Being the first video game console I ever owned,I have an immeasurable affection for the Dreamcast.
SEGA’s last major hardware piece made me fall deeply in love with the medium, especially due to thecountless instant classics it held within its reach.
10 Forgotten Xbox 360 Games That Need A Remake
The 360 library was jam-packed with great games, some of which deserve another go.
From driving games to action titles, including platformers, RPGs, and more,the platform’s catalog was as robust as it was outstanding—an opinion I fervently hold to this day.
As a result, in the interest of reviving the console that gave me so many hours of enjoyment and continues to do so from time to time, here is my list often Dreamcast games that have aged like fine wine.
The Elegance of Combat
Dead or Alive 2
Although I didn’t give it much thought at the time,Dead or Alive 2is among the most stylish games I’ve ever played.
The elegance and fluency with which the combat unfolds, coupled with the colorful and varied environments, give the game a unique vibe.
Featuring one of the most iconic casts of characters in the genre, each with a complex set of moves that never repeat themselves,it truly is a game that doesn’t feel the passage of time one bit.
Modern fighting games have more fighters, combos, stages, and more, butDead or Alive 2is practically perfect in its simplicityand never ceases to amaze me with its world of gameplay possibilities.
9San Francisco Rush 2049
An Unnoticed Gem
San Francisco Rush 2049
The racing genrewas one of my favorites at the time, thanks in part to games likeSan Francisco Rush 2049, which still offers adrenaline-pumping fun.
To be honest, I’m surprised at how little attention is drawn to a title that, with its spectacular tracks and unique vehicles, was able to immediately capture my attention from the get-go.
However,the real reason the game endures is because of its precise controls and unique mechanics, where vehicles can fly and use imaginative shortcuts to make each race a fantasy.
If you consider the additional game modes like stunts and combat, you realizeSan Francisco Rush 2049is entertainment in its purest form, with a wealth of creativity that hasn’t really been replicated within the genre in all this time.
8Quake 3 Arena
Unstoppable Entertainment
Quake 3 Arena
While the fusion of video games with literary, cinematic, and artistic mediums is precisely what made me fall so in love with the industry, I often miss the simpler times.
Therefore, I return toQuake III Arenasporadically, and I’m still amazed at how effortlessly it remainsone of the best arena shooters of all time.
Between the complex level design, iconic weapons, and unforgettable audiovisual effects,it’s a constant delight to spend hours firing all kinds of projectiles at all kinds of beings.
When I was younger, I invested more hours inQuake III Arenathan I should have, but now I only invest enough to constantly remind myself of the reasons why it has beenso relevant to the shooter genre.
7Jet Set Radio
An Ageless Classic
Jet Set Radio
One of the best reasons to focus more on artistic design than graphical fidelity is that it’s easier to stay relevant, asJet Set Radiodemonstrates.
Although it’s clearly a game of its time,the personality,confidence,and charisma it exudes make it always feel fresh, as if it were recently released as part of a daring independent project.
This cel-shading pioneer is among the most iconic and identifiable creations for gamers, especially for itsunique gameplay and unparalleled vibes that generate an exceptional atmosphere.
Its iconic sounds after each QTE, the design of each graffiti, the mechanics of moving around the city, and the stylized chain of harmless crimes will always be great.
I wouldn’t say it’s a replayable game like the rest of the entries on this list, butJet Set Radiois definitely a space of comfort where I relive the vibrant, passionate, and unique nature of yesteryear’s experiences.
6SoulCalibur
Unforgettable Fights
Soulcalibur
Similar toDead or Alive 2,SoulCaliburis a game that doesn’t seem to mind the passage of time, particularly thanks to its strong gameplay identity.
In this sense, each character is unique, hiding endless complexities that take years to master, something I can personally acknowledge after 20 years of playing and just dominating Taki, Yoshimitsu, and Kilik.
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Whether enjoying the mechanical depth of each combatant or playing with friends, the game is straightforward and effective,boasting considerable accessibility but also a significant skill ceiling.
