Unfortunately because the console was on the market for only a short time there aren’t a lot of Sega Dreamcast hidden gems. Sega had a huge following at the time and the console enjoyed a successful launch. Outside of this however there just wasn’t a whole lot of software released for the thing. This is especially difficult considering just about every game for the system has a cult following even today. That’s why this list contains titles that aren’t exactly the most hidden of gems, rather, titles I feel don’t get their just due. These are games I rarely see mentioned in discussions pertaining to the Sega Dreamcast. Not all of them are universally loved, but they’ve each got at least something to them that you can’t find anywhere else. These are the best Sega Dreamcast hidden gems. Before we begin let’s go over some rules I’ve set here.
- You won’t find any import titles here. Honestly the entire list would be Japanese games if I didn’t limit myself in this way. These are all titles released in North America.
- Many of these have since found huge cult followings. I tried to steer away from these titles and just focus on things that are relatively unknown even among Sega Dreamcast enthusiasts.
- This list is entirely my own opinion. I’m not trying to say I’m right and that others are wrong. My intention here is just to help Dreamcast owners find titles that might not have been on their radar.
Now that all the technical stuff is out of the way let’s go! These are the best Sega Dreamcast hidden gems in alphabetical order.
Armada
Have you ever wondered what the classic game Asteroids would be like as an RPG? Well the kind developers at Metro3D answered this very question, and the results are pretty good if you ask me. Armada is a very strange and off-putting title at first. You fly around space station areas interacting with NPCs. From here you leave to the battle stages where you fly around using Asteroids controls and destroy foes. You gain experience points and money from destroying enemies. Not only can you level up but you can also use the currency you gain to purchase upgrades for your ship. The Sega Dreamcast was lacking in quality RPGs for a good long while and thus it’s surprisng that this one flew under the radar. Armada is still well worth playing, and even to this day remains one of the Sega Dreamcast hidden gems.
Cannon Spike
Capcom threw some huge support behind the platform. That’s kind of par for the course with them and failing hardware. Cannon Spike was a port of one of their lesser known arcade titles. It’s best described as a celebration of all things Capcom. This is an overhead shooter similar to something like Smash TV where you wander stages blasting away foes to rack up high scores. The main gimmick here is the fact that you can play as a myriad of different characters from Capcom’s most storied franchises. This includes Arthur from Ghosts ‘N Goblins, Cammy and Dan from Street Fighter, Mega Man and more. Really it’s over the top and more geared towards fan service but that’s why I love it so much. Cannon Spike also hasn’t been ported anywhere else which leaves it as one of the best Sega Dreamcast hidden gems to this day.
D2
I’m not sure that the original D was such a big hit. It began on the 3DO but was ported to the PS1 and Saturn. In terms of gameplay it was a landmark FMV title with it’s focus on horror and puzzle elements. I liked it plenty. Even lesser known than it is the sequel for it that has since become one of the best Sega Dreamcast hidden gems. D2 is not like the original. What I mean is that this is a legitimate third person survival horror game, and it’s all the more better for it to be honest. You play as the same character here, Laura, but in this case she’s aboard an airplane that goes down over the Canadian wilderness. While progressing the plot you have to actually hunt for food which adds to the survival aspects. D2 is a really neat Dreamcast exclusive.
Dynamite Cop!
Known in Japan as Dynamite Deka 2 this is a follow up Die Hard Arcade on the Sega Saturn. Beat em ups were pretty much over by the time the 32-bit generation hit so it’s a real pleasure to play one on the Dreamcast. Unfortunately the genre it falls under also ensures that this was a hidden gem. There are a ton of weapons to find here. More than in just about any other beat ’em up title. Enemies are really over the top as well with boss characters such a chef for example. It’s wacky but a lot of fun. The game also runs at a steady 60 frames per second which is super nice and looks absolutely lovely on a VGA adapter. My only disappointment is the fact that the game can only be played with two players. Dynamite Cop really would have benefitted from more.
Elemental Gimmick Gear
This game is often referred to it’s acronym of E.G.G. It’s a not so clever pun based on the armor the main character uses. Elemental Gimmick Gear is an action RPG with an emphasis on puzzle solving. You play as a character frozen inside an armor shaped like, well, I already covered that. It’s up to him to regain his memory and journey deep into dungeons to fight off foes. Elemental Gimmick Gear is clearly one of the best Sega Dreamcast Hidden Gems simply because no one has really heard of it. It’s somewhat of a Zelda clone, but with some distinct Super Metroid elements behind it. This one is distinct because it uses hand drawn graphics instead of polygons in most scenes except boss battles. It’s a very beautiful game with some neat concepts behind it. Elemental Gimmick Gear deserves a second look.
Illbleed
Here’s yet another survival horror game, but Illbleed is unlike any other one that you’ve played before. This one doesn’t take itself too seriously and harkens more to the classic B movies we all know and love. You begin by selecting a differently themed movie theater. From here you traverse the environments and deal with enemies. What sets this one apart is the ‘horror monitor.’ This allows you to detect traps and enemies but costs adrenaline to use. Ilbleed is one of the few video games where you can die from being overly scared. It sounds lame but the execution is really on point. I absolutely love the b-movie references and style that this game uses. It’s a real shame that one of the best Sega Dreamcast hidden gems is left as an exclusive. If you want to play Illbleed you have to experience it on the original hardware.
Outtrigger
Have you ever wanted to play a first person shooter but wanted more of an arcade vibe? Well Outtriger has your number. Well to be honest it can also be considered a third person shooter, but I don’t know anyone that would forego the first person viewpoint here for that one. It’s a very fast paced game wherein you dispatch all foes in an arena within a specific amount of time. While doing this you rack up points, collect new weapons, and take cover behind obstacles. The action is all 60 frames per second which is extremely impressive for the console. The single player mode is fun, but it’s really multiplayer that makes this one of the best Sega Dreamcast hidden gems. The ability to compete against four friends is fun and frantic. Outtrigger is one of the best titles for the platform.
