The Sega Dreamcast had a lifespan of only three years. A change in leadership at Sega and cooling sentiments toward console gaming by the higher-ups led to the discontinuation of the Sega Dreamcast in March 2001.
Sega would continue as a third-party developer, but their time in the console market had come to an end. The Dreamcast was a console with a huge amount of potential and a library of games that have become cult classics, even though many have seen remakes on other platforms.
7 of the Best Dreamcast Games to Try
- Sonic Adventure 2: The Hedgehog
- Street Fighter II: The Animated Series
- Super Mario RPG: Legend of the Seven Stars
- Super Mario Party 10
- Sonic Adventure 3: Episode I - The Great Adventure
- Street Fighter II Turbo: Hyper Fighting 7. Super Mario RPG: The Lost Levels
Phantasy Star Online
Players could choose from a variety of classes, each with its own strengths and weaknesses. They could also team up with other players to take on challenges and tasks. The game featured a large open world to explore, as well as side-quests and dungeons to explore.
Four players team up to fight their way through four stages on the planet of Ragol, in four different difficulty levels. The goal of the game is to work your way up through each difficult level until you reach the hardest area, at which point Phantasy Star Online becomes a looter. ..
The game’s mechanics were addictive and kept many players hooked for hundreds of hours. The game’s simple mechanic of running levels and grinding for better and better gear was a deceptively addictive experience that kept many players coming back for more.
Sonic Adventure
Sonic Adventure was a landmark game in the Sonic the Hedgehog series, as it marked the departure of Sonic from 2D space into 3D realm. Players take control of one of six characters, including a few lesser-known names. The game keeps the rings-as-health mechanic, power ups, and much more.
Many players enjoyed the Chao Garden, an environment where they could raise Chao. These creatures competed in races and could be used in the minigame called “Chao Adventure” through the Dreamcast’s virtual memory unit. ..
Jet Set Radio
Jet Set Radio is a unique game that captures many of the prevalent themes of the late 1990s and early 2000s. These themes include rebellion against “the man,” artistic freedom, and self-expression. ..
In the “Skate Mode,” you skate around the city, tagging graffiti points with your own symbol. In the “Graffiti Mode,” you must tag every graffiti point with your own symbol to win.
Jet Set Radio was a console game that combined the innovative gameplay of the original Dreamcast game, with the killer soundtrack of the same name. The game was released in 2001 on the Xbox, and again in 2003 for the PlayStation 2.
Space Channel 5
Space Channel 5 is strange. It’s an odd mixture of rhythm game and puzzle game with gameplay mechanics that resemble Simon Says. You control Ulala, a reporter that works for the news station Space Channel 5. There are four stages, each of which has Ulala imitating the movements of her opponents. Levels are split between dancing and shooting stages. Health is represented with a Zelda-esque heart meter, where hearts are lost if you make mistakes in mimicking your opponent’s movements.
In Space Channel 5, players can access a New Game+ mode that provides alternate routes through the game with new enemy movement patterns. This is an odd footnote in gaming history, especially when you consider that Michael Jackson himself makes an appearance in the second title.
Shenmue
Shenmue is a classic game that has been re-released multiple times on other platforms. New generations can take control of Ryo Hazuki and relive the adventure all over again.
Shenmue is a game that was known for its insane level of detail. It boasted a day-night cycle, variable weather effects, and much more—all details never before seen in an open-world video game. Although Shenmue shows its age today, it is still worth trying out if you want to properly experience a part of gaming history. ..
Skies of Arcadia
Dreamcast gamers who missed out on Skies of Arcadia when it was released on the console may want to check it out again. The overworld map is unique and provides a lot of opportunities for exploration, which can be rewarding even if the player is not directly involved in the battle.
SkySofA: Legends was released on the Gamecube in 2006, and received lower reviews than the original game. ..
Seaman
The Seaman list of best Dreamcast games is not because it’s a good game, but because it’s bizarre. It’s a game that makes players pause and reconsider their life choices. You control a freshwater fish with a human face—oh, and he’s voiced by Leonard Nimoy.
You can communicate with Seaman through the microphone attachment. The game is a bit like a virtual pet where Seaman progresses through five stages of life, ultimately culminating in his release into the wild when he is fully grown. ..
The Dreamcast may have been a commercial failure, but its library represents a strange, wonderful time in gaming history. If you can find a working Dreamcast (or you want to find a working emulator), these seven titles are well worth your time, if only for the absurdity of some of them.
