As the last Sega home console, the Dreamcast was actually far ahead of its time. Unfortunately, fans were too burned by the company releasing so many consoles in quick succession. There was also the fact that Sony and Nintendo were firing on all cylinders with the best PS1 games and best N64 games around this time. In the end, it didn’t matter how good the Dreamcast’s lineup was if no one was around to play them.
Years late,r we’ve realized the error of our ways and come to appreciate all the great games the Dreamcast gave us. While some did get ports later, a lot of games were only available on this little white system. Many iconic franchises got their start here, including some games we think are among the best games of all time.
Let’s dream together one more time about the Dreamcast and remember all its best games. Or you can take a look at our list of the best Sega Genesis games for even more nostalgia.
Fighting
SoulCalibur
83%
Platforms
Xbox 360, Dreamcast, Android, iOS, Arcade
Genre
Fighting, Arcade
Developer
Project Soul
Publisher
Namco
Release
July 30, 1998
A successor to Soul Edge on the PlayStation and arcade, Soulcalibur is one of the best fighting games of all time. With nearly 20 playable characters, the weapon-based fighting game was deep, replayable, and inspired a multiplayer community that remains strong today. Though the excellent create-a-character option wasn’t introduced to the series for a few more years, the Dreamcast’s Soulcalibur not only proved that the fighting genre had a home on the Dreamcast, but that is was also a far more capable platform for those games than systems like the PlayStation and Nintendo 64.
Marvel vs. Capcom 2: New Age of Heroes
86%
Platforms
PlayStation 2, Xbox, Dreamcast, Arcade
Genre
Fighting
Developer
Capcom Production Studio 1
Publisher
Virgin Interactive Entertainment, Capcom
Release
February 24, 2000
The recently released Marvel vs. Capcom: Infinite quite possibly killed one of the best superhero games series for good, but it was at its absolute peak with Marvel vs. Capcom 2: New Age of Heroes. Released in the arcade before coming to the Dreamcast, the game throws the most famous Marvel superheroes up against Capcom’s deep roster of characters from series like Street Fighter, Darkstalkers, Mega Man, and Resident Evil. It isn’t the deepest roster ever, but the tag-team fighter had enough depth to make it a competitive staple. Unfortunately, the game is now extremely rare, selling for more than $50 used from third-party sellers.
Power Stone 2
80%
Platforms
Dreamcast, PlayStation Portable, Arcade
Genre
Fighting, Platform
Developer
Capcom
Publisher
Eidos Interactive Europe, Capcom
Release
April 27, 2000
Not every fighting game has to become an e-sport, and they don’t necessarily stick to the standard 2D, 1v1 framework established in Street Fighter and Mortal Kombat. Power Stone 2 is a 3D environment-focused multiplayer fighting game that lets players use objects they find to blast away at their opponents, and the emphasis is on all-out chaos over technical mastery. That makes it a great choice for parties, and its unique take on the genre even led to the spiritual successor LastFight being released in 2016.
Fatal Fury: Mark of the Wolves
Platforms
Dreamcast
Genre
Fighting
Developer
SNK
Publisher
Agetec
Release
November 01, 2001
First available at the arcade and on SNK’s Neo Geo system before coming to the Dreamcast in 2001, Fatal Fury: Mark of the Wolves’ status as a port likely allowed it to keep its crisp, sprite-based artwork instead of the 3D character models that were quickly becoming the industry norm. The crime-themed fighter’s cadence was similar to Street Fighter or Tekken, but with just enough extra flash. The series was killed off after Mark of the Wolves’ release, but it has aged much better than many other games for the Dreamcast.
Street Fighter III: 3rd Strike
82%
Platforms
Arcade
Genre
Fighting, Arcade
Developer
Capcom Production Studio 2
Publisher
Capcom
Release
May 12, 1999
Less popular than the massively influential Street Fighter II or the sequel Street Fighter IV, Capcom’s Street Fighter III 3rd Strike has nevertheless developed a cult following, and it continues to be played competitively in 2018. The game added in a host of new characters alongside staples like Ryu and Ken, but chose to eliminate many of the series’ longtime favorites. Its fighting chops aren’t up for debate, however, and it has subsequently been re-released on several other systems.
Project Justice
81%
Platforms
Dreamcast, Arcade
Genre
Fighting
Developer
Capcom
Publisher
Capcom
Release
December 17, 2000
A stylish and goofy school-based 3D fighter, Project Justice is a sequel to the game Rival Schools, and uses a similar fighting style. The team-based fighter allows players to use special “Party Up” techniques to deliver damage with all teammates simultaneously, and individual fighters’ moves are based on their school specialization. With an over-the-top story that would be at home in manga or anime, Project Justice is perfect for fighting game fans who don’t take themselves, or their games, too seriously.
