Sonic the Hedgehog Classic
Best Sega Genesis / Mega Drive platformers
The Matrix has 212 platformers on file for the Sega Genesis / Mega Drive, released between 1989–1996. 45 of them support multiplayer, including 10 with co-op. They're ranked below by legacy score, so the games that shaped the genre on the Genesis come first, with lesser-known picks further down.
Platformers are all about movement: running, jumping and timing your way across levels full of gaps, enemies and secrets. The best ones feel great to control within seconds and then slowly teach you to master every leap.
Typical commitment: an evening or two (roughly 1–6 hours to see it through). Tip: Retro platformers often have limited lives and few checkpoints. Learn one level at a time, look for hidden 1-ups, and don't be shy about using a save feature when it is available.
Sonic the Hedgehog 2 Classic Co-op
Sonic the Hedgehog 3 Classic
Sonic & Knuckles Classic
The Lost Vikings Classic Co-op
Flashback Classic
Earthworm Jim Classic
Disney's Aladdin Classic
Mickey Mania Classic
The Lion King Classic
Castlevania: Bloodlines Classic
Cool Spot Classic
Gods Classic
Aero the Acro-Bat Classic
Ecco the Dolphin Classic
Ghouls 'n Ghosts Classic
Ristar Classic
Sonic 3D Blast Classic
Dynamite Headdy Classic
Earthworm Jim 2 Classic
Joe & Mac Classic
Toy Story Classic
Battletoads Classic Co-op
Prince of Persia Classic
Tintin in Tibet Classic
Ecco: The Tides of Time Classic
Maui Mallard in Cold Shadow Classic
Mega Man: The Wily Wars Classic
Pitfall: The Mayan Adventure Classic
Vectorman Classic
World of Illusion Starring Mickey Mouse and Donald Duck Classic Co-op
Aero the Acro-Bat 2 Classic
Animaniacs Classic
James Pond 2: Codename: RoboCod Classic
Landstalker Classic
Pulseman Classic
Rocket Knight Adventures Classic
The Flintstones Classic
Virtual Bart Classic
X-Men Classic Co-op
The Simpsons: Bart's Nightmare Classic
More Genesis platformers
- Fantasia (1991)
- Home Alone 2: Lost in New York (1993)
- Jurassic Park: Rampage Edition (1994)
- Taz-Mania (1992)
- X-Men 2: Clone Wars (1995)
- Garfield: Caught in the Act
- TaleSpin
- Assault Suit Leynos (1990)
- El Viento (1991)
- Férias Frustradas do Pica-Pau (1996)
- Global Gladiators (1993)
- Marble Madness (1993)
- McDonald's Treasure Land Adventure (1993)
- Mega Turrican (1994)
- Mr. Nutz (1994)
- The Smurfs (1994)
- Valis III (1991)
- Wiz 'n' Liz (1993)
- Zero the Kamikaze Squirrel (1994)
- Altered Beast
- DecapAttack
- Wolverine: Adamantium Rage
- Wonder Boy in Monster World
- Asterix and the Great Rescue (1993)
- Asterix and the Power of the Gods (1995)
- Batman (1990)
- Bubba 'n' Stix (1993)
- Cheese Cat-Astrophe starring Speedy Gonzales (1995)
- Gargoyles (1995)
- Hook (1993)
- Marvel Land (1991)
- Mystic Defender (1989)
- Pink Goes to Hollywood (1993)
- Pinocchio (1995)
- Puggsy (1993)
- Radical Rex (1994)
- Second Samurai (1994)
- Spider-Man Animated Series (1991)
- Spirou (1995)
- Spot Goes To Hollywood (1995)
- Sylvester and Tweety in Cagey Capers (1994)
- The Humans (1992)
- Thunder Fox (1991)
- James Pond: Underwater Agent
- Kid Chameleon
- Stargate
- The Simpsons: Bart vs. the Space Mutants
- Turrican
- Barney's Hide & Seek Game (1993)
- Battle Master (1991)
- Blades of Vengeance (1993)
- Bram Stoker's Dracula (1993)
- Bubble and Squeak (1994)
- Chester Cheetah: Too Cool to Fool (1993)
- Chester Cheetah: Wild Wild Quest (1994)
- Doom Troopers: Mutant Chronicles (1995)
- Goofy's Hysterical History Tour (1993)
- Jewel Master (1991)
- Rastan Saga II (1990)
- Rolo to the Rescue (1993)
- Snow Bros.: Nick and Tom (1993)
- Sparkster: Rocket Knight Adventures 2 (1994)
- Stormlord (1990)
- The Pagemaster (1994)
- The Terminator (1992)
- ToeJam & Earl in Panic on Funkotron (1993)
- Wolfchild (1993)
- Bonanza Bros.
