If I’m being honest I didn’t even know the Neo Geo existed in the 90s. I wasn’t one of those rich kids that owned one, nor were any of my friends. It wasn’t until later that I became familiar with it when I started collecting as an adult. Neo Geo AES cartridges are the holy grail for my collectors. That’s because the prints were super low, expensive at release, and the games are incredible. Unfortunately they cost even more today. Fans can circumvent this issue somewhat with MVS cartridges. These are the original arcade releases and via an adapter can be played on the console itself. Today we’re going to focus on the original hardware, and of course the games released for it. There are a lot of different options (and some amazing ones) so buckle up. These are the top 25 best Neo Geo games of all time!
#25. – World Heroes 2
I’ll start off this list with a warning. There are a lot of fighting games here. That’s primarily what the console’s library was comprised of after all. World Heroes 2 is just the first of many. This game is one of the more bizarre ones. That’s because thematically it’s kind of a mess. I mean that in the best way possible. It takes characters from various time periods and walks of life and throws them into a one-on-one fighting game. Where else can you have a match between a sadistic football player and Jeanne D’Arc? That’s just the tip of the iceberg. As far as gameplay goes it’s a lot of fun. The action has been sped up from its predecessor and also made more technical. You now have counter grabbing, projectile reflecting, and more. World Heroes 2 is over-the-top and amazing.
#24. – Voltage Fighter Gowcaizer
This brings us to Voltage Fighter Gowcaizer which is a super hero based fighter. While that sounds like something that would appeal to everyone this game has a heavy anime aesthetic. It’s sure to turn off some gamers, but any serious fighting fan should play this one. Flashy graphics is the name of the game in Voltage Fighter Gowcaizer. The stages have a lot going on, and many of the special moves are absolutely insane. Gameplay itself is a lot of fun. The engine is very tight. Fighting is a blast with fun special moves and great combo attacks. One of the most interesting aspects of this game is the fact that in arcade mode you can steal your opponents special moves. This is handled in a manner similar to Mega Man titles wherein you must first defeat a foe to learn their attack. Voltage Fighter Gowcaizer is great.
#23. – Fatal Fury 2
In my opinion this is one of the weaker installments in the series. That doesn’t mean it’s not one of the best Neo Geo games though! After the defeat of Geese Howard at the conclusion of the original Fatal Fury a new villain has started a tournament. Wolfgang Krauser is not as memorable as the last guy, but Geese needed a break. The game introduces several new characters that have since become SNK mainstays. The most significant is Mai Shiranui. The plane system returns wherein characters can jump into the background in some stages. This is primarily designed to let players (and enemies alike) dodge incoming attacks. For the first time you can actually take advantage of this. I’m not the biggest fan of this element to be honest, but it’s serviceable at least. Fatal Fury 2 lacks the co-op mode from the original, and the cast isn’t as memorable.
#22. – Art of Fighting 3: The Path of the Warrior
Art of Fighting has always played second fiddle to the Fatal Fury series despite having some really interesting mechanics under its belt. Part 3 was a departure from franchise norms however. It was also the most significant upgrade in tech in the series. Art of Fighting 3 moves the setting from 1980s Japan to Mexico. Because of this the cast of characters is almost entirely new. Only Ryo and Robert return, with the latter being the focus in this story for the first time. The combo system has been updated to more closely emulate modern 3D fighters. While striking foes you can move forward, and even juggle them in the air. Of course the classic elements are still in place like the Ki meter and taunts. Despite the thematic departure this still feels, and plays, like an Art of Fighting game. Thankfully.
#21. – Samurai Shodown
When Street Fighter II was all the rage in the arcades SNK needed a game that would turn heads. The idea they came up with was samurais, and to a small extent it worked. Because of the premise this game had a very distinct Japanese flavor that many of its contemporaries lacked. One of the main standout features of this title is the zooming camera. As you move closer to foes the camera zooms in to give you bigger sprites, and upon separating it moves outward. It’s a neat effect. This is also a weapons based fighter which was rare in this time. This is one of the few fighting games that I would say moves at the perfect speed. Additionally it has a well rounded character roster, and fun special moves (although they tend to be a bit derivative). Samurai Shodown is one of the best Neo Geo games.
