Sega Genesis has several classic games, like Sonic the Hedgehog and its sequels, Streets of Rage 2, and Gunstar Heroes. Even though the console has an excellent library, many games on the Genesis didn’t have much of a story beyond a brief explanation of why the player is trying to complete whatever objective they have in the game.
That said, the best stories of that era weren’t all on the SNES. The Sega Genesis had some genuinely great RPGs and games with fantastic stories. Whether it be an alternate explanation of world history or full-blown, immersive JRPG storytelling, there are some Genesis games fans won’t want to miss.
Castlevania: Bloodlines Brought the Series to Sega Genesis
John Morris confronting a red Hellhound in Castlevania: Bloodlines.Credit: Image via Konami
In general, Castlevania games are straightforward. Players take on the role of a vampire hunter. They go through a castle and defeat enemies on the way to defeat Dracula in nearly every game. However, 1994’s Castlevania: Bloodlines, a spin-off title and the first game in the franchise to come to a Sega system, takes things in a new direction.
Bloodlines takes place in 1917 and ties its story to real-world history. It’s revealed that Dracula’s niece, Elizabeth Bartley, played a role in the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand, sparking World War I. Bartley’s true plan is to resurrect Dracula, and players step into the roles of John Morris or Eric Lecarde to stop her. The great gameplay and alternate history storyline make this a top 10 game, and it doesn’t hurt that it’s the first Castlevania game with music from longtime series composer Michiru Yamane
Warsong, AKA Langrisser, Is a Fun Tactical JRPG with a Unique Feature
Langrisser CombatCredit: Image via Nintendo
Langrisser, or Warsong as it was called in North America, was released on the Sega Genesis in 1992. It’s a tactical JRPG similar to the Fire Emblem series, where combat takes place between groups of enemies, and units can promote to new classes. That said, players didn’t just control unique units. They could also purchase up to eight units for each of their heroes, with the prices and classes of these extra units depending on the hero.
Warsong starts as a battle between two armies, Baltia and the Dalsis Empire. Players take on the role of Prince Gareth, who eventually must flee to get reinforcements. Things take a turn when the magic sword Warsong is stolen, leading to the awakening of an evil that Prince Gareth must fight in addition to the Dalsis Empire. The original version had poor translations, so the updated remake of Langrisser I & II changed most of the character names.
Beyond Oasis Is a Magical Spirit Adventure for the Sega Genesis
Prince Ali finding treasure at the beginning of Beyond OasisCredit: Image via Sega
Beyond Oasis was released in 1995 for the Sega Genesis. It was developed by the same company that made Streets of Rage 2, which shows in some of the visual and sound effects. The game plays like an old-school action-adventure title where the player controls Prince Ali, who fights with various weapons and abilities.
As for the story, it starts when Prince Ali finds a special gold armlet with the ability to summon four spirits. The spirits are used to fight the wielder of the silver armlet, which is meant only for evil. Throughout the game, players find each spirit and can summon them to access several magical abilities. Even though Prince Ali has a default knife weapon, players can pick up multiple weapon types from enemies and use them a limited number of times.
Crusader of Centy Was the Legend of Zelda Rival for the Sega Genesis
Crusader of Centy on Sega GenesisCredit: Image via Atlus
Crusader of Centy is an interesting one. It was released in 1995 on the Sega Genesis and bears a striking resemblance to The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past. The game follows a 14-year-old boy named Corona who must go to battle because of the law of the land. At its heart, the game shows the connection between monsters and humans and how they are at war with each other.
A unique aspect of Crusader of Centy is the animal collection. The player can eventually speak to animals and recruit them to fight alongside Corona. Each animal has a unique ability to help Corona when selected. The story is split into two parts, and in the first half, the player can’t speak to humans, only animals and plants. In the second half, which involves time travel, Corona can speak to humans again.
