The SEGA🅺 Genesis was one of the biggest consoles ever created. After Nintendo put themselves at the forefront of the gaming industry, SEGA believed that they could do the same thing, but better (anyone remember “Genesis does what Nintendon’t”?). As such, the Genesis was the beginning of gaming consoles that hyped up performance and more grown-up-oriented games as opposed to experiences that were fun for everyone. It was a bitter rꦍivalry, and Nintendo took home the gold in the end.

Despite eventually dropping out of the console race, SEGA had a great run with the Genesis.🐻 As it stands now, it has a library of some of the most beloved games ever released. From brutally-difficult Disney tie-in games to gory fighters, there was no telling what the next release🍰 would be for the Genesis. A lot of people gravitated toward the system as a result.

Now that the console is a legacy system over anything else, many of its games have stood the test of time and remain, to this day, some of the highest-rated games of all time. The problem with that is a lot of the games that are rememberedಌ aren’t the best on the con📖sole. They’re thought of fondly largely because they were either bundled with the console or had a big push back in the day. They aren’t bad games, they just get a bit too much credit.

With that out of the way, we’ll diಞscuss 15 overrated SEGA Genesis games (and 15 that deserve a second chance).

30 Overrated: Sonic The H๊edgehog

You probably saw this coming. While Sonic the Hedgehog became SEGA’s biggest character, his first adventure came with its fair share of problems. Despite marketing it as a game where speed was the best way to proceed, it was frustrating to find that SEGA had made a game that punished players for going to fast. Couple that with some almost unfair and monotonous le♐vels between standing on a slow-moving block and surviving 🔯water in the Labyrinth Zone, and there’s a lot to dislike with the game.

29 Underrate𓆏d: Ristar

There were several platformers on the Genesis back in the day, but one of the least-mentioned ones is Ristar. Players take control of a star character and travel from planet to planet, defeating evil minions one by one before finding the last boss to sav🌼e the universe. It’s a simple premise, but the charm is in the game’s presentation. Every environment looks stunning, and every animation is on point. It has a simple control scheme, but it’s utilized well in each level.

28 ꦐ Overrated: Altered Beast

Altered Beast was a game a lot of people remembered fondly. You’ll see it in many lists for the best games on the console. Unfortunately, the game doesn’t hold up that well. You start the adventure with an iconic bit of dialogue before being thrust into an action game where the camera automatically scrolls. Each combat scenario feels awkward as a result, and that’s enhanced by the stiff controls. The music also feels strangely out of place. It’s not awful, bꦑut it’sꦇ far from the best.

27 🐽 Underrated: The Revenge Of Shinobi

When it comes to action platformers, The Revenge of Shinobi understands just about every꧟thing necessary for success. It was difficult but fair. The name of the game was knowing your opponent’s attack patterns and exploiting their openings. Keep in mind that you take control of a ninja who rushes through several insane levels set to a stellar soundtrack. He comes in contact with foes that strongly resemble the likes of Godzilla, Rambo, and even Batman himself. Why wouldn’t you want to play this game?

26 Overrated: Mo🍨rtal Kombat ⛄

Mortal Kombat, as a series, has improved since it first began on the Genesis. The first entry was a corny, barebones fighting game that marketed itself around a single gimmick: gore. Achieving a fatality was the success that many players strived for, but that was about it. A lot of the character designs were basic at best, and the fighting mechanics were stale when compared to something like Street Fighter or even Streets of Rage. At❀ least you throw your opponents into spikes, though.

25 𒉰 Underrated: Kid🔜 Chameleon

Kid Chameleon is a game that hasn’t received the best reviews after its release. However, we’re here to tell you tha🌜t it’s one of the most smartly-made games on the Genesis. It’s difficult to the point where you want to knock your own teeth out, but everything is done so carefully and intentionally that there’s no denying how good it is. The level design is tight, each obstacle and enemy teaching you to learn its mechanics like they’re an entirely new language. It’s hard, but we’ll be darned if it isn’t good.

24 ও 🌄 Overrated: Ecco The Dolphin

Ecco the Dolphin has some unique controls, allowing you to dash through the water and leap along the surface. The problem with the game is that it’s very confusing. By opening the ocean to players at the start, most get confused as to where they need to go. Many people proclaim how much they love the game, but without any proper indication that there’s a purpose behind all the swi💃mming, it’s difficult to see where the enjoyment is. At least the controls are decent.

23 🃏 Underrated: ToeJam Anꦡd Earl

Most products that are so obviously from the 90s don’t stand the test of time all that well. However, the time-sensitive ridiculousness of ToeJam and Earl allows it to hold up phenomenally. You and a friend go through levels from a top-down perspective, throwing tomatoes at any foe that dare get in your way. It’s a wacky and stylistic game th🉐at just kicks back to havℱe a good time with itself. If you like this game, you’ll be pleased to know that the series is being revived.

22 ꦿOve💯rrated: Vectorman

The way Vectorman is designed encourages players to speed through levels, shooting and running through everything that gets in their path. The problem is that the camera is far zoomed in that it makes the game more difficult to play. On top of that, there’s no denying that the anim🌞ations look good, but the graphics themselves (par🍨ticularly in the color department) haven’t aged all that well. The sound effects can also be so loud and cacophonous that it blasts right through your eardrum.

21 🔥Underrated: Flicky 🦄

Flicky is one of the most fun and creative arcade-style games to date. You take control of a little blue bird, whose responsibility is to save chicks scattered throughout a level while avoiding tigers and iguanas. It’s a tense yet adorable game. The sound effects can be a bit harsh when compared to th🐠e light soundtrack, but that doesn’t stop it from being an enjoyable experience through and through. Those who get good at the game are also rewarded by getting extra lives.