Top 10 Best Sega 32X Games of All Time

The Sega 32X was one of Sega’s biggest commercial failures. It’s an add-on for the Genesis console which transformed it into a 32-bit system. That in and of itself isn’t a bad idea necessarily. What really sunk it is that it came out just before the release of the Sega Saturn. That, paired with the other add-on the Sega CD caused market confusion. This also meant that the house of Sonic the Hedgehog had to divide their resources in making software for the two platforms. They clearly focused on the Saturn (which was the better decision honestly). This add-on (intended to be a cheaper stopgap) was doomed from the start. It had only a handful of releases. With that said it was graced by some pretty good releases. Today we’re here to take a look at the top 10 best Sega 32X games of all time. Let’s get started.

#10. – Kolibri

Okay brace yourself. In the 90s various developers were trying their hand at non-violent games. Kolibri is one such effort. It’s a side scrolling shooter that’s sort of in the vein of Ecco the Dolphin. What I mean is that you play as an animal (in this case a hummingbird of all things) as you do battle against a variety of natural enemies. It’s also a shmup which is bizarre. Kolibri is a very unique game which I found to be surprisingly charming. You have a pretty traditional power-up system. This paired with the focus on exploration makes for some pretty interesting gameplay scenarios. Plus, which other video game can you actually play as a hummingbird in? I’m not actually sure that’s a plus.

#9. – Star Wars Arcade

This was one of the Sega 32X launch games. It makes fantastic use of the hardware by utilizing 3D polygonal graphics in a way the Super Nintendo (even with the FX chip) couldn’t. The end result is a very competent shooter. This was also released in arcades but I prefer the 32x version. Star Wars Arcade recreates various scenarios from A New Hope and Return of the Jedi. You’ll find yourself blasting tie fighters and meteors in space, and also flying along the surface of space stations. There’s more to it. It’s Star Wars after all, but this should give you a good idea of what you’re in for. It’s a fairly fun experience and feels like a Star Wars game through and through. Honestly Star Wars Arcade deserves better than what it got.

#8. – Metal Head

Facts are facts, and the Sega 32X simply wasn’t as powerful as the Sony PlayStation or even Sega Saturn. Metal Head is pretty much the only game for the platform that might make you question that. This is a first person mech action game where you complete various missions. These typically involve destroying all enemies in each stage but there’s some nuance here. It’s a clear step up from most other games for the 32X hardware in terms of production values. Like I said, this looks like an early Sega Saturn or PS1 game. That’s pretty impressive for a mushroom shaped add-on for the Sega Genesis. The areas in Metal Head are a bit empty but there’s still plenty to see and do. I liked this one much more than I thought I would. You won’t find a prettier game on the platform.

#7. – Tempo

I suppose Tempo could be considered the mascot for the Sega 32X. Never heard of him? That’s not surprising; he was kind of swept under the table. This is a musical themed platformer. You hop and bop your way through a variety of stages. On top of smashing enemies with his jumps Tempo can also snap his fingers to stun foes. The real draw here is the hand drawn graphics. Tempo animates with a great amount of detail. Despite the detailed frames of animation the game still moves at a great pace. The stage designs are the real highlight however. You’ll find a fair amount of obstacles and enemies to deal with, and this requires some finesse. It’s pretty easy to see how this one was left in time however. This one is rife with 90s mascot attitude. Unfortunately in the mascot races Tempo just didn’t have a lot to offer. Still, there aren’t a lot of games like this on the Sega 32X. Tempo stands out from the pack.

#6. – The Amazing Spider-Man: Web of Fire

Spider Man is one of the big comic book tie ins frequently licensed in video games. That’s both a good and bad thing. Some of these titles are great, but others fall obviously short. Not many manage such a good balance between gameplay and utilization of the character’s special abilities. Spider-Man: Web of Fire manages this fairly well. You can sling webs like you would suspect and fight off foes with punches and kicks as well. It also helps that Spiderman animates extremely well. Graphically this is a noticeable step up from any Super Nintendo and Sega Genesis game. The only thing I wish is that the stage designs were a bit more technical and involving. I want to be challenged with some crazy web slinging. Unfortunately it’s pretty basic here.. Nonetheless, Spiderman Web of Fire is still one of the best Sega 32X games overall.

#5. – NBA Jam: Tournament Edition

Let’s get something straight. NBA Jam is going to be one of the best games on any platform that hosts it. I’ve never played a bad version of the game. With the Sega 32X’s limited library this of course is going to be one of the standouts. This two on two hoops game is easily the best sports title for the platform. I’ll make an even bolder statement. This is one of the best versions of NBA Jam for any console. This is thanks to the enhanced graphics and audio the hardware brings. The characters are large and animate extremely well, and cheers from the audience and announcer sound surprisingly good here. It also plays just as smoothly as you would suspect. If you want a competent version of NBA Jam then you can do no wrong with the Sega 32X version.