Sword of Vermillion Features a Quest to Collect Magical Rings
The Sword of Vermillion title screenCredit: Image via Sega
Sword of Vermilion was released in 1989 for the Sega Genesis and features a story based on revenge. Players take on the role of a forgotten prince who was hidden away by Blade, servant to King Erik. A rival king, Tsarkon, kills King Erik. Considering the kings were searching for rings of good and evil, something bad was bound to happen.
The real game begins when the player character learns of his true identity and past. He seeks revenge and must travel around collecting the rings to do so. The narrative is relatively simple, but it provides ample motivation for the player to go on the quest. The ring aspect definitely gives off a Tolkien’s The Lord of the Rings vibe, but it still doesn’t feel like a ripoff.
Comix Zone Has a Unique Story that’s Set in a Comic Book
An image from Comix ZoneCredit: Image via Comix Zone
Normally, beat ’em up games don’t have much of a compelling narrative. Sega’s 1995 game Comix Zone was an exception to this rule because of the framework of the entire game. It’s about a comic book artist and writer named Sketch Turner who gets trapped in his own comic and must escape.
The premise alone is interesting, and the game takes full advantage of the comic book look. Fighting takes place within comic book panels, and players can often interact with the pages themselves. Classic comic book sounds like “POW!!” and speech balloons replace what would normally appear in an action video game. The unique take on the genre and memorable story premise make this a top 5 game.
Landstalker Is an Isometric Treasure Hunting Adventure
Landstalker: The Treasures of King Nole title screenCredit: Image via Sega
Landstalker was released in 1993 for the Sega Genesis. One thing that immediately stands out is that Nigel, the protagonist, is an 88-year-old treasure hunter. At first glance, he looks much younger, but a closer look reveals long ears like those of an elf. Regardless, Nigel has been in the treasure-hunting game for a long time.
His latest adventure starts when a fairy named Friday seeks his help and tells him she knows where to find King Nole’s treasures. The story includes several main objectives and side quests that the player can complete to improve Nigel’s capabilities. Landstalker also uses an isometric approach to exploration and combat, so it stands out for more than its story.
Shadowrun Brought the Cyberpunk Tabletop Game to the Sega Genesis
The Shadowrun title screenCredit: Image via Sega
There were actually two Shadowrun games released around the same time. The SNES version came out in 1993, while the Sega Genesis version followed in 1994. Both games were wildly different in terms of gameplay and narrative, and Shadowrun for the Genesis features more open gameplay and a role-playing experience closer to the tabletop games.
The story follows the main character, Joshua, who wants payback for his brother Michael’s death. Soon, the game branches off in three directions. While players have to complete all three routes to finish the story, they have the freedom to choose the order they complete the scenarios in while they work to uncover the mystery surrounding Michael’s death.
Shining Force Is a Classic Tale of Light Versus Darkness
The Shining Force title screenCredit: Image via Sega
Shining Force is another tactical RPG similar to games like Fire Emblem, but one key difference is that characters who die can be resurrected and aren’t permanently lost, like in early Fire Emblem titles. In fact, the game doesn’t even end if Max dies. The battle just ends, and the player loses half their money.
Combat is grid-based, and characters earn experience points for taking action during a turn, including damaging enemies or healing allies. The story is a classic tale of good vs. evil. The protagonist, Max, is tasked with stopping an evil commander named Kane from resurrecting the Dark Dragon.
Phantasy Star IV Is one of the Greatest Sci-fi JRPGs Ever
Run, Chaz, Wren, Rika, and Kyra face off against Snow Worms in the Sega Genesis’ Phantasy Star IV.Credit: Image via Sega
Phantasy Star IV is the final game in the original Phantasy Star series, but players don’t need to play the previous entries. This game takes place 1,000 years after Phantasy Star III. It also features a unique combo technique system, where two techniques used in a specific order can create a new one.
There’s a nice blend of sci-fi and magic as players take on the roles of Alys and Chaz. Their initial job as hunters leads them to uncover the reason behind the rise in biomonsters. It’s one of the best RPGs on the Sega Genesis, and the game’s fantastic narrative and journey make it the perfect choice for anyone who wants to play a game with a great story..