Sega Saturn
Image: Damien McFerran / Time Extension

Released in 1994, the Sega Saturn was supposed to be the company's glorious successor to the Mega Drive / Genesis, its most popular console ever. However, with just 9.26 million units sold in total, the 32-bit system is viewed by many as one of Sega's most costly mistakes.

The Japanese firm was in a strong position at the close of the 16-bit era, with a huge global market share and some of the most exciting arcade properties on the market. However, newcomer Sony entered the video game arena armed with powerful technology and a desire to court video game developers and publishers all over the globe, and the PlayStation went on to dominate the rest of the decade.

Having said that, the Saturn was a long way from being a failure in the eyes of those who were wise enough to support it. Sega's class shone through with a wide range of exclusives – many of which were excellent ports of the company's wonderful coin-op releases – and in Japan, it was Sega's most successful home console, thanks in no small part to robust support from the likes of Capcom, SNK and Treasure.

Remember, the list below isn't set in stone – it's based on user votes, so if you feel certain titles should be higher in the ranking, be sure to mark them out of 10, and you could influence the order.

40. Radiant Silvergun (Saturn)

This wildly inventive vertically-scrolling shmup has been an eBay darling since the auction site began, thanks to the fact that it was produced in limited numbers, was only released on the Saturn in Japan and garnered rave reviews from day one. Radiant Silvergun was lovingly remastered on the Xbox 360 (and is playable on the Series X and S), but the original Saturn version is still a big draw for collectors. The game's RPG-style mechanics – which include a vast selection of weapons which get more powerful the more you play – are still appealing today, while the dazzling array of boss encounters ensures that this has lost none of its allure. A shmup classic.

39. Shining The Holy Ark (Saturn)

The sequel to Sega's first-person Mega Drive dungeon-crawler Shining In The Darkness, Shining The Holy Ark takes the same core concept and spruces things up with CGI-based visuals and a full-3D viewpoint. Hours of turn-based action are on offer, twinned with a gripping story, solid progression and a fantastic soundtrack. This title is part of the same 'Shining' series which includes Shining Force III and Shining Wisdom, and is a solid choice for JRPG fans.

38. Guardian Heroes (Saturn)

Japanese studio Treasure had forged a very successful relationship with Sega in the '90s, and Guardian Heroes marked its Saturn debut. The game is a curious mix of side-scrolling fighter and RPG, with movement taking place in 2D but with the ability to switch 'lanes' in and out of the screen. Characters earn experience points as you play, allowing you to bolster their abilities. There are multiple routes through the game, massively extending its longevity, and a bonus mode allows you to compete with another player in an arena mode using enemies unlocked in the main game. Visually and aurally, Guardian Heroes is a real treat, and it's a shame that the GBA sequel didn't quite live up to the original. It was also remastered alongside Radiant Silvergun for Xbox Live Arcade.

37. Panzer Dragoon Saga (Saturn)

The first two Panzer Dragoon titles were on-rails shooters which expanded on the template laid down by the likes of Space Harrier and After Burner, but this third entry took the JRPG route, delivering a four-disc epic which continues to command eye-watering prices when it comes up for sale online. These inflated prices are justified, though; Panzer Dragoon Saga is one of the 32-bit era's most engrossing role-playing adventures and offers gorgeous visuals, a haunting soundtrack and a battle system which allows the player to position their character strategically to avoid damage. Sega has apparently lost the source code for the game, which sadly means a re-release is unlikely for now – so you might have to remortgage the house to own the original.

36. Burning Rangers (Saturn)

Sonic Team never produced a brand-new Sonic title for the Saturn, but it did give us NiGHTS into Dreams and this, a 3D fire-fighting epic set in the near future. The aim is to enter blazing buildings and rescue those trapped inside whilst putting out fires with your water-based weapons. Burning Rangers supports the Saturn's excellent '3D' analogue pad, and plays much better with it; controlling your agile character is a breeze when you have analogue control, and the game's innovative voice navigation system makes it feel like you're part of a team. It's a crying shame that we never got a sequel.