#4. – Primal Rage

Primal Rage is a guilty pleasure of mine. I own a ridiculous number of versions of this game. It’s a Mortal Kombat clone where you play as dinosaurs and other prehistoric beasts in bloody matches of fighting game glory. There’s plenty of violence here and even fatalities. This is a Mortal Kombat clone, after all. You also have the typical 90s attitude with one character that farts, vomits, and even urinates to defeat his foes. There’s also the buckets of blood that pour out of each fighter when they take damage. This has lost most of its novelty, but I do like how cheesy it is now. You can even eat little humans on the battlefield as they cheer on the fight. The diversity of playable characters is largely enjoyable although I do wish there were more options. Primal Rage on the Sega 32X also benefits from more frames of animation and cleaner character models than what you would find on the Super Nintendo or Sega Genesis. It also doesn’t have the slowdown issues of those 16-bit consoles.

#3. – Mortal Kombat II

Even decades later the first sequel is still the best Mortal Kombat game. By far. Even today. There’s something truly special about Mortal Kombat II and how it perfectly encapsulates the spirit of this series. The 32X version is better than both the SNES and Genesis releases by a pretty big margin. That is provided you have the six button controller. Graphically it’s a pretty decent step up from the 16-bit iterations. The characters have more frames of animation, and look all around more sharp. The soundtrack is basically the same as the Sega Genesis version (which is poor to say the least) but I can look past that. It plays super smoothly and controls are responsive which matter a heck of a lot more than the music. Mortal Kombat II on the Sega 32X is easily the best fighter for the add-on. A better version was eventually released for the Sega Saturn, but this made the early days of the 32X worth it.

#2. – Space Harrier

I absolutely love Space Harrier. It’s such a favorite of mine that I’ve tracked down just about every home release of it. Unfortunately these typically fared poorly because this 3D shooter was so far ahead of its time it isn’t even funny. The hardware just couldn’t keep up. Until this 32X release every home iteration had choppy scrolling and bad graphics. Until this version, that is. Space Harrier on the 32X was a near perfect perfect arcade port. This was the first time we weren’t left playing some third rate version of this classic arcade game at home. Space Harrier on the 32X is an absolutely incredible and retains all of the charm and magic it did in the arcades. I love that Sega cared enough even for failed hardware to push such an absolutely brilliant port of one of their most iconic titles for it. Space Harrier is timeless, and it’s even moreso on the 32X because of the amazing looking sprites and smooth scrolling. If you’re a fan of the game then this is one of the versions you definitely want.

#1. – Virtua Fighter

It’s interesting that Sega basically set into motion their own demise with Virtua Fighter. Their arcade release was one of the first 3D fighting games. It’s largely responsible for popularizing polygonal fighters. Despite this they pushed 2D graphics with the Saturn before shoehorning in 3D graphics at the last moment. What’s very impressive is they ported Virtua Fighter to the Sega 32X. It’s a very competent version of the arcade release. This could have done well had the hardware not been on its way out already. I absolutely love the depth of combat here. You can try to button mash but you won’t get very far. You need to memorize the strike distance and speed of every attack. For each character. You can, and should, spend a lot of time learning the nuances of this game. Virtua Fighter is just as rewarding here as in the arcade.

Honorable Mentions:

There aren’t a lot of great games for the Sega 32X, but there are more than I could fit into a simple top ten list. These are titles that just barely just didn’t make the cut, and wanted to mention anyway.

Knuckles Chaotix

The 32X is one of the few Sega consoles that didn’t get a Sonic the Hedgehog title. Instead they gave the starring role in a game to Knuckles. The results were a little mixed to be honest, but I still liked it. Knuckles has all of his trademark abilities such as his fast speed and ability to glide in this 2D platformer. You even collect rings like in a traditional Sonic title. The major difference here is the partner system. Basically you’re tethered to another character at all times and must solve really basic momentum based puzzles using this mechanic. It’s an interesting premise but the game itself feels a little half baked. Most of the stages are too empty, and there aren’t many interesting encounters. Regardless I still feel like this one is worth mentioning in any list of the best Sega 32X games.

Doom

Let me start off by saying that the 32X is not the most ideal place to play Doom. This version is not full screen and has a border around the viewing area. Furthermore there’s no music included here at all. Despite these issues I still like this port. It looks better than the Super Nintendo version at least. Doom was a pioneer in the first person shooter genre. It basically created the space marine trope wherein you’re a lone soldier against hordes of evil aliens. The stages are structured like mazes, but they’re fun to explore. If you can get past the lack of music and the boxed in viewing area then Doom on the 32X is worth a look. It’s the only first person shooter on the 32X after all, and that has to count for something. Right?

Virtua Racing Deluxe

I would be remiss to leave this one off my list of the best Sega 32X games. While I’m not a fan of Virtua Racing in general this, in my opinion, is the best home console port of the game. It looks and plays significantly better than the Sega Genesis iteration. It also competes favorably with the other polygonal racers released around this time frame. The graphics push the 32X hardware pretty hard with decent car models and backgrounds, and even a fair draw distance. My major complaint about this one is how unforgiving the gameplay is. While I do enjoy a good challenge I don’t like racers where one small mistake costs the entire race. Regardless it’s hard to deny that this one isn’t a great version of the game. If you’re a fan of Virtua Racing then make sure you add this one to your collection.