Today the topic of discussion is the best Sega Master System games. This system was the house of hedgehog’s first home console released outside of Japan. Well before Sonic the Hedgehog was even a thing. Unfortunately it came out to very little fanfare. Odds are if you played video games in the 80s it was on a NES. The Master System caught on in some corners of the world. Unfortunately it was never a big hit in North America. Nintendo had an absolute stranglehold on the market. The Sega Master System just couldn’t compete. That doesn’t mean it didn’t have it’s fair share of games though, and good ones at that. Today we’re taking a look at what it had to offer. This is our list of the top 30 best Sega Master System Games of all time. Let’s get started!
#30. – Alex Kidd in Miracle World
Nintendo basically invented the console mascot with Mario. Sega had to find some way to compete with him, and their answer was Alex Kidd. The results were mixed. Regardless his first outing is decently fun. Funny enough Alex Kidd in Miracle World was actually designed to be a parody of Mario.
This 2D platformer has you hopping and bopping your way through seventeen stages full of monsters. Instead of jumping on the heads of his foes Alex instead lays down the smackdown with his fists. It was years before Mario adopted this technique for his own. In that sense Alex Kidd was forward thinking! It’s a good concept and Alex Kid in Miracle World has a decent foundation. What holds it back are the average level designs. That, and the fact that the main character is a bit odd. Both in design and concept. There’s a reasony we aren’t still playing Alex Kidd games after all. Regardless, Miracle World is a fairly neat game.
#29. – Miracle Warriors: Seal of the Dark Lord
The Sega Master System was a bit lacking in terms of RPGs. It did have a few however, and they’re mostly good. Miracle Warriors was destined to help fill this gap. The game has a pretty standard role playing set up. You wander a world map and dungeons while enemy encounters occur at random. As far as the battle system goes it’s pretty traditional and standard. That’s not a bad thing by any means.
The main thing holding this one back is how archaic most of its systems are. Instead of navigating a world map with a character you instead do so by tile with a reticule. It’s more reminiscent of early PC RPGs in that regard. If you’re into that sort of thing you’ll feel right at home with Miracle Warriors. What I like most about this game is its battle system. Miracle Warriors doesn’t try anything new, nor does it have a lot of bells and whistles. What you do get from it is a challenging quest that rewards players that plan ahead. It’s a very simple but fun adventure. It’s simplicity is why I rank it as one of the best Sega Master System games.
#28. – Double Dragon
Double Dragon was a huge hit in arcades and on the NES. Despite Nintendo’s best efforts they apparently couldn’t keep this one a console exclusive. Double Dragon is a two player beat ’em up absolutely brimming with retro charm. You punch and kick your way through wave after wave of enemy at which point you move on to the next group of foes.
It sounds repetitive, and to an extent it is. What offsets this is the multiplayer. You and a friend can team up to dish out a healthy serving of knuckle sandwiches. The graphics here are quite a bit better than they were on the NES thanks to the wonderful colorful palette of the system hardware. This unfortunate trade off in this conversion is a significantly worse soundtrack. It’s dealer’s choice for which version you want to play, but don’t sleep on the Sega Master System release.
#27. – Space Harrier
In the 80s Sega was first and foremost an arcade game developer. Space Harrier was one of their huge coin-op hits. It’s not dramatic to say that it embodies everything that was Sega at the time. Space Harrier is unique, well designed, and has a lot of heart. So why doesn’t Space Harrier score higher on this list? It’s because the Master System wasn’t up to the task of re-creating the experience.
Space Harrier is a 3D over the shoulder view shooter. Due to the limited hardware the scaling and animations are remarkably choppy. Enemies and terrain kind of warp around the screen. It’s so bad that this frequently affects gameplay, and not in a good way. It’s difficult to dodge hazards because you can’t really judge how far away they are. It takes some getting used to, but I still like this version well enough.
#26. – Alex Kidd in Shinobi World
Okay now this is more like it. After an underwhelming first outing Alex Kidd returned for more. This time Sega did something a little different. Rather than attempting to copy the Mario formula with their weird new character the developers instead borrowed elements from their other franchise Shinobi.
