Top 25 Best Sega Dreamcast Import Games of All Time

The Sega Dreamcast was only on the market for a short time. It was the company’s final console, but they sure went out with a bang. They released a shocking number of hits in a short number of time. The Dreamcast isn’t widely considered to be one of the best consoles of all time for no reason. Because it was discontinued so suddenly several titles were left in Japan only. Some of these were highly anticipated by the player base, and many would eventually be released on other consoles. Many were not. Today we’ve decided to sit down and highlight the best import only games for the system. I’m talking about the games that were specifically not released in North America. So without further adieu these are the best Sega Dreamcast imports. Let’s check it out.

#15. – Rent-A-Hero No. 1

If you know us then you know by now that we love quirky Japanese games. The crazier the better. Rent-A-Hero No. 1 isn’t amazing, but it is hilarious and over the top. This is a remake of sorts of an RPG released for the Sega Mega Drive which was also left in Japan only. In this title you play as a youth living in Japan. He’s a normal guy until one day when he receives a special battle suit which transforms him into a super hero. Unfortunately he has to pay for the suit, and must take jobs for hire to earn money. Gameplay is pure action RPG with over-the-top real time combat taking place in a modern urban setting.The game is fairly true to the Mega Drive game, but in 3D. There’s some additional content as well and it’s all great. Fortunately there’s a great fan translation available.

#14. – Rainbow Cotton

Here’s one that’s underrated. I’m not even a fan of the franchise. Rainbow Cotton is not only a great import title but also one of the big Dreamcast hidden gems. Generally this series has been a traditional two dimensional shooter. Rainbow Cotton pushes the action into 3D (much like Panorama Cotton did) with some solid results. I especially love the graphics. There are few games from this generation that are half as colorful as this one. Normally I’m annoyed by overly cutesy graphics but in this case I loved them. Gameplay is also pretty solid. The camera sits behind your characters as you fly through environments dodging enemies, shooting everything that moves, and collecting power-ups to improve your firepower. Maybe this one just stands out so much because rail shooters were on their way out at this time, but I liked Rainbow Cotton.

#13. – Rez

Speaking of rail shooters Rez is another one that came out for the Dreamcast, and it also wasn’t released in the US. The game blends shooting and music. Those are great on their own, but they blend well together. Rez is fully 3D as you move automatically through a series of different environments. You fight off enemies by locking on to them and shooting. What’s neat is that the music syncs to your attacks. It adds a big sense of immersion to gameplay, and makes Rez surprisingly relaxing and entrancing to play. I love the enemy spawn patterns here. The graphics remind me of old wireframe games, but highly detailed. Rez has gotten a lot of love over the years, and for good reason. It’s definitely one of the best Dreamcast import games.

#12. – Space Channel 5: Part 2

The original Space Channel 5 is a game that Dreamcast diehards still swear by. It was a fun rhythm based title that was kind of weird, but a lot of fun. It’s Sega in a nutshell. For some unknown reason the sequel was never released in the US. It’s a shame because it’s just as good as the original. At its core the game kind of reminds me of Parappa the Rapper. That’s not a bad thing. You have to press buttons in rhythm. Your goal changes between the levels. Sometimes you’re simply making the main character Ulala dance, and in others you’re shooting aliens. This one feels very similar to the original but with new content, and more of it. Space Channel 5: Part 2 was later released on the PS2, but there’s something magical about playing it on the Dreamcast.

#11. – Twinkle Star Sprites

Twinkle Star Sprites is a mainstay in import lists for every platform on which it was released. The game is really solid, and it’s fun to play even now. This is a genre bending top down shooter/puzzle title. Basically the screen is split into two as you face off against one opponent (either human or CPU) and shoot incoming enemies. Your performance affects the other player’s battlefield as they’ll face more hazards the better that you perform. It’s simple enough but the gameplay is really addictive. Twinkle Star Sprites does however fare better for those that are fans of the shmups. That’s basically how it plays, and you’ll need to rely on your reflexes to bombard your opponent with as many hazards as possible. It’s cute, it’s fun, and it’s an import only release. Twinkle Star Sprites is great on the Dreamcast.

#10. – Fighting Vipers 2

After being one of the big releases for the Sega Saturn I always wondered what happened to Fighting Vipers. I mean it was a decent fighting game. I loved the armor system, and the fighting engine was fairly solid. Later I learned that Sega released a sequel on the Dreamcast, but only in Japan and PAL regions. Fighting Vipers 2 is a fast and furious fighting game, and it has everything that made the original special. This sequel has all of the characters from the original as well as four new ones. They’re okay, but I prefer the returning cast members. Gameplay is largely the same with the armor mechanics and knock outs returning. Basically you can knock pieces of armor off of your foe allowing you to inflict more damage. If you strike them just right you can knock your opponent out of the course thus winning the match.

#9. – Sakura Taisen 4

Sakura Taisen has been one of my favorite franchises for several years. This is a series of strategy RPGs blended with dating sim elements. That isn’t usually something I would be interested in (the dating sim parts specifically) but somehow it works. Sega continued the Sakura Taisen series on the Dreamcast with two original installments and remakes of the first two. Right now we’re talking about part 4. This game combines the casts of the first two titles with that of three. It feels like a proper send off for the series. It makes sense because it came out at a time when Sega’s future was uncertain. Combat is amazing here. The game uses an enhanced version of 3’s combat engine with real-time movement in a turn based strategy RPG system. Combat is fun, and the story is super charming. Sakura Taisen 4 has never been translated unfortunately.

