I probably have written something similar to this before, but not in this format.\u00a0 Here is a quick list I just made of what should be all Western-developed games Sega published for the Genesis, Sega CD, and 32X.\u00a0 As you look down the list you will notice some classics and some forgettable games.\u00a0 Games like sports games are important, they are some of the best-selling titles and sports games for Western markets were a critical part of the Genesis’s success.\u00a0 Please note that I do say when games didn’t release in North America, but not necessarily when they didn’t release in Europe or Brazil; sorry about that.\u00a0 This list shows the depth of the Genesis’s Western support.\u00a0 It is one of the best consoles and has an outstanding game library.\u00a0 I do not agree with people who dismiss the Genesis’s Western library.\u00a0 Many of the best Genesis games may be Japanese, but American developers contributed many of the best-selling, and some of the best, games on the system as well.<\/p>\n
I decided, for this list, to list games by their developer.\u00a0 Sega’s few first party developers go first, followed by their third party studios.\u00a0 Sega contracted a lot of third-party studios to make Genesis games, though a few, most notably Novotrade\/Appaloosa and Blue Sky Software, released the most titles by far.\u00a0 I think grouping it by developer is an interesting way to look at this information.\u00a0 Each developer appears in the list at the point they made their first game published by Sega, so developer relationships go forward in time as you go down the list, though time bounces around depending on how long developers worked with Sega for.<\/p>\n
Unfortunately for Sega, both the first and third party relationships listed in this list almost all broke down during the Saturn generation.\u00a0 Sega mismanaged things badly after the boom years of the early ’90s.\u00a0 But we all know that, so how about we focus on something Sega succeeded at instead, and that was making a lot of Genesis games for its largest market, the US?\u00a0 I know that some people like to hate on Western Genesis games, but it’s not deserved; certainly there are many sports games and mediocre licensed games on the list, but there are also great classics like Vectorman, Comix Zone, and The Adventures of Batman & Robin.\u00a0 And some of the licensed games are well worth playing as well; it’s a mixture for su1re.\u00a0 Fantasia is awful, for instance, but Marsupilami is a somewhat unique and fun game.<\/p>\n
And lastly, again, sports games are important!\u00a0 They sell very well and are a key part of any successful console’s library.\u00a0 People want to play them, and a more successful platform with the general audience usually has more sports games on it.\u00a0 Sega’s many Western-made baseball and football games, and the smaller number of hockey and basketball games, are important and a key part of the system’s success in North America.\u00a0\u00a0 Sega published nine football games on the Genesis, all American-made; six baseball games, four American-made; and one hockey game and two basketball games, all made in the US.\u00a0 I’m not a big fan of any of these games, my Genesis sports game loves are for the NBA Jam, Hardball, and EA’s NHL games, but they are mostly quality games and deserve to be remembered as such.<\/p>\n
After the list, I did a quick list of my rankings for the licensed platformers.\u00a0 I only covered those because Aladdin aside, they are often more overlooked than original titles like Kid Chameleon or Vectorman.<\/p>\n
Note: Games are Genesis-exclusive unless noted.\u00a0 A few titles do have modern digital re-releases, I am not counting those here.\u00a0 None of the sports or licensed games have modern re-releases except for Aladdin, though.<\/p>\n
