is not. I mean you can set the ball on fire during a dunk for heaven’s sake. With that said NBA Jam is best played with a friend. I can attest that matches get downright heated because of how over the top the gameplay is.

#10. – Sonic the Hedgehog 3

Admittedly Sonic isn’t a series you would normally associate with multiplayer. This was after all Sega’s answer to Mario, and the platformer genre isn’t one you normally associate with two player mayhem. Sonic 3 offers two different modes of play with another human. You can simply plug in a second controller in the main mode and the secondary player controls Tails. This is sort of easy mode because player 2 revives if dies, and can’t really mess anything up. The second mode of play is a competition. It’s designed like a race with split screen gameplay, and this is surprisingly fun. What’s more is that the frame rate holds steady throughout. It almost feels like something you would expect from a 32-bit console. Sonic 3 is clearly one of the best Sega Genesis multiplayer games.

#9. – Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Hyperstone Heist

In the 16-bit era Turtles in Time got all the fame as far as the license was concerned. This was an early SNES title and was nearly arcade perfect. Hyperstone Heist released later, and wasn’t. They’re both based on the same engine, and share many mechanics and even levels. Unfortunately it’s pretty clear that Konami’s heart wasn’t in this one due to changes for the worse, and missing content. It’s definitely not a straight port by any means, and Hyperstone Heist can certainly be considered it’s own game. It’s just not as good as the SNES release however. That doesn’t mean it isn’t still a lot of fun to play with a friend however, and that’s why it’s one of the best multiplayer Sega Genesis games. If you’re hankering for a solid beat ’em up this is a great choice.

#8. – Mortal Kombat II

The second Mortal Kombat title is probably the best installment in the franchise. It had the perfect mix of characters, best special moves, incredible backgrounds, and amazing soundtrack. Mortal Kombat II is the perfect package if you’re looking for a bloody fighting game complete with fatalities. This Sega Genesis edition is the worst of the console ports, but it’s still a gruesome good time. As with any fighter this one is best played with a friend. Mastering combos, as well as memorizing frames and and pauses have aren’t fun against a CPU foe. You want to show off your skills against a human player that can think and react. That’s why Mortal Kombat II is such an amazing multiplayer title. If you want a fighter you can play with a buddy then this is just about the best choice you can make.

#7. – Streets of Rage 3

Nintendo had Final Fight. Beat ’em ups were huge, and few third parties were stepping up to bat for Sega in this genre. That’s why they made the Streets of Rage series in-house. Unfortunately the first title was pretty poor. By genre standards it’s near the bottom of the heap even when compared to cheap third party cash-ins. It wasn’t until the second title that Sega got it right. They built on this succcess, but unfortunately didn’t reach the same heights they did previously. Streets of Rage 3 is an amazing co-op beat ’em up, but it’s obviously lesser than it’s predecessor. Not only did Sega think it was a good idea to remove Max from the roster of playable characters, but they also over complicated the formula. Don’t get me wrong, I love Streets of Rage 3, but as a sequel it’s disappointing.

#6. – Sonic the Hedgehog 2

I already mentioned that Sonic 3 had multiplayer, but the feature originated with the first sequel. In Sonic 2 you can plug in a second controller and a friend can join in on the action. The main reason this one is higher is because of the better level design. Sonic the Hedgehog 2 is a high point in the series with stages that are more thoughtful than the other installments. Again you have two options for multiplayer. You can play the solo mode and plug in a second controller. Player 2 will take control of Tails and can’t really die. This is great for less experienced players. The second mode allows you and a buddy to compete via split screen. It’s crazy just how far ahead Sega was thinking. Sonic the Hedgehog 2 is a fantastic game solo, but it’s even better when you’re playing with a friend.

#5. – Mega Bomberman

Bomberman is all about multiplayer. I don’t know anyone who plays any of these games by themselves. Mega Bomberman is no different. This is actually a port of a Turbografx-16 game Bomberman 94. This version of course features enhanced graphics and audio. It’s Bomberman at it’s core. You place bombs that blow up in plus shapes, and try to decimate all of your foes. Where this version excels is in that it introduced the world to Louis. These are kangaroo looking animals that each Bomberman can ride on the back of. These grant Bomberman additional abilities, and make all the difference in a multiplayer bout. Mega Bomberman is pure multiplayer delight. It even allows for up to four players to join in the action. Mega Bomberman is absolutely one of the best Sega Genesis multiplayer games of all time.

#4. – Street Fighter II: Special Champion Edition

Could I really do a list of the best Sega Genesis games of all time without including Street Fighter II? I think not. After all the game was single handedly responsible for the influx of one-on-one fighters, and multiplayer in the arcades was at the heart of that. Street Fighter II was an institution on the Super Nintendo but it didn’t come out on the Sega Genesis until later. Thankfully Capcom included all of the enhancements in this release that came out with Turbo including speeds that can be changed, and all of the boss characters playable. My only complaint with this edition is that you need to have the six button controller to get full enjoyment out of it. That means if you want to play with a friend (and trust me, you do) you’ll actually need two of these peripherals.

#3. – Streets of Rage 2

This is the fleeting moment in time that Sega completely understood the beat ’em up genre. The first Streets of Rage was a rather poor effort, but the sequel fine tuned the gameplay, polished everything up, and is just about perfect. Gameplay is loads of fun with a friend and the four characters you can pick from have a lot of variety between them. Heck, one is even on roller skates which I found over the top but a lot of fun. In particular the new moves add a lot to the franchise, as well as the more refined specials. My favorite part of Streets of Rage 2 however is the level design. These areas are downright fun to explore which is not something that can be said of the original. Clearly Streets of Rage 2 is one of the best co-op Genesis games.

#2. – Zombies Ate My Neighbors

I’ll never be done singing the praises for Zombies Ate My Neighbors. My brother and I picked up the SNES version because it sounded funny and over the top. What we discovered is that it is, but it’s also one of the best designed games of its era. Zombies Ate My Neighbors has one (or two players) working through a variety of stages rescuing victims, and fighting off hordes of monsters. These consist primarily of undead denizens but also numerous horror parodies. There’s even a guy wearing a hockey mask that chases you with a chainsaw which is hilarious. The stages are thoughtfully designed and contain way more puzzle elements and resource management than I could have expected. The Sega Genesis version may be inferior, but it’s still a ton of fun as far as co-op is concerned. Zombies Ate My Neighbors is a real riot.

#1. – Gunstar Heroes

This is the game largely responsible for putting developer Treasure on the map. It’s a 2D run and gun, but a clear step above just about everything else. Initially it took me a while to get past all of the on-screen chaos to even figure out what I was doing. You have shots and enemies flying around absolutely everywhere, but you’re given more than enough firepower to take them down. What makes Gunstar Heroes so special is in it’s level design and variety. The scenarios Treasure thought up here are absolutely insane. I especially like the mine stage where you’re riding carts and battling against giant robots in both horizontal and vertical sections. Even single player the game is one of a kind, but it becomes absolutely incredible when you bring a friend along. Gunstar Heroes is without a doubt the single best multiplayer game for the Sega Genesis.