Twenty years after the release of Sega’s final home console, many people in the modern era look back at the Dreamcast with a bittersweet feeling. While the system was the final time Sega released new hardware, it was also well ahead of its time and something of a powerhouse in 1999.
Today, in honor of the upcoming twentieth anniversary of the system’s American release, we’re looking at the top ten Dreamcast games of all time. From fast-paced action games to off-the-wall puzzlers and everything in between, the Dreamcast was quite the special system.
Top Ten Dreamcast Games
10. Rez
Rez, a trippy, otherworldly shooter that is equal parts rhythm and bullet-hell, showed us just how creative games could be. The journey the player undertakes is equal parts strange and wonderful, engrossing and beautiful all at once.
As you kill your enemies and avoid damage, the world around you morphs and becomes less wireframe and more psychedelic. It’s a great experience, one you should definitely seek out if you love off-the-wall gaming experiences.
9. Jet Grind Radio
The cell-shaded, streetwise anthem of disobedience called Jet Grind Radio (Jet Set Radio outside of the States) blew critics away when it launched. The funky soundtrack, slick presentation and fun roller-blading movement system all make the game an awesome experience even today.
While the first game was partly overlooked by American gamers, the series got a second chance with the sequel, Jet Set Radio Future, which made its way to Microsoft’s Xbox a few years later.
8. Crazy Taxi
Sega was known for its bold, in-your-face philosophy. Their commercials once screamed “SEGA” at full volume, for crying out loud. Crazy Taxi was like a crystallization of Sega’s 90’s ethos. Driving recklessly, crashing around turns and getting your customers to their destinations as fast as possible were all encouraged. In fact, the game gives you bonus points for driving in the most dangerous way possible!
The gameplay is still fast and fun to this day. While the controls are a bit clunky and ridiculous today, the sheer over-the-top hilarity and pure video game fun remain timeless. Both the original game and its sequel were released during the Dreamcast’s short lifespan, so the two games are synonymous with the system.
7. Power Stone
Before Super Smash Brothers really sank its teeth into lovers of party fighting games, there was Power Stone. The fast-paced, 3D combat of the quirky fighting game was fresh and fun in 1999 and hasn’t aged a day in 2019.
Gameplay is centered on brawling with opponents using the environment and your character’s skills. As the fight goes on, you and your opponent fight over Power Stones that drop randomly on the map. If you collect all three Power Stones, you enter a powered-up state and can really take the fight to the opposition!
6. Skies of Arcadia
The Blue Rogue air pirates are a quirky bunch, reminiscent of the best Final Fantasy characters. Skies of Arcadia wears its inspirations like a badge of honor, clearly displaying its love of Final Fantasy in its visuals and gameplay. The storyline is gripping and well-plotted, and you’ll find yourself dying to find out what happens to the crew.
The game is packed full of fun characters, secrets and more. The turn-based combat is an exemplary representative of the best the RPG genre has to offer, too. If you love games like Final Fantasy 7, you owe it to yourself to try this one out.
5. Marvel Vs Capcom 2
The definitive version of this arcade classic came out on Sega’s Dreamcast. Marvel Vs Capcom 2 plays like a dream, with silky-smooth framerate and gorgeous character models. The game has superb balance, with each character displaying well-defined strengths and weaknesses.
The fun of watching Spider-Man and Ryu take on Wolverine and M. Bison never grows old. If you’re a huge fan of the MvC series, you should hunt down and old Dreamcast and a copy of this game. It’s well worth the effort to play the series’ most definitive entry!
4. Ikaruga
This binary shoot-em-up is all about switching back and forth between two polarized modes. When your ship is white, you’re immune to white projectiles, but black projectiles damage you. The opposite is also true, making the game a fast-paced exercise in switching, ducking and weaving.
Ikaruga sports slick and stellar visuals, fun gameplay and a great soundtrack. It’s largely considered one of the best shoot-em-ups ever, and for good reason. This is one of the best games of all time, system notwithstanding.
3. Sonic Adventure
This game’s cutscenes and voice acting have aged about as well as milk, but that doesn’t stop this from being a wonderful game. The visuals are stunning for 1999, the gameplay is as fast as the series namesake, and the tunes are decidedly great.
This is the Blue Blur’s first transition into 3D graphics, and it’s executed rather well. Some clunky camera controls and wonkiness is to be expected of any 3D Sonic game, and this one is no exception. However, this game still makes for a fun time, especially when playing as Sonic and Tails.
2. Soul Calibur
The legend of Soul Calibur will never die! This masterwork of a fighting game is unparalleled in the genre. No other fighting game has presented weapons-based gameplay in such a well-balanced and undeniably fun package. Simple to pick up, tricky to master and a visual feast, Soul Calibur is Namco-Bandai’s strongest case for their fighting game dominance.
This Dreamcast exclusive may have been released on a doomed system, but the soul still burns! Numerous sequels have kept the legend alive, and today the name Soul Calibur is connected with top-notch gameplay and production values.
1. Shenmue
The best game on the Dreamcast and one of the biggest game releases in history is Shenmue. This unusual, decidedly Japanese game, is more than a little weird. The grand scope of Ryo’s revenge mission to find his father’s killer is underscored by the closely intimate nature of the game’s open world. Characters have schedules and hobbies, interests and distinct personalities.
The gameplay is a mix of open-world exploration and Virtua Fighter-style fighting. Uncovering the mystery of your father’s death is the driving goal, though you can just waste time in the arcade playing Hang-On if you want.
The groundbreaking graphics, well-penned story and silly, endearing voice acting have given Shenmue a near-legendary status. The sequel, Shenmue II, was released on Xbox in North America, though it saw a Dreamcast release in Japan and Europe. The series has been in limbo for years, though the creators promise the Shenmue III will be out sometime soon.
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