Sega Genesis<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n FIRST PARTY Sega Technical Institute<\/p>\n 1992 – Kid Chameleon Sega Interactive (previously Interactive Designs)<\/p>\n 1993 – Tom Mason’s Dinosaurs for Hire Sega Midwest Development Division<\/p>\n 1994 – World Heroes (port of the SNK arcade game) THIRD PARTY (or first\/third party collaborations) Electronic Arts<\/p>\n 1990 – Joe Montana Football<\/p>\n Western Technologies, Inc.<\/p>\n 1991 – Art Alive Recreational Brainware \/ Sega of America<\/p>\n 1991 – Spider-Man vs. The Kingpin (first released here; game later was ported to other platforms) Realtime Games<\/p>\n 1991 – M-1 Abrams Battle Tank<\/p>\n Infogrames<\/p>\n 1991 – Fantasia Novotrade (to 1995) \/ Appaloosa (1996-later)<\/p>\n 1991 – California Games (port of a multiplatform game) Ringler Studios<\/p>\n 1991 – Mario Lemieux Hockey<\/p>\n Blue Sky Software<\/p>\n 1991 – Joe Montana II: Sports Talk Football ToeJam & Earl Productions<\/p>\n 1992 – ToeJam & Earl ACME Interactive<\/p>\n 1992 – David Robinson’s Supreme Court Extended Play Productions<\/p>\n 1992 – Chakan: The Forever Man<\/p>\n Westwood Associates<\/p>\n 1992 – Warriors of the Eternal Sun<\/p>\n Interactive Designs (afterwards this developer was purchased by Sega and became Sega Interactive)<\/p>\n 1992 – Disney’s TaleSpin Malibu Games<\/p>\n 1992 – Batman Returns Brian A. Rice, Inc.<\/p>\n 1992 – Home Alone<\/p>\n Virgin Interactive<\/p>\n 1993 – Disney’s Aladdin (first released here; game later was ported to other platforms)<\/p>\n NovaLogic<\/p>\n 1993 – Captain Planet and the Planeteers (PAL and Brazil-only release)<\/p>\n Rare<\/p>\n 1993 – Snake Rattle ‘n Roll (PAL-only release) (port of the NES game)<\/p>\n Rage Software<\/p>\n 1993 – Ultimate Soccer (PAL-only release) Graftgold<\/p>\n 1993 – The Ottifants (PAL-only release)<\/p>\n Core Design<\/p>\n 1994 – Asterix and the Great Rescue Realtime Associates<\/p>\n 1993 – Barney’s Hide and Seek Zyrinx<\/p>\n 1993 – Sub-Terrania Double Diamond Sports<\/p>\n 1994 – NFL ’95 HeadGames<\/p>\n 1994 – Taz in Escape from Mars Sensible Software<\/p>\n 1994 – World Championship Soccer II<\/p>\n Waterman Design<\/p>\n 1994 – Instruments of Chaos starring Young Indiana Jones (North America-only release, and probably the worst game on this list)<\/p>\n Artech Studios<\/p>\n 1994 – Crystal’s Pony Tale<\/p>\n Probe<\/p>\n 1994 – Bodycount (PAL-only release) (light gun game) MicroProse<\/p>\n 1994 – Star Trek: The Next Generation: Echoes from the Past (multiplatform game – also on SNES from a different publisher)<\/p>\n Apache Software Limited<\/p>\n 1995 – Marsupilami<\/p>\n Farsight Technologies<\/p>\n 1995 – Prime Time NFL starring Deion Sanders Clockwork Tortoise (founded by former Malibu Games staff)<\/p>\n 1995 – The Adventures of Batman & Robin<\/p>\n Syrox Developments<\/p>\n 1995 – VR Troopers<\/p>\n Eurocom<\/p>\n 1995 – Donald in Maui Mallard (PAL-only release) (first released here, but a year later a SNES port was released.\u00a0 The SNES version did get a US release.)<\/p>\n Cryo Interactive<\/p>\n 1995 – Cheese Cat-Astrophe starring Speedy Gonzales (PAL-only release)<\/p>\n Gremlin Interactive<\/p>\n 1995 – Premier Manager (PAL-only release) (multiplatform game based on a popular computer game franchise in the UK) TecToy<\/p>\n 1995 – Ferias Fustradas do Pica Pau (Brazil-only release) Atod<\/p>\n 1996 – Bugs Bunny in Double Trouble (also on Game Gear)<\/p>\n Traveller’s Tales<\/p>\n 1996 – Sonic 3D Blast (first developed here, but would also be released on other platforms later)<\/p>\n Abalone<\/p>\n 1996 – X-Perts<\/p>\n Al Baker & Associates<\/p>\n 1996 – Arcade Classics (classic collection of three Atari classics — Pong, Centipede, and Missile Command)<\/p>\n <\/p>\n 32X<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n FIRST PARTY<\/p>\n Sega InterActive<\/p>\n 1994 – Star Wars Arcade (port of a Sega of Japan arcade game)<\/p>\n THIRD PARTY (or first\/third party collaboration)<\/p>\n id Software \/ Sega of America<\/p>\n 1994 – Doom (port of the PC game, based on Jaguar version)<\/p>\n Flashpoint Productions<\/p>\n 1994 – Golf Magazine: 36 Great Holes Starring Fred Couples<\/p>\n Artech Studios<\/p>\n 1994 – Motocross Championship<\/p>\n Blue Sky Software<\/p>\n 1995 – World Series Baseball starring Deion Sanders (different from the Genesis games) Novotrade<\/p>\n 1995 – Kolibri<\/p>\n Probe Software<\/p>\n 1995 – Primal Rage (port of the Atari Games arcade game, on many platforms)<\/p>\n Paradox Development \/ Blizzard Interactive<\/p>\n 1995 – Blackthorne (port of a SNES\/PC game, with new 32X-exclusive prerendered graphics)<\/p>\n Frontier Developments<\/p>\n 1995 – Darxide (PAL-only