Psychic Force 2012
I remember the year 2012, and it was nothing like this! Despite the historical inaccuracies Psychic Force 2012 is still one of the best Sega Dreamcast hidden gems. This is a one-on-one fighter that relishes in just how over the top it is. This is a sequel of sorts to the first game which was released for the Sony PlayStation. Psychic Force 2012 is a 3D fighter, but not in the traditional sense. Arenas are vertical in design and all characters fly by default. As you move around the two always face each other and switch directions automatically. From far away you battle with projectiles, but as the gap closes the attacks switch to the traditional punches and kicks. You can also perform the typical special moves but these deplete your psycho meter. Psychic Force 2012 is a very unusual but fun brawler.
Rippin’ Riders Snowboarding
Are you a fan of Cool Boarders? Well, did you know the Sega Dreamcast got an exclusive sequel? In Japan Rippin’ Riders Snowboarding was called Cool Boarders Burrrn, but was renamed (probably to keep Sony at bay) to the game I’m talking about here. This game is not only the solo snowboarding title for the console, but also one of the best Sega Dreamcast hidden gems. It’s a pretty typical extreme sports title, but with very pretty graphics. You slide down the hill and perform tricks and various half pipes found throughout each course to increase your score. The level designs are fun, and the gameplay engine runs smoothly. It’s not one of my favorite snowboarding titles, but for it’s time Rippin’ Riders Snowboarding has quite a bit to offer. As I mentioned earlier this is also the only game of it’s kind for the platform.
Silent Scope
For the short time it was on the market the Sega Dreamcast had it’s fair share of lightgun games. Considering this is one of my favorite genres it should be obvious that this would make my list of the best Sega Dreamcast hidden gems. Regardless, Silent Scope was a huge hit in the arcades before making it’s way to the console. It stands out from the pack with it’s use of sniper mechanics. This returns here in this home port. Most of the action takes place from far away as you line up accurate shots at a distance. It’s a bit slower and more plodding than your typical rail shooter but I really like this more elaborate approach. Unfortunately this port does suffer a major problem; it does not support an actual light-gun. You have to use the controller which is annoying but manageable.
Super Magnetic Neo
This one is hardly a household name. Most Dreamcast enthusiasts have never even heard of Super Magnetic Neo. This is probably because Sonic Adventure overshadowed most other 3D platformers at the time. That’s why this is one of the best Sega Dreamcast hidden gems. Rather than focusing on a free roaming format instead this one plays more like Crash Bandicoot. The stages are basically corridors where you walk forward and dispatch foes as you approach. Living up to it’s name the main character is magnetized and you can use his fields to dispatch foes as well as stick to and bounce off elements in the environment. It’s really neat and really makes this one stand out from the pack. You just have to get past the fact that the main character looks like a teletubby. Super Magnetic Neo is easily one of the best 3D platformers of all time.
Tech Romancer
And here we have another Capcom fighting game. The console was absolutely overflowing with these, but there are a few reasons I consider Tech Romancer one of the best Sega Dreamcast hidden gems. This one uses an anime mecha theme and to great effect. This allowed the developers to really go over the top with ti’s mechanics. Despite being a 3D title gameplay is stuck to one plane. Each character has their own special moves (as well as punches/kicks) but can find powerups during gameplay. These will increase their armor, weapons, and even let them enter ‘hero mode’ where their abilities are upgraded. If you can’t already tell Tech Romancer does not take itself too seriously, and it definitely isn’t a key competitive fighter. If you want something a bit over the top then it’s the perfect choice.
Time Stalkers
When talking about Dreamcast RPGs Grandia II and Skies of Arcadia are always the ones discussed. It’s a little known fact but the console actually had a few lesser known ones. Time Stalkers is one of these, and it’s one of the best Sega Dreamcast hidden gems. This game was developed by Climax (you may remember them best from Landstalker on the Genesis) and is a celebration of all their greatest works. It basically combines most of their popular characters into one adventure. Gameplay is similar to your traditional strategy RPG title. You move characters on a grid to attack and defeat all foes in the arena. What sets this one apart however is the monster recruitment feature. It’s not as in depth as something like Pokemon, but it’s neat for it’s time and fun to tinker with. Time Stalkers is still a Dreamcast exclusive so please check it out.
Typing of the Dead
Okay now stick with me here because this is easily the strangest title on this list. Typing of the Dead is a re-imagining of sorts of House of the Dead 2. The major difference here is that instead of using a light gun you instead have only a keyboard at your disposal. While the stage designs and enemies are the same you defeat them by typing words that appear in overlays in front of them. It sounds lame, but I’ll be darned if it’s not one of the most fun games I’ve played. That’s why I consider Typing of the Dead to be one of the best Sega Dreamcast hidden gems. What better way to hone your keyboarding skills than to do so while fighting off hordes of zombies? I can’t think of anything better personally. This one went mostly ignored because of the required peripheral and weird concept.
Zombie Revenge
Speaking of House of the Dead here we have another spin-off. Zombie Revenge is a beat ‘em up title based on the Dynamite Cop engine, but it takes place in the universe of Sega’s famous light gun series. You begin by choosing from one of three different characters that befit the typical tropes; one fast, one strong, and another that’s in between. Your character can punch and kick for combo attacks against incoming foes, but there’s a huge emphasis on weapons in this game. You can pick up a variety of different firearms left strewn throughout the city but they have limited ammunition. I really like the auto targeting system here which makes using them a real treat. The best part of Zombie Revenge is the two player mode. The over the top mechanics are that much more enjoyable with a friend along for the journey.
