The Sega Saturn is the first console that got me interested in the import scene. In the beginning it had a strong first party line-up in the West but third parties, and later Sega themselves, were shy about translating many of their games. This meant that we missed out on some of the best titles the platform had to offer. Import gaming was far from mainstream in the 90s, and the fact that the console itself was region locked just made things more of a headache. In this day and age these games are significantly more accessible. With the vast library of Japan-only Sega Saturn games it can be a little daunting when you’re starting out collecting. Weeding out the English friendly Saturn games can be difficult. That’s why I’ve assembled this list. These are the top 25 best Sega Saturn import games. Let’s get right into a few rules.
- I’m only including English friendly imports, and not including fan translations. If you can’t play it from start to finish without understanding a lick of Japanese then I excluded it from this list.
- When I say imports I mean titles you couldn’t purchase in North America. This means I’m including PAL region titles.
- I’m also including multiplatform releases even if it came out in North America on another platform. This is because in many cases the Sega Saturn was the lead platform, or just all around better here.
Okay, now we get started and kick things off. These are the best Sega Saturn import games!
#25. – Gale Racer
I’m honestly pretty surprised that Sega never brought this one over. Gale Racer was a fairly big arcade release in Japan, and an early port to the Sega Saturn seems like a shoe-in for an English release. It’s a racing game so it’s not like they have a lot of text to translate. Now it’s just left in Japan as one of the best Sega Saturn import games. This is a 3D racer where you view the action from behind the wheel. It’s more of a driving title than pure racing where you have to reach checkpoints while a timer counts down while weaving in and out of traffic. The graphics are a bit archaic but Gale Racer is still quite playable. It has that classic Sega arcade quality to it, and though the content is a bit thin you’ll keep coming back for more.
#24. – D-Xhird
Imagine if Battle Arena Toshinden was actually decent. That’s what you get with D-Xhird. Honestly I was at a loss on how to actually pronounce this name until I heard it spoken aloud on the title screen. Thank goodness for that. This is a 3D fighting game where you and an opponent face off in various arenas in an attempt to drain each other’s life bars. There’s not much in the way of gimmicks here; you use various strong/weak strikes to hit your foe along with special moves using all of the typical inputs. There’s an emphasis on weapons based combat, but honestly I found it’s best to go with the fastest characters if you’re going to be successful. It’s not as deep as the other fighters, but still good enough to rank on this list of the best Sega Saturn import games.
#23. – Rabbit
It’s pretty easy to see why Rabbit wasn’t brought over. It’s very cartoony, and absolutely over-the-top. This 2D fighting game has you playing as a number of crazy looking characters that punch, kick, throw projectiles and more. There are a few gimmicks which make this one stand out from the others of its kind. For starters it has the screen zoom as you and your opponent get closer. I imagine this was simply an effort to show off the Saturn’s sprite scaling abilities. The next gimmick is that each character has a spirit animal attached to them. When I say ‘attached’ I mean it in the literal sense. They can only summon this by filling a power meter, and when it’s out their offensive capabilities increase. It’s pretty similar to Bloody Roar in this sense, but it’s not as interesting.
#22. – Real Bout Garou Densetsu
Many consider this to be the series equivalent to Street Fighter Alpha. I’m hardly one to argue with that fact. Real Bout Garou Densetsu is a port of the Neo Geo title. That release is known as Real Bout Fatal Fury in the rest of the world. The action has been sped up a bit, and the gameplay is quite a bit more fluid. The controls have been streamlined a bit and make it easier to string together combos. There’s even a new super move feature which is incredibly fluid and fits the gameplay extraordinarily well. The Sega Saturn version makes use of the ram cart to enhance animations making this almost an arcade perfect port. Pair that with an incredible soundtrack and huge character roster and you have an absolute banger. It was a standout on the Neo Geo, and remains one of the best Sega Saturn import games.
#21. – Ninpen Manmaru
It’s a little known fact that before going PlayStation exclusive Enix actually published a few titles for the Sega Saturn. Ninpen Manmaru is one of these such games. The reason this Japan-only game stands out is because it represents a genre the Sega Saturn was lacking in; 3D platformers. You guide the ninja penguin main character through a series of environments collecting items and reaching a goal before the timer runs out. The graphics engine is surprisingly solid and outperforms most similar PlayStation titles. Ninpen Manmaru is a technical showcase, but that’s only part of the reason it’s one of the best Sega Saturn import games. Gameplay is a bit limited because you cannot attack foes and must instead avoid them, but that doesn’t mean it’s not fun. Even among platform enthusiasts this one is relatively unknown which is a shame because it’s fantastic.
