Minigames can be completed to unlock some nice extras, and extra time can be earned by performing a ‘crazy hop’ over certain items or surfaces. Like many of the best Dreamcast games on the console, the Power Stone series started life as an arcade game. Some of you might be thinking that this game should have been a bit further back up towards the top of the list, but I loved this cartoon as a kid, and getting to control Buzz in his very own adventure was so cool! The House Of The Dead 2 has a cool multiple path feature. The storyline revolves around protagonist Ryo Hazuki setting out on a quest to avenge the death of his father. There are also minigames that the player can play through too, and who doesn’t love a good minigame from time to time. Another wildly innovative Dreamcast original, Jet Grind Radio (that's Jet Set Radio outside of the States) stars a young gang of rollerblading graffiti artists who fight to express themselves in the police state of Tokyo-to. From a no-brainer to a game that’s a real ‘brain-acher’, Bangai-O takes the Number 48 slot on our list. Race a villain to the end of a level, collecting coins that can be traded for other weapons or devices to propel you further into future levels as you go. Best Dreamcast Video Games of All Time - Metacritic. This was the last game to ever be released for the Dreamcast in Europe too, and I can remember seeing this on sale in Game back in 2000. But it’s one of the most memorable games on the console because of it! Action. Unfortunately, the Bomberman Online servers have now closed down, but there’s plenty of offline action that you can enjoy to get your blast-battle fill! The 10 Best Dreamcast Games (Updated 2021) The Sega Dreamcast is easily the most overlooked console of the late 90s, but it still has some gems. This isn’t the first time that I’ll say this in this article, but this game has a very strong ‘Pacific Rim’ vibe to it, which is great in my opinion. You could also keep certain items to hand and pull them out in a fight to give you an advantage over your opponent. There’ nothing wrong with Crazy Taxi 2; it’s a great game with lots of action and added elements that tried to push it that one-step beyond the original game. It features calendarized and yearly based seasons, with players having to take part in training matches and regimes that are tricky but fun to play through. The game capably competes against any other college football product on the market. Next up on our list of the best Dreamcast games of all time is Toy Commander, a ‘Toy Story’ inspired game with serious firepower. In fact, I think it’s safe to say that it’s the ruler of the genre. Next up on our list of the best Dreamcast games is Ooga Booga, a magical multiplayer title that was also one of the last online games to be made for the console. Crazy Taxi. Ulala, a reporter for Space Channel 5, is reporting on the invasion of an alien race, but she soon finds herself in hot water. The 10 best Dreamcast games. It’s also a series that blatantly uses sexualisation as its main marketing tool. Adventure. If you have ever been to any arcade room in a bowling alley or gaming hall, then you’re bound to have had a go on the next title on our list of the best Dreamcast games of all time. Napple Tale: Arsia in Daydream was released back in the year 2000. The gaming console was launched back in 1998. Four players could fight online with some of the best weapons in the Quake franchise at their disposal. It doesn't make a whole lot of sense to convert The House of the Dead 2 - an excellent light gun game, it must be said - into a game where you kill zombies by speedily typing in words or phrases, but the reality is pure genius. There are hidden characters to unlock, just like in Super Smash Bros., and you are rewarded for pulling off the perfect block via the ‘Just Defend’ rating system. Long before Mario Kart 8 characters were driving upside down and flying through the air, the cars in San Fransisco Rush were soaring along tracks and pulling off unbelievable moves. As well as the full roster of SF3’s 10 characters (eight of them new to the series) and the new entrants added for the 2nd Impact instalment, 3rd Strike adds five new characters including fan-favorite Chun-Li, bringing the initial playable total to 19 (villain Gill is also unlockable). Players can choose from easy to handle boats or ones that fly through the course faster than an erratic fruit fly on speed, using boost ramps to get from A to B without crashing and hopefully beating your opponents. Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater was immediately revolutionary upon its 1999 release, simulating skateboarding in full 3D with a trick-based score system that rewarded dexterity and daring in equal measures. The Dreamcast's technical chops allow for a wildly ambitious sequel, which adds tag-team fighting and multi-tiered stages, complete with cinematic transition animations as fighters smash through stained glass windows and fall into courtyards below, where they stand up and continue the fight. When he's not playing games, he's travelling the world in his self-converted camper van and writing for Retro Dodo's sister site, Van Clan. Shenmue (1 & 2) 2. 620 games were released for the console, a lot of which are incredibly innovative and fun to play, but sadly without the longevity needed to make the Dreamcast a house-hold name today. And it's the absolute best Dreamcast game, period. Like Shenmue, Sword of the Beserk was one of the first games on the scene to make use of quick-time events. This Dreamcast version slaps a fresh sheen on the timeless favorite, offering a host of customization options and some new courses that make the most of the Dreamcast's technical grunt with some impressively large draw-distances. The levels take the form of ‘movie theatres’, and enemies lock on in an RPG fight-style. It's hard to imagine a fighting game today making the kind of impact of Soulcalibur, but Namco's Dreamcast launch title was boldly revolutionary, completely raising the bar for how a 3D console fighter could look and play. That event kicks off a lengthy and deliberate tale of revenge across the open-world setting, with the adventure filled with hand-to-hand fights, quick-time events, and plenty of time spent gathering clues as you explore the environments. Skies Of Arcadia It loosely follows the same game-mechanic as Street Fighter and other similar titles, though the storyline in Project Justice is pretty special in it’s own right! He looks as though he should be rolling around with Ai-Ai and Gon-Gon in Super Monkey Ball. It was Sega’s attempt to draw in female gamers and took two years to develop. The player starts off controlling Eriko Christy a girl who heads into the themepark to try to rescue her friends. Other refinements were made such as changing move combos and adding in a guard option. There are different characters to play as, all with different trucks and abilities. It’s like Space Invaders on steroids, and the careful design that has gone into the various levels is out of this world… literally! By the time inferior ports were released for PlayStation 2 and PC, it had been greatly overshadowed by Final Fantasy 10 and other cinematic genre heavyweights. … as long as you weren’t a European gamer, that is! No. … which means it’s just as good and definitely worth buying! The game is split between a remote prison and a research facility, two of the most creepy settings on earth. This game has more angry feuds and battles than Game of Thrones! Raziel’s weapons and abilities are completely out of this world (it’s mostly set in the underworld, after all), and the story is so immersive that you’ll find yourself sliding forward onto the edge of your seat in no time. Are you up for the challenge? Plus with bonus boats and courses to uncover, there was plenty for gamers to enjoy. Bangai-O sees you taking controller of a Mech Robot powered by two main characters. I love looking out for these trucks whenever I go to the states, but I certainly wouldn’t want to be on the freeway when one shot past me like they do in this game! Illbleed is a survival/horror title that feels a little like a cheesy ‘B-Movie’ title. 4. There is a European server that still has dedicated fans playing online too, so if you fancy some retro Dreamcast online gaming, then get hold of a copy and get online! Shoot! Screenshot by Eric Franklin/CNET 10. That is, until intentionally open consoles came out, such as the Linux-based Caanoo and many Android-based portables, but I digress. This next fast-paced racer was made exclusively for the Dreamcast and was officially intended to be a launch title. The next title on our list of the best Dreamcast games was all about being a massive rebel, inline skating your way around Tokyo, and graffitiing up any surface that you could find. 1 will not surprise you. Cue carnage. What’s that, now? That’s practically retro gaming royalty right there! We aim to represent the best of all genre's, we try to limit the number of sequels included to allow more underrated games to shine, and also tend to avoid games that have been ported from earlier systems that don't use the hardware to its full potential. The gameplay is akin to Banjo Kazooie with a little bit of Crash Bandicoot thrown in for good measure. 