35. Sega Rally Championship (Saturn)

Arguably the Saturn's best racing game, SEGA Rally might not be as visually impressive as its coin-op parent, but all of the gameplay has made it across intact. The sense of weight and speed is supremely convincing, and the challenge of improving on your race times is a constant source of appeal. A Japan-only update released in 1996 added in support for the Saturn's 3D controller and online play via the XBAND modem, but this sadly never made it to the west. If you have access to a Japanese system, that's the version you want to play.

34. Shining Force III (Saturn)

This tactical RPG is the sequel to the Mega Drive / Genesis titles Shining Force and Shining Force II, and takes the series into the realm of 3D visuals. The gameplay is as addictive and deep as ever, while the storyline is truly epic – so much so, in fact, that the plan was to split the adventure across three different games. That happened in Japan, but Western gamers sadly only got the first part. Thankfully, fan-made translation patches exist which allow you to experience the other two parts via emulation. Shining Force III is a must-have Saturn title, it's as simple as that.

33. Virtua Fighter 2 (Saturn)

Capcom and SNK went to war in the realm of 2D fighting games, but as the '90s progressed, it would be Sega and Namco who would duke it out as the genre moved into the realm of 3D. Namco's Tekken was seen as the PlayStation's early "killer app", alongside Ridge Racer, and it was in direct competition with Sega's Virtua Fighter series. The original game had been instrumental in selling the Saturn to the Japanese public, but its sequel was an improvement in pretty much every way imaginable. Using the Saturn's high-res mode, Virtua Fighter 2 delivers silky-smooth gameplay, a wealth of special moves and one of the most engaging two-player titles on the console.

32. Saturn Bomberman (Saturn)

Bomberman found fame on consoles like the PC Engine and SNES, but this Saturn exclusive is considered by many to be the character's defining entry – and that's not just because it's possible for 10 players to take part using two multitap accessories. A Story Mode is included which will keep solo players busy, but Saturn Bomberman really excels when two or more people are involved. Soon after, Hudson Soft would transition the series into 3D (with mixed success, it should be noted), but this 32-bit offering has some of the best 2D visuals in the franchise and is a must for fans of party games.

31. Sega Worldwide Soccer '98 (Saturn)

Sega opened its soccer account on the Saturn with the decidedly average Victory Goal, but Sega Worldwide Soccer '97 was a huge improvement, introducing 3D player models and a game engine which had enough depth and complexity to give EA's FIFA and Konami's ISS a run for their money. Sega Worldwide Soccer '98 adds in club sides but doesn't really make any major additions to the gameplay; it was criticised at the time of release for not doing enough to improve over the previous iteration, but it remains the best choice for any Saturn-owning football fans.

30. Castlevania: Symphony of the Night (Saturn)

Castlevania: Symphony of the Night is considered to be one of the greatest video games of all time, and the PlayStation version was a critical smash when it launched in 1997. The Saturn port, published in Japan in 1998, was coded by a different team within Konami and introduces a bunch of new features that weren't present in the PlayStation edition. Maria Renard becomes a playable character, and two new areas – the Cursed Prison and the Underground Garden – are included. However, load times are longer and some of the visual effects – such as transparencies – aren't as impressive (Koji Igarashi, who worked on the game and would later oversee the entire Castlevania franchise, is said to have been disappointed by how the port turned out). Even so, this is an excellent game and well worth checking out if you're something of a Castlevania completist.

29. Batsugun (Saturn)

Toaplan is a legendary name in the world of shmups, and Batsugun holds a special place in the genre's history by being the final game from the esteemed Japanese developer. Notable for being one of the first 'bullet hell' shooters, Batsugun features a unique weapon levelling system which sees players gain experience points from taking out enemies; a similar mechanic would crop up in Treasure's Radiant Silvergun a few years later. Several of Batsugun's staff would go on to form Cave, another famous name in the world of Japanese shmups. This home port was handled by Gazelle (another company formed by former Toaplan employees) and Batsugun appears on the Astro City Mini V, a micro-console from Sega. It was also released on Switch and PS4.

