When you talk about the Sega Genesis (Mega Drive), what games do you talk about? What are the first games that come to mind? I would have to guess the Sonic games, Mutant League Football/Hockey, Gunstar Heros, Michael Jackson's Moonwalker, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Hyper Stone Heist, but there is so much more to the Genesis than just the games that have become well known or talked about by collectors.

I am going to give you (the wonderful world of Vizzed!) my top ten hidden gems list for the Sega Genesis. Some of the games may not be totally obscure titles but all of them will be games that are not talked about enough or played as much as they should be. These games have been over looked for too long! Lets get started.

10- Zoom!. This is a puzzle game ported to the Sega Genesis in 1989. Zoom! has a 3D look to the board that looks pretty nice. The goal of the game is to color in all the squares in each stage with out being touched by enemies. You color in the squares just by skating around and connecting the lines. This game was not very popular, and got  bad reviews for lack of  variety, and well, the reviews are right, the game is lacking. If you are a fan of games like Trampoline Terror you will enjoy Zoom!.

9- Dragon's Revenge. This is a Pinball game by Tengen in 93. The artwork really got me to buy this game when I was younger. I seen it and thought it looked really cool, and well it wasn't what I thought it would be, but it was really cool! The graphics are not Tengen's best work, but they are alright to look at. This is pretty much just Pinball (what more do you want a Pinball game to be?), there are mini levels that adds much needed variety. You get to the mini levels by getting the Pinball into certain areas. If you like Pinball, play this, no more needs to be said.

8- Dick Tracy. No, we are not talking about the nightmare that is Dick Tracy for the Nes. I know that game may have left a bad taste in your mouth but don't worry this game is nothing like that one! This is a shoot em up staring the legendary Dick Tracy (Who else would a Dick Tracy game star? Donald Duck?) Now what makes this game good? The graphics are good, the music is alright, and the game play is awesome! You pretty much have to shoot everything that moves, and don't just watch out for enemies in front or behind you, enemies in the back ground will try and kill you too, but don't worry, you can take em out! I love that you have to kill stuff that is in the back ground. I think the bad Nes game put a shadow over this good Genesis game, that is the only reason I can think of why this game isn't more popular.

7- B.O.B.. This is a strange platformer. You are a funky robot with some neat guns. This game is super cheesy in the best way. Its nowhere near as funky as those two rappin aliens, I think you know who I am talking about, but B.O.B. is a great little platformer and worthy of a play or two. 

6- Tinhead. This is a great platformer and a totally overlooked game. You are a cute little metal guy that shoots black balls out of his head, yeah sounds odd but very fun! You can change how you want your projectile to fly. It can go in a straight line, at an angle in the air, and fall to the ground. The graphics are appealing, music is good (nothing too memorable, but good all the same), and the game play is killer. I have not once heard anyone talking about this game and don't think I have ever seen it in a list of top Genesis games, and that is a shame. Play this, DO it!

5- The Pirates of Dark Water. This game is based off the 90's cartoon of the same name. I have never heard of this show before I started playing this game. Pirates of Dark Water is a platformer with a hack 'n slash feel to it. You can pick from three playable characters with their own set of advantages and disadvantages. You can pick what levels you want to do first, and I love that, not too many games let you select what levels you want to play before others. The game starts out pretty dang easy and picks up in difficulty as it goes on. I hate the level where the water is rising! There is alot of variety with the levels and enemies and good graphics and great music. Worth every Viz to play or every cent to buy.

4- Marvel Land. This is one of the Namco games that isn't talked about as much as the others. This platformer has a lot of beautiful stages, cool power ups, odd ball enemies, cute music, and great fast game play. This is an almost perfect platformer. How this game got overlooked, I don't know. This is not the most hidden of the hidden gems but it is not as well known as it should be.

3- Alisia Dragoon. this is a hard game to define (which is a good thing). You have a few sidekicks to pick from, you can switch them out any time, they each do different things and work better on different levels. You attack it this cool magic lighting bolt thing. It is stronger if you let it charge. You and your pet dragons (sidekicks) level up. The graphics are top notch, a great amount of variety, and awesome game play makes this game a blast from start to finish. This game has got a little more attention since the review from Pat the Nes Punk but it is still to overlooked.

2- Ristar. This game is not as hidden as it once was. It has picked up alot of fans and is getting more well known but I am still putting it in my list because it needs to rank up there with Sonic or Ecco as most memorable or best Genesis games. Ristar is a crazy platformer. You attack your enemies by stretching out your arms, grabbing them, and swinging into them. This is really a unique game. One of my favorite things about this game is the boss fights, they get pretty hard but in a very fun way.

1- Haunting staring Polterguy. this is one of the craziest games I have ever played. I mean really, its a mad house! You are a ghost that just wants to scare the pants off the new family that moves in and when they move out, they were so much fun you follow them around. Haunting is kinda cheesy but in the best way. I really just don't know how to describe this one, you will just have to play it yourself. Haunting is one of my favorite games of all time. It is really sad that this game is still not as popular as it should be. 

Now, you may want to know what I want you to post. I want you to go play these games if you haven't. If you like em, you can thank me. If you think I left off a game that should have been on this list you can let me know and let me know why. I hope you all enjoyed my Top Ten!

I couldn't agree more with numbee one! Haunting is an awesome game that definitely deserved a lot more attention than it got. It's one of my favorires, for sure.

I don't like number seven. : But to each their own.

Now to try these others! Thanks for the tips, man.

Eirinn : Thank you Eirinn. I know you already know most (if not all) of these games, you are almost as crazy about the Genesis as I am. 

Good thread. I liked your choices. Especially Haunting. That game is one of the most unique games I have ever played.

It's hard now to choose some "hidden gems" because there have been so many videos/blogs talking about lesser remembered titles, but here are some of mine:

ComixZone - One of my favorite games on ANY system

Quackshot Starring Donald Duck - Can be a pain at times, but the game is really well done. Good stuff.

Bonanza Brothers - AWESOME game to netplay on Vizzed.com I might add! Cool 2player game from back in the day.

Sub-Terrania - Cool little shooter with a few added twists. VERY cool game. Like an updated version of "Lunar Lander"

Shadowrun - Sweet RPG. Although I like the SNES version, I think that this is THE BEST Shadowrun game. (For those that don't know, this was a text based RPG from back in the day, set in the future) (Additionally, theres a cool new game on steam that takes up where this game left off)

Buck Rogers: Countdown to Doomsday - Another sweet, but different RPG game. VERY cool if you are into RPG/adventure type games.

Herzog Zwei - The granddaddy of RTS games. Hasn't aged the best, but still pretty cool.

General Chaos - Another cool RTS type game, although this one is more of an arcade style game with comedic relief.

Jordanv78 : Hey, thank you man. I am glad you liked it. Your opinion really means alot to me.

I was so close to adding Quackshot, it is one of my favorite games. I felt it was a little too well known, and that is the only reason it wasn't number 2 on this list.

To me General Chaos is one of the games that defines the Sega Genesis but like you said its hard to say what is or isn't a hidden gem. With all the videos and boards on the internet alot of games that were unknown are now popular.

tornadocam : Wily Wars has become very popular amongst collectors due it being so rare so I really don't consider it a hidden gem. I totally agree that Streets of Rage 2. It is one of the best if not the best beat em up ever made but it is too well known for me to put on the list. Thanks for reading man!