#20. – Astra Superstars
Brace yourself because a significant number of the best Sega Saturn import games are fighters. Astra Superstars is just the start. The action here is strictly 2D with huge character sprites and over the top colorful designs. Your goal is to defeat enemies in a series of one-on-one fights performing strikes and special attacks to drain your opponent’s life bar. The twist here is that the action is completely airborne. This means the characters are in constant flight which serves to make the action even crazier than you might expect. Astra Superstars is heavily based on an intricate combo system that’s easy to learn but difficult to master. My only complaint is that sometimes there’s a lot going on and you’ll find yourself disoriented and forced to resort to button mashing until you can catch up with what’s going on. It’s no Street Fighter II, but Astra Superstars is fun.
#19. – Darkseed
Darkseed is a horror themed point and click adventure title that originated on European computers. I was first exposed to it on the Amiga CD32, but there’s nothing wrong with this Sega Saturn port. The text is entirely in Japanese, but the voice overs were left in English making this one perfectly playable. Here you play as a writer who has purchased a creepy old estate only to discover that aliens have implanted an embryo in his brain which will soon leave him dead. It’s a very creepy story with incredible atmosphere, and although the voice acting is cheesy it helped scratch my B-movie horror itch. The best part of Darkseed is the fact that H.R. Giger (of the Alien film franchise) is responsible for much of the artwork here. His designs make for some of the creepiest and most oppressive environments in any video game, ever.
#18. – Super Tempo
This is one of the most unlikely sequels ever. Tempo was an original release for the 32X, and apparently Sega liked the idea behind it so much they made a follow-up for the Sega Saturn. This is another title they left in Japan which is most likely because it’s a 2D side scroller. In Super Tempo you play as a boy in a bug suit who creates bubbles to destroy enemies. The theme centers around music (as you can probably guess from the title) and there are a few rhythm based segments scattered in the main game. Super Tempo is one of the most beautiful games of all time. It’s bright, colorful, and the animations are full of detail and super charming. Super Tempo probably wouldn’t have made much if any waves in North America, but it’s still one of the best Sega Saturn import games.
#17. – Savaki
Savaki is a deceptively simple fighting game, but trust me when I say that looks aren’t everything. On the surface there are only a few different modes of play, a single arena, and fighters named only after their martial arts style. There just isn’t a lot of character or charm. The graphics are surprisingly good. The character models rival later Tekken releases but the camera is closer to the action making it a more intimate affair. What sets Savaki apart are the different strike zones, reactions to being hit in specific ways, as well as the fake outs and counters. It’s a highly realistic take on the genre, and when you really take the time to study it you’ll get hooked. Savaki is light on options but has a very complex fighting engine which makes it one of the best Sega Saturn import games in my opinion.
#16. – Batsugun
With the dawn of 3D graphics most gamers outside of Japan had moved on from the shmup genre. Japan was still into it which is why the Sega Saturn had so many of these releases that were never released in North America. Batsugun is one of these such games, and is widely considered the birthplace of the ‘bullet hell’ subgenre. It’s a more straightforward shooter than the some of the other highlighted efforts on the platform with few gimmicks. There’s an experience point system and you can level up your ship, but aside from that it’s pure shooting bliss. Batsugun feels like a classic shmup through and through, and it’s incredibly challenging. If you’re a fan of the genre you’ll get your moneys worth from how replayable this one is.
#15. – King of Fighters 97
The King of Fighters games are basically a greatest hits of SNK fighting games. What this means is that it combines the characters from their most famous franchises into one neat package. This Sega Saturn version requires the 1mb RAM cartridge, and it’s put to great effect. This is nearly an arcade perfect release with small graphical changes. The characters animate with beautiful fluidity, and the action is fast and furious. I’ve never been the biggest fan of the team based dynamic of this series but it does make sense given the structure of these games. The biggest change in this 1997 iteration is the ability to change how your power gauge fills. It’s largely more of the same when compared to the previous iterations, but in my opinion this is the best in the King of Fighters series on the Sega Saturn.
#14. – Shinrei Jusatsushi Taromaru
2.5D platformers are a bit of a rarity on the Sega Saturn. This one is especially infamous because it’s so rare and expensive. Shinrei Jusatsushi Taromaru is more of action based than others of its kind. You play as one of two ninjas armed with psychic abilities. Both characters fire projectile attacks which differ only in their range. What’s particularly interesting about this game is the fact that there’s an on-screen reticule that auto targets enemies. It generally will target enemies that you are facing, and typically the targeting works better than you would suspect. That doesn’t mean that this game is easy, because that’s far from the truth. Shinrei Jusatsushi Taromaru stands out in the library because it’s so different, and it’s loads of fun.