Despite being an Alex Kidd game this Shinobi World plays more like an installment in Sega’s legendary ninja action franchise. That works significantly better in my opinion. I love how off the wall the concept is. I have nothing against the character himself, and his impression of a ninja is rather charming. Plus, it has a more solid foundation thanks to the borrowed elements from Shinobi. Your main method of attack here is slicing with a sword rather than punching like last time. He also can also throw darts, and is generally more athletic than before as well. Action is the focus here and the change of pace is welcome. This is definitely one of the best Sega Master System games of all time.
#25. – Virtua Fighter Animation
It’s crazy to think that the Sega Master System actually got an installment in the Virtua Fighter franchise. This is because Virtua Fighter didn’t launch until the console was all but forgotten about. Virtua Fighter Animation only became a thing because the Sega Master System was a huge hit in Brazil. In this market it received ports well into the late 90s.
Virtua Fighter Animation is the same as it was on the Game Gear. It’s a one-on-one 2D fighter that does its best to replicate the gameplay of the third dimensional brethren. It actually does a fair job of this with most of the characters returning with a lot of their special moves intact. Don’t get me wrong; Virtua Fighter Animation is not going to take the place of the main series. As far as 2D fighters go it’s pretty decent.
#24. – Basketball Nightmare
It wasn’t until the 16-bit era that Sega became renowned for their sports titles. Before then it was kind of a crapshoot. Basketball Nightmare is one of the good ones. Instead of going for realism Sega instead focused on the fantastical. You don’t play as or against real licensed NBA teams. Instead the characters are all either humans or various monsters.
You’ll face vampires, werewolves, skeletons, and more. Gameplay is very well done. I had very little trouble shooting baskets while avoiding other players on the court. I also really like the pseudo horror theme. The worst sports games take themselves too seriously, and that’s why Basketball Nightmare is so darn good. If you’re hurting for some b-ball action then Basketball Nightmares is your best bet. Who would have thought a basketball game where you play as monsters would actually be fun?
#23. – Bubble Bobble
Honestly Bubble Bobble has been released on so many different platforms at this point. You can’t go wrong with almost any version of it. When it’s that good it’s sure to make any best of list for any console that was blessed with a version.
The gameplay is rock solid as you play through one hundred single screen stages defeating all foes in your way jumping and shooting bubbles. Single player is fun, but the real highlight however is the two player co-op mode. Having a friend along for the journey makes it an absolute blast. It’s good and simple fun, but works incredibly well even today. This Sega Master System port even has some advantages over the other 8-bit editions. For one thing the colors are more vibrant than on any other platform at the time. As is typical for Master System releases the soundtrack is a bit worse than the NES edition. Better graphics or music; the choice is yours.
#22. – Space Harrier 3D
I’m not a huge fan of 3D effects in video games. I’m referring to the eye popping effects from those special glasses rather than polygons. The Sega Master System came out at a time when the red/blue eyewear was in style. They even based this pseudo sequel to Space Harrier on that effect. As someone who can’t see 3D I can still appreciate this one because it has the option to play in two dimensions.
This game runs a bit smoother than the original. Scaling and animations are still choppy but it’s not as bad. This game has all new stages and some original hazards as well. In my opinion this package is a bit more rounded than the first. I even appreciate the slightly increased difficulty as well. I’m sure some will enjoy the novelty of the third dimensional effects. Even without it Space Harrier 3D in general is slightly better than the Master System port of the original.
#21. – OutRun
As I mentioned earlier Sega was best known for their arcade games when the Master System was their big home console. The hardware was more or less a means for them to release home ports of their most popular coin-op releases. OutRun was released on the Sega Master System and was one of these such titles.
In this ‘driving game’ your goal is simply to reach the end within a time limit. There are multiple paths which adds significantly to the replay value. Each path affects your overall trajectory across the map and there are several different finish lines. OutRun is one of my most favorite video games of all time. So why is this one so low on the list? This is yet another case where the Sega Master System wasn’t up to the task of rendering it properly. The scrolling is extremely choppy. Terrain and other cars are hard to avoid because they move so suddenly. Regardless this is still a great game.
#20. – Sonic the Hedgehog
It’s rather surprising that Sega even bothered to release this game in the first place. Sonic the Hedgehog was a huge hit on the Genesis console, and the Master System was all but forgotten at this point. The Sega Game Gear has similar hardware to the 8-bit home console so I guess they figured ‘why not?’