#20. – The King of Fighters 98
I’ve never been the biggest fan of the King of Fighters series. It’s nothing personal, rather, I just can’t mesh with the team set up and the overall gameplay flow kind of throws me off. With that said the quality in the 98 version of this game is undeniable. Basically you choose a team from various SNK franchises with which to play. I wish you could customize your team more. That’s my big complaint. I love Terry Bogart but I don’t know Mai Shiranui as much. If I’m playing as her I’m probably going to lose. Despite forcing you to use specific characters the game itself is pretty neat. This seems like what SNK was going for right from the start when they started creating fighting games; a combined universe. If you’re going to play one King of Fighters game on the original Neo Geo then I would recommend 98.
#19. – Metal Slug 2
Ahh, finally. Something that isn’t a fighting game. Metal Slug 2 is a 2D side scrolling run and gun with platforming elements. Basically you’re playing as an army guy that’s out to save his friends. These guys are littered throughout various stages and rescuing them gives you several bonuses. Gameplay itself is amazing. It’s not the level designs that elevate this one but rather the sheer gunplay and enemy patterns. You’re going to be blasting away at some rather creative enemies and dealing with their layouts. Metal Slug 2 introduced the ability to transform throughout the game, as well as NPCs that help you along the way. Level design isn’t quite as tight as in the sequel, or even the game’s predecessor, but it’s still plenty fun. If you’re going to play a Metal Slug game then you can’t go wrong with the first sequel.
#18. – Fatal Fury 3: Road to the Final Victory
Fatal Fury 3 retains the same classic gameplay we’ve grown to love from the series, but with a lot of new additions. On top of an expanded roster the three plane system returns from Fatal Fury Special. The basic gameplay and controls return as does the fantastic pace of combat. In my opinion Fatal Fury 3 moves at a better rate than most fighting games. This allows for super in depth combos as well as counters. Plus this game gave us some of the best characters in the series. I abnsolutely love Franco Bash, and it was at this point in the series that Blue Mary became my go-to. It also helps that the graphics were enhanced significantly. Honestly Fatal Fury 3 looks on par with many 2D fighters of the 32-bit generation. It’s an amazing fighter on a platform known for its brawlers.
#17. – Blazing Star
Let’s take a break from talking about fighting games and focus on a shooter for once. Blazing Star is a horizontal shmup of the best kind. This is actually a sequel to Pulstar (also released on the Neo Geo, you’ll see that one later on this list) Blazing Star is an extremely competent shooter. You can fire standard shots, or charge up for a more powerful blast. Power-ups litter each stage and increase not only the potency but also spread of these shots. I love the enemy layouts as well as their patterns here. Unfortunately the one hit kill mechanic returns. You have to get good, and fast, if you’re going to be successful. That’s kind of par for the course when it comes to arcade titles however. Blazing Star has a neat style, great graphics, and fun gameplay. It’s easily one of the best shmups on the Neo Geo.
#16. – Riding Hero
The Neo Geo is well known for its fighters, and finally we get to a racing game. Riding Hero is a motorcyle based racer with blistering fast gameplay, and great graphics. In the arcades it was well renowned for the smooth engine on which it ran. It has this benefit on the Neo Geo, but this is one of the rare cases when the home port has an advantage. On top of the regular arcade mode there’s also a brand new RPG setting. Here you’re an aspiring racer bent on entering the Suzuka 8 hour race. Here your goal is to earn money to purchase upgrades. It’s a very neat mechanic, and overall thebest way to play Riding Hero. Focusing on gameplay it’s fast and furious, and surprisingly smooth. Riding Hero is one of the unsung heroes of the Neo Geo library.
#15. – Crossed Swords
Here’s another non-fighter on this list. Crossed Swords is a standout title on the Neo Geo due in part to how different it is compared to the rest of the library. This is a first person sword fighting game wherein you press one button to block attacks, and another to strike with your sword. Meanwhile you have inncoming foes throwing attacks your way. Crossed Swords is an amazing game. The gameplay design and attack formations The game requires that you stay on your foes with both blocking and attacks. It makes for a very addictive play loop. Plus, how many other games let you sword fight from a first person perspectrive? Crossed Swords is unique, and a ton of fun to play.
#14. – Pulstar
Let me start off by saying that Pulstar is absolutely beautiful. It uses pre-rendered graphics (think Donkey Kong Country, only in this case better) for its backgrounds and explosions. Unlike so many other games that use this method Pulstar hasn’t aged poorly at all. It’s not just a looker either. The game plays quite well even today. This is a side scrolling shmup in that follows the same basic routine of R-Type. Your ship is armed with a standard shot but this can be charged up for two different more powerful attacks. What’s also cool is you have a drone that can protect your ship, and you get to choose it’s alignment. Despite all the firepower Pulstar is a very tough and unforgiving game. It’s one hit and you’re dead. Obviously it was designed to be a quarter muncher so you better good good, and fast.