#8. – Ikaruga

Most gamers don’t know about this one, but shmup fans generally consider Ikaruga to be an absolute legend. It was made by Treasure, after all. This is their second shmup after Radiant Silvergun but plays drastically different. This is a top down shooter with a really interesting mechanic. Your ship has both a light and dark side, and you switch between the two with a button press. Fortunately the enemies attack with both white and black bullets, and you’re immune to the same color, but can only damage enemies of the opposite. It makes for some really interesting gameplay dynamics. Ikaruga is downright challening but it never feels unfair. You just really have to get familiar with the mechanics. In typical Treasure fashion you’re going to die several times before you get good. Ikaruga was later released on the Gamecube, but it’s just as fun on the Dreamcast.

#7. – Super Puzzle Fighter II X For Matching Service

Capcom released several versions of their 32-bit titles for the Dreamcast with online support, but they only came out in Japan. Super Puzzle Fighter II was one of these games. While online support has long been shut down this one can still be enjoyed in single player. Basically it’s a puzzle game similar to Tetris (or more specifically, Columns) where you move falling blocks to the bottom of the screen. Your goal is to line up similar colors, and eliminate them by landing a crystal icon on them. Meanwhile both players have a life bar and two chibi style Street Fighter characters duking it out on the top of the screen. The gameplay is highly addictive, and it’s even more fun in multiplayer. This Sega Dreamcast version has slightly improved graphics, and a now defunct online mode. It’s definitely one of the best Dreamcast imports.

#6. – Guilty Gear X

Guilty Gear has, for several generations, been one of the best and most popular 2D fighting game franchises. Unfortunately Guilty Gear X was only released in the West on the PS2. It’s a shame because the Sega Dreamcast version was great. The platform had a lot of similar titles so I’m sure it would have found its audience but the developers left it in Japan only. Guilty Gear X is an absolutely beautiful sprite based game. The characters have a ton of highly detailed frames of animation. Gameplay is absolutely solid with a well rounded roster and a plethora of special moves that can be easily weaved into intricate combinations. Guilty Gear X is a fairly technical game with recovery frames to memorize, as well as a tension gauge to manage. It’s really over the top and very Japanese, but the gameplay hits.

#5. – Napple Tale: Arsia in Daydream

Napple Tale is one of the most highly regarded imports for the Dreamcast. Most incorrectly designate this as an action RPG when it’s clearly a platformer. As the character Porch you explore a 3D town area with several NPCs to interact with. This is kind of a hub world of sorts. Each of the actual worlds corresponds with a season. Here you’re tasked simply with reaching the end of each level, and you do so by attacking foes and jumping across platforms. It’s surprising that Napple Tale was not localized, and even more bizarre that it hasn’t been ported to other platforms. It’s a charming enough game that never got its fare shake. I love the level designs here, and though the story verges on being overly cutesy it’s a fun romp from start to finish. Napple Tale is an enjoyable Dreamcast exclusive that has a decent fan translation available.

#4. – Vampire Chronicles for Matching Service

I can’t help but feel that this game is improperly named. It is not the original Vampire Chronicle game with online support. Instead it’s a combination of all three of the original games. For those that don’t know Vampire Chronicle is known as Darkstalkers here. This title combines all of the gameplay styles of the releases up to this point as well as the rosters. At the time of release this one could also be taken online which was amazing for the time. Darkstalkers was always well known for it’s unique horror motif and amazing animatinons wrapped up in a deep combat system. Vampire Chronicles for Matching Service is no different. It’s an amazing package. I love the Darkstalkers series and this is the best installment on it. This version was repackaged as a PSP launch game, and it was amazing on that platform too.

#3. – Shenmue II

The most surprising thing about Shenmue was how fast Sega was able to release a sequel to it. The original game was the most ambitious Sega Dreamcast game. It had a level of detail we had not seen in video games up to this point. The game was an adventure title with fighting game combat as well as quick time events. It really was a marvel for the time. Shenmue II continues the story with nearly identical gameplay. What I really liked about this game was how fast it cut players into the action. The tale of Ryo Hazuki in Shenmue II takes him to Hong Kong here. It’s a continuation of the revenge plot spaghetti kung fu plot from the original. The new setting is fantastic. It’s just unfortunate that this one was released in PAL and Japan only until the Xbox debut.

#2. – Sakura Taisen 3

This is my favorite installment in the Sakura Taisen series. This game is a direct sequel to the second release, but moves the setting to Paris instead of Japan. It also changes the combat system in some major ways adding real-time elements to movement. Despite the new setting, cast, and gameplay this is still Sakura Taisen at its core. It’s a turn based strategy game where you take control of a group of fighters aboard mech robots to do battle against demons. By day the cast manages a performance troupe as their disguise. The game is also filled with dating sim elements wherein you woo various cast members through text trees. Gamers who are allergic to anime need not apply because this one touches on nearly every trope. Sakura Taisen 3 is a cool game, and I wish it had been localized.

#1. – Segagaga

It’s games like Segagaga that show Sega had a lot of heart. No other developer makes titles like this. Segagaga is billed as a ‘Sega Simulator’ but that’s only partially true. It’s also a turn based RPG. In it you’re an employee of the modern day (or at least at the time of release) company and are tasked with saving it. The impending release of DOGMA’s (Sony) new console threatens the future of the Sega Dreamcast, and it’s up to you to fight back. This concept is downright unique and incredible charming. Gameplay is great too. You have a lot to manage here including recruiting new employees (by doing battle with them) and managing their projects. It may sound strange, and it is, but that’s Sega for you. A game like this would never have caught on in the West so I don’t blame them for keeping it in Japan.