release)<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Sega CD<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n FIRST PARTY<\/p>\n Sega Multimedia Studios<\/p>\n 1993 – Jurassic Park (different from the cart game) Sega Interactive<\/p>\n 1995 – Eternal Champions: Challenge from the Dark Side<\/p>\n THIRD PARTY (or first\/third party collaborations)<\/p>\n Digital Pictures<\/p>\n 1992 – Night Trap (first released here, but would be ported to many formats) ICOM Simulations<\/p>\n 1992 – Sherlock Holmes: Consulting Detective (port of a multiplatform game) Malibu Games<\/p>\n 1993 – Batman Returns (Genesis port with significant added content) Novotrade<\/p>\n 1993 – Ecco the Dolphin (Genesis port with added content) Monkey Business<\/p>\n 1993 – The Amazing Spider-Man vs. The Kingpin (enhanced port\/remake of the Genesis game)<\/p>\n The Code Monkeys (programming) \/ Sega of America<\/p>\n 1993 – Surgical Strike (first released here, would later get a 32X CD port) Park Place Productions<\/p>\n 1993 – NFL’s Greatest: San Francisco Vs. Dallas 1978-1993<\/p>\n Core Design<\/p>\n 1993 – Wonder Dog<\/p>\n Hammond & Leyland<\/p>\n 1993 – Racing Aces<\/p>\n Delphine Software<\/p>\n 1994 – Flashback: The Quest for Identity (port of a multiplatform title)<\/p>\n Stargate Productions \/ Sega of America<\/p>\n 1994 – Midnight Raiders<\/p>\n Dynamix<\/p>\n 1994 – Bouncers<\/p>\n The Learning Company<\/p>\n 1994 – Compton’s Interactive Encyclopedia (port of a multitplatform title)<\/p>\n Infogrames \/ Sega of America<\/p>\n 1995 – Fahrenheit (came with the Sega CD and 32X CD versions in one case)<\/p>\n Orion Technologies \/ Sega of America<\/p>\n 1995 – Mighty Morphin Power Rangers (an FMV game, different from the cart game)<\/p>\n Clockwork Tortoise<\/p>\n 1995 – The Adventures of Batman & Robin (different from the cart game)<\/p>\n (Note: Prince of Persia, Eye of the Beholder, and SimEarth on Sega CD are Japanese-developed, Sega-published ports of games originally made in America for other formats. I am not including them here because the SCD versions aren’t Western-made.)<\/p>\n <\/p>\n 32X CD<\/span> THIRD PARTY (or first\/third party collaborations)<\/p>\n The Code Monkeys \/ Sega of America (filming)<\/p>\n 1995 – Surgical Strike (Brazil-only release at the time)<\/p>\n Infogrames \/ Sega of America (filming)<\/p>\n 1995 – Fahrenheit<\/p>\n Opinion: Ranking of the Licensed Platformers (and non-FMV action games)<\/strong><\/p>\n When compared to Nintendo’s SNES library, it is incontrovertible that Sega released far more games and was much more willing to release mediocre games than Nintendo was.\u00a0 Sega also relied somewhat heavily on licensed games.\u00a0 However, most of those licensed games are actually at least decent, and some are great.\u00a0 Here’s my quick ranking of the licensed platform, action, and RPG games in the list above.\u00a0 Note: I’m not counting FMV games here.<\/p>\n Bad – These games are the worst of the bunch.\u00a0 Taz-Mania, Fantasia, Instruments of Chaos starring Young Indiana Jones.\u00a0 I’d pick Young Indy as being worst.\u00a0 Fantasia may be the most popular pick, but Young Indy is just so stunningly unfinished!<\/p>\n Okay –\u00a0 These overall average games may be fun. Jurassic Park (Genesis), Jurassic Park: Rampage Edition, Batman Returns, Bugs Bunny in Double Trouble, Bonkers, X-Men, Spiderman vs the kingpin (yes I know a lot of people love this game. I don’t.), Little Mermaid, Chakan, TaleSpin, Asterix and the Great Rescue, VR Troopers<\/p>\n Good – These are good games well worth a look.\u00a0 Marsupilami, Taz-Mania: Escape from Mars, Desert Demolition, Jurassic Park (Sega CD), Dinosaurs for Hire, Garfield: Caught in the Act, X-Men 2: Clone Wars, The Lost World: Jurassic Park, Shadowrun<\/p>\n Great – These all-time classics are some of the system’s best games.\u00a0 The Adventures of Batman & Robin (Genesis), Aladdin, The Adventures of Batman & Robin (Sega CD)<\/p>\n I haven’t played any of the educational kids’ games ones so not rating those. I also haven’t played either Home Alone game though I imagine they’d go in “okay” at best. Also I haven’t played the PAL or Brazil-exclusive ones much if at all. I don’t have power rangers sega cd either but I’m sure I’d hate it.