#13. – Far East of Eden: Kabuki Klash
Far East of Eden (or Tengai Makyou as it’s known in Japan) was a popular RPG series that never made it outside of its home country. With an installment released on the Neo Geo of course it just had to be a fighter! What I really like is how the developers made gameplay weapons based. All the while they managed to maintain the series’ over-the-top anime influence and exaggerated humor. One of the more interesting aspects of the gameplay engine is that it allows you to both lose and regain your weapon in the midst of a fight. It’s a really neat feature I wish was replicated more often. It’s a pretty game, and still plays really well. Kabuki Klash also has a style that’s all its own. This is definitely a standout in the Neo Geo library.
#12. – Real Bout Fatal Fury
Real Bout did for the Fatal Fury what Alpha did for the Street Fighter series. In my opinion, of course. It doesn’t re-invent the franchise, but adds more than the past few games did. Returning is the oversway system which allows you to dodge enemies by moving to the foreground or background. Now there’s a dedicated button for it. What’s new is the ring out mechanic which is mostly reserved for 3D fighters, and a really in depth super move system that serves multiple purposes. It also marks the return of several fighters that had not been seen in a while including the fan favorite villain Geese Howard. It also must be said that the graphics are incredible. It’s vibrant, colorful, and the animations have a ton of detail. Real Bout Fatal Fury is one of my favorite sequels in the series.
#11. – The Last Blade
Samurai Shodown was cool, but SNK decided to return back to the feudal Japan motif with a new brand of fighting game. The Last Blade is a work of art. It’s one of the most tasteful and artistic fighters I’ve seen. It looks better than most 2D 32-bit games, even on the Sega Saturn! Gameplay at its core is similar to most weapons based fighters, but there are some new twists. For one thing you can deflect an opponent’s attack just by pressing a direction at the right time. This leaves them open for attack and is one of the most technical mechanics in the game. There are also two basic fighting styles to choose from; speed and power. Speed allows more technical chaining of attacks to perform desperation moves, and power allows for increased damage and a super desperation strike. The fighting engine is fun and deep.
#10. – Metal Slug
The start of the series is also one of its most entertaining installments. Metal Slug has you playing as a lone soldier out to rescue his POW friends, and of course, blow some stuff up. This run and gun is absolutely beautiful and plays like a dream. Just imagine a prettier Contra with more personality and better level designs and you basically have Metal Slug. Oh and you can ride inside a tank in some parts. The best part of the game however is the multiplayer. Tackling these stages with a friend is some of the most fun to be had on the Neo Geo. There’s a reason why fans are still talking about Metal Slug; it’s that good. The original is fantastic and doesn’t have a lot of the fluff that brought down some of its sequels.
#9. – Art of Fighting 2
For the series first sequel SNK ditched the narrative driven arcade mode and instead made the game more similar to Street Fighter II. This is both good and bad. On one hand you have twelve characters to choose from. On the other the brief cinematics in between each fight are now gone. All of the characters from the first release return, but with three new faces. You can also play as any of them in single player mode which is one of the welcome changes. I really liked the fact that a young version of Geese Howard pops up as a secret boss if specific requirements are met in the story mode. The fighting engine is pretty solid with the rage meter and taunts returning which helps maintain Art of Fighting’s core identity. New special moves have also been added to the mix even for the established characters.
#8. – Twinkle Star Sprites
Have you ever wondered what you’d get if you combined the structure of basic puzzle games with a shmup? It’s Twinkle Star Sprites. It’s a fantastic and unique game. In this game the screen is split into two separate play areas. Each side is dedicated to one of the two players. You both play as cutesy anime girls flying through the air on various vehicles and can shoot forward. There’s both a standard and a charge shot at your disposal. Defeating enemies rapidly results in chains which sends hazardsd to your opponents screen. When hit players take damage, but you also have the ability to reflect these projectiles back at your opponent. It’s a fun and frantic game that makes for some downright entertaining mulitplayer sessions. Twinkle Star Sprites is absolutely one of the best Neo Geo games.