18 Wheeler: American Pro Trucker is essentially a truck version of the Crazy Taxi series. Well, this arcade game that saw a Dreamcast Port in 2001 has all of the same zombie killing action, but the players use keyboards instead of guns to fight them off. Pleasantly, there is now an excellent HD conversion on most consoles, which adds in second-stick camera control, but the Dreamcast original is a riot on its home platform and needs to be sampled as it was originally intended to be played. Obvious Choices: Sonic Adventure, Sonic Adventure 2, Rayman 2, Legacy of Kain: Soul Reaver. It’s a widely held belief that Sega pretty much killed off its mascot when it made the jump to 3D,... 4. If you’re a fan of snowboarding, or just snow in general, then this really is a no-brainer. The lengthy mission mode remains a perfect example of how to augment a quick-play arcade game for weeks of home console play sessions. Get the best gaming deals, reviews, product advice, competitions, unmissable gaming news and more! You can use 544 emulator to play all your favorite games compatible with it. Shame, because the Dreamcast was actually one of Sega's best ever consoles, and a pioneer of modern features - like online play - that are now an integral part of any gaming machine. It has that Time Crisis feel to the gameplay and brought the joy of the arcade into your living room. September 8, 1999. The levels are naturalistic and the tricks based on reality--much more so than the subsequent ever-more-crazy sequels--meaning this game actually inspired people to take up real skateboarding. Though limited compared to traditional PC MMOs, PSO opened up online gaming on consoles to a much wider audience thanks to its automatic language translation of set phrases to anyone in your party regardless of language spoken, and its accessible hack-and-slash combat and still-gorgeous visuals make it hugely appealing. Yep, Skies of Arcadia had it all and was described by critics as being one of the best games for the console. Splitting the quest between Claire and Chris Redfield, the adventure maintained many of the core elements of the beloved franchise while ditching the pre-rendered backdrops of past games for a more cohesive, real-time 3D aesthetic. Well, put it this way, there’s been a new NBA title from the studio every year since. © 0. It really is as bizarre as it sounds, but that's a large part of its appeal--the game even features a cameo from Michael Jackson, who holds a larger part in sequel Space Channel 5: Part 2. It was also pretty short too, which made it less desirable than Number 18 in our list. RELATED: 10 Best Launch Titles For The Sega Dreamcast, Ranked. The phrases and words get harder ad you progress through the game, a factor that the developers of the game hoped would help to educate gamers on spelling and typing while blasting zombies into pieces. It’s a multiplayer classic and one of the best first-person shooters for the console. Expect weird fathers, a bunch of teens who get trapped in a horror theme park, and lots of blood and gore along the way. It’s like a virtual Dungeons and Dragons with nice graphics and gameplay that is 100% addictive. If the player logged on to their Dreamcast at 9am in London, then all of the races in San Fransisco would be at night. The original arcade game with the light rail gun was a huge success, and the Dreamcast port allowed hardy gamers to experience some undead slaying action from the comfort of their own homes. If you owned a Dreamcast at any time during your life, then it's safe to say there were probably a few RPGs in your collection. Video game fishing usually boils down to dropping a lure and reeling in patiently enough to not break the line, but Sega Bass Fishing required a surprising amount of skill and savvy to conquer. It’s set in a world that has been ravaged by a battle between the god of light and the god of darkness. Ooga Booga had a stunning single player mode too. You will receive a verification email shortly. The title also features new gameplay modes and remixed versions of each character’s theme on top of the original tracks, making it a holy grail for Street Fighter completists. This game was fantastic and the vast landscapes that you could explore were breathtaking. Phantasy Star Online was the worlds first online RPG game for home consoles, allowing up to four people to join forces from anywhere in the world for role-playing nerdiness. Both critics and players alike were convinced that nothing could top the original game, but Resident Evil 2 brought better graphics, puzzles, audio, and gameplay, making it the perfect survival horror title and the best game in the genre at the time. I also liked the fact that the Dreamcast version of the game had a role for the VMU to play too. While the game is great, the Dreamcast port could have been so much better if the pre-rendered graphics had been