If you’re like me and love getting together with friends to remember old times,SoulCaliburis the kind of video game that makes you yearn for past generations in the best possible waywhile also appreciating the progress that has been made.
5Sonic Adventure 2
The Series' Best Game
Sonic Adventure 2
Despite the game’slackluster levelhere and there,Sonic Adventure 2is one of those classics that stands out whether you play it alone or with friends.
It has one of its generation’s most distinctive campaigns, with expansive and intense levels set against a story compelling enough to be enjoyed every time you play it again.
However,I must say the icing on the cake is its versus mode, as racing against friends is just as fun today as it was a couple of decades ago due to thesuperbly realized sense of speed and competition.
With great pacing in its main missions, magnificent game modes, and unforgettable bosses, everything inSonic Adventure 2is a beautiful reminder of how amazing the Dreamcast was.
4Crazy Taxi
Pure Arcade Fun
Crazy Taxi
Crazy Taxiis indisputably among thebest retro video gamesof all time, as I believe rarely has such a simple, everyday premise been exploited in such a fun way.
Of the entire list, it’s probably the game with the least mechanical, design, and even audiovisual depth, butnone of that matters because it’s absurdly fun.
The positive feedback from its colorful effects and bombastic sounds adds a lot of charisma to the simple yet effective gameplay, further enhanced by its iconic soundtrack.
Becoming the best taxi driver in town is an unusual proposal, butCrazy Taxihas turned it into a gaming benchmark that continues to provide hours of fun to those blessed enough to discover it.
3Skies of Arcadia
A Glorious Adventure
Skies of Arcadia
I wasn’t a great fan of JRPGs, as I often found myself lured towards more action-focused experiences. However,Skies of Arcadiaalways drew my attention.
That initial appeal finally led me to wake my Dreamcast out of its long slumber after years without touching it, and fortunately,I can now attest thoroughly that it’s among its finest video games.
Just by the sheer creativity the title boasts, it deserves to be on this list. Pirates in the sky is a great concept, but even more so considering the game has fascinating combat and magic systems paired with an upbeat tone that made me feel wonderful while playing.
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However, I would argueSkies of Arcadiahas aged magnificently thanks to its characters. The story is what you would expect from a JRPG from that time, but its protagonists are responsible for turning the campaign into a memorable adventure.
It’s a grindy epic with flaws and old-fashioned designs, but these are nothing compared to the greatness of its world. It’s difficult to describe it as anything other thanDreamcast’s best role-playing game.
2Test Drive: Le Mans
Simulation Icon
Test Drive: Le Mans
I’m not a fan of simulation games, especially within the driving genre. I much prefer arcade-style titles, which is why I often opt for franchises likeNeed for Speed.
Regardless,Test Drive: Le Mansis such a tight and well-rounded title that I find it difficult not to praise it asone of the best on the entire platform, as it still feels wonderfully immersive today.
Between its dynamic and ever-changing weather, iconic tracks, spectacular vehicles, and mesmerizing soundtrack,I don’t care how many years pass because playing it again feels like I’m in a different space completely.
Test Drive: Le Mansmanages to convey sensations that many driving games today are incapable of, especially given how refined and polished the entire title feels.
Dreamcast’s Heart
Despite itshilariously bad voice actingand often tedious intention of recreating real-life aspects, I can’t deny thatShenmueis one ofSEGA’s best franchisesand among the most revolutionary experiences I’ve gone through as a player.
Yu Suzuki’s work practically redefined everything I knew about video games, and even today, I’m baffled due to how he managed to achieve it such a long time ago.
A town that felt alive, NPCs that acted spontaneously, graphics that looked impossible…It opened my eyes to the medium’s possibilities, subverting RPG standards and altering the concept of levels, battles, and even menus into an immersive experience.
I’m usually impressed by those video games that seem non-scripted, where everything unfolds naturally. To have this happening in the 1990s is almost unreal because even today it isn’t so common, making me valueShenmuemore.
I do hate to wait 10 minutes outside a store before it opens, have nothing to guide me, and look for sailors, but in things like those lies the game’s charm—aspects we virtually never see in a modern product.
