Best games
Best Sega Genesis games of 1991
The 16 best Sega Genesis games released in 1991, ranked from 1,660 critic and player ratings.
The best Sega Genesis game of 1991 is Sonic the Hedgehog, with a critic score of 85/100 — updated September 2026.
How this ranking is built
- Games are ranked on the aggregated critic score out of 100 imported from IGDB and Metacritic, never on Tier's own grades.
- A game only enters the ranking with at least 30 external ratings, so a single enthusiastic review never outranks a proven classic.
- Community grades from F to S are shown next to every game, and only stated as a fact above 5 Tier ratings.
- Release window covered: 1991.
- 16 games are listed on this page, carrying 1,660 ratings between them.
- Rankings are recomputed hourly; this one was last rebuilt on 29 September 2026.
Top 16
01
Sonic the Hedgehog
Sonic the Hedgehog is a 2D side-scrolling platformer developed by Sonic Team and published by Sega for the Genesis/Mega Drive. Players control Sonic the Hedgehog, who can run at near supersonic speeds and sets out on a quest to defeat Dr. Robotnik, a scientist who has imprisoned animals in robots and seeks the powerful Chaos Emeralds.
85
/100
02
Street Fighter II: The World Warrior (1991)
84
/100
03
ToeJam & Earl
ToeJam & Earl is an early 1990s dungeon crawler. The game features two alien rappers, who have crash-landed on Earth and parodies 1980s urban culture. The game's design was heavily influenced by the role-playing video game Rogue, and took from it such features as the random generation of levels and items. Played from a 2D-top-down perspective the game contains both single-player and two-player cooperative modes. The latter displays a single screen when both characters are near each other, but splits it apart when they are not. Playing the game with two players reveals dialogue and jokes between the characters not heard in the single player game.
83
/100
Sonic the Hedgehog
Sonic the Hedgehog is a 2D side-scrolling platformer developed by Sonic Team and published by Sega for the Genesis/Mega Drive. Players control Sonic the Hedgehog, who can run at near supersonic speeds and sets out on a quest to defeat Dr. Robotnik, a scientist who has imprisoned animals in robots and seeks the powerful Chaos Emeralds.
85
/100
02
Street Fighter II: The World Warrior (1991)
84
/100
03
ToeJam & Earl
ToeJam & Earl is an early 1990s dungeon crawler. The game features two alien rappers, who have crash-landed on Earth and parodies 1980s urban culture. The game's design was heavily influenced by the role-playing video game Rogue, and took from it such features as the random generation of levels and items. Played from a 2D-top-down perspective the game contains both single-player and two-player cooperative modes. The latter displays a single screen when both characters are near each other, but splits it apart when they are not. Playing the game with two players reveals dialogue and jokes between the characters not heard in the single player game.
83
/100
04
Ninja Gaiden III: The Ancient Ship of Doom (1991)
Thrilling new cinema screen! Follow the story of Ryu's epic adventure through Tecmo's movie-like Cinema Screen Animation. As you complete each level, a new part of the story unfolds. Exciting new powers and weapons! Over the years Ninja Ryu's fighting skills have improved to include fantastic new powers and weapons. Action-packed Ninja adventure! Can you get Ryu through his most challenging adventure as he battles the hideous ancient forces of darkness to save mankind? The Ultimate Ninja Challenge!
84
/100
05
QuackShot Starring Donald Duck
QuackShot starring Donald Duck is a steady Disney run-and-jump platformer, with a little puzzle-solving element. Characters are mostly based on Disney's cartoon series Duck Tales. Donald and his three nephews get their hands on a treasure map and set out to hunt the big prize. Donald travels throughout the world, to places like Egypt, India, South Pole, and even Transylvania, while his nephews fly an airplane. As a weapon Donald uses plungers that can freeze the enemies or stick to walls which can then be used for climbing. Other wacky weapons are popcorn and bubblegum.
80
/100
06
Sunset Riders
Sunset Riders is a side-scrolling run and gun video game developed and released by Konami in 1991. It is set in the American Old West, where the players take control of bounty hunters who are seeking the rewards offered for various criminals. Each bad guy has a big reward on his head, and they're helped by hordes of bandits, gunslingers, and horse thieves, so pack loads of lead.
79
/100
07
Golden Axe II (1991)
The Lord of Darkness, Dark Guld, has arisen again. Wielding the famous Golden Axe, he has destroyed entire countries with his evil clan, forcing the world into chaos. Once again, three brave warriors stand up to face the oppressors, and won’t rest until the Golden Axe is returned to its rightful place.
