The Sega CD (known as the Sega Mega CD in other regions) may not have technically been the very first CD-based game console to ever be released (that honor goes to the Turbografx-16 CD-ROM), but it was certainly the very first major CD-based game console to make an impact – and paved the way for game changing devices like the PlayStation to transform gaming entirely.
Essentially an overpowered accessory that attached directly to the underside of the incredibly popular and ridiculously commercially successful Sega Genesis – one of the most beloved game consoles of all time, even today – the Sega CD system ushered in a whole new era of gaming.
Featuring built-in scaling, rotational graphic capability, internal memory storage (rather than having to store your game on the cartridge or in a memory card), and a whole host of other upgrades over the Sega Genesis, for one reason or another the executives at Sega never really capitalized on everything this device brought to the table.
Today, the Sega CD is fondly remembered as one of the best parts of the early home videogame experience. A tremendous amount of games were released for this platform (including some homebrew games cooked up by gamers and shared via bootleg copies) and below we highlight 10 of the very best of the bunch.
Let’s dive right in.
The Mega CD had its fair share of enhanced ports, and some of them were actually quite good. The Earthworm Jim series was originally released for the Genesis & SNES and was notable for its quirky humor & fun/unique level design.
The Mega CD port adds a number of extra and extended levels. The music is also much improved and takes full advantage of the Mega CD hardware. Lastly, the animation has been given a boost and is also much smoother.
GameArts Lunar series is one of the top JRPGs Sega CD games. Although This series was remade for the PS1 by Working Designs, most fans would agree that the second game in the series remains largely unchanged, at least when compared to the makeover its predecessor received.
The main benefit of this version is the more literal translation. Working Designs was known to "Americanize" many of their projects by inserting more western style dialogue and pop culture references, so purists may want to stick to the original in lieu of learning Japanese.
Also of note is is the different soundtrack, which features higher quality red book audio.
While it may not be the among the best Sega CD RPG's, Shadowrun is certainty among the most unique. Its name with a popular series of western tabletop RPGs and does indeed draw some of its inspiration from them, namely in the form of its cyperpunk setting.
This is more of an adventure game that bears a lot of similarities to Snatcher. Interaction is entirely text and menu based, and the story unfolds in a non linear fashion, and is mostly a choose the correct answer to advance the story type of thing. Seeing all of the story will require multiple playthroughs.
As it is an RPG, there is also a lot of battling. The battles take place in a behind the characters fashion that is similar to games like Phantasy Star.
Sequel to the original Eternal Champions, this game was released in 1995 and was planned to be the second game in a three-part trilogy – was the last in the series to make it to gamers.
A fighting game (not at all dissimilar from Mortal Kombat) this game put you in control of nine different fighters from the original game and 13 newbies. It’s probably most well-known for introducing “fatalities” that Mortal Kombat would go on to copy, which were brutal finishing moves rendered in full motion capture video.
9. Night Trap
Night Trap was one of the first Sega CD games to hit the market, having been released in 1992. Utilizing almost entirely full-motion video capture technology, this was much more an interactive movie than a traditional videogame and changed the landscape of gaming forever because of it.
Today this title is beloved by collectors for its cult status, it’s unique warped sense of humor, it’s B-movie horror plot, and it’s incredibly smooth video animations. They actual gameplay is pretty shallow, but it made enough of an impact that it (alongside Mortal Kombat) became the main attraction during the 1993 U.S. Senate committee hearings on violent video games.
8.Vay
This title was originally released in Japan in October 1993 and wasn’t released in the US until the following year, but it was an almost instant success.
A perfect representation of the Japanese RPG style videogame, this title placed you on the fictional planet of Vay – a planet inhabited by humans, but with very little technology whatsoever. An interstellar war machine lands on the planet and rampages throughout society and the only thing standing in its way are the combined efforts of five of the most legendary wizards on the planet.
The plot plays a little bit fast and loose with sci-fi clichés, but the story and the gameplay was top-notch for its time. It also featured some of the most advanced AI in videogame history (for its time) and is considered a landmark title because of it.
