During the late 80s to early 90s, Sega seemed unstoppable. With the popularity of the 16-bit Sega Genesis and Sonic the Hedgehog, Nintendo was no longer the undisputed king of the hill. While many are still divided on who won the console wars during the fourth generation of gaming consoles, Nintendo remained in the hardware industry as Sega eventually went third-party.
During the 32-bit generation, Sega of Japan made disastrous decisions that helped cement the company's demise in the hardware industry. This precariousness undoubtedly led to the shuttering of several potentially great titles. As a result, Sega's history holds some beloved franchises that have not seen a new installment for years.
Updated 23rd of November, 2022 by Patrick Arellano: Sega's disagreements between its Western and Japanese divisions resulted in the loss of several potentially great titles. Unfortunately, company politics often lead to many great games never seeing the light of day. With Sega's recent successes such as the release of Sonic Frontiers, it's a fitting time to revisit the games that could have been.
15 Chakan The Forever Man Has Finally Been Laid To Rest
Based on the comic book of the same name, Chakan: The Forever Man was a tough-as-nails action platformer on the Sega Genesis. The game puts players in control of a warrior who seeks to rid himself of his immortality. Despite Chakan's mixed reviews, it gained enough of a following to commission a sequel that never panned out.
While it's been speculated artist Steve Ross would repurpose elements of the title for Legacy of Kain: Blood Omen 2, he and Jon Miller expressed their belief that the similarities were due more to Ross' distinct style and similar subject matter.
14 Penn & Teller's Smoke & Mirrors Made A Vanishing Act
Much like the duo's other endeavors, Penn & Teller's foray into the interactive medium was a subversive trek off the beaten path. Rather than a conventional game, Smoke and Mirrors was more a collection of interactive practical jokes that featured Full Motion Video cutscenes from the aforementioned illusionists.
One of the most famous entries was a title called Desert Bus, which was created to ridicule the moral outrage politicians and parent groups directed toward video games. While the game was completed, publisher Absolute went bankrupt and no one else was interested in supporting a game for the dying Sega CD peripheral.
13 Two Attempts At A Clockwork Knight Follow-Up Went Knighty Knight
The two Clockwork Knight games on the Sega Saturn were great visual showcases for the 32-bit system and pretty decent 2D platformers in their own right. While the first entry was criticized for its short length and lack of challenge, the sequel added more secrets and content. There were two shuttered attempts to bring the knights back into action.
Pengin War is an interesting case where the game was nearly finished, but unreleased for undisclosed reasons. It was a whimsical spin on Sega's other puzzle game Pengo. Years later, a sequel called Knight N' Knight was slated to release on the Nintendo GameCube.
12 The X-Women Were Left In The Mansion*
Following the success of the 2 X-Men titles on the Genesis, Clockwork Tortoise was set to create a third entry that focused on the female members of the team. X-Women: The Sinister Virus would have adopted the same side-scrolling action gameplay of the prior titles. The game was previewed at E3 1996, but never ended up getting released.
The reason for X-Women's cancelation is unknown, but it's likely tha the dissolution of Clockwork Tortoise was done to devote more resources towards the Sega Saturn. Unfortunately, no builds of the game are known to exist.
11 Virtua Fighter Bested Eternal Champions In Sega's Ring
Eternal Champions was Sega of America's response to Midway's Mortal Kombat, featuring more exaggerated bloodshed and a much more demanding difficulty curve. Its remake, Challenge from the Darkside, was released on the Sega CD to a considerably more mixed reception, but there was still demand for a sequel.
Unfortunately, Sega of Japan decided that any future Eternal Champion titles would cannibalize the Virtua Fighter series, whose polygonal graphics and refined combat were turning the heads of those in the industry. While it may have made sense to focus on one fighting franchise, it would have been nice for both series to co-exist.
10 The Third Conduit Game Short Circuited*
The Conduit games were first-person shooters that were exclusive to the Nintendo Wii. While critics generally lambasted the generic plot and the limitations of the hardware, Conduit was praised for its implementation of motion controls.
The second Conduit ended on an outrageous cliffhanger which depicts a futuristically armored Abraham Lincoln and George Washington emerging from a gate stating that they're "here to help." Unfortunately, a third game has yet to provide an explanation for this revelation.
9 Company Drama Put An End To Sonic Chronicles
In one of the most bizarre collaborations, Sonic Chronicles was an RPG for the Nintendo DS developed by Bioware. The game mixed elements of RPG tropes with certain staples of Sonic's mechanics, and a battle system reminiscent of Elite Beat Agents. While reviewers singled out its soundtrack featuring some of the franchise's worst tunes, Chronicles was well-received.
A sequel was planned that would follow up on the game's cliffhanger ending, but a multitude of factors such as Sega's costly suit with Archie writer Ken Panders and Bioware's partnership with EA put the brakes on those plans.