updated. The premise of Crazy Taxi is simple – take passengers to their destination while pulling off cool tricks and destroying stuff. His ship is the Ikaruga, a specially designed craft with two polarities – white and black. Fans of the King of Fighters series, one of the best NEO GEO games of all time, will love having the chance to pit their favourite characters up against Ryu, Chun-Li, and the Street Fighter gang. Here you can play online and download them free of charge. Did you know that there was a Dreamcast Microphone peripheral that you could use with this game? This is a true ‘work your way to the top’ game. One of the best bits about this title is that you can fight multiple opponents at once, making you feel like a virtual Chuck Norris. A kid named Andy (even more Toy Story-esque) receives new ‘Army’ toys for Christmas and forgets all about the other toys that he has played with while growing up. It's probably the coolest game ever made. Make me proud, my little odd-shaped minions! Of all the totally out-there ideas that amazingly became Dreamcast games, The Typing of the Dead is easily the most laughable - and as such, one of the most spectacular of them all. Players could use the device to check on their character’s condition and see how much health they had etc. Now, the Elder God has revived Raziel and made him his personal Soul Reaver. It has five new characters compared to the second title in the sequence, including the return of the classic fighter Chun-Li. You can wield up to three weapons (two different gun types + throwing weapons) and collect power-ups and health along the way. The 30 best Dreamcast games. And the creepy enemies in Soul reaver will leave you wanting to get back in the game and destroy them as soon as possible once you turn off the console, which means that it’s a title that you’ll hardly ever put down! Grandia 2 was hailed as a champ upon its initial Dreamcast release in 2000, serving up one of the top single-player RPG experiences on the platform. We're a team of passionate gamers and nostalgic hunters who want to create a modern, hip hub for all things retro gaming. Apart from that, it’s the same ol’ Crazy Taxi action, which means you’ll love it if you’re still mad for the original game. There are four characters to choose from in this game, all of whom have different weapons and specialties that will lend themselves to certain scenarios more than others. 3D boss battles mixed with a 2.5D top-down world in an adventure RPG title with a storyline as complicated as a flat-pack-furniture instruction booklet. Mat Hoffman is easily the best BMX game on the Dreamcast. Capcom vs SNK takes the Number 20 spot on our list of the best Dreamcast games of all time! Two minutes to complete some of those tasks was so harsh, but pulling them off made you feel like the king of the world. This game started out life as an arcade title and proved to be a big hit. You can play this game in single-player mode, honing your skills against bots instead of real players. It really is one of a kind and changes your perception of blaster games completely. In this futuristic version of San Francisco city, sometimes you’ve got to fly to reach the finish line. Share Share Tweet … The cars in San Fransisco Rush 2049 have the ability to sprout extendable wings from their sides, giving you control over your car in mid-air. Sonic Adventure 2 Read more: Shenmue 3 - everything we know. Platform: Dreamcast. It’s an essential title if you enjoyed playing the first game in the series, and now that Sega has teased a new Sonic game, we may be about to see Sonic Adventure 3 finally hitting virtual shelves! Amazing. Read more: The best Sega Saturn games of all time. That meant that fans wouldn’t be seeing a new Madden release for the console. Hailing from Sonic Team, the comical puzzler features simplistic art design, but it's put to good use in an approach best described as 'controlled chaos'. New York, There was a problem. You’re bound to have a good time no matter how you play Unreal Tournament, which is why it’s a fitting entry for our list of the best Dreamcast games. Do well, and you’ll get a bigger crowd. That’s the bit where you have to make a quick decision that can change the way the game plays from that moment onwards. Like many RPG games, different mana points are used in the battle system with health being picked up along the way. In a change from traditional racing games, Hyrdo Thunder sees players racing gnarly speed boats along a series of water-based courses. Stop an intergalactic war from wiping out mankind? Fans of Resident Evil and The Walking Dead will love this title. Despite its short shelf life, the Dreamcast, like the Saturn before it, became known as the