77
/100
08
Streets of Rage
Streets of Rage is a side-scrolling beat 'em up video game developed and published by Sega in 1991 for Mega Drive/Genesis. It is the first installment of the Bare Knuckle/Streets of Rage series which was followed by Streets of Rage 2 and Streets of Rage 3.
76
/100
09
Snake Rattle 'n' Roll
Snake Rattle N Roll features two snakes, Rattle and Roll, as they make their way through eleven 3D isometric levels. The object is to navigate the obstacles in each level and eat enough "Nibbley Pibbleys" to ring a weigh-in bell located in the level, which will allow the snakes to exit. The game can be played by a single player or by two players simultaneously. It was later re released as part of Rare Replay collection on Xbox One.
76
/100
10
Double Dragon III: The Sacred Stones (1991)
Billy, Jimmy, and the whole Double Dragon gang fight for the Sacred Stones to save in the world in yet another beat-em-up.
73
/100
11
Alien Storm (1991)
68
/100
12
Lemmings
68
/100
13
Captain America and The Avengers
65
/100
14
Road Rash (1991)
65
/100
15
The Simpsons: Bart vs. the Space Mutants
59
/100
16
James Pond 2: Codename - RoboCod
50
/100
Ninja Gaiden III: The Ancient Ship of Doom (1991)
Thrilling new cinema screen! Follow the story of Ryu's epic adventure through Tecmo's movie-like Cinema Screen Animation. As you complete each level, a new part of the story unfolds. Exciting new powers and weapons! Over the years Ninja Ryu's fighting skills have improved to include fantastic new powers and weapons. Action-packed Ninja adventure! Can you get Ryu through his most challenging adventure as he battles the hideous ancient forces of darkness to save mankind? The Ultimate Ninja Challenge!
84
/100
05
QuackShot Starring Donald Duck
QuackShot starring Donald Duck is a steady Disney run-and-jump platformer, with a little puzzle-solving element. Characters are mostly based on Disney's cartoon series Duck Tales. Donald and his three nephews get their hands on a treasure map and set out to hunt the big prize. Donald travels throughout the world, to places like Egypt, India, South Pole, and even Transylvania, while his nephews fly an airplane. As a weapon Donald uses plungers that can freeze the enemies or stick to walls which can then be used for climbing. Other wacky weapons are popcorn and bubblegum.
80
/100
06
Sunset Riders
Sunset Riders is a side-scrolling run and gun video game developed and released by Konami in 1991. It is set in the American Old West, where the players take control of bounty hunters who are seeking the rewards offered for various criminals. Each bad guy has a big reward on his head, and they're helped by hordes of bandits, gunslingers, and horse thieves, so pack loads of lead.
79
/100
07
Golden Axe II (1991)
The Lord of Darkness, Dark Guld, has arisen again. Wielding the famous Golden Axe, he has destroyed entire countries with his evil clan, forcing the world into chaos. Once again, three brave warriors stand up to face the oppressors, and won’t rest until the Golden Axe is returned to its rightful place.
77
/100
08
Streets of Rage
Streets of Rage is a side-scrolling beat 'em up video game developed and published by Sega in 1991 for Mega Drive/Genesis. It is the first installment of the Bare Knuckle/Streets of Rage series which was followed by Streets of Rage 2 and Streets of Rage 3.
76
/100
09
Snake Rattle 'n' Roll
Snake Rattle N Roll features two snakes, Rattle and Roll, as they make their way through eleven 3D isometric levels. The object is to navigate the obstacles in each level and eat enough "Nibbley Pibbleys" to ring a weigh-in bell located in the level, which will allow the snakes to exit. The game can be played by a single player or by two players simultaneously. It was later re released as part of Rare Replay collection on Xbox One.
76
/100
10
Double Dragon III: The Sacred Stones (1991)
Billy, Jimmy, and the whole Double Dragon gang fight for the Sacred Stones to save in the world in yet another beat-em-up.
73
/100
11
Alien Storm (1991)
68
/100
12
Lemmings
68
/100
13
Captain America and The Avengers
65
/100
14
Road Rash (1991)
65
/100
15
The Simpsons: Bart vs. the Space Mutants
59
/100
16
James Pond 2: Codename - RoboCod
50
/100
Frequently asked questions
What is the best Sega Genesis game of 1991?
Sonic the Hedgehog currently tops the ranking with a score of 85/100 across 620 ratings. Ranking updated September 2026.
How is this ranking built?
Games are ranked on their aggregated critic score out of 100, with a minimum vote threshold so a single glowing review never outranks a proven classic; the Tier community's own F-to-S grades are shown alongside each game.