Let’s get this outta the way right now. Dreamcast is almost 30 years old. It’s retro now. We’re getting older; I don’t like it either. Okay? Alright.
The Sega Dreamcast released in the U.S. in late 1999, the first sixth-generation console to hit the market. While it had some truly unique games, it came up short in terms of volume with only 248 titles issued throughout its run in America. Ultimately, the system did not have as much success as the PlayStation 2 or Xbox.
Still, no retro collection is really complete without some titles from this system. That’s why we’ve compiled this list of 10 Sega Dreamcast games you should add to yours. As always, this list is made up of games that had some standout gameplay and won’t break your bank when you buy them to jumpstart your stockpile.
1. Crazy Taxi
No, not the Robert Deniro kind, but close to it. In Crazy Taxi, you take on the role of a driver, picking up fares and taking them to their preferred location as quickly and creatively as possible. You earn higher rewards for getting there quickly, but your customers will jump out of the vehicle and not pay if the timer expires.
Aside from training an entire generation of future Uber drivers, this was one of the best-selling games released on the Dreamcast. This title sold 1.1 million copies on the system. Even though it was ported to other consoles, it felt at home on this one. For less than a taxi ride to and from work, you can add this game that’s aching for a remake to your shelf.
2. Shenmue
Set in Yokosuka in the late 1980s, it should come as no surprise that this game features a young protagonist searching for answers about his father’s murder. This isn’t some typical Shonen-esque game where you’re going to bash your way through low-ranking mobsters until you get to the boss. Instead, you’ll live a pretty normal life.
You practice fighting, follow up on leads, go to the arcade, work, and enjoy the scheduled persistent world the game presents. The voice acting wasn’t the best, but the game had so much originality to it that people couldn’t help but buy it. Shenmue sold the third-most copies on the system, and it’s still on the lower end of the prices of games on this list.
3. Soulcalibur
No, really. Soulcalibur is spelled like that with no space. You can ignore the story in this game because it’s just goofy, but the fighting is top-tier. The free directional movement, unique character skill sets, and high skill ceiling all made this game fun to play. When you add the graphics and music to the mix, it’s no surprise why this was the second-best-selling game on the Sega Dreamcast.
If you’re trying to build your collection with one of the best fighting games on the system or punish your thumbsticks, you can get this game for pretty cheap, even CIB.
4. Sonic Adventure
Anyone who grew up on the mean streets of the Emerald Hill Zone immediately gravitated toward Sonic Adventure because it finally gave us the true 3D experience we wanted. While it could sometimes take a few minutes to figure out what the heck you were supposed to be doing, the game made up for it in so many ways. The vibrant colors, high-speed gameplay, Chaos, and familiar cast are enough to overlook the game’s jankiness.
That’s not just my opinion, either. This game sold 2.5 million copies, more than any other on the system. Still, in a rare case when popularity doesn’t lead to low prices, the current loose price for this game is close to 40 bucks as of the end of this sentence. Wait, now it’s up. And now it’s back down.
5. Phantasy Star Online
Despite not being one of the top-selling games on the system, Phantasy Star Online is worth picking up for a few reasons. For one, it’s considered the first successful massively multiplayer online RPG for game consoles. In my estimation, it’s one of the best RPGs on the Sega Dreamcast as well. This game has a small price tag, so you can grab it and add it to your collection.
To be fair, the main draw of this game, being an MMO, is no longer something you can enjoy. However, you can still use the single-player mode to get frustrated with the game’s combat like the rest of us and see how far the genre has come.
6. NFL 2K1
Selling 1 million copies and breaking the stranglehold that the Madden franchise had on the football genre, NFL 2K1 was a heavy-hitter. This title was introduced with SegaNet, an online gaming service that allowed you to go into matches against other players. This was ground zero for the online sports game toxicity that we still experience to this day.
If you played the original NFL 2K, then you know how bad the running game experience was. Fortunately, this sequel fixed that issue while also improving on the overall controls and visuals. The Franchise Mode was also tweaked to add some depth to it.
7. Resident Evil – Code: Veronica
“Just when I thought I was out, they pull me back in.” Claire and Chris Redfield survived the horrors of Racoon City only to find themselves as unwilling guests in an Umbrella Corporation prison on a secluded island near Antarctica. Wouldn’t you know it, but there has been another virus outbreak, and you have to survive again.
The controls are much better than the original series, and the camera work is improved by virtue of the game not having pre-rendered backgrounds. While this title is far from perfect, it is a solid entry into the series and fourth on the best-seller list for the system. Like Sonic Adventure, this game may set you back a few bucks, but it’s worth it.
8. Ready 2 Rumble Boxing
Before MMA games took over the realistic fighting genre, we had boxing games. Ready 2 Rumble Boxing had unique fighters with different styles , like the retired cabbie, Afro Thunder, or Boris the Bear. One of the notable features of this game is that you would build up a “Rumble” meter throughout the match that would allow you to unleash a devastating combo. In the meantime, your fighter would show the damage they received throughout the match in the form of bruises and swelling.
Even though this title ranked 11th on the list of best-selling Sega Dreamcast games, only about 470,000 copies were sold. Nevertheless, this game is inexpensive right now.
9. NBA 2K1
One of the many good things I can say about this game is that it’s dirt cheap. In fact, if you would skip just one of your lattes or avocado toasts, you could get it. Part of the reason this is one of the system’s best-sellers is that it improved so much on the last game with its better AI and controls.
Also, it added new game modes, including General Manager, which let you take on the role of building the best team possible. That was a great break from the action after getting trounced and teased by your friends. This game sold just over half a million copies throughout its run, probably because most people had started to migrate to the PS2 at that point.
10. Seaman
I’m adding this one down the list a bit even though it was technically one of the best-selling titles on the Sega Dreamcast. Why? Because it’s cursed. Let me give you a quick rundown of this game. You start out with a basic introduction from Leonard Nimoy, explaining that you are being put in charge of an egg in a tank of water. It will hatch into the creature known as a Seaman.
Then it’s up to you to figure out what to do next because the game had very little in the way of guidance outside of its manual. After you add the egg to the water tank, you need to raise the heat level until it hatches. Once the fish with the human face hatches, you can start talking to it through the game’s microphone. That’s sold separately. After enough time, the Seaman grows to become an adult with a penchant for insults and uncomfortable questions. Eventually, you guide it through its evolution, and it’s ready to go out on its own, leaving the player sad, confused, and slightly concerned. Don’t forget to ask “what did you just unleash on the world?” Add this game to your collection just to have it or embrace the weirdness and play through the whole thing if your brain can still experience delayed gratification. If not, just put it on your shelf and watch a video guide.
So, what games did I miss? Tell me below or feel free to tell me about the cool games in your collection right now. I promise I read all the comments.