Sports and racing
Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 2
86%
Platforms
PC (Microsoft Windows), PlayStation, Xbox, Mac, Dreamcast, iOS
Genre
Sport
Developer
Westlake Interactive, Neversoft Entertainment
Publisher
Aspyr Media, Activision
Release
September 20, 2000
A phenomenal time capsule sending players back to the heyday of fast-paced punk rock and big-air skating tricks, Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater took the formula established in the previous, and perhaps best skateboarding game and polished it to a glorious sheen. Classic career and free skate modes allow you to master the most difficult tricks, and the game was also the first to include the Create-a-Park option. Your imagination was the only thing between yourself and the perfect skate park, all while you blast classics from bands like Millencolin and Bad Religion in the background.
San Francisco Rush 2049
73%
Platforms
Nintendo 64, Dreamcast, Arcade
Genre
Racing
Developer
Atari Games
Publisher
Midway Games
Release
January 01, 1999
A racing game from back before realism and attention to detail were truly possible – though other games would tell you they were – San Francisco Rush 2049 took the street racing genre and applied a healthy dose of science-fiction to it, resulting in a game that blurred the line between standard arcade racing and something more experimental. The Dreamcast version was a port of the original arcade game, but manages to deliver an experience that is almost identical but takes up a lot less space.
Crazy Taxi
74%
Platforms
PC (Microsoft Windows), PlayStation 2, PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, Nintendo GameCube, Dreamcast, Android, iOS, Arcade
Genre
Racing, Arcade
Developer
Hitmaker
Publisher
Sega, Acclaim Entertainment, Activision Value
Release
February 12, 1999
The chances are pretty good that you thought of Crazy Taxi first when you saw the title of this list. Not a traditional racing game where you attempt to beat other cars to the finish line, Crazy Taxi instead challenges you to deliver as many taxi patrons as possible to their destination, making use of ramps, hills, and shortcuts to get from point to point without wasting any time. With a bumping soundtrack and cheesy product placement for places like KFC and Pizza Hut, it’s impossible to take seriously, and that’s why it works so well.
Shooter
Quake III Arena
84%
Platforms
Linux, PC (Microsoft Windows), PlayStation 2, Xbox 360, Mac, Dreamcast
Genre
Shooter
Developer
id Software, Raster Productions, Bullfrog Productions, Pi Studios
Publisher
Activision, Loki Software, Sega, Electronic Arts
Release
December 02, 1999
Less can sometimes be more, and in the case of Quake III: Arena, Id Software discovered that to be true. Ditching the single-player modes of the first two games, Quake III focused entirely on lightning-fast multiplayer shooter action. Because of the Dreamcast’s internet connectivity, it was one of the first console shooters to have its own online multiplayer community, who were at last able to enjoy the same competitive experience their PC peers had been playing for several years, rage-quitting and all.[/dt_media
Tom Clancy's Rainbow Six: Rogue Spear
82%
Platforms
PC (Microsoft Windows), PlayStation, Mac, Dreamcast
Genre
Shooter, Simulator, Tactical
Developer
Red Storm Entertainment
Release
August 31, 1999
Unreal Tournament
85%
Platforms
Linux, PC (Microsoft Windows), PlayStation 2, Mac, Dreamcast
Genre
Shooter
Developer
Epic Games
Publisher
GT Interactive Software, Infogrames, MacSoft Games
Release
November 22, 1999
Long before Gears of War and Fortnite, Epic Games created one of the best FPS games in Unreal Tournament. Much like Quake III, Unreal Tournament focuses primarily on multiplayer battles rather than a staged, story-focused campaign, and it’s packed full of different modes to satisfy nearly every competitive player. First released on the PC, the Dreamcast port features smooth and twitch-focused shooting, complete with an array of crazy weapons to frag your friends and send them soaring through the air.
Role-playing
Skies of Arcadia
86%
Platforms
Dreamcast
Genre
Role-playing (RPG), Adventure
Developer
Overworks
Publisher
Sega
Release
October 05, 2000
Airships, more than 20 playable characters, and a story with a conflict threatening to affect the entire planet? It isn’t Final Fantasy VI, but Skies of Arcadia’s air-pirate-themed take on role-playing games was acclaimed in its own right for its combat systems, diverse environments, characters, and gorgeous visuals. The game’s unique twists on classic adventure tropes, along with its epic scope, help to make it an adventure worth taking – even nearly two decades after its initial release.
Phantasy Star Online
78%
Platforms
Dreamcast
Genre
Role-playing (RPG), Hack and slash/Beat 'em up, Adventure
Developer
Sonic Team
Publisher
Sega
Release
December 21, 2000
The Nintendo and Sony consoles often received attention for their library of excellent role-playing games, often leaving Sega’s own excellent games to be ignored in the discussion. The Phantasy Star series gave Genesis players plenty to love during the 16-bit era, and Phantasy Star Online took things a step further by bringing in other players from around the world. Years ahead of its time, Phantasy Star Online gave players a chance to team up and face threats together, without limiting them in the same as even the best MMORPG games typically do. It’s playable offline, as well, despite the name.
