11. Shinobi III: Return of the Ninja Master (MD)

Though this series has had attempted reboots, it's the 16-bit era that is particularly memorable. Shinobi III: Return of the Ninja Master serves up some fun sidescrolling action, and though the debate can be had about the best Shinobi game of the era this certainly added some welcome gameplay enhancements. Dashing, wall jumping / bouncing and some memorable stages make this a fun title to revisit; it's also a particularly good-looking 16-bit title, too.

10. Ghouls 'n Ghosts (MD)

The game certainly packs a stern challenge — once you've completed it you have to go through the levels all over again — a fact that some people may find annoying, but others will love. The G'n'G series is infamous for its difficulty and this Mega Drive conversion is 100% faithful in that respect. Only bettered by the excellent Super Ghouls 'n Ghosts on the SNES, the game remains one of the best MD platformers and is worth checking out even if you've already played the aforementioned classic.

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9. Phantasy Star IV (MD)

Phantasy Star IV was the last entry of the 'original' 16-bit run, and offers a sizeable and rather immersive RPG experience to this day. As you'd expect you explore the world, meet its citizens, gain experience and engage in turn-based battles, similar to other classics of the era.

It's fondly regarded for its excellent visuals and overall craft, and you don't really need to have played its predecessors to enjoy the story, making it a recommendation for some classic retro RPG goodness.

8. Landstalker: The Treasures of King Nole (MD)

If you happened to own a PlayStation and the game Alundra, and you're thinking "Hey, this game looks similar", you don't know how right you are — some of the same developers worked on that game, too. A great-looking action RPG from Climax Entertainment, Landstalker's dungeons are well-designed and have some smart puzzles, including some that make clever use of the isometric view, and the final dungeon is a true masterpiece. Landstalker is one of the strongest entries in the Genesis library.

7. Crusader of Centy (MD)

If you're going to make a 'Zelda clone', then at least make it a good one. That's what developer Nextech did with Crusader of Centy, known as Soleil in Europe, an action-adventure which wears its inspiration on its sleeve, hat, jacket, belt buckle, and boots. For Genesis owners envious of the adventures of Link, Corona's quest was a good-looking substitute that certainly looked that part, even if Nintendo fans had seen it all before. Apart from the Sonic cameo, of course.

6. The Revenge of Shinobi (MD)

In the late '80s and early '90s, Sega was at its creative peak and The Revenge of Shinobi is a game developed when the company was firing on all cylinders. A sequel to Sega’s hugely popular 1987 arcade title, this game is thoroughly deserving of its solid-gold classic status, with gorgeous early 16-bit visuals and soundtrack from Yuzo Koshiro providing that patented Sega style. If you’ve experienced its charms previously, then chances are you already own this multiple times; if you haven’t, you’re in for a real treat.

5. Shining Force II: Ancient Sealing (MD)

The original Shining Force was a massive success for Sega, granting the Genesis/Mega Drive with a strategy RPG to rival Nintendo’s popular Fire Emblem franchise. A sequel of some description was inevitable and the result was truly mind-blowing at the time; it’s little wonder that this game is held in such high regard by hardcore Sega fans. Overall, Shining Force II doesn’t attempt to do anything new and is essentially a solid extension of the first title, but fans of the original will adore this.

4. Castlevania: Bloodlines (MD)

Available on Switch as part of the Castlevania Anniversary Collection, as well via the NSO Expansion Pack, Castlevania: Bloodlines — or Castlevania: The New Generation as it was known in Europe — has the distinction of being the only series entry to grace SEGA's 16-bit console. While Dracula X would show the world what Konami could achieve in the realm of CD-ROM, Bloodlines – which was released around the same time – would prove that the company's staff could make Sega's 16-bit hardware sing. Konami pledged its support to the Mega Drive / Genesis around this time after years of being committed to Nintendo, and while this instalment feels slightly different from what went before, it's still an utterly fantastic take on the series.

Set around the period of World War I, it attempts to link up the Castlevania narrative with the events of Bram Stoker's Dracula novel. However, it's the globe-trotting nature of the game – levels take place across Europe, including Greece, France, and finally England – which makes it stand out. Michiru Yamane, whose compositions have become synonymous with the series, began her association with Castlevania here, and despite the comparative weakness of the Mega Drive sound hardware compared to that of the SNES, she delivers some of the best tunes in the franchise.

3. Gunstar Heroes (MD)

A 16-bit classic from Treasure, this was one of the very best games of its generation and still feels remarkably fresh decades later. With a neat weapon combo mechanic, gorgeous visuals, a brilliant soundtrack, and fantastic variety in its gameplay — not to mention a cracking 2-player co-op mode — it remains an absolute pleasure to run and, indeed, gun through Gunstar Heroes.