This 8-bit rendition of Sonic the Hedgehog plays similarly to the more advanced iteration. This is a 2D platformer where the goal is to get to the end of each stage as fast and efficiently as possible. It’s basically side scrolling parkour. Rather than having a life bar each time you’re hit you lose all of your rings. Sonic has a limited amount of time to gather these up again before they fade away. The levels are very different from the Genesis version which makes this one no simple port. It’s an original Sonic game that never reached a huge audience. That makes it worth playing in my book.
#19. – Fantasy Zone
I really struggled with which shmups to include on this list. The Sega Master System was no slouch when it came to this genre. Fantasy Zone was Sega’s own effort. It’s as amazing and unusual as the company was in their prime. In other words it’s downright magical. Rather than shooting down space ships or robots you instead blast away at cutesy ships in a pastel world here.
Fantasy Zone is unique in that you can scroll both left and right. You’ll need to do so in order to destroy various enemy bases. When you’ve hit a specific number of these you move on to a boss fight. Simple, right? Fantasy Zone is deeper than it seems. The power-up system is based on collecting coins from destroyed enemies and purchasing upgrades in shops. It makes for a deeper experience than the genre is typically known for. That’s why I consider this one of the best Sega Master System games of all time.
#18. – R-Type
Wasn’t I just talking about shmups? Well here’s another one. R-Type was one of the greatest shooters the console had to offer. You’d be foolish to not consider this one of the best Sega Master System games. R-Type isn’t as fast or furious as it’s contemporaries. Instead it’s more methodical. That doesn’t mean it’s any easier however.
You have to memorize enemy patterns if you want to have any chance of surviving here. Here you have multiple weapons but the gimmick here comes in the form of a detached option. You can send this one forward to fire and move in tandem with your own ship. It adds a significant layer of strategy and planning. When it’s planted on the front of your ship the main weapons are powered up which is a very unique feature. If you have a Sega Master System you need to play this one.
#17. – Ninja Gaiden
This isn’t your father’s Ninja Gaiden. Assuming he was playing it on the NES that is. Sega acquired the license to make their own exclusive version of Tecmo’s popular game. Instead of a straight up port they decided on an entirely original game. On the surface it looks and plays like the NES title. You hack away at foes and use alternative weapons like ninja stars and flame wheels.
The major difference here is that the difficulty curve isn’t quite so relentless. In some ways it’s better than the Ninja Gaiden we all played growing up. For one thing it’s less cheap. You won’t be knocked off of small platforms nearly as often. Ryu Hayabusa’s techniques have also been updated. Instead of just clinging to walls he now lifts himself up to higher platforms and wall jumps. Ninja Gaiden on the Sega Master System is well worth playing even for those who have already completed the NES title.
#16. – Sonic Chaos
This was one of the first completely original Sonic titles made for the Game Gear. Because the Master System wasn’t dead yet in Europe Sega decided to port it for their 8-bit home console in PAL regions. There’s not a lot to say to be honest. It’s Sonic the Hedgehog after all, and this is a good iteration in the franchise.
Sonic Chaos may have its roots on portable hardware but I think this version is superior thanks to the bigger viewing area. It’s also one of the best looking Sega Master System games. Sonic animated wonderfully, and it’s plenty colorful compared to the plethora of platformers on the NES. The level designs are really good as well. It’s hard to argue that this isn’t one of the best Sega Master System games of all time.
#15. – The Lucky Dime Caper Starring Donald Duck
Donald Duck isn’t exactly known for the videos games he stars in. Honestly any developers seeking a Disney license were more likely to go for Mickey Mouse. Donald deserves some love though, and I’m happy he got it in the Lucky Dime Caper. At heart this is a pretty traditional action platformer starring everyone’s favorite duck.
Lucky Dime Caper is a bit different because it has an emphasis on projectile attacks via a frisbee. He can also whack foes with a short range hammer as well.. Fortunately the excellent and varied level designs make for some pretty difficult moments in this otherwise short game. Lucky Dime Caper is also one of the most beautiful 8-bit titles of all time. Seriously. The animations and sprite work outclass almost every launch Sega Genesis title which is saying quite a bit. Lucky Dime Caper Starring Donald Duck is a neat little platformer that’s still worth playing today.