28. Elevator Action Returns (Saturn)

The original Elevator Action remains something of an arcade classic, and was ported to a wide range of formats. It's a shame, then, that its far superior sequel is less well known; it takes the core concept of the first game and expands on it dramatically, introducing more complex levels, a broader selection of weapons and far more variety in the gameplay. For the longest time, this Saturn port – which is exclusive to Japan – was the only way to experience Elevator Action Returns in the home, but it has since been made available on the excellent Taito Legends 2 compilation (PlayStation 2, Windows, and Xbox) and, more recently, as a pre-installed game on the Taito Egret II Mini micro-console.

27. Princess Crown (Saturn)

Before George Kamitani formed Vanillaware – the studio behind the likes of Odin Sphere, Dragon's Crown and 13 Sentinels – he was employed by Capcom, and upon leaving that company, he founded his own independent outfit in order to create Princess Crown. The firm would later become part of Atlus, which would eventually publish the final game – a side-scrolling 2D action RPG with sumptuous visuals. Princess Crown boasts real-time combat which sees players charging up special moves, but it also has NPCs to interact with and a basic crafting system. Never localised into English, Princess Crown was later ported to the Sony PSP, and Dragon's Crown is considered to be its spiritual successor.

26. Sonic R (Saturn)

The idea of Sonic racing against other characters certainly doesn't seem groundbreaking, given the blue blur's penchant for speed – and, by the time Sonic R arrived in 1997, he'd already appeared in not one but two Game Gear racing titles – but this superb 3D speed-fest is nonetheless a remarkable experience. Developed by UK-based Traveller's Tales and Sonic Team, Sonic R might not be the 'full' Sonic experience Saturn fans were hoping for, but its focus on exploration lent it an 'adventure' feel and made it stand out from other mascot-based racers. Oh, and Richard Jacques' soundtrack is wonderful.

25. Panzer Dragoon II Zwei (Saturn)

The first Panzer Dragoon made waves thanks to its gorgeous 3D visuals and incredible world design, but this sequel is a better release on all counts. The scope is improved massively, with a stronger storyline and more accessible difficulty level, as well as a branching route system and some cool unlockables when you finally finish the adventure. The soundtrack is also incredible and would go on to inform the music used in future Panzer Dragoon titles, including Panzer Dragoon Saga and Panzer Dragoon Orta. It's also more visually impressive than its predecessor, offering some of the most awe-inspiring graphics on the Saturn.

24. Battle Garegga (Saturn)

Lauded by many as one of the best shmups ever made, Raizing's Battle Garegga is set in a steampunk world not entirely dissimilar to that seen in Hayao Miyazaki's legendary movie Laputa: Castle in the Sky, and this visual distinction is one of the main reasons the game stands out against its genre rivals. The levels, enemies and boss fights are all fantastic, and the gameplay is tight and challenging, due to the game's adjustable difficulty ranking system that can, if not totally understood and exploited, make Battle Garegga even harder than it already is. This Saturn port was only released in Japan and has become a collector's item, but in 2016, emulation experts M2 released Battle Garegga Rev.2016 for modern systems, which means the game is accessible to a much larger audience. Even so, this Saturn version still ranks as one of the console's most desirable titles.

23. Virtua Cop 2 (Saturn)

Sega was a key supporter of the humble arcade light gun shooter, and its Virtua Cop series – alongside House of the Dead – did much to popularise the genre in amusement arcades all over the globe. Virtua Cop 2 takes the core gameplay of the original and adds in the ability to pick your route through the levels, massively increasing its replayability. The game would later be bundled with its predecessor on the PlayStation 2, and a Dreamcast port was also released, but only in Japan. 2003's Virtua Cop 3 has sadly remained an arcade exclusive.

