10 Sega Genesis Games to Start Your Retro Collection

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Whether you’re finally looking to start a retro collection or just now turning your focus to Sega Genesis games, it’s good to have somewhere to start. After all, North America had almost 900 licensed titles released. So, we came up with the following list to give you a quick rundown on the Sega Genesis games you should pursue when starting a retro game collection for the system. They’re not in any particular order. Instead, we focused on titles that are obtainable, important to either the system or their genre, and poised to be a collector’s item.

Some of them are even fun. As always, let us know what you think and don’t forget to check out our online game shop to add to your collection!1. Phantasy Star IV: The End of the MillenniumIf you managed to get all the way through the controversial Phantasy Star III, you may have had second thoughts about getting Phantasy Star IV. This game is better in every single way, with a more cohesive story that hearkens back more directly to the original title as well as vastly improved gameplay mechanics. As far as adding this one to your collection, you should be prepared to pay a fair amount.

Around a million copies were published, but it’s still not the most common title. Unlike some retro games bought to expand a collection, this is one of the Sega Genesis games that still hold up to this day, so you can pop it in and have a great time. 2. Streets of Rage 2In a weird twist, there seems to be some online backlash against calling Streets of Rage 2 one of the all-time greats on the system. Some say that the gameplay, graphics, and story of this beat ’em up are world-class for the era, but some modern takes are not as friendly.

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Personally, I had a lot of fun smashing criminals across the cityscapes and enjoying the edgy music from the 90s. This game was popular in its day, and there are plenty of cartridges out there to collect for a fair price. 3. Shining Force IIShining Force II is a tactical RPG, which was a bit refreshing for the genre at the time. The combat was fun and the game as a whole wasn’t afraid to be silly at times. I appreciated the character skill progression that turned your characters into much more powerful versions after hitting level 20.

Still, the game can feel pretty slow in its original format. This is another game that belongs in your collection because of its current and potential value. Loose copies of the game aren’t terribly expensive (as of this writing, obviously). If you’re an RPG fan, you’ll appreciate it as an important part of the genre. 4. Rocket Knight AdventuresYou’re a possum named Sparkster. You have a rocket pack, a sword, and armor. There’s hundreds of enemies between you and your goal waiting to be walloped. On paper, Rocket Knight Adventures has all the makings of a horrible fever dream unique platformer.

The gameplay was certainly a lot of fun since you had to use the jet pack to reach all sorts of areas while taking out your foes. While it doesn’t rank high in terms of scarcity, you’ll enjoy having this popular and nostalgic game on your shelf. 5. Disney’s AladdinAnother platformer, Disney’s Aladdin, took advantage of the film’s popularity to bolster sales, but it was destined for success either way. The graphics, fighting, and music were all high points for this game, and it put you in the shoes of your favorite street rat. Selling an estimated 4 million copies throughout its run, it’s safe to say that you won’t have much trouble coming across one of these games.

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This is another one that you can pop into your Sega Genesis for a fun few hours and put it back into your collection knowing that you won’t have spent a fortune to get it. 6. Sonic the Hedgehog 2I keep asking myself whether or not I actually have to justify this game’s spot on the list. To say it’s iconic is a bit of an understatement, right? Sonic the Hedgehog 2 improves on several aspects of the original side-scrolling platformer. The level designs were enjoyable and unique, and the music was absolutely fantastic. In fact, if you played it before, I bet you can still hear the music that plays in the Chemical Plant Zone.

You can add this one to your collection for cheap since it’s one of the best-selling games for the entire system. If you’ve never had the pleasure of zooming across the map or turning into Super Sonic, I highly recommend giving it a shot. 7.