#7. – Samurai Shodown II
The first Samurai Shodown was good, but this sequel is far and above what anyone expected. SNK rebuilt the graphics engine, added a bunch of new characters, and refined the gameplay in several major ways. Now you can disable an opponents weapon temporarily using super moves (which also cause a lot of damage), dodge high strikes by ducking, and low ones with a little hop. New roll options have been added to make gameplay more dynamic and fast paced. Not only does most of the roster from the original return but six new faces were added to the mix as well. The zooming camera is also incorporated once again and makes this title look really nice in motion. Simply put, Samurai Shodown II is the best installment in the series.
#6. – Metal Slug 3
Here we have it. This, in my opinion, is the best Metal Slug game. It retains all of the twitch gameplay, excellent level designs, and over the top beautiful graphics of its predecessors. What really drew me in to this one however is the branching paths. Each stage has an alternate route the player can choose to follow. This comes with a new stage layout as well as separate enemies and obstacles. This design element makes the game even more replayable than its predecessors. I also really liked the stage layouts here. They feel like a clear step up from anything else in the series up to this point. Despite these changes part 3 is still Metal Slug, and that’s never a bad thing. I can think of few other co-op games on the Neo Geo that are more worth playing than this one.
#5. – The Last Blade 2
Those of you who wanted more of the Last Blade are in luck. SNK made a follow-up, and it’s even better than the original in my opinion. Not only does it retain the original cast but three new faces are added to the line-up. Of them Kojiroh one of the most interesting fighters in the series. The only major gameplay addition is that on top of the speed and power settings there’s a new one. This is called EX mode, and it’s a combination of the latter two and is the most balanced method of play. Besides this the graphics are even better, the story is darker, and even the visuals have been made to look more mature. It’s still the artfully designed weapons based fighter it always was, but the changes and new characters elevate this one even higher for me.
#4. – Art of Fighting
This is one of the most underrated games in the Neo Geo’s library. Most gamers judge a fighter by its roster, and in this case there are only two playable characters. I can see why most would be instantly turned off from this. I know I was. When you dig deeper though you find one of the most memorable SNK titles of all time. It plays like a buddy kung-fu film with brief vignettes and cut scenes in between each match. I also loved the chakra and taunt system. Basically, using special moves drains this energy and you can only restore it with taunts. It makes for some incredibly strategic gameplay. Furthermore the cast is really good with some of the most memorable enemies I’ve seen, and great stages to boot. Yeah it’s basic, but it’s easy to look past this when the gameplay and atmosphere is so great.
#3. – Garou: Mark of the Wolves
SNK had delivered with a truck load of Fatal Fury games. This includes the mainline installments and the Real Bout series. The problem was these weren’t different enough from one another. Fatal Fury wasn’t making the same strides that other 2D fighters were at the time. That’s where Garou comes in. This was a total re-invention of the franchise. Mark of the Wolves completely replaced the main cast. Aside from Terry Bogard, that is, but now he was older and handled differently. The story focuses around our go-to protagonist raising and training the son of Geese Howard. Let me just say that the graphics are absolutely amazing. This title surpasses most of Capcom’s titles from the same era, and on weaker hardware to boot. The animations are absolutely out of this world. Garou also plays super fluidly with a great combo system and sound recovery mechanics.
#2. – Fatal Fury
This is one of the most underrated game on the Neo Geo. The first Fatal Fury may seem like a simple Street Fighter II knock-off but it’s far from that. It’s limited in that you can only select from three characters in the story mode, and they were all pretty similar. So what makes this game so great? I love the roster. The enemies are chock full of personality. It’s all cheesy over the top 90s stereotypes, but I absolutely love it. This is also the only Fatal Fury game (and one of the few fighters in general) that has a co-op mode. If at any point you’re struggling against a combatant the second player can join in. You can still damage a friend with friendly fire, but it’s such a blast that I never cared. Fatal Fury is not an easy game. Bringing along a buddy is a blast.
#1. – Fatal Fury Special
This special version released after the first sequel is not a canonical title. This was simply a ‘best of’ compilation style game. What it did was take the fighting engine of Fatal Fury 2 and fill out the roster with every character in the franchise up to that point. Considering some of the guys from the original Fatal Fury were never playable up to this point this was really neat. Ryo Sakazaki from even makes an appearance as a hidden character. Special tweaks the gameplay slightly by speeding up gameplay, and the combo system has also been refined. It’s simply an amazing game and one of the best fighters of all time. Seriously. The roster is absolutely insane and the gameplay is fantastic. If you are a fan of the franchise then you need Special in your life.