22. Fighters Megamix (Saturn)

With Sony able to call upon the might of Namco's Tekken franchise during the 32-bit console war, Sega pulled out all of the stops to compete – and that culminated in the release of this crossover effect, which saw characters from Virtua Fighter and Fighting Vipers (not to mention Virtua Cop and Daytona USA) duke it out for supremacy. While it arguably isn't quite as good-looking as the peerless Virtua Fighter 2 Saturn port, Fighter's Megamix incorporates moves from Virtua Fighter 3 and does a good job of combining the two play styles of Virtua Fighter and Fighting Vipers. Hailed as a critical smash at the point of release, the game sadly stands alone in Sega's library, and no sequel has ever been produced.

21. Sonic Jam (Saturn)

While the Saturn famously lacked a stand-alone mainline Sonic title, Sonic Jam did a lot to keep fans happy during the 32-bit era. It pulls together four 16-bit Sonic outings: Sonic the Hedgehog, Sonic the Hedgehog 2, Sonic the Hedgehog 3 and Sonic & Knuckles, and even emulates the 'lock-on' system of the latter, allowing you to alter aspects of the other three titles. Having all of these classic games in one place was fantastic back in 1997, but one of the biggest talking point was the all-new 3D-based "Sonic World" mode, which essentially acts as an interactive, explorable museum of related content, including trailers and artwork. This hinted at the possibility of a proper 3D Sonic on Saturn, but sadly it never happened. It's also a shame that Sonic CD isn't included here, but that doesn't take away from the fact that Sonic Jam is an essential purchase for all Saturn owners.

20. 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.

19. 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.

18. 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.

17. 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.

16. 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.

15. 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.

14. 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.

13. 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.

12. 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.

11. 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.

10. Virtual On: Cyber Troopers (Saturn)

Another Sega coin-op smash ported to Saturn, Virtual On is an arena-based combat simulation where players control agile mecha and must take out their opponent using a variety of ranged and projectile weaponry. The arcade version used a twin-stick setup (and a twin-stick controller was released for the Saturn to mimic this) but it's still perfectly playable using the standard controller, even if some of the instinctive fluidity is lost. A brilliant two-player title, Virtual On spawned a series which has seen entries on the Dreamcast and PlayStation 2.

9. Hyper Duel (Saturn)

Technosoft is better known for its Thunder Force franchise but Hyper Duel is one of its most desirable games, thanks largely to the fact that the Saturn version is incredibly expensive to purchase these days. On the surface, this is a largely traditional side-scrolling shmup, but the ability to transform from robot to spaceship at the touch of a button adds some welcome variety. This Saturn conversion includes an all-new mode, as well as a CGI animated introduction sequence. Hyper Duel's rarity means that few people have played it, but it's one of the most appealing blasters of the 32-bit era and well worth tracking down, if you can spare the cash.

8. Assault Suit Leynos 2 (Saturn)

The original Assault Suit Leynos came out on the Mega Drive / Genesis in 1990 (it was released under the title Target Earth in North America) and offered a unique take on the traditional 'run-and-gun' genre by allowing players to unlock weapons and gear after each mission, with the selection of upgrades being directly related to their performance in the previous mission. Developer NCS followed up with Assault Suit Valken / Cybernator on the SNES, which upped the ante in terms of presentation but removed the upgrade system. Assault Suit Leynos 2, as the title suggests, reverts back to the setup seen in the Mega Drive game, but this time features incredible 2D visuals that make the game look and feel a lot like Valken / Cybernator. There's sadly no English localisation but it's easy enough to figure out what's going on if you give it enough time.

