Summary

• The Sega Saturn boasts 2D fighters, RPGs, and arcade games, delivering a solid 3D experience too.
• Many Saturn games remain playable today, bypassing early-3D growing pains.

🌸The all-too-forgotten Sega Saturn was home to many great games. D﷽espite being considered a commercial failure in the West, it had a much richer library in Japan. The Saturn is most famous for great 2D fighters, shoot em' ups, RPGs, and arcade games. Still, it was more than capable of delivering a solid 3D experience, as well.

With certain Saturn titles finally being remade, it's interesting to see what Saturn games still hold up. Many of the console's best games remain playable today, as the Saturn's greater focus ♑on 2D over its contemporary rivals - at the time considered a financial weakness - has allowed the catalog to largely bypass those awkward early-3D growing pains.

Updated on September 26, 2024, by PJ Molloy: The Sega Saturn may be old, but many of its games still hold up remarkably. We've added a few more must-play recommendations, including a bone-chilling horror title and a Zelda-like action RPG.

18 🅺 💛 Layer Section

A Fast-Paced Shoot 'Em Up With An Interesting Twist

Based on the arcade cabinet RayForce,🌌 Layer Section is a fast-paced top-down shoot 'em up with a fascinating twist. Take contro൩l of a fighter pilot who must fight for humanity's survival after a supercomputer conquers the planet.

The catch? In ad⛄dition to shooting enemies in front of you, you can also attack the foes in the background. The goal is to switch between the two layers to wipe out the constant onslaught of baddies. It's a thrilling adventure with a catchy soundtrack and a challenging difficulty curve.

17 ꦚ The Legend Of Oasis

A Zelda-Like Action RPG

The Legend of Oasis is the Sega Saturn's answer to the Zelda series. This top-down action RPG is a prequel to Beyond Oasis for the Genesis. The plot follows a warrior named Leon who must collect six elemental spirits to gain the powe♎r to defeat a wicked sorcerer nওamed Agito.

Similar to Zelda, you explore an overworld in search of towns to visit and dungeons to conquer. Each dungeon offers a variety of puzzles, secrets, and towering bosses. Check it out ifꦓ you like old-school action-adventure games.

16 Resident Evil ൲ 𒀰

An Iconic Survival Horror Game

Initially launched on the PS1, Resident Evil defined the survival horror genre. Cont🐟rolling S.T.A.R.S. members Jill Valentine and Chris Redfield, you explore the zombie-infested Spencer Mansion while solving puzzles, m💧anaging scarce recourses, and encountering a slew of terrifying jump scares.

Resident Evil hit the Sega Saturn in 1997, featuring new co෴ntent, including a battle mode, brand-new enemies, and alternative costumes. Everything from the bone-chilling atmosphere to the delightfully cheesy dialogue is fully intact, making for a solid port and easily the Saturn's scariest title.

15 Astal

A Feast For The Eyes And Ears

Astal is a great illustration of what the Saturn was b𒈔est at - literally. This 2D platformer looks like a lush fantasy illustration come to life, with rich colors and detailed character animations. It fits the game's fairytale-like narrative about the titular boy, Astal, fighting to save the girl he loves from a cosmic evil.

Though it's relatively basic from a gameplay perspective, Astal's visuals and atmosphere more than make up for its short and simple level desig🥃n. Add in its incredible soundtrack, and you have a prime technical showcase for the Saturn.

14 Princess Crown 🌠

One Of The Most Underrated Sega Saturn Games

Of course, you can't talk about a 2D technical showcase on the Saturn without mentioning Princess Crown. This Japan-only title was directed by Geo🐽rge Kamitani, who would later found the development studio Vanillaware.

Though Princess Crown launched before the birth of Vanillaware, it carries many of the studio's hallmarks: jaw-dropping 2D graphics with a hand-painted look, a grand and serious atmosphere, and satisfying beat-em-up combat with awesome boss battles. If 168澳洲幸运5开奖网:you're a fan of Vanillaware's work - or if you just like anime girls wielding gꦡiant swords - this game is a must-play.

13 ♛ ꦕ Burning Rangers

Almost As Good As A True-Blue Sonic Game

The Saturn's commercial failure can be at🥃tributed to a whole host of𓄧 reasons. One of the biggest factors that led to the system's demise was its lack of a real Sonic the Hedgehog title. Sonic Team had trouble translating the blue blur into three dimensions, so Sega couldn't use its most famous mascot to sell the system. But Sonic Team contributed in other ways.

Burning Rangers, launched at the tail end of the Saturn's life, was one of Sonic Team's original creations for the system - and the game's rockiཧng soundtrack definitely bears the studio's imprint. Its gameplay is unique, casting you as a firefighter in a utopian future society. Though its 3D graphics haven't aged gracefully, the game remains a cult classic.

12 Sega Rally Championship ♔

A Nearly Perfect Arcade Port

The Saturn launched when arcades were still ♑a major factor in the gaming landscape and Sega's arc𓂃ade division factored heavily in the company's decision-making. The transition to 3D marked a true test: would Sega be able to translate its 3D arcade magic for home consoles?

While not every arc🐭ade port to the Saturn was successful, Sega Rally Championship proves that Sega could make lightning strike twice. The game was widely acclaimed in its arcade version. When it was launched on the Saturn, it earned widespread critical adoration all over again. The game's handling and physics still hold up today, and its performance is unbelievably smooth for a game of its time.

11 Bu☂lk Slash

The Best 3D Sega Saturn Game

Though the Saturn barely made a dent in the Western market, the system was far more successful in its native Jap💯an, meaning that many of its best games never made it overseas. Bulk Slash fits right into this trend. Its fully 3D environments make it stand out among the 2𝕴D-focused Saturn's library of games.

Bulk Slash is a futuristic third-person shooter in which you control a mech through various industrial cityscapes, fighting against your foes for justice and liberty. The game's over-the-top combat is mirrored in its anime-style presentation, and its huge levels provide plenty of replay value. It's one of the 168澳洲幸运5开奖网:coolest mech games ever made - and that's saying something.

10 💜 𝐆 X-Men Vs. Street Fighter

An Iconic Fighting Game That Has Barely Aged A Day

Western gamers probably missed X-Men vs. Street Fighter completely, but Capcom graced Japanese Sega Saturn ownersꦜ with one of the richest𒆙 fighting games in its catalog. It's a precursor to the Marvel vs. Capcom series. Beloved features like character assists, all-star teams, and super combos all make an appearance.

X-Men vs. Street Fighter really shines in how well it plays. It's fast, frantic, and full of jaw-dropping animations. The gameplay is made all the smoother because the Saturn controller is tailor-made for fighting games. Even for people picking this up for the first time today, Xꦛ-Men vs. Street Fighter hasn't missed a beat.

9 Nights Iꦏnt💮o Dreams

The Saturn's Most Enduring Mascot

While Sonic has come to stand in for Sega as a whole, Nights, the mysterious star𒅌 of Nights🎐 into Dreams, is the unofficial mascot for the Saturn. Nights is a 2.5D platformer where you fly around to collect orbs and get a high enough score to pass the stage. Other components like enemies, time, and small 3D sections all factor into the gameplay.

The game still looks good, and the controls are spot on. It's one of the easiest games to just pick up and play on the Saturn, but it's by no means easy to beat. Even if Nights isn't quit🌼e as famous as Sonic, it's still a fun game that deserves a larger fanbase.