#14. – Fantasy Zone II: The Tears of Opa-Opa
We’ve already gone over the original Fantasy Zone. Sega followed it up with a sequel that takes few risks with but offers little evolution from the original premise. Fantasy Zone II is largely more of the same, but bigger and better. Who can complain about that? This 2D shooter plays more similarly to Defender than a classic shmup.
You aren’t stuck moving one direction and instead can freely scroll the screen both left and right. You’ll need to do so in order to explore and find various bases in each level. Upon destroying all of these you can move on to the boss character to complete the stage. It’s not as easy as it sounds because you’ll be fending off lots of enemies while doing so. Fantasy Zone II may be very similar to the original, but that’s hardly a bad thing.
#13. – Spy Vs. Spy
Spy Vs. Spy is one of my most favorite NES titles. This Sega Master System version is largely the same, but with better graphics. I suppose that’s par for the course with most games shared between the consoles. Spy Vs. Spy has you competing against another character (controlled either by the CPU or a human player). From a side view you both explore an estate setting traps for each other and collecting treasure.
Once you’ve collected all four of these you can make for the exit and escape at which point you win. If you and the other character enter the same room it’s a fight to the death using knives. It’s a very technical and complicated game by 8-bit standards. This one requires actual sophisticated planning and strategy especially when you’re up against a human player. Spy Vs. Spy is absolutely one of the best multiplayer 8-bit games. You definitely can’t go wrong with this version.
#12. – Golden Axe Warrior
I don’t keep it a secret that I really don’t like the Golden Axe series. These are some of the blandest and least interesting beat ’em up games of all time. There’s no getting around it. That’s not to say they’re all bad, but the only good installments are spin-offs that deviate heavily from the source material. Golden Axe Warrior is probably the best of the bunch.
This is an action adventure RPG that looks and plays very similarly to the original Legend of Zelda. Strike that. It’s a straight up Zelda clone with a coat of Golden Axe paint. That’s not a bad thing. Using a skewed overhead perspective you traverse a world map containing within it various dungeons and tools which allow you to push forward. The graphics are of course significantly better than those of the source material. Golden Axe Warrior is absolutely one of the best Sega Master System games.
#11. – Land of Illusion Starring Mickey Mouse
Because the Sega Master System was largely a dud in the North American market we didn’t see a lot of the later releases for it. Land of Illusion was one of these such titles. It actually originated as a Game Gear title but was backported to the 8-bit home console in PAL regions and Japan.
This is a direct follow up to Castle of Illusion and uses basically the same engine and gameplay mechanics. Land of Illusion is a 2D side scrolling platformer where you hit foes by butt stomping as well as throwing items at them. The major difference here is that there’s more of an emphasis on puzzles. It slows down the pacing a bit but not nearly enough to ruin the gameplay. I do however prefer the more straightforward mechanics of Castle of Illusion. Regardless this is still an excellent platformer that’s still worth playing.
#10. – Shinobi
It seems to me that Shinobi became a bigger hit further down the road. It was no slouch in the arcades, but the home console ports aren’t often mentioned. Shinobi has you playing as a ninja named Joe Musashi as he hacks, slashes, and throws Ninja stars to victory. The difficulty has been toned down a bit from the arcade release. Your character now has a life bar instead of that die in one hit mechanic made to eat all your quarters.
Shinobi isn’t Ninja Gaiden, but that’s because it doesn’t try to be. The gameplay is more forgiving, but the levels aren’t nearly as technical or interesting as in Tecmo’s famous franchise. I will say however that Shinobi had one of the neatest bonus games of all time. Who can forget throwing shurikens at incoming enemies from a first person view? Shinobi has a lot of charm.
#9. – Sonic the Hedgehog 2
Sonic was at the top of his game with the release of the first sequel on the Sega Genesis. As the Game Gear was becoming viable Sega started making original titles in the franchise for it. Sonic the Hedgehog 2 in particular was released to a lot of fanfare. Because of the similar hardware to their 8-bit home console Sega decided to port this handheld title to the Master System. In Europe, at least.