2. Streets of Rage 2 (MD)

A seminal belt scrolling beat 'em up that gave SEGA fans some real ammunition in the dark times of the playground console wars. Perhaps Streets of Rage 2's biggest achievement is that, while co-opting a significant portion of arcade Final Fight's style and swagger, it makes those borrowed mechanics absolutely its own through sheer quality. The first game in the series had great audio and half-decent brawling gameplay, but the sequel had the mechanics to match the music. The combination of that balletic combat with the incredible work of composer Yuzo Koshiro and collaborator Motohiro Kawashima created one of the best video games ever made for any console.

1. Sonic the Hedgehog 2 (MD)

Anyone Sonic fan alive at the time will remember Sonic 2sday, the November launch day of Sega's biggest sequel. If you had a Genesis / Mega Drive in your household throughout Holiday Season 1992, it almost certainly had a copy of Sonic 2 in the cart slot. Adding everyone's favourite two-tailed fox into the mix, Sonic 2 upped the ante with slicker visuals, more ideas, more varied Zones to explore, and a nifty split-screen two-player mode, as well — a real novelty and technical achievement at the time.

In addition to being part of the Nintendo Switch Online Expansion Pack offering, it's available on Switch in the SEGA Mega Drive Classics collection, as part of the SEGA AGES series, or revamped in Sonic Origins. However you play, it still stands as one of the best sequels ever made.

Let us know your thoughts below, and remember — if you haven't rated your favourite games from the list, you can still do so and influence the overall ranking. New Genesis games added to the service will appear here, too, so check back in the future and rank them as well. You know, if you like.

And if you're after a full list of every Nintendo Switch Online retro game currently available, we're happy to oblige.

Further reading:

This article is one of our Switch Essentials guides which cover a wide variety of genres, including the Best Switch FPS Games, the Best Switch RPGs, the Best Switch Games For Kids, the Best Switch Couch Co-Op Games and the Best Switch Fitness and Exercise Games. We can also help out hunting down the Best Switch Horror Games, the Best Switch Racing Games, the Best Switch Action-RPGs, the Best Nintendo Switch Roguelikes, Roguelites and Run-Based Games, the Best Free Switch Games, the Best Remakes And Remasters, the Best Switch Music And Rhythm Games, Best Feel-Good Switch Games, Best Switch Open-World Games, Best Switch Soulslike Games, Best LGBTQ+ Switch Games, and even Games to Play After You've Finished Zelda: Breath of the Wild.

Whatever your favourite genre, we've got you covered: Strategy Games, Metroidvanias, Puzzle Games, Party Games, Online Multiplayer Games, Local Wireless Multiplayer Games, Shmups, Twin-Stick Shooters, Visual Novels, Kart Racers, Fighting Games, Football Games, Funny Games, Golf Games, 'Walking Sims' And Narrative Games, Switch Games For Lovers And Lonely Hearts, Detective Games, Hidden Gems, 2D Platformers, 3D Platformers, Puzzle Platformers, Tabletop Mode Games, Run and Gun Games, LEGO Games, Sports Games, Survival Games, Beat 'Em Ups, Camera Games, Chill Games, Family Games, Retro-Inspired Games, Short Games, Card Games and Deck-Builders, and Life Sims And Farming Games.

Still hungry for more? Elsewhere we look at Wholesome Games, TATE Mode Games, Flight Sim and Space Combat, Point and Click Adventure Games, and the Best Switch Exclusives, as well as Every Arcade Archives Game, Every ACA Neo Geo Game, Every SEGA AGES Game On Switch, plus the Best Switch Ports, Best Wii U-To-Switch Ports, Best Switch Collections And Compilations, Best Cheap Switch Games, Best Switch Demos, Games That Are Better On Switch OLED, Switch Games Under $10, $20, $50, and Switch games with the Best Soundtracks and the Best Graphics. Phew!

If you're looking for the best Switch games regardless of genre, our reader-voted selection of the Best Nintendo Switch Games should help you out, and you can also find the Best Nintendo Switch Games of 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, and 2023. And finally, if you're interested in other Nintendo consoles and retro games, check out the Best Game Boy Games, Best GBC Games, Best GBA Games, Best Nintendo DS Games, Best Nintendo 3DS Games, Best NES Games, Best SNES Games, Best N64 Games, Best GameCube Games, and Best Wii Games, and Best Wii U Games, as well as Every Available Nintendo Switch Online Retro Game, and ranked lists of Every Nintendo Switch Online NES, SNES, N64 and Sega Genesis / Mega Drive Game.