The Sega Genesis, known as the Mega Drive outside North America, stands out as one of the all-time great video game consoles largely thanks to its iconic library brimming with fast-paced, intensely vivid action games that defined the 16-bit era.
Action games prioritize real-time gameplay that challenges a player‘s reflexes, hand-eye coordination and reaction speed in overcome obstacles, navigating environments and defeating enemies. Action sub-genres range from fighting and shooter games emphasizing combat to platformers focused on jumping/exploration. What ties them together is an emphasis on thrilling, kinetic, twitch-based interactivity.
The early 90s in particular marked a golden age for innovative action game design, with the Genesis leading the charge thanks to its custom 16-bit Motorola 68000-based processor optimized for pushing vivid 2D sprite graphics without slowdown. This allowed developers to craft increasingly detailed, faster playing experiences beyond what 8-bit consoles could offer.
Let‘s take a nostalgia-fueled trip back to experience ten classics that represent the absolute best the Genesis had to offer across a variety of seminal action genres. Theircutting-edge design sensibilities at the time still hold up remarkably today.
Best Platformer – Sonic the Hedgehog 2
Sonic 2 (1992)
- Developer: Sega AM7 (Sonic Team)
- Sales: Over 6 million copies
- Awards: 1992 Electronic Gaming Monthly Game of the Year
No discussion of the Genesis can ignore its killer mascot platformer franchise, Sonic the Hedgehog. After the smash hit success of the 1991 original (over 15 million copies sold), Sonic 2 took everything to the next level in 1992 with larger stages, improved physics, a spin dash move, and the debut of Miles "Tails" Prower allowing co-op multiplayer.
Sporting dazzling visuals and a blazing soundtrack by famed Dreams Come True composer Masato Nakamura, Sonic 2 quickly became the Genesis‘ best selling game ever. Its vibrant checkerboard-style stages offered contrasting environments, from the lush Emerald Hill to the mechanical Metropolis. Battling Dr. Robotnik‘s creations like the Wing Fortress at the end of each zone was immensely satisfying.
Sonic 2 set standards for the ascendant platformer genre and still impresses today with its slick game design and audiovisual polish. Fan modders have since built unofficial remasters and level editors that demonstrate how magnificently the base game still holds up.
Best Shoot ‘Em Up – Thunder Force IV
Thunder Force IV (1992)
- Developer: Technosoft
- Sold over 150,000 copies in Japan
- EGM Game of the Month, Score: 38/40
When it comes to shoot ‘em action on the Genesis, few titles can rival the intensity and visual spectacle of Thunder Force IV. After earlier entries on Sega‘s prior systems, legendary Japanese developer Technosoft pulled no punches with TF4, sporting cutting-edge 3D graphical techniques like scaling/rotation and elaborate effects like waves crashing against bases.
The top-down and side-scrolling stages demonstrated the raw technical muscle of the Genesis, while retaining the series‘ tradition of weapons upgrading and inventive boss battles. It also helped pioneer more interactive environments than contemporaries by letting players freely destroy parts of the scenery. Getting empowered with all weapons and blasting through the climactic Plealos Orb is simply cathartic.
For shooter fans, Thunder Force IV stands right alongside genre greats like Truxton, MUSHA, and R-Type. Its explosive style of gameplay still holds remarkable appeal today, with an enchanced 1996 Sega Saturn port further demonstrating timeless quality of the team‘s design.
Best Fighter – Street Fighter II Special Champion Edition
Street Fighter II: Special Champion Edition (1993)
- Developer: Capcom
- Sold over 1 million copies
- EGM Score: 36/40, GamePro Score: 4.5/5
When it came to porting hot arcade fighting games to eager 16-bit console fans in the early 90s, the Genesis frequently demonstrated its muscle by Emulating coin-op graphics and gameplay far beyond competitors.
Case in point lies with acclaimed developer Capcom managing shockingly faithful ports of 1992‘s iconic Street Fighter II just months after its meteoric debut. Turning arcade perfection into home hardware gold took genuine talent. While audiovisual compromises were naturally inevitable, the smooth animation and vibrant visuals of iconic World Warriors like Ryu, Chun-Li and Guile shone wonderfully on Genesis.
The robust roster, distinctive movesets, combo system and competitive depth made SFII a landmark release that informed the entire fighting genre since. Later SFII updates would also make it to Genesis but the Special Champion Edition stands out for delivering that raw, early essence of genius game design now regarded among the all-time greats.
Best Beat ‘Em Up – Streets of Rage 2
Streets of Rage 2 (1992)
- Developer: Sega AM7
- Global sales of over 1.2 million
- EGM Score: 36/40, GamePro Score 5/5
The side scrolling beat ‘em up genre delighted Genesis players throughout its lifecycle, with legendary Sega studio AM7 delivering its masterpiece in 1992‘s acclaimed Streets of Rage 2.
Building on solid foundations of the 1991 original, SoR2 upped the ante with vivid urban 2D environments literally pulsating with atmosphere via esteemed composer Yuzo Koshiro‘s club-ready electronic soundtrack. Core design centers around freely walking left to right while clobbering waves of thugs using fists, feet and the odd blunt instrument or power-up weapon. Combos, enemy juggle techniques and signatures like Axel‘s Grand Upper cut added depth alongside the varied selection of playable brawlers like Axel Stone himself, Blaze Fielding and the mighty Max Thunder.
Considered one of the console‘s supreme multiplayer gems and high watermark for its genre in the 16-bit era, Streets of Rage 2 remains glorious, grim fun thanks to enduringly solid play.
Most Innovative Shooter – MUSHA Aleste
MUSHA Aleste (1990/1991)
- Developer: Compile
- EGM‘s Shooter of the Year 1991
- Influenced hits like Lords of Thunder
Shoot ‘em ups don‘t come more polished and technically dazzling than Compile‘s MUSHA Aleste. Converting their lauded 1990 coin-op blaster for Genesis in late 1991, MUSHA dazzles as you pilot flying mecha Metallus through six stages of almost psychedelic 16-bit visuals and enemy patterns of increasing challenge.
The masterstroke comes from its signature ‘sword‘ weapon allowing for stunning melee attacks amid the familiar laser barrages. It cuts enemies in half with immensely gratifying impact while deflecting their fire. Bosses like Four Devas of early Buddhism and the Dragon are epic, screen-filling spectacles. MUSHA just oozes style and dramatic flair at every turn backed by intensely difficult action demanding immense skill and pattern recognition ability even today.
Shame Compile went bust in 2001, but MUSHA‘s monumental impact on the shooter scene stands firm for its pioneering design melding traditional shoot ‘em up action with slash ‘em up mechanics. Find this masterpiece of you can.
Thanks to developers truly harnessing its technical capacities for smooth, vivid gameplay matched with ingenious genre innovation, the best of Genesis action gaming still shines brilliantly decades later. Their raw fun transcends aging graphics to offer thrills for gamers even today. Hopefully this guide inspired you to explore the console‘s myriad exemplary titles! Let us know your own Genesis favorites in the comments below.