#13. – Saturn Bomberman Fight!!
The original Saturn Bomberman is a highly revered title for the platform. It’s a very traditional installment in the franchise but had the standout feature of allowing up to ten people to play together simultaneously. Back then this was a big deal, and there hasn’t been an installment since offering anywhere in this same realm of multiplayer options. Saturn Bomberman Fight was the follow up. It doesn’t offer the same multiplayer support instead taking the non-traditional approach. The arenas and characters are completely 3D here and the battlefields are displayed from an isometric perspective. Power-ups function differently as you can throw bombs, and with enough collected items you can toss stacks at a time. The environments are also less like mazes and feature more open areas. It doesn’t reach the heights of the previous iteration, but Saturn Bomberman Fight is still one of the best Sega Saturn import games around.
#12. – Touryuu Densetsu Elan Doree
And here we have yet another fighting game that never made it’s way out of Japan. What really sets Touryuu Densetsu apart from other 3D brawlers is the fact that it takes place completely in the air. Oh, and all the characters ride atop dragons. Sure there are some special moves and kicks where you leave your reptilian steed but for the most part you’ll be fighting with projectiles and weapons. Because of the aforementioned mechanics moving around is a bit clunky, but that’s understandable given the theme in place here. The graphics are also surprisingly detailed for a Saturn title, but I do have a few issues with the style. For one thing it’s a bit on the ‘cute’ side with colorful anime characters and flashy moves. It’s a unique premise, and that’s part of why I consider it one of the best Sega Saturn import games.
#11. – Twinkle Star Sprites
When I saw screenshots for this game I assumed it was a puzzle title. What I got when I booted it up was actually a vertically scrolling shmup. Where I was confused at first was in the fact that it’s split screen ala multiplayer Tetris. What the game actually is however is a competitive shmup. Each player is assigned a different half of the screen independent from one another. You fire at incoming foes either with a basic attack of charged shot. Chaining together combinations results in the other player having additional hazards to deal with on their screen. The fun comes in the fact that you can reflect these back at the other player with a well placed shot. It’s a simple premise, but the action very quickly gets heated. Twinkle Star Sprites is an absolute blast when playing against a human opponent.
#10. – Bulk Slash
Bulk Slash is pretty well known, and typically tops any list of the best Sega Saturn import games. That’s for good reason; it’s simply incredible. Bulk Slash is a mecha action game in a similar vein to Virtual On. The major aspect that sets it apart from it’s contemporaries is the size of the arenas. They’re meant to represent full cities and are quite large. To help with navigating this your robot can transform into an airborne jet fighter. Here you move faster but have to worry about crashing into environmental elements. You also have a handy navigator whose dialogue is fully voiced, but it’s all in Japanese so it’s of little use to English speakers. You move forward in the story by completing objectives on each battlefield, and then face a boss. Bulk Slash is a beautiful game that for all intents and purposes should have been localized.
#9. – Steamgear Mash
The isometric perspective was under-utilized in the 32-bit era. Thankfully we have titles like Steamgear Mash to make up for that. In this game you play as a mecha that can jump and shoot. You can rapid fire and strafe, or use a charge up shot to dispatch foes. There’s a surprising amount of puzzle solving for a title like this and some of the stages can become a bit labyrinthine later on. The platforming is a bit clunky but Steamgear Mash rarely calls for a lot of precision in this regard. One thing I didn’t like is how many pits there are which can become cumbersome when you’re also dealing with foes. Regardless Steamgear Mash is a hidden gem and deserves to be checked out. I have no reservations with calling this one of the best Sega Saturn imports.
#8. – Thunder Force V
The Thunder Force franchise was one of the biggest during the 16-bit era. This holds especially true in the West. While the PS1 version was released worldwide the Sega Saturn iteration was left as a Japan exclusive. Thunder Force V is a horizontally scrolling shooter that makes great use of the console’s strengths. Gameplay is strictly 2D but the backgrounds are rendered in polygons and these look fantastic. Thunder Force V features fantastic enemy placement and enemy patterns with screens full of shots and hazards. Gameplay is fast and frenetic like in past titles, and this one lives up to the lineage of the franchise well. You can again absorb enemy attacks, and this adds in a fair amount of strategy. While you can play it on the PS1 there’s something special about playing this one on Sega hardware.
