There’s never been more freedom and creativity present in the video game industry than in this moment. The immersive medium has taken substantial strides forward during recent generations and contemporary games have made unprecedented experiences possible. The players at the gaming industry's forefront have been gradually shifting and even though Sega has shifted towards third-party development, they were at their first-party peak during the 1990s.
Sega’s fifth-generation console contribution, the Sega Saturn, was a powerful competitor for Sony’s original PlayStation and the Nintendo 64, but it ran a number of niche games that haven’t made their way over to modern systems. Some Saturn releases are products of their time, but there are also some true gaming gems that still hold up more than two decades later.
10 Nights Into Dreams Redefines Console Platformers
Every gaming console needs an “app killer” that’s enough of a groundbreaking achievement that audiences are willing to buy a whole console just to experience that one game. NiGHTS Into Dreams is Saturn’s ultimate in creativity and the inventive title was meant to rival Nintendo’s Super Mario 64.
Coming from Yuji Naka, the visionary developer behind Sonic the Hedgehog, NiGHTS leans into an aerial gameplay style that’s focused on high scores and repeated perfection. It genuinely feels like a transformative experience and, even better, there are modern remasters that allow new players to experience this classic.
9 Burning Rangers Is A Bold Step Forward For The Adventure Genre
For years, Yuji Naka and Sonic Team's development group turned out the very best first-party Sega titles. Burning Rangers is another one of the Saturn's greatest triumphs and it's a tragedy that it's slipped through the cracks and faded into obscurity.
Burning Rangers focuses on a futuristic team of heroes who put out fires and rescue civilians. Levels have labyrinthine layouts that are always in flux, and the player relies on the game's audio directions to figure out where they need to go. It's a strong concept that was even more impressive back in 1998.
8 Panzer Dragoon Saga Is Sega’s Definitive 32-Bit RPG
There is a trilogy of Panzer Dragoon titles for the Sega Saturn and they're all among the console's most satisfying releases. However, the first two games are unique rail-shooters, while Panzer Dragoon Saga is a massive four-disc 3D RPG that rivals the likes of the PlayStation's Final Fantasy VII.
Panzer Dragoon Saga excels with its world-building, challenging narrative, and entertaining-yet-suspenseful gameplay. Panzer Dragoon Saga has turned into a lost gaming relic and copies routinely sell for hundreds of dollars, or thousands for factory-sealed copies. This game is a testament to what this Sega console could accomplish.
7 Guardian Heroes Adds Depth To The Beat-’Em-Up Formula
Guardian Heroes is a good look at what Treasure’s development team could do with the Saturn's technology. Guardian Heroes plays like a cartoonish sidescrolling beat-'em-up in a Medieval setting, but it cleverly incorporates RPG mechanics that add a crucial sense of progress to the endless battles.
The game's co-operative story mode is its biggest selling point, but there's also a surprisingly substantial battle royale mode that teases a roster of more than 40 characters players can unlock. Guardian Heroes is addictive fun, but it's also one of the Saturn titles with the most replayability and appeal for group gaming sessions with friends.
6 Fighters Megamix Predates The Crossover Clashes Of Super Smash Bros.
The Sega Saturn was a real asset for fans of arcade-perfect ports and the fight game genre. The Virtua Fighter games are iconic, but Fighters Megamix goes above and beyond with a love letter to Sega's history in a playful crossover fighter that beat Super Smash Bros. to the punch.
Fighters Megamix features the full rosters of Virtua Fighter 2 and Fighting Vipers, but the unexpected representation from other Sega franchises is such a delight. Even the signature Hornet from the Daytona USA series is a playable fighter. The game's full roster of 32 fighters was also way more than the standard in the 1990s.
5 Shining The Holy Ark Is A Turn-Based Dungeon Crawler With Gorgeous Graphics
Sega's Shining Force franchise was prominent during the 1990s and the company's biggest dungeon crawler turn-based RPG property. All of the Saturns’ Shining games are worthwhile titles that tell extremely long and rewarding stories. Shining the Holy Ark is largely considered to be the franchise's peak on the Saturn.
It translates the series into a gorgeous 3D world where every character, battle, and boss stands out. The story isn't much of a departure for a fantasy RPG but Shining the Holy Ark will instantly pull in its audience through its rich characters and world and keep them coming back through its turn-based battle system.
4 Daytona USA Remains A High Mark For The Racing Genre
The racing genre has achieved an unbelievable level of realism over the years and home consoles can now easily accomplish what was previously only possible in arcade cabinets. Daytona USA remains one of the highest-grossing arcade games of all time and its port over to the Sega Saturn was a huge deal in 1995.
The Saturn's Daytona USA didn't suffer in the translation and it's helped the racing game flourish through the years. Daytona USA is admittedly a simple game by today's standards, but it's still deeply soothing when players take a few laps around a track.
3 Radiant Silvergun Is A Punishing Shoot-’Em-Up Like No Other
Gamers have very contentious responses to the shoot-'em-up "bullet hell" genre that seems to pride itself in the frustratingly difficult nature of its games. Radiant Silvergun started in arcades but it was quickly ported to the Sega Saturn, and its fresh and energized approach is largely viewed as being responsible for the rejuvenation of the punishing genre.
Radiant Silvergun is difficult, but it's also incredibly fun and lets gamers experience a real sense of accomplishment whenever they clear a level. Thankfully, Radiant Silvergun has been kept alive through more recent ports.
2 Virtua Cop And Its Sequel Popularized The Light Gun Experience
Modern video games have incorporated previously extraneous gaming mechanics, like light guns, into standard controllers so that they’re now the norm. The Sega Saturn’s generation helped bring light gun games to home consoles in a big way.
Sega was able to dominate in this area through ports of their most celebrated arcade hits, like The House of the Dead and Virtua Cop. Both Virtua Cop and its sequel helped inspire this niche genre's growth. Neither Virtua Cop game is overly long, but the series’ continued success speaks to its evergreen appeal.
1 The Legend Of Oasis Is A Thrilling Adventure That Holds Its Own Against Zelda
The Sega Saturn has lots of obscure titles, but The Legend of Oasis is even more of a deep cut. The action-adventure feels like Sega’s answer to The Legend of Zelda, but Legend of Oasis finds its own voice and isn’t just a weaker substitute.
While technically a prequel to the Sega Genesis', Beyond Oasis, The Legend of Oasis faithfully fleshes out this pre-existing fantasy world, but also cleanly stands on its own without any context. There are so many exciting ideas and varied approaches to gameplay in The Legend of Oasis that it's unfortunate that they never produced a third entry and that the game series still lacks a modern remake.