Gameplay is largely the same as in the original 8-bit Sonic the Hedgehog. You run as fast as you can (or at least, as fast as the 8-bit hardware allowed for) collecting rings and defeating foes. Some of the limitations of the first game have been fixed. The spin-dash, for example, makes its triumphant return and you can also collect dropped rings once again. It’s not a port of the Genesis version and for that I’m thankful. After all 8-bit Sonic had its own charms.
#8. – Alien Syndrome
I originally went into this one not expecting to enjoy it. You play as a character who must explore a space station from an overhead perspective. The thing is it’s overrun with aliens that are trying to eat you. Thankfully you’re armed with some pretty decent weaponry so you’re not completely defenseless. Your goal isn’t simply to blow up everything in sight though.
Each level has a certain number of hostages you have to find and rescue. The exit isn’t available until you’ve freed a specific amount of these friends. You’re also working against a time limit. This makes Alien Syndrome a very difficult, albeit highly enjoyable game. For an 8-bit title it’s absolutely brimming with atmosphere. Honestly this feels like an early survival horror title in some respects. Alien Syndrome is without a doubt one of the best Sega Master System games of all time.
#7. – Psycho Fox
Never heard of Psycho Fox? Well, you aren’t the only one. This cutesy platformer didn’t make a lot of waves in the market when it was released. It also hasn’t come out on any other console. This is a highly enjoyable 2D platformer that outshines almost everything else on the Sega Master System.
Let’s start with the level designs. These are fantastic and have enough different elements to keep things interesting from start to finish. The main gimmick in Psycho Fox however is the ability to change between four different characters. These are different animals, such as a hippo, tiger, and monkey which all handle differently. Some are better jumpers, faster runners, or just better offensively. I absolutely loved this mechanic. The fact that you can only switch by using a specific item is pretty neat. My big complaint is you have to do so via the pause menu, and this is
#6. – Wonder Boy in Monster Land
The first Wonder Boy was a barebones platformer with little variety and replay value. The developers decided to take an entirely different route with the sequel. While Wonder Boy in Monster Land is still a platformer it has newfound emphasis on RPG elements. This is the point where Wonder Boy and Adventure Island completely separated into their own things.
You walk left/right slashing foes with your sword gathering dropped items and money. Strewn throughout the worlds are various buildings you can enter. Some of these feature just enemies holding keys (which you’ll need to unlock the path forward) but others are shops where you can upgrade your equipment and purchase other helpful items. Most of the game takes place outside on the overworld, but there are some maze-like dungeons you’ll encounter later on. At the time there was very little quite like Wonder Boy in Monster Land.
#5. – Castle of Illusion Starring Mickey Mouse
And here we have it. Castle of Illusion is without a doubt the best Disney licensed game for the platform. That’s pretty impressive for a Sega Genesis port, right? The developers did a fantastic job of toning down the gameplay without sacrificing the mechanics and excellent level designs. It looks worse for sure, but it’s clear a lot of effort was put into this port.
Your main method of attack is stomping on foes as well as throwing items. The fact that you can find random projectiles works significantly better than you would expect. Boss encounters are one of the big highlights here. I especially enjoyed facing off against the living tree in the woods. Honestly better versions of this title can be played on other hardware. Still, there’s something magical about the fact that they got it running on the Master System in the first place.
#4. – Ghouls ‘N Ghosts
Considering the distinct lack of third party titles on the Sega Master System it’s surprising to see one of Capcom’s biggest franchises (at the time) release for the console. Ghouls ‘N Ghosts is a fantastic conversion of the arcade hit. It lacks the beautiful graphics of the more advanced versions but for the hardware it’s downright gorgeous. Seriously, this looks better than a good deal of Sega Genesis titles.
Furthermore the developers added in some new features that you won’t find anywhere else. Not only can you get new power-ups for your weapons, but there’s a shop system wherein you can purchase upgrades for your armor. These give you access to new abilities and spells. Honestly this feature alone is worth giving this release a shot for. Truth be told this might be my favorite version of Ghouls ‘N Ghosts.