7. Keio Flying Squadron 2 (Saturn)

The original Keio Flying Squadron was one of the highlights of the Sega CD library, offering a Parodius-style 2D shmup experience which was filled with laughs, great music and plenty of challenge. Victor Entertainment returned to the franchise with this Sega Saturn release, which changed things up a little by introducing side-scrolling platform sections. While you could argue that Keio Flying Squadron 2 hardly reinvents the wheel, the quality of the gameplay and the sumptuous visuals make this a real treat, and the animated cutscenes – supplied by Studio Pierrot, which also handled the animation in the first game – is bursting with energy and character. Keio Flying Squadron 2 never received a release in North America, and both the Japanese and European versions fetch a pretty penny these days.

6. Dungeons & Dragons Collection (Saturn)

One of the last releases for the Saturn, Capcom's Dungeons & Dragons Collection is comprised of two games, spread across two discs: Dungeons & Dragons: Tower of Doom and Dungeons & Dragons: Shadow over Mystara. These were both released in arcades to critical acclaim, and fuse the popular Dungeons & Dragons licence with a side-scrolling fighter. There are RPG elements at play here, and the 4-MEG RAM cart allows for some incredible animation. The lengthy load times are an annoyance, and the maximum number of players is reduced from 4 to 2, but otherwise, this is a fantastic Saturn exclusive and regularly changes hands for high prices today. If you'd rather not spend all that cash, then Dungeons & Dragons: Chronicles of Mystara does very much the same job on modern systems.

5. DoDonPachi (Saturn)

Cave's second game – and the second game in the beloved DoDonPachi series – is a bullet-hell masterpiece which ranks as one of the most engaging shmups on the Sega Saturn. The combination of gorgeous 2D visuals, a rocking soundtrack and some of the most compelling and challenging action you'll find on any console is just brilliant, while the exclusive "Saturn" mode (which adds a new stage and boss fight), as well as the ability to tinker with the difficulty setting, makes this a solid choice for fans of the genre. Its forerunner, DonPachi, is also available on Saturn and is worth a look, too.

4. Policenauts (Saturn)

Hideo Kojima is famous today as the creator of Metal Gear and Death Stranding, but his time in the interactive entertainment industry stretches way back – and it's striking to see that he was trying to marry up the world of video games and movies even at the start of his career. 1988's Snatcher is hailed as a classic title, mixing Blade Runner with The Terminator, and 1994's Policenauts follows a similar approach. The game plays like a cross between a visual novel and a point-and-click adventure and is packed with well-rounded characters as well as an engagingly dark storyline. The Saturn version never made it out of Japan but there's a fan-made translation patch which allows English-speaking gamers to enjoy one of Kojima's most underrated masterpieces.

3. Metal Slug (Saturn)

SNK's Neo Geo run-and-gun masterpiece has to rank as one of gaming's most iconic action titles, and this Saturn port was one of the few to do the game justice in the '90s. The conversion makes use of the Saturn's 1-MEG RAM cartridge, which results in smooth animation when compared to the PlayStation version. Sadly, the Saturn port of Metal Slug never got released outside of its native Japan, making it an expensive collectable these days – although, it should be noted, not quite as expensive as the Neo Geo AES edition, which can fetch as much as $20,000 on the secondary market.

2. The King Of Fighters '97 (Saturn)

The final King of Fighters title to be ported to the Saturn, King of Fighters '97 retains the team-based fighting mechanics the franchise is famous for, but introduces 'Advanced' and 'Extra' modes. 'Advanced' fills the player's Power Gauge as they attack their opponent, while 'Extra' is based on the system seen in '94 and '95, where the gauge is filled by manually charging it up or defending against incoming attacks. The game also makes use of the 1-MEG RAM cart to present a more faithful conversion when compared to the Neo Geo original. A smash-hit in Japanese arcades, King of Fighters '97 is one of the highlights of the Saturn's one-on-one fighting game library.

