Baku Baku Animal (Saturn)
Every console needs a signature puzzle game, and for the Saturn, it has to be Baku Baku Animal. The concept is simple enough; you remove food blocks from the play area using animal blocks, with the catch being that each animal will only consume their favoured food item (rabbits like carrots, for example). It's a unique touch which makes Baku Baku Animal stand apart from the other 'match-3' puzzlers of the period, but it's straightforward enough for even the most casual player to grasp within seconds. The game's two-player mode is a real highlight.
NiGHTS into Dreams (Saturn)
While Sonic Team failed to give fans a brand-new Sonic adventure on Saturn, it wasn't exactly lazy – it produced the superb Burning Rangers and NiGHTS into Dreams, a whimsical cult classic which continues to attract attention to this very day. Influenced by the theories of psychoanalysts such as Carl Jung and Sigmund Freud, the game takes place in a dream-like world and makes excellent use of the Saturn's 3D controller – so much so, in fact, that it was bundled with the pad upon release. A sequel, NiGHTS: Journey of Dreams, hit the Wii in 2009 but didn't quite capture what made the original so compelling.
Vampire Savior: The Lord Of Vampire (Saturn)
The Saturn certainly wasn't short on 2D fighters and Capcom in particular was keen on supporting the system as much as possible (in Japan, at least). Vampire Savior (also known as Darkstalkers 3) is the second Darkstalkers title on the console and sadly remained exclusive to Japanese shores. On the upside, it makes use of the 4-MEG RAM cartridge to provide an arcade-perfect experience – and one which made the PlayStation conversion look pretty feeble in comparison. Boasting some unique character designs, wonderfully moody music and a battle system where players have two health bars (rather than fights being divided into rounds), Vampire Savior is a real treat for fans of the genre.
Daytona USA: Championship Circuit Edition (Saturn)
The original Saturn port of Daytona USA wasn't the best illustration of the console's power, and compared very poorly to Ridge Racer on the Sony PlayStation. Sega was clearly aware of this fact as it released Daytona USA: Championship Circuit Edition in 1996, which is effectively an expanded and retooled port handled by the same team behind the excellent SEGA Rally Saturn conversion. Not only is the frame rate massively improved to a stable 30fps, the game also boasts a two-player mode, two brand-new circuits and support for the Saturn's 3D analogue controller. While it's true that the game 'feels' very different to both the arcade version and the prior Saturn port, it's still a fantastically playable racer and one of the best on the console.
Shinrei Jusatsushi Tarōmaru (Saturn)
One of the most sought-after games for the Saturn, Shinrei Jusatsushi Tarōmaru is a side-scrolling 2.5D action title that takes inspiration from Sega's Shinobi, placing the player in the shoes of a ninja warrior with powerful magical abilities. With a wealth of stunning boss encounters and an addictive two-player mode, this is a real gem in the Saturn's library – so it's almost criminal that its scarcity means that so few people have had the chance to experience it. Time Warner's Japanese studio was closed just before the title was published, and while the exact figure is disputed, some have claimed that only 5,000 copies were produced. It's hard to say if any video game is worth the amount currently being asked for a copy of Shinrei Jusatsushi Tarōmaru on the secondary market, but this is a remarkable video game nonetheless, and one that deserves to reach a wider audience.
Kingdom Grand Prix (Saturn)
While this vertically-scrolling shmup is technically the second game in Raizing's Mahou Daisakusen series (the first being released in western arcades as Sorcer Striker), it's the first (and only) instalment to be a combination of shooter and racing game. As you fly through the fantasy setting blowing up all kinds of monsters, you're also racing against other characters. Tapping the fire button fires the player's weapon as normal, but holding it down gives you a speed boost; this must be used in conjunction with your screen position (the higher up the screen you are, the faster you move) to finish first. This Saturn port is a Japanese exclusive and offers a mode where the racing aspect is jettisoned entirely so it plays more like a traditional shmup. Kingdom Grand Prix is a pre-installed title on Sega's Astro City Mini V micro-console.
Street Fighter Zero 3 (Saturn)
Arguably the most refined entry in the Alpha / Zero sub-series, Street Fighter Zero 3 has a massive cast of characters, all-new backgrounds, a completely fresh soundtrack and new game mechanics which make it one of the deepest and most rewarding entries in the entire Street Fighter franchise. Sadly, as a very late release in the Saturn's life, this didn't get a Western release, and its price has skyrocketed in recent years (thanks in part to the fact that it comes bundled with the 4-MEG RAM cartridge). Even so, this is one of the best 2D fighting games on the console and plays like a dream with the Saturn's six-button controller layout.
PowerSlave (Saturn)
Released at a time when Doom clones were all the rage, Lobotomy Software's PowerSlave (also known as Exhumed) is set in the present day but incorporates elements of Egyptian myths and legends. PowerSlave also exists on the Sony PlayStation, but the two versions aren't identical and are worth playing individually to see the differences. The game famously includes the hidden title Death Tank, which some people would say is worth the price of purchase alone. Lobotomy Software would also port fellow '90s FPS classics Quake and Duke Nukem 3D to the Saturn, with impressive results. More recently, the game has been updated for modern systems in the form of PowerSlave Exhumed.
Dragon Force (Saturn)
A bold fusion of story-driven RPG and turn-based tactics, Dragon Force sees the player assuming control of one of eight generals, with the aim of controlling the vast continent of Legendra. Players can move their generals around the map, occupying towns, talking with NPCs and engaging in battles which feature as many as 200 soldiers. Each general has their own unique storyline, massively increasing the game's replayability. A sequel was released in 1998, but sadly it was never localised, although a fan-made translation exists.