8 Geist Force Wasn't Cleared For lift Off*
Regarded by members of the press as Sega's answer to Nintendo's Star Fox series, Geist Force was a space-themed on-rails shooter slated for a release on the Dreamcast. Sega of America producer Mark Subotnick detailed the game during an interview on The Retro Hour Podcast.
According to him, the project was killed when Sonic creator Yuji Naka visited the development team to poach members and certain tech for Sonic Adventure. Subotnick claims that Naka voiced these intentions in Japanese, erroneously assuming that the Western team wouldn't understand him. While Geist Force sadly never came out, early builds have leaked on the internet.
7 Alpha Protocol Was Given A Burn Notice
Sega approached Fallout New Vegas developer Obsidian with the prospect of creating an exclusive RPG franchise for the publisher. Out of all the pitches Obsidian presented, Sega was most intrigued by their spy thriller idea. After Sega commissioned the title, it underwent a tumultuous development process due to wildly differing visions and a lack of direction.
The resulting title would become the polarizing Alpha Protocol. Despite the game's mixed reception, Obsidian was interested in developing a sequel, but Sega was not. What's worse is that the original game was eventually de-listed from Steam stores in 2019.
6 The Blue blur Sped Into The Polygonal Ceiling With Sonic X-Treme
Initially intended for the 32X under the title Sonic Mars, Sonic X-Treme was to be Sega Technical Institute's second solo foray with the blue bur. The game would have been a 2.5D affair that utilized a fish-eye lens perspective to accommodate the hog's speed. Unfortunately, one of the teams faced problems optimizing the title for the Saturn hardware, culminating in Sega of Japan president Hayao Nakayama demanding that the game be modeled after the game's boss engine. While the team was able to make some progress with the modified Nights engine, Yuji Naka demanded that they stop. Sonic X-Treme was canceled shortly after.
5 A New Binary Domain Seemed Junked
Developed by the division responsible for the Yakuza and Monkey Ball franchises, Binary Domain was an interesting take on third-person shooters. One of the more unique aspects of the game was the consequence system, where the player's actions and choices would determine how much the squad trusts them and even the game's conclusion.
Binary Domain received admirable reviews from publications that praised this unique mechanic while criticizing the voice command system and bullet-sponge bosses. Unfortunately, Binary Domain sold poorly in North America. Despite producer Daisuke Sato's interest in a sequel, the series seems destined for the scrap heap.
4 A Third Nights Entry Only Exists In Player's Dreams*
The original Nights Into Dreams was a cult classic on the Sega Saturn with its imaginative landscapes, unique flight-based gameplay, and dazzling 2.5D visuals. While fans pleaded for years for some sort of sequel or follow-up, producer Yuji Naka voiced reluctance. After he departed from Sonic Team, a sequel called Journey of Dreams was lead by the same division responsible for Shadow the Hedgehog.
Journey of Dreams incorporated the same gameplay while adding new mechanics such as mini-games and platforming. Reception was considerably more mixed. Despite director Takashi Iizuka's willingness to make a third game, Sega has yet to commission it.
3 Jet Set Radio's Revolution Will Not Be Televised Or Even Playable
After the financial failure of Jet Set Radio Future, Sega received two different pitches for a follow-up. In 2009, Kuju Entertainment – who also developed the Grindhouse-style House of the Dead Overkill – pitched a sequel for the Nintendo Wii that would bring back most of the original characters and a new gang called the Squabble Hawks.
This was unfortunately rejected. Years later, Sony expressed interest in a new title at GDC 2017, prompting Dinosaur Games to present a pitch to Sega. The pitch presented a fully modern city and new models for Beat, Gum, and even Roboy from Future. This, too, was unfortunately rejected.
2 Poor Sales Condemned Monolith's Horror Franchise
Monolith's first-person survival horror series Condemned was one of the first high-profile franchises on the Xbox 360. The series mixed elements of melee combat, graphic adventure, and detective titles. The first game, Criminal Origins, was very well-received and is considered one of the must-own launch titles for the 360.
The sequel put more of an emphasis on action while refining some of the crime scene investigation mechanics. While Condemned 2: Bloodshot received favorable reviews, it was criticized for detracting from some of the first title's mystery and ambiguity. According to one of the developers, it sold below Sega's expectations, dashing their hopes for a potential sequel.
1 The Skies Of Arcadia IP Is Sadly Grounded
Originally released for the Sega Dreamcast, Skies of Arcadia was a JRPG that put players in control of Vyse and his crew of Sky pirates as they explored the world and sought to thwart the Valuan Empire's ambitions.
Players could deviate from the main quest and sail for hidden treasures, take on bounties, and even perform odd jobs for various vendors. While the RPG was critically acclaimed, Skies of Arcadia didn't meet Sega's financial numbers. A sequel was sadly canceled following the dismal sales of SoA's GameCube port.