1. Sakura Wars (Saturn)

This stunning combination of tactical role-playing, dating and visual novel was always going to be a hard sell for western players, so it's little wonder that Sakura Wars never made it outside of Japan. However, the series has since found favour in the west, so it's well worth resisting the game that started it all. A massive success in its homeland, Sakura Wars is now fully playable in English thanks to the efforts of fans, who released a translation patch in 2019. It's also pretty cheap on the secondary market, so there's no excuse not to give it a go – it's certainly worthy of the acclaim it has received in its homeland, and there's no game quite like it on the Saturn (outside of its 1998 sequel, Sakura Wars 2: Thou Shalt Not Die, of course).

When did Saturn release?

Saturn's release date was November 22nd, 1994 in Japan. It's release date in North America was May 11th, 1995, while European gamers had to wait until July 8th, 1995.

Were there any good games on Sega Saturn?

As our list shows, there are a great many amazing games on Saturn! While it didn't get the same kind of software support as the Sony PlayStation, the Saturn is home to some of the finest titles of its generation, including Radiant Silvergun, Panzer Dragoon Saga, SEGA Rally, Guardian Heroes, Shining Force III, Burning Rangers, X-Men vs. Street Fighter and many, many more.

Saturn's incredible 2D power meant that it was flooded with amazing one-on-one fighters and shmups, many of which were exclusive to Japan. If you really want to get the most out of the console, you'll want to get it modded so you can play Japanese games or purchase a Japanese system.

Why did Sega Saturn flop in the West?

Simply put, the PlayStation was easier to develop for, had wider third-party support and could produce more convincing 3D visuals than the Saturn.

Sega built Saturn as a 2D powerhouse, only adding a second video display processor to the console's proposed specification after Sony had revealed the capabilities of its own system. This made Saturn tricky to code for, but that's not to say the console wasn't capable of some amazing 3D graphics – just check out Panzer Dragoon Saga, Tomb Raider (which came to Saturn first, lest we forget) and Burning Rangers for proof.

As PlayStation began to pull away in terms of sales, developers abandoned Saturn to focus their energies on the more commercially successful platform. Without the support of the industry's biggest publishers, Saturn began to struggle, and Sega's own financial woes didn't help the situation – it lacked the funds to compete with Sony in terms of marketing and promotion.

Ultimately, Saturn only managed to sell 9.26 million units worldwide compared to PlayStation's 102.49 million and N64's 32.93 million, putting it in third place. However, in Japan, where it sold 5.75 million units (more than the Mega Drive's 3.58 million), it is considered to have been more successful.

And it's worth pointing out that the system only "flopped" in a commercial sense; as a gaming system, it was a resounding success, if you ask us.

Is Sega Saturn better than PlayStation?

It all depends on what kind of games you like to play.

Saturn's 2D power meant that it got the best ports of arcade titles from the likes of Capcom and SNK, whereas the PlayStation versions were often missing characters, modes and animation, and had longer load times. Japanese company Treasure, famous for its amazing 2D titles, supported Saturn right until the end and created some of its best games – games which were almost always exclusive to Sega's console.

Obviously, if you loved Sega's arcade games back in the '90s then Saturn was the only place to experience them in the home.

On the downside, Saturn didn't get many RPGs in the West, and towards the end of this particular console war, PlayStation's superior 3D power made itself known via titles like Metal Gear Solid and Gran Turismo 2.

How many games are there for Sega Saturn?

Approximately 1053 games were officially released for Saturn across all territories.

What was the last Sega Saturn game?

The final game released for Saturn was Final Fight Revenge, which arrived in Japan on March 30th, 2000.

The final game released for Saturn in North America was Magic Knight Rayearth, which was released on 1st December 1998.

The final game released for Saturn in Europe was Deep Fear, which arrived on September 18th, 1998.

When was Saturn discontinued?

Sega pulled the plug on Saturn in 1998 in North America and Europe, shifting its focus to the upcoming Dreamcast. However, despite the Dreamcast launching in Japan in 1998, Sega of Japan didn't abandon Saturn until 2000, as the console sold better in its homeland than elsewhere in the world.