Soukyugurentai (Saturn)
Also known as Terra Diver, this Raizing-developed vertical shmup was released in arcades on Sega's ST-V board, which is basically the Saturn in all but name. As a result, this port is pretty much arcade perfect, and even includes some bonus features, such as a mode which allows you to practice levels in any order. Mixing 3D and 2D visuals to stunning effect, Soukyugurentai is a highlight in the Saturn's shmup library, and is relatively easy to find on the secondary market, despite its Japan-only status.
Comments 19
This brings back memories! Selling my Saturn remains my biggest gaming regret, so many great games!
It's a joke when some regard the Saturn as a failure. Yes maybe commercially but boy its got some incredible games. Luckily I own a lot on this list, Hyper Duel for example is one amazing shmup from the masters of Technosoft. Personally I will always prefer it over the PS1, just a cooler system. Even though I do love PS1.
I loved my Saturn despite all the detractors as well as the bad and biased coverage it recieved at the time.
Everyone that went on my saturn enjoyed it and said it had some great games for it. The only problem they said was that Playstation just looked better and had way more games for it. Which to be honest they wasnt wrong. Its just a shame we never got a fraction of what the Japanese market got.
In my opinion the Saturn was a underated and fantastic gaming console with some great games and to this day it is still one of my most fondly remembered gaming experiences.
If you're interested in starting a SEGA Saturn collection with these games, buying all 40 will set you back about $9,200 US / €8900 / £7500. You can save a little bit of money if you buy loose / disc-only (no cases) and only Japanese editions.
Anyway, since most of these games have never had an official re-release, emulation is the way to go.
BATSUGUN
BATTLE GAREGGA
VIRTUAL ON
GUARDIAN HEROES
HYPER DUEL
KING OF FIGHTERS
Omg
This site is bringing the fanboy out in me
NINJA APPROVED
I can’t get my head round Daytona champ edition made it in to this list. The 2 things they got right in the 1st conversion (music and playability) completely butchered in this game. This was so disappointing at the time
Grandia? A fantastic JRPG and with the translation available the Saturn is the best way to play that game and looks much better than the Playstation and so called HD ports.
I'd also argue the original Daytona over the updated one mainly because it has much better controls but it's good to see Sonic R getting some love, a somewhat misunderstood racing game but great fun.
Overall the Saturn is my favourite console and it has a fantastic library of games
@JJtheTexan I'd advise anyone who wants to play on real Saturn hardware to just get a Fenrir these days, collecting for it just isn't worth it outside a handful of games
@carlos82 great call. Looks like one could grab a working Saturn and ODE for around $250 total. Throw in an HDMI mod and you've got a fantastic kit.
MiSTer supports Saturn now, too
@Damo Do you think there is enough quality in the library + interests + lack of licencing issues for SEGA to do a Saturn Mini?
First of all: What a great new site! Really fond of the color scheme. The best thing is, you don't have to race and compete with other sites focusing on new games and can bail from a rich well of videogame history. And as long as there are new games and time doesn't stop, there are retro games. I hope for and wish you all a thriving future with this project.
Second: Maaan, this list really makes me wish for a Dreamcast mini.
Third: Will the PC also get some love here? I've admittedly always been more of a console gamer. But I absolutely think excluding the PC from a retro gaming focused website would be a huge omission.
I know this isn't meant to be an extensive list, and many more games could go on a list such as this. Good to see Metal Slug and KOF'97 make it here. I didn't expect to see KOF since there are many important fighting games on the system. KOF'97 was a major game for me. I went with friends to a comic book shop to check out Street Fighter 3, and I instantly fell in love with KOF'97 that was right next to it. When I got home, I immediately went online to find out if the game was coming to Saturn. I had to wait a couple of months. Fire Pro Wrestling S 6 Men Scramble was another major game for me on the system.
Also glad to see Virtual On here. That series was passed over by many. That game is another of my favorite gaming memories. I saw an ad on TV for it and thought it looked cool despite not even knowing what sort of game it was other than it featured robots. I took a chance on it and it became one of my favorite games of that generation and one of the games I played most on the system.
I have played Saturn only once in my life and it remains one of those interesting systems I would like to try some day. Thanks for the list!
I had no idea Traveller's Tales made Sonic R! Maybe they should work on a remaster if the Lego work ever dries up...
You've missed one of the very best: Albert Odyssey! Fantastic RPG that really captivated me as a teen.
To be fair that is a great list, though I would include the original Daytona as apart from its looks, it does play better amd Grandia should be on the list as well.
Ha, I've just realised it's a republished article, good to see my opinions haven't changed
Holy crap Shining Force 3 looks like Golden Sun which is one of my favorite rpgs. Finding out they are the same Devs as I type this.
With as many great games as Saturn has, it's amazing to me it couldn't achieve at least GameCube/OG Xbox levels of success — as in, probably enough to break even but not much else. I remember, as a kid, I really thought Saturn had no games. That's a failure in marketing. I was a Genesis kid, and they lost me. I regret it now, but at the same time, their Saturn output skewed towards a little bit older demographic than I was at the time (six years old in 1994). I would realize my fatal mistake after picking up a Dreamcast in either 2001 or 2002 and remembering that Sega, at least at the time, simply made the best games. I picked up a Saturn soon after. Thankfully, that meant I was able to pick up a lot of these title before their prices started going stratospheric, though I'm still actively collecting for the Saturn and Dreamcast now.
As a pretentious Sega Saturn snob, I have to say this is a pretty decent list compared to other ones you find online. There are games I would have added in place of others. If I could make 10 additional recommendations to anyone reading:
Dead or Alive
Legend of Oasis
Street Fighter Collection
Darius Gaiden
Galactic Attack / Layer Section
Astal
Last Bronx
Guardian Force
X-Men vs Street Fighter
Dragon Force II
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