Action
Jet Grind Radio
76%
Platforms
Dreamcast
Genre
Music, Platform, Adventure
Developer
Smilebit
Publisher
Sega
Release
June 29, 2000
Also known as Jet Set Radio outside North America, Jet Grind Radio was the ultimate game to ring in the new millennium. Its grinding and trick-focused movement systems were similar to the Tony Hawk series, but with less focus on realism than the skating game, and the spray-painting mechanic and over-the-top action offered a sense of rebellion and anti-corporate attitude that games in 2018 often avoid. It’s also one of the most influential games for the Dreamcast, as its movement and visual style clearly served as inspiration for the Xbox One and PC game Sunset Overdrive.
Sonic Adventure 2
74%
Platforms
Dreamcast
Genre
Platform, Adventure
Developer
Sonic Team USA
Publisher
Sega
Release
June 23, 2001
The Sonic the Hedgehog series fell into a freefall as it fully transitioned to 3D games in the early 2000s, but Sonic Adventure 2 managed to deliver the same fast and action-packed Sonic gameplay fans had come to expect from the best Sonic games while also putting a greater focus on puzzles, exploration, and story than its predecessors. Vehicular sections and multiple playable characters helped to keep the gameplay diverse, without going so off course to the point of being unrecognizable, and it still has plenty of that classic Sonic attitude.
Action-adventure
Shenmue II
81%
Platforms
PC (Microsoft Windows), Xbox, Dreamcast, PlayStation 4, Xbox One
Genre
Role-playing (RPG), Adventure
Developer
Sega AM2, Rutubo Games
Publisher
Sega, Microsoft Game Studios
Release
September 06, 2001
A slower-paced action-adventure game with a focus on storytelling and character-building rather than all-out chaos, the Shenmue series has developed a cult following. The sequel’s approach to open-world design, bizarre mini-games, and simulation helped to make it a truly influential action-adventure game, despite the visuals looking fairly dated by today’s standards. Nearly 20 years later, the game received a sequel, which carried on the legacy of the original in a contemporary setting — for better or worse.
Resident Evil Code: Veronica
69%
Platforms
Dreamcast
Genre
Shooter, Puzzle, Adventure
Developer
Nextech
Publisher
Eidos Interactive, Capcom, Sega
Release
February 03, 2000
A successor to Resident Evil 2 and starring the Redfield siblings, Resident Evil: Code Veronica continues the survival-horror gameplay of its predecessors, delving further into the mysteries surrounding Raccoon City and the zombie outbreak threatening to destroy the world. Despite not being a numbered entry in the series, Code Veronica is crucial for those looking to understand the ongoing narrative, and it contains an appearance from longtime antagonist Albert Wesker. For more like this, we’ve found the best Resident Evil games as well as the best Zombie games of all time.
Simulation and novelty
The Typing of the Dead
66%
Platforms
PC (Microsoft Windows), PlayStation 2, Dreamcast, Arcade
Genre
Shooter
Developer
WOW Entertainment
Publisher
Sega
Release
December 31, 1999
The House of the Dead series is great fun for when you want to blast away zombies with a light gun, but it doesn’t really help you learn anything. What if you fight for your life, kill zombies, and learn a little something in the process? Typing of the Dead mixes typing tutor with zombie survival by replacing your gun with a keyboard. The reticles on the screen are replaced by words that you must type in order to survive. Silly as the premise is, The Typing of the Dead is super addicting, and it genuinely helps you type more quickly and with fewer errors. After all, if you fail, you die, or you have to watch Uwe Boll’s horrid House of the Dead movie, which is a fate much worse than death.
Seaman
80%
Platforms
PC (Microsoft Windows), PlayStation 2, Dreamcast
Genre
Puzzle, Simulator, Adventure
Developer
Vivarium
Publisher
Sega
Release
July 29, 1999
Seaman is a truly unique game that combines a little bit of everything, from baseball to gangster rap, to create a captivating yet bizarre experience. The game’s mission is to oversee the upbringing of a marine-like being who you nourish and enrich intellectually by conversing with it through your microphone. You have to monitor things like temperature and health to make sure it’s safe and thriving. As the Seaman grows, it will begin speaking to you, learning vocabulary, and even mimicking slang. To keep your new friend intellectually stimulated, you need to provide fresh conversation, asking questions, and offering inspiration. The more you engage with your Seaman, the more he’ll share with you – so you need to be sure not to bore him into silence. Players who keep up with it will learn the centuries-long history of the Seaman. Probably our favorite part of the game, though, is the narrator, the late Leonard Nimoy. Seaman will draw fans of novelty games and delivers on many levels.
