22. Super Fantasy Zone (MD)

Super Fantasy Zone won't appeal to everyone. It might look like a standard horizontal scrolling shooter, but this game has a very different feel once you begin playing. Its high difficulty is also something that might turn some easily-frustrated players off, but if you're able to enjoy it for what it is, you'll have a very engaging time. With sugary-sweet pastel visuals and a great cute-'em-up soundtrack, there's a lot to love about this unique and oddball shooter. It's not perfect — hey, what game is? — but it's still very entertaining and well worth revisiting.

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21. Earthworm Jim (MD)

Earthworm Jim is a bit of a classic, and for a good reason — it has a ton of style, it's a blast to play, and the animation and music are still impressive all these years later. It might be a bit too hard for some, and it arguably doesn't match up to the very best in the 2D platforming genre, but if you're game for a laugh and don't expect a genre-defining experience, you really can't go wrong here. Plus, save states in the NSO version make it much easier to get through.

20. Dynamite Headdy (MD)

Though most commonly known for fast-paced action games — think Radiant Silvergun, Ikaruga and Gunstar Heroes — Treasure's Dynamite Headdy doesn’t quite adhere to the developer's usual formula. That's not a slight against this platformer, though, since this is arguably (along with the aforementioned Gunstar Heroes) the best Treasure game of the Mega Drive era. It's not quite up there with the cream of the crop of 16-bit platformers such as Super Mario World and the early Sonic games, but it remains a fine game from a fine developer, one that’s well worth your time.

19. Comix Zone (MD)

Released fairly late in the life of the Mega Drive/Genesis, Comix Zone didn't exactly set the world alight in terms of sales but is now rightly regarded as one of the upper-tier titles for Sega's 16-bit wonder machine. A very challenging side-scrolling beat 'em up that sees you brawling your way across comic book cells with small details and fun nods to the print medium along the way, it's a game that's more than the sum of its parts; original, vibrant, and very much recommended.

18. Street Fighter II': Special Champion Edition (MD)

Available on Switch to NSO Expansion Pack subscribers, Street Fighter II: Special Champion Edition was a pretty impressive achievement considering the hardware it was produced for, but it’s really an interesting footnote in the Street Fighter lineage. Although the game bears the ‘Champion Edition’ moniker it does in fact include improvements seen in the arcade ‘Hyper Fighting’ edition of the game (which was ported to the SNES as Street Fighter II: Turbo).

The group battle option is neat and the fact that it includes both the Champion Edition and Hyper Fighting variants of the game is a bonus for completists, but you really need the six-button Genesis pad to make this playable. Toggling between punch and kick by pressing 'Start' is still as unworkable as it sounds.

17. Alien Soldier (MD)

The run-'n'-gun action here is fast and, indeed, furious, so if that sounds like your bag then Alien Soldier could be the game for you. Given the similarities to Treasure’s own Gunstar Heroes, however, this sort of falls short, mainly because the platforming elements are simply not as good. It is also frustratingly difficult at times as well, which may put some people off. Still, this is an enjoyable action game in its own right and well worth a look if you're after a little Treasure.

16. MUSHA (MD)

Released in an era where you couldn't swing a Genesis controller around without knocking a shooter off the shelves, MUSHA was battling against a crowd when it first launched. Nowadays, though, there's more appreciation for this vertical scroller by virtue of its rockin' soundtrack and visuals that are genuinely up there with the best of the era; don't sleep on this one.

15. Beyond Oasis (MD)

Developed by Yuzo Koshiro's company, Ancient, if you're an RPG fan you might find Beyond Oasis a little lightweight. But for those of you that turn pale at the thought of indulging in a role-playing adventure, this should serve as a gentle introduction to the genre. Regardless of your stance, you'd have to be pretty sad and shambling not to enjoy this, plus it's one of the best-looking games ever to grace the system. A sequel was released for the Sega Saturn a few years later and although it improved on the original in terms of graphics and sound, it didn't really take the already-excellent concept any further.

14. Ristar (MD)

You'd perhaps be forgiven for not knowing a great deal about Ristar, but may be intrigued to hear that the concept and ideas for this game were part of development for the original Sonic the Hedgehog. While the focus of SEGA's mascot shifted towards speedier play, the core Sonic development team would eventually return to realise its vision for Ristar, which is certainly fantastical and quirky.

Expect slower platforming and a lot of focus on the ability to grab onto enemies and the environment alike. It's unique and well worth a look.

13. Shining Force (MD)

Though it's not a series that has spanned decades, Shining Force is well worth a look if you like some turn-based strategy RPG goodness; it's rather like a SEGA equivalent to Fire Emblem, but without a 2010s revival. There's a little exploration and typical RPG play, but the meat here is challenging turn-based battles, some of which can take an hour or more to conquer. It's a little 'of its time', sure, but a fascinating part of the Mega Drive / Genesis library.

12. Contra: Hard Corps (MD)

Available as part of the NSO Expansion Pack — and thus technically available to play on a Nintendo console outside of the Contra Anniversary Collection — Contra: Hard Corps represented the SEGA console debut of the series and represented a bit of a spin-off vibe in terms of setting and characters. Though perhaps not easy to appreciate for those that have encountered this solely in the Contra Anniversary Collection, it made some notable changes in control scheme and gameplay mechanics from its predecessors.

An excellent entry, it certainly stands out as an inspiration for some modern-day 'neo-retro' run and gun games, too.