7. Final Fight CD
A side scrolling beat em up game (an incredibly popular genre at the time), this title was originally made for arcades and was released in 1989 before being ported by the folks at Capcom to the Sega CD system.
Only the seventh videogame to be released for the Sega CD platform, it went on to smash sales records and became one of the most popular titles for the game console. It continues to be ridiculously popular today for its buttery smooth graphics, fun gameplay, and its stereotypical 80s to early 90s soundtrack.
6. Shining Force CD
Shining Force CD was released in Japan in 1994, and released in North America and Europe in 1995.
Developed exclusively for the Sega CD platform, this is basically a remake of the Shining Force Gaiden games that were originally created for Game Gear. Sega brought them over to this – at the time – almost brand-new videogame console.
This game was unique in that it was broken up into four individual “books” that could be played in any order whatsoever without negatively impacting the storyline or the gameplay. A lot of this has to do with the fact that each individual book was based on a previous game in the Shining Force series, but Sega CD players of the time didn’t seem to mind!
5. Popful Mail
Another side scrolling videogame title, this particular game had players moving through a traditional RPG (complete with the ability to level up and customize characters) while at the same time combining side scrolling fighting and combat elements that were popular at the time.
Controls were limiting factor, but the sheer customization opportunities available to players – customizing the way they are player looked, the equipment they used, and a whole host of other details - was quite unique for its time, especially for a console title.
4. Robo Aleste
A vertical scrolling shooting game, Robo Aleste had players assume the role of heroes riding in oversized mechanized warriors ( giant mecha) while blasting every single thing in sight.
Gamers could power up their warrior after achieving specific goals, boosting the weapons that they had available while at the same time increasing their armor, upgrading their character, and unleashing devastating special power ups along the way.
A smash hit in Japan when it was released in 1992, this game became one of the most popular Sega CD titles of all time.
3. Snatcher
Before he became known as one of the most legendary videogame creators of all time, Hideo Kojima spent the late 80s working not only on his Metal Gear series (which would go on to become one of the most well received videogame series in history, even today) but also titles like Snatcher.
Considered at the time to be a groundbreaking title in the adventure genre, Snatcher featured all of the traditional Kojima touchstones that would come to define this videogame creator for the rest of his career. Incredible storylines, detailed characters, plot twists and turns, and amazing gameplay all made Snatcher one of the most popular best Mega CD games ever produced.
2. Keio Flying Squadron
Released a little bit later in the Sega CD’s lifecycle, this game didn’t land in the United States until around 1995. But that only meant that the developers behind this title had plenty of time to learn the full capabilities of the Sega CD console and produce a game that made the most of those assets.
A side scrolling shooter style videogame, the control scheme for this title was simple and straightforward and made for an incredibly addictive gameplay style. You play the role of Rami, a young girl riding on top of her dragon Spot, a dragon that can shoot fireballs at enemies.
This game is probably most well-known for its incredibly detailed animated cut scenes. While not the first game to feature cut scenes, it certainly was one of the first titles to make such prolific use of them as a storytelling aid.
1. Sonic CD
You had to know that this game was going to land at the top spot of the best Sega CD game list, didn’t you?
Just as Nintendo has Mario and Disney has Mickey Mouse, Sega has become defined by their most popular character – Sonic the Hedgehog.
Like almost every other game in the Sonic series, this game features everyone’s favorite blue speedy hedgehog running through different platform levels to collect as many gold rings as possible while defeating the robots from Dr. Robotnik creates along the way.
Considered by many to be one of the very best games in the entire Sonic videogame series, as well as one of the best platform games of all time, the graphics, gameplay, and especially the music of this game pushed the Sega CD platform to its absolute limits and delivered every step along the way.
Selling well over a million copies it became the best selling Sega CD game in history and would later be ported to PC, the PlayStation 2, the GameCube, and has even been released for Android and iOS devices in early 2011.
Not bad for a videogame about to turn 25 years old this year!