best home for certain arcade fighting games, including the original Marvel vs. Capcom (which was butchered on PlayStation) and its sequel, which was less-expertly ported to other systems further down the line. It’s gory, it’s full of zombies, and it’s probably not something that you’d want to have a go on before eating your dinner. The next title in our list of the best Dreamcast games is a space-age music video game. Not only is it one of the best Dreamcast games, but it’s also a collectors item! The game is primarily 2.5D, though there’s a 3D hub that the player can explore just like in Sonic Adventure. My mates and I still kick back on this game on a weekend, and they still cry when I beat them. It's a beautiful shooter, and thankfully, due to an HD remake on Xbox Live Arcade, more and more people can experience it at a reasonable price. The aim of the game is to direct mice into escape rockets so that they can get away from hungry cats. The ‘2K’ series has gone on to great success since the early days, and thanks to the successful online mode in 2K1, the rest of the games have allowed us to pit our skills against friends and opponents all over the world. Expect robots, fire stones, towers, pirates, and many other amazing elements to this game. Ulala must dance and shoot her way through the various stages in Space Channel 5. The Dreamcast port of this game looked superb and played incredibly well, and it’s one that you should definitely include in your collection. The game did eventually make it to a PlayStation platform as Code: Veronica X for PS2, but Dreamcast series fans got a huge head start on this excellent entry back in 2000. The fighting style is nothing new; it’s the characters that make this game so special. So, join us and celebrate one of the finest gaming consoles ever made, and one that never quite got the appreciation it deserved... Read more: The Best Sega MegaDrive / Genesis games ever. Enemy bullets that are the same colour as the ship will be absorbed, while the opposite colour can destroy the Ikaruga. Garou: Mark of the Wolves is the final instalment in the Fatal Fury series. It’s turn-based, like Skies of Arcadia and Final Fantasy, but the characters also have limited movement, giving you the ability to run up and whoop an opponent with your sword before retreating back to ranks. In true Goldeneye-style, body armour and a whole host of mad weapons can be picked up as you search the levels for other players to wipe out. With a colorful, cartoonish aesthetic and highly distinct fighters (including a small boy named Pete... for no obvious reason), each match proves a whirlwind of fists, feet, and found items. Learn more. Eric Franklin. Sadly, the Dreamcast version of Rez never reached the States (though it did hit Europe), but we've been lucky enough to experience it on PlayStation 2 and Xbox Live Arcade since, with Rez: Infinite on PS4 and PSVR providing the zenith of this truly amazing experience. Everyone loves playing a good button-mash-slash game every now and again. This even bleeds into their final console, the Sega Dreamcast. It came with Alien Front Online as a bundle and plugged into your controller like some audio-equivalent of the Power Ranger’s MegaZord. An alien called ‘Shwang Shwing’ (give me a break) tells the team that the Alien Invasion is far from over, and our band of heroes must once again leap into action. Hydro Thunder was a perfect launch title for the Dreamcast back in the day, and I strongly recommend that you give it a try (if your nerves can take the speed, that is). Most of these were unlocked through the one-player mode and could be enjoyed again and again with a friend. Tennis games are pretty straight forward to explain; play tennis in your living room without getting sweaty. Game on! Next up on our list of the best Dreamcast games is ChuChu Rocket! The mini-games are just as enjoyable as the main game itself, offering silly challenges with bowling pins and targets to hit as you level up your character in order to progress through a World Tour. He also did Liquid Snake in the Metal Gear series. I reckon they were amateurs; you don’t want a game to be over too quickly! Swapping between spectral and material versions of the game world, you'll guide Raziel - a badass wraith - through a hack-and-slash quest to take down the titular Kain. he sure can whoop bad-guys into touch and overcome some of the toughest obstacles known to gaming kind. Project Justice is a team-based fighting game that follows on from ‘Rival Schools – United by Fate’. Multiple RPG games in one list – I feel like I’m binge-watching The Big Bang Theory all over again! Instead of shooting at enemies, you have to type a specific word or phrase to destroy an enemy.