Ranking by platform

The best games on Mega Drive.

94 games compete in this selection. Streets of Rage 2 tops it with 1,839 points: the ranking comes from player votes alone, and moves with every duel settled.

  1. 1 Streets of Rage 2 1992 · Beat 'em up 1,839
  2. 2 Sonic the Hedgehog 2 1992 · Platformer 1,748
  3. 3 Mortal Kombat II 1994 · Fighting 1,713
  4. 4 Sonic the Hedgehog 3 1994 · Platformer 1,713
  5. 5 Sonic the Hedgehog 1991 · Platformer 1,692
  6. 6 Gunstar Heroes 1993 · Platformer 1,674
  7. 7 Samurai Shodown 1993 · Fighting 1,633
  8. 8 Phantasy Star IV: The End of the Millennium 1993 · JRPG 1,623
  9. 9 Earthworm Jim 2 1995 · Platformer 1,606
  10. 10 Dune II: The Building of a Dynasty 1992 · Strategy 1,590
  11. 11 Comix Zone 1995 · Beat 'em up 1,586
  12. 12 Disney's Aladdin 1993 · Platformer 1,576
  13. 13 Sonic & Knuckles 1994 · Platformer 1,573
  14. 14 The Lion King 1994 · Platformer 1,571
  15. 15 Rocket Knight Adventures 1993 · Platformer 1,565
  16. 16 Zombies Ate My Neighbors 1993 · Shoot 'em up 1,547
  17. 17 Ecco the Dolphin 1992 · Action-adventure 1,546
  18. 18 The Simpsons: Bart's Nightmare 1992 · Platformer 1,543
  19. 19 Mortal Kombat 3 1995 · Fighting 1,538
  20. 20 Worms 1995 · Strategy 1,536
  21. 21 Ultimate Mortal Kombat 3 1995 · Fighting 1,533
  22. 22 Dynamite Headdy 1994 · Platformer 1,520
  23. 23 Castlevania: Bloodlines 1994 · Platformer 1,518
  24. 24 Marble Madness 1984 · Puzzle 1,516
  25. 25 Contra: Hard Corps 1994 · Platformer 1,511
  26. 26 Theme Park 1994 · Strategy 1,508
  27. 27 Shinobi III: Return of the Ninja Master 1993 · Platformer 1,506
  28. 28 Sonic 3D Blast 1996 · Platformer 1,499
  29. 29 Populous 1989 · Strategy 1,496
  30. 30 Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The HyperStone Heist 1992 · Beat 'em up 1,494
  31. 31 Streets of Rage 1991 · Beat 'em up 1,493
  32. 32 World of Illusion Starring Mickey Mouse and Donald Duck 1992 · Platformer 1,493
  33. 33 NBA Jam 1993 · Sports 1,490
  34. 34 Spider-Man and Venom: Maximum Carnage 1994 · Fighting 1,479
  35. 35 Alien Storm 1990 · Beat 'em up 1,478
  36. 36 Tiny Toon Adventures: Buster's Hidden Treasure 1993 · Platformer 1,477
  37. 37 Batman Returns 1992 · Platformer 1,476
  38. 38 International Superstar Soccer Deluxe 1995 · Sports 1,473
  39. 39 R.C. Pro-Am 1988 · Racing 1,470
  40. 40 QuackShot Starring Donald Duck 1991 · Platformer 1,465
  41. 41 X-Men 1993 · Fighting 1,464
  42. 42 The Revenge of Shinobi 1989 · Platformer 1,464
  43. 43 Disney's The Jungle Book 1994 · Platformer 1,461
  44. 44 Strider 1989 · Platformer 1,461
  45. 45 Dr. Robotnik's Mean Bean Machine 1993 · Puzzle 1,461
  46. 46 Super Hang-On 1987 · Racing 1,455
  47. 47 Castle of Illusion Starring Mickey Mouse 1990 · Platformer 1,455
  48. 48 Cannon Fodder 1993 · Shoot 'em up 1,451
  49. 49 Desert Strike: Return to the Gulf 1992 · Shoot 'em up 1,448
  50. 50 Columns 1990 · Puzzle 1,442
  51. 51 Fatal Fury 2 1992 · Fighting 1,441
  52. 52 Golden Axe III 1993 · Beat 'em up 1,440
  53. 53 Taz-Mania 1992 · Platformer 1,439
  54. 54 Earthworm Jim 1994 · Platformer 1,436
  55. 55 Road Rash II 1992 · Racing 1,436
  56. 56 Super Star Wars 1992 · Platformer 1,434
  57. 57 Shining Force 1992 · JRPG 1,431
  58. 58 Michael Jackson's Moonwalker 1990 · Platformer 1,425
  59. 59 Art of Fighting 1992 · Fighting 1,425
  60. 60 Ristar 1995 · Platformer 1,422
  61. 61 Road Rash 1991 · Racing 1,421
  62. 62 Flashback: The Quest for Identity 1992 · Platformer 1,420
  63. 63 Sonic the Hedgehog: Spinball 1993 · Arcade 1,420
  64. 64 Fatal Fury 1991 · Fighting 1,420
  65. 65 Prince of Persia 2: The Shadow and the Flame 1993 · Platformer 1,418
  66. 66 Shining Force II 1993 · JRPG 1,418
  67. 67 Alien Soldier 1995 · Platformer 1,410
  68. 68 Kid Chameleon 1992 · Platformer 1,407
  69. 69 Pitfall: The Mayan Adventure 1994 · Platformer 1,407
  70. 70 Jungle Strike 1993 · Shoot 'em up 1,407
  71. 71 VectorMan 1995 · Platformer 1,406
  72. 72 Micro Machines 2: Turbo Tournament 1994 · Racing 1,403
  73. 73 Rock n' Roll Racing 1993 · Racing 1,397
  74. 74 Turrican 1990 · Platformer 1,397
  75. 75 The Punisher 1993 · Beat 'em up 1,396
  76. 76 Golden Axe II 1991 · Beat 'em up 1,395
  77. 77 Zool: Ninja of the Nth Dimension 1992 · Platformer 1,395
  78. 78 Boogerman: A Pick and Flick Adventure 1994 · Platformer 1,389
  79. 79 ToeJam & Earl 1991 · Roguelite 1,388
  80. 80 Urban Strike: The Sequel to Jungle Strike 1994 · Shoot 'em up 1,386
  81. 81 Jurassic Park 1993 · Platformer 1,384
  82. 82 Primal Rage 1994 · Fighting 1,379
  83. 83 James Pond 2: Codename - RoboCod 1991 · Platformer 1,366
  84. 84 Shadow of the Beast 1989 · Platformer 1,365
  85. 85 Bubsy in Claws Encounters of the Furred Kind 1993 · Platformer 1,356
  86. 86 Captain America and the Avengers 1991 · Beat 'em up 1,348
  87. 87 Alien 3 1992 · Platformer 1,347
  88. 88 The Simpsons: Bart vs. The Space Mutants 1991 · Platformer 1,341
  89. 89 Beyond Oasis 1994 · Action-adventure 1,337
  90. 90 Alex Kidd in the Enchanted Castle 1989 · Platformer 1,317
  91. 91 Cool Spot 1993 · Platformer 1,314
  92. 92 Caveman Ninja 1991 · Platformer 1,281
  93. 93 FIFA International Soccer 1993 · Sports 1,265
  94. 94 Landstalker 1992 · Action RPG 1,243