- Bubsy 2
- Daze Before Christmas
- Demolition Man
- Strider
- Warlock
- Awesome Possum... Kicks Dr. Machino's Butt (1993)
- Battletoads & Double Dragon (1995)
- Bible Adventures (1995)
- Daffy Duck in Hollywood (1994)
- Dashin' Desperadoes (1993)
- Flink (1994)
- Generations Lost (1994)
- Greendog: The Beached Surfer Dude! (1992)
- Nightmare Circus (1995)
- Snake Rattle 'n' Roll (1993)
- The Great Circus Mystery Starring Mickey & Minnie (1995)
- The NewZealand Story (1990)
- Ariel the Little Mermaid
- Cadash
- Fantastic Dizzy
- Scooby-Doo Mystery
- Shadow of the Beast
- The Addams Family
- Wonder Boy III: Monster Lair
- Crystal's Pony Tale (1994)
- Exosquad (1995)
- Heavy Nova (1992)
- Instruments of Chaos starring Young Indiana Jones (1994)
- Magical Tarurūto-kun (1992)
- Saint Sword (1991)
- Shadow Blasters (1990)
- Socket (1994)
- Star Trek: Deep Space Nine – Crossroads of Time (1995)
- The Berenstain Bears' Camping Adventure (1994)
- The Tick (1994)
- Tinhead (1994)
- B.O.B.
- Cutthroat Island
- James Pond 3: Operation Starfish
- Judge Dredd
- Shadow of the Beast II
- The Aquatic Games Starring James Pond and the Aquabats
- Tom and Jerry: Frantic Antics (1993)
- Universal Soldier
- Captain Planet and the Planeteers (1993)
- Dark Castle (1991)
- Strider II (1993)
- Wardner (1991)
- The Incredible Hulk
- Batman Returns (1992)
- Hurricanes (1994)
- Normy's Beach Babe-O-Rama (1994)
- The Pirates of Dark Water (1994)
- Terminator 2
- Ex-Mutants (1992)
- The Ottifants (1993)
- Turma da Mônica na Terra dos Monstros (1994)
- RoboCop 3
- Atomic Runner (1992)
- Batman: Revenge of the Joker (1992)
- Batman: The Video Game (1991)
- Beauty and the Beast: Belle's Quest (1993)
- Chuck Rock (1991)
- Chuck Rock II: Son of Chuck (1993)
- Cosmic Spacehead (1993)
- Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade (1992)
- Mick & Mack as the Global Gladiators (1992)
- Pocahontas (1996)
- Rockman: Mega World (1994)
- Schtroumpfs Autour du Monde, Les (1996)
- Shadow Dancer: The Secret of Shinobi (1991)
- Spider-Man X-Men: Arcade's Revenge (1993)
- Talmit's Adventure (1992)
- Technocop (1990)
- The Ren & Stimpy Show Presents: Stimpy's Invention (1993)
- Tom Mason's Dinosaurs for Hire (1993)
- Yogi Bear: Cartoon Capers (1994)
- Zool: Ninja of the 'Nth' Dimension (1994)
- Chakan
- Desert Demolition Starring Road Runner and Wile E. Coyote
- Journey from Darkness: Strider Returns
- Sonic & Knuckles + Sonic The Hedgehog
- Sonic & Knuckles + Sonic The Hedgehog 2 + Sonic The Hedgehog 3
- Sonic & Knuckles + Sonic The Hedgehog 3