As a lifelong admirer of classic portable games, few subjects delight me more than reminiscing about the greatest hits on the Game Gear. Sega’s color-screened handheld may not have matched its rival the Game Boy’s raw popularity, but it played home to some spectacular action titles.
In this guide crafted especially for you, I’ll be ranking the top 7 action games to ever grace the Game Gear. Both mainstream critical darlings and hidden gems get their due during this turbo-charged trip down memory lane! I bet some of these picks will surprise you…
Why Study Retro Gaming History?
Before we get to the games, I want to speak briefly about why analyzing retro titles like these matters. Gaming’s early decades brimmed with audacious ideas as talented developers tested the limits of emerging technology. Whatdefined genres during their primordial days still supply game design inspiration 30+ years later.
Beyond preserving pioneers’ creative accomplishments, revisiting retro games transports us back to fonder childhood moments when these titles blew our minds. It lets us appreciate their charm and historical impact through the lens of adult hindsight. I find few retrospective activities more rewarding!
Now, without further ado, plug your Game Gear AC adapter securely into a wall socket, settle into a comfortable seated position, and prepare for blast processing!
7 Legendary Action Games for the Game Gear
I‘ve prepared an at-a-glance specifications table below covering each game‘s release year, developer, game modes, and more pertinent technical details as quick reference. Scroll down for the full scoop on what granted these seven games eternal greatness in my book!
| Game | Release Year | Developer | Game modes | Battery Save? |Estimated Completion Time |
|-|-|-|-|-|
| Sonic Chaos| 1993 | Sega | Single player, 2 playable characters | Yes | ~1 hour|
|Tails Adventure| 1995 | Sega | Single player| Yes | ~3 hours |
|X-Men| 1994 | Sega |Single player, Multiple playable characters | Yes | ~1 hour|
|Prince of Persia | 1993 |Motomi Kimura | Single Player| Yes | ~1 hour|
|Ristar| 1995 | Sega |Single player| Yes | ~1 hour |
|Shinobi| 1991 | Overworks |Single player | No | ~0.5 hours |
|Sonic Triple Trouble | 1994 | Aspect | Single player, 2 playable characters| Yes |~1 hour |
#7: Sonic Chaos
As the Game Gear‘s 1993 launch title, Sonic Chaos holds major historical significance as the inaugural 16-bit portable Sonic outing. Series creator Yuji Naka…