Filter, combine and travel back in time in the full ranking

Other rankings

Greatest Master System games Best games on Saturn Best games on Dreamcast Best games on Mega-CD

In detail

The best games on Mega Drive, what this ranking says

Streets of Rage 2 leads this selection with 1,839 ELO points, ahead of Sonic the Hedgehog 2 and Mortal Kombat II. The 94 games competing in it have played 7,720 duels.

This selection in figures
Games competing in this selection 94
Duels played by those games 7,720
Game in the lead Streets of Rage 2 (1992)
Score of the leading game, in ELO points 1,839
Point gap between 1st and 10th 249
Best represented genre Platformer
Last reading September 18, 2026

The best game of every genre on Mega Drive

A selection is not read in one block: here is what leads each of its brackets.

The best game of every genre on Mega Drive
Genre Games competing In the lead ELO score Duels played
Beat 'em up 9 Streets of Rage 2 1,839 136
Platformer 46 Sonic the Hedgehog 2 1,748 285
Fighting 10 Mortal Kombat II 1,713 239
Shoot 'em up 5 Zombies Ate My Neighbors 1,547 71
Racing 6 R.C. Pro-Am 1,470 50

What moved this week

The ranking changes with every duel settled. Over the past seven days, the score of 90 games in this selection moved.

What moved this week
Game Points gained in 7 days ELO score
Ultimate Mortal Kombat 3 +81 1,533
Ecco the Dolphin +73 1,546
Boogerman: A Pick and Flick Adventure +64 1,389

The most contested match-ups

These pairs of games have faced each other more than any others in this selection.

The most contested match-ups
Wins Against Duels played Win rate
Mortal Kombat II Samurai Shodown 3 67%

How this ranking is established

No jury, no press score, no sales figures: two games face off, players vote, and every vote updates an ELO score. This page is a view of the world ranking, never a standing kept apart.

Understand the method in detail →

FAQ

What players ask

What is the best game on Mega Drive?

According to community votes, the best game on Mega Drive is Streets of Rage 2, with 1,839 ELO points in the world ranking. It stands ahead of Sonic the Hedgehog 2 and Mortal Kombat II, and its place is replayed with every duel.

How many games on Mega Drive are ranked?

94 games of this selection take part in the duels, and they have played 7,720 of them so far. The full site catalogue is much wider: only games kept for their fame enter the running.

Which game on Mega Drive is climbing right now?

Ultimate Mortal Kombat 3 is the strongest climb in this selection over the past seven days, with 81 ELO points gained. Over the same period, the score of 90 games in the selection moved.

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