#3. – Wonder Boy III: The Dragon’s Trap
Wonder Boy III was the biggest evolution of the series. You begin at the end of the last story wherein you defeat the final boss and transform into a dragon. What’s interesting is the game is non-linear. It’s kind of similar to Metroid in that respect, but pulls off the mechanic significantly better. You have a lot of options for exploration from the get-go, but more areas become available as you gain new items/abilities.
Aside from playing as the dragon you can also transform into a variety of different animals. These each have their own characteristics as well as skills. It’s a real hoot to transform into the awkward Lion Man, or flying around as the bird as well. This is a fantastic concept and the execution is absolutely perfect. No list of the best Sega Master System games is complete without at least mentioning Wonder Boy III. The developers took the Metroid concept and absolutely ran with it.
#2. – Golvellius: Valley of Doom
Sega really was obsessed with Zelda clones in their early days. Who can blame them? Golvellius was another one of these. In this case there are some major differences though. To call it a mere clone is a disservice. The game is played from an overhead perspective as you explore the map finding items, fighting foes, and gaining entry into dungeons. The twist is that inside these labyrinths the gameplay perspective completely changes to a side view.
It is here that Golvellius feels more like an action platformer. The change in genre was really refreshing back then and went a long way to keeping the action fresh. What’s more is that in both modes Golvellius is absolutely a thrill to play. I also love all of the secrets in Golvellius. You’ll find holes in the ground absolutely everywhere and these feature characters and shops. The first time I played I just wanted to see and do everything.
#1. – Phantasy Star
You could probably predict that Phantasy Star would be at the top of this list. That’s because it was an absolute landmark RPG in its time. It’s still an absolutely enthralling adventure from start to finish. While most role playing games were stuck in medieval roots with swords and sorcery this one took a science fiction fantasy route. The results are absolutely marvelous.
With all that said Phantasy Star is incredibly frustrating. You’ll need to do quite a lot of grinding to survive. The biggest offense however are the 3D dungeons which you don’t have a map for. This wouldn’t be so bad except all of the scenery looks identical. It is way too easy to get lost. Phantasy Star is amazing in spite of the frustrating elements. The battle system is a lot of fun despite being very basic. I love the roles each character play in combat. Additionally the graphics and soundtrack are simply out of this world. It looks like a cartoon in motion, and the music is some of the best of all time.
Honorable Mentions
Come on, you didn’t think we could stop at just thirty did you? The Sega Master System is such a great console it would be a shame to quit there. These are the really good games that just barely didn’t make the list. In no particular order here are our honorable mentions.
Chase H.Q.
Chase H.Q. Is one of my favorite games regardless of platform. The fact that I didn’t include it in the top thirty was more of an oversight than anything. Originally I missed it because like many of the best Sega Master System games this was a European exclusive release. Chase H.Q. Plays just like it does on other platforms. It looks like a racer at first glance, but it’s more of a driving game. Your ultimate goal is to chase down bad guys on a track and beat their car up until it’s put out of commission. At this point the suspect can be apprehended. The 3D graphics hold up better here than they did on the NES. The scaling is better, and it’s more colorful. The only drawback is that the music is a bit worse.
Kenseiden
Despite most video games from the time coming out of Japan we didn’t have a lot of titles based on the folklore of the country. Kenseiden is one of these rarities. The game is a 2D action title wherein you play as a samurai cutting and chopping his way through feudal Japan. It’s not the unusual premise that makes this one so good, rather, it was the gameplay I enjoyed most here. I found the level designs really enjoyable, and enemies fun to fight against. His sword doesn’t reach particularly far but the trajectory of each swing is angled. This makes Kenseiden feel pretty unique from other hack and slash platformers. I’m not going to lie to you and say it’s amazing. Kenseiden is however a pretty fun little romp.
Vampire: Master of Darkness
At the time Castlevania had the market for horror action games cornered a few developers were willing to challenge their strangehold. Fortunately Vampire: Master of Darkness is far from a straight up clone. Yes, it looks similar and plays vaguely like Castlevania, but this European exclusive has a different feel to it. The level designs differ in that many of the stages feature multiple paths (on different layers). There are also more secrets here. Additionally the protagonist has a shorter reach for his attack. Other elements like the clunky stair climbing mechanics, and knockback damage are sure to remind you of Konami’s classic series. Vampire: Master of Darkness isn’t perfect, but it’s worth a play.