\n——————<\/p>\n
\n(1992 – assistance with development of Sonic the Hedgehog 2)
\n1993 – Sonic the Hedgehog Spinball
\n(1994 – assistance with development of Sonic the Hedgehog 3)
\n1995 – The Ooze
\n1995 – Comix Zone<\/p>\n
\n1993 – Eternal Champions
\n1994 – Disney’s Bonkers
\n1995 – Garfield: Caught in the Act<\/p>\n
\n1995 – NHL All-Star Hockey ’95<\/p>\n
\n——————-<\/p>\n
\n1992 – Menacer 6-Game Cartridge
\n1993 – X-Men<\/p>\n
\n1992 – Taz-Mania<\/p>\n
\n1992 – Toxic Crusaders<\/p>\n
\n1993 – Cyborg Justice
\n1993 – Ecco the Dolphin (first released here; game later was ported to other platforms)
\n1994 – Ecco: The Tides of Time (first released here; game later was ported to other platforms)
\n1994 – Richard Scarry’s Busytown
\n1995 – Ecco Jr.
\n1995 – Scholastic’s The Magic School Bus: Space Exploration Game
\n1997 – The Lost World: Jurassic Park<\/p>\n
\n1992 – NFL Sports Talk Football ’93 Starring Joe Montana
\n1992 – Disney’s Ariel: The Little Mermaid
\n1993 – NFL Football ’94 Starring Joe Montana
\n1993 – Jurassic Park
\n1993 – The Ren & Stimpy Show Presents: Stimpy’s Invention
\n1994 – College Football’s National Championship
\n1994 – World Series Baseball
\n1994 – Shadowrun
\n1994 – Desert Demolition starring Road Runner and Wile E. Coyote
\n1994 – Jurassic Park: Rampage Edition
\n1995 – College Football’s National Championship II
\n1995 – World Series Baseball ’95
\n1995 – Vectorman
\n1996 – World Series Baseball ’96
\n1996 – Vectorman 2
\n1997 – World Series Baseball ’98<\/p>\n
\n1993 – ToeJam & Earl II: Panic on Funkotron<\/p>\n
\n1992 – Evander ‘Real Deal’ Holyfield’s Boxing<\/p>\n
\n1992 – Greendog: The Beached Surfer Dude!
\n1993 – Home Alone 2<\/p>\n
\n1992 – Ex-Mutants
\n1994 – Greatest Heavyweights
\n1994 – NBA Action ’94<\/p>\n
\n1994 – Striker (PAL-only release)<\/p>\n
\n1995 – Asterix and the Power of the Gods (PAL-only release)<\/p>\n
\n1993 – Berenstain Bears: Camping Adventure<\/p>\n
\n1994 – Red Zone<\/p>\n
\n1995 – NBA Action ’95 starring David Robinson<\/p>\n
\n1994 – Wacky Worlds Creativity Studio
\n1995 – X-Men 2: Clone Wars<\/p>\n
\n1994 – Daffy Duck in Hollywood (PAL-only release)<\/p>\n
\n1997 – NFL ’98<\/p>\n
\n1996 – Premier Manager 97 (PAL-only release) (as above)<\/p>\n
\n1997 – Duke Nukem 3D (Brazil-only release) (based on the PC FPS game franchise, but this title is original)
\n2001 – Show do Milhao (Brazil-only release)
\n2002 – Show do Milhao Volume 2 (Brazil-only release)<\/p>\n
\n1996 – The Amazing Spider-Man: Web of Fire<\/p>\n
\n1995 – Wild Woody<\/p>\n
\n1992 – INXS: Make My Video
\n1992 – Marky Mark and the Funky Bunch: Make My Video
\n1993 – Double Switch (first released here, but would be ported to other platforms)
\n1994 – Prize Fighter<\/p>\n
\n1993 – Sherlock Holmes: Consulting Detective Volume II (port of a multiplatform game)
\n1993 – Dracula Unleashed<\/p>\n
\n1993 – Joe Montana’s NFL Football (different from the genesis games)<\/p>\n
\n1994 – Ecco: The Tides of Time (Genesis port with added content)<\/p>\n
\n1994 – Tomcat Alley (first released here, would later get a PC port)
\n1995 – Wirehead (a 32X CD version of this was in development but was cancelled.)<\/p>\n
\n<\/strong> (note: all 32X CD games are enhanced ports of Sega CD games.)<\/p>\n