#7. – Tryrush Deppy
Tryrush Deppy came at a time when 2D platformers based on quirky characters had pretty much come to an end. Enter Tryrush Deppy. This is the only platformer I know of in which you play as a humanoid car. It’s pretty cute especially because he walks on his rear wheels and has large animated eyes. You only get down on all fours for a dash attack which is your primary offensive move. Every action you perform drains Deppy of gasoline, but thankfully gas cans are littered about in the various levels. You’ll also find a few powerups that grant you temporary abilities. Honestly the game just oozes of charm, and has some of the best boss battles in the entire genre. Tryrush Deppy feels like a Treasure game in this regard, and that’s a high compliment for a title from this era.
#6. – Deep Fear
Survival horror was absolutely huge in the late 90s. The Sega Saturn was however lacking in it. Capcom graced the console with a late port of Resident Evil. Besides that you didn’t have a lot of options. Deep Fear was Sega’s answer to this. They completely forgot about the North American market leaving this in Japan and PAL regions. Thanks to the latter you can play through it completely in English which I’m thankful for because Deep Fear is one of the best Sega Saturn import games. This one is kind of a Resident Evil clone but brings some new elements to the table. Namely it takes place in an undersea military base and oxygen depletes in some rooms adding a sense of urgency to gameplay. Furthermore, you can actually run and shoot at the same time. As a fan of the genre I find Deep Fear underrated.
#5. – Elevator Action Returns
I absolutely loved the original Elevator Action when I played it on the NES. I wasn’t sure how a 32-bit iteration would fare considering the gameplay was pretty basic. It wasn’t exactly a big name which is probably why this one was never localized. I’m happy to report that Elevator Action Returns is incredible. The game takes the same original premise of working your way through a series of buildings. Your goal is to enter all of the red colored doors using elevators to move up and down floors. Gameplay is strictly 2D, and you have both ranged and melee attacks as well as several different characters to play as. The presentation is absolutely on point. This one even adds a fantastic co-op mode. Trust me when I say that this is one of the best Sega Saturn import games even if you haven’t played the original.
#4. – Dead or Alive
It’s a little known fact that Namco’s on-going fighting series was first released on home consoles for the Sega Saturn in Japan. This port is actually better than what we got in North America on the PS1. The graphics are absolutely incredible with some of the best 3D models of its time, and at a higher resolution than most to boot. It’s easy to sell this one off because of it’s gimmick based around, well, inappropriate animations but there’s a deep fighting experience buried beneath it. The fighting styles are based on real martial arts. Gameplay is focused around throws, counters, and sweeping combination attacks. You could opt for the cheaper PS1 version, but the Sega Saturn port is superior and stands out as one of the best Sega Saturn import games.
#3. – Battle Garegga
In recent years this has become one of the most widely sought Sega Saturn imports. Previously I wasn’t very interested in Battle Garegga. It’s a more realistic overhead shmup where you play as a fighter jet set against modern backdrops. Visually it’s kind of bland, and the graphics are strictly 2D. Once you dive in you’ll quickly discover why this one is so special. Battle Garegga is a pure and simple shmup with screens full of bullets and crazy enemy patterns. You have to get good if you want to survive here. You gain very basic power-ups which are focused around options and bombs which is fairly typical, but where it excels is in level design. Battle Garegga is an absolute blast to play and will appease any fan of the genre. It’s also a console exclusive.
#2. – Street Fighter Zero 3
This one actually launched on the Sega Saturn after the launch of the Sega Dreamcast. It’s easy to see why they left it in Japan because everyone had already moved on. It’s surprising then that it’s the best version. The other releases of the game incorporated polygonal graphics into the backgrounds. Capcom skipped out on this to focus on making the Sega Saturn release as close to arcade perfect as possible. It requires the 4mb ram cart, but the hardware is put through the motions with some of the best 2D animations in any game ever released. It’s a culmination of all the features in the other home console releases making it the absolute perfect package. If you want to play Street Fighter Alpha 3 then you must go with the Sega Saturn version.
#1. – Radiant Silvergun
Treasure does here what Treasure does best, and that’s incredible and technical gameplay all wrapped into brilliant design. It also helps that Radiant Silvergun is one of the best looking titles for the platform. This is an overhead shmup with an absolute rare amount of polish behind it. Unlike in most shooters you begin with all seven weapons in the game. Each is assigned to a different button, and they all serve their purposes. They can even be combined for varying effects. The ultimate weapon however is the Radiant Silvergun which is a sword. You have to use it to absorb pink bullets the enemies shoot. When you’ve collected enough the sword becomes large enough to strike most of the screen. In typical Treasure fashion you’ll need pinpoint accuracy in some sections which feature a lot of moving parts. It’s simply the best Sega Saturn import game.
