Dreamcast

Dreamcast

Japan

Homebrew

"It's thinking."

The Dreamcast was Sega's last console, and you can say they really went out with a bang! It was an extremely powerful machine for 2D and 3D games alike; and unlike the clusterfuck that was the Saturn, it was quite easy to develop for it. Not only that, it was almost identical to the Naomi board, so it received lots of arcade-perfect conversions. It also had four controller ports, VGA support, and built-in internet capabilities (most US online capable games now work again).

Sadly, their reputation was too tainted by past mistakes, and their financial situation did not allow the marketing budget required to sell enough units to keep the system afloat. The PlayStation 2 juggernaut was just around the corner. And, as the final nail, they forgot a backdoor that let it run burned CDs without modding the console (see pic at the bottom of this page). So after a short but bright lifespan, Sega discontinued their final dream machine to become a third-party developer and publisher.

For even easier piratin', or to revive a console with a busted optical drive, replace that with a GDEmu to load games from an SD card. It is quite easy to install and hugely improves loading times. Alternatively, there is the DreamShell, which loads game via the serial port on the console's back; but it has lower speed, worse compatibility, and still requires a working optical drive, so it should be considered obsolete.

The list

This icon indicates the game uses the Windows CE libraries, meaning it might have some issues ruining on most emulators.

Cover	Title	Genre	Description	Screenshot
	Airforce Delta (US) Deadly Skies (EU)	Flight simulator	You're part of a mercenary team, flying to protect a fledgling nation from rebels trying to force a reunification. It's a tad simpler and more arcade-like than more realistic sims like Ace Combat, but it's still a very good game.
	Alone in the Dark: The New Nightmare	Survival Horror	You play as the "detective of the paranormal" Edward Carnby or as Aline Cedrac, an Ethnology Professor. Your adventure takes place in a mansion located in Shadow Island. The setting is quite cliché, but if you like old school Survival Horror games with nice pre-rendered backgrounds you should try this one. Also available in PS1, PC and PS2. It's worth to mention that DC version is the best regarding the visuals and sound aspects. Avoid PS2 awfully ported version. Anyways, blast shadow creatures with your TRIPLE BARREL SHOTGUN!
	Atari Anniversary Edition	Compilation	A compilation of the most old and retro shit around. It's got all of those famous arcade hits you know and love, and some movies n extras as well. Games: Asteroids, Asteroids Deluxe, Battlezone, Centipede, Crystal Castles, Gravitar, Millipede, Missile Command, Pong, Super Breakout, Tempest, Tempest Tubes, and Warlords.
	Bangai-O	Shoot 'em up	Super robot shooter made by Treasure. Known for its purposely nonsensical translation as well as the most framerate-killing special attacks ever. How can anyone not love a game in which a special attack can unleash four hundred bullets at once?! Also on Nintendo 64, but a bit different (and Japan-only). There are sequels for the DS (Bangai-O Spirits) and XBLA (Bangai-O HD Missile Fury) that are pretty fucking awesome too.
	Blue Stinger	Survival Horror	This game was strangely, of all things, released before the Dreamcast itself actually came out (by nine days!). You're a guy living by an island. The island is the location where the meteor crashed that killed the Dinosaurs. Now horrific Dino-things and zombies are resurrected, and you're out to see what the fucks up. Any questions? Sega's answer to Resident Evil, essentially.
	Bust-A-Move 4 (US) Puzzle Bobble 4 (JP/EU)	Puzzle	Fuck yeah bitch, pop those bubbles with your bubble blaster! Puzzlan goodness.
	Cannon Spike (US/EU) Gunspike (JP)	Shooter / Arcade	A short, tough and arcade-y overhead shooter. You can use one of several Capcom characters, including Cammy White (Street Fighter), Sir Arthur (Ghosts 'n' Goblins), B.B. Hood (Darkstalkers) and Mega Man. The character-specific endings are cute and include a bunch of cameos.
	Capcom vs. SNK	2D Fighting	As the title indicates a fighting game where Capcom characters duke it out against SNK characters, it has 4 buttons and 2 different grooves, SNK groove is akin to KoF 94-95 whereas Capcom groove is similar to A-ISM in SFA 3, Arcade perfect unlike the PS1 port that is butchered down due to technical limitations (Has an extra track called Needle not present in arcades).
	Carrier	Survival horror	Resident Evil on a warship.
	Charge 'N Blast	Shooter / Arcade	Charge your weapon then...BLAST! Kill fake Godzilla before he blows up your oil rig god damn! Also has split-screen BRO-op! You move your character horizontally across the screen left or right along a fixed rail with the L and R trigger buttons (weird as hell, I know). Each character has three chargeable weapons, the longer you charge the more damage it will do. You aim the crosshair with the analog stick. There's also a time limit. Amazing fucking game.
	ChuChu Rocket!	Puzzle	Get mice into rockets! Fucking amazing gem of a game Also on the GBA and iOS platforms. Includes over 1,000+ puzzles made by users from the Dreamcast online. iOS versions include online play! Not anymore.
	Crazy Taxi	Racing	Fast paced driving game where time is everything. Arcade mode is a blast, and the banter is witty (but repetitive). Play as four different drivers B.D. Joe in two huge cities, and play some challenges to sharpen your driving skillz. Though difficult, they're sweet. Pick this one up. Sequels and ports are pretty much the same, but get this one because it's the one everybody talks about and has better music. Also on other consoles such as the Gamecube, PS2, PS3, 360, PC and mobile, although more recent releases changed the soundtrack because muh copyrights. Bummer.
	Crazy Taxi 2	Racing	Sequel to Crazy Taxi, pretty good. More car-razy taxi!
	Cyber Troopers Virtual-On Oratorio Tangram	3D Fighter	A much improved version of the first game. More robots to chose from with a whole bunch of weapons at your arsenal and you fight some pretty awesome and HARD boss battles. Fast paced robot action that you don't want to miss. If you can't find it at the arcade, then this will do. Also on Xbox Live Arcade.
	D2	Horror/Mindfuck	Loose sequel to puzzle-horror oddity D (PS), once again designed by the idiosyncratic Kenji Eno. D2 begins with protagonist Laura surviving a plane crash in the Canadian wilderness, where she sets out to find other survivors. Outdoors environments are traversed in third-person, while indoor settings are in first-person and battles are stationary FPS showdowns, interestingly. The game is clunky and ill-paced but the psychosexual tentacle body horror, off-beat story, amazing-looking bosses and survival elements (such as hunting) make this the definition of a cult game. Quite hard to find.
	Daytona USA (2001)	Racing	An impressive port of the top grossing arcade racer ever: graphics that surpass the original by far, excellent remixed music, several new cars and tracks, a career mode... what's not to love here? Well, the handling is not quite there as the Saturn's version, but you can tune down the analog stick's sensitivity (although a wheel is more preferable). Still, with all the extras, this may be the best version of Daytona USA. Original home ports on the Saturn. Bare-Bones port of the arcade was ported over to XBLA (Xbone Compatible) and PSN.
	Dead or Alive 2	3D Fighting	Tits fightan'. Very fun. Many versions of the game across 3 platforms (DC, PS2, Xbox). The US release has the least amount of content while the PAL version has a bit more. If you have to have everything, get the Japanese release since it was the final version released on the DC. If you like burned games, there is a comp of all the versions on one disc floating around. AMERICAN VERSION HAS A LOT LESS COSTUMES THAN THE JAPANESE ONE. Sequel is on the Xbox, along with an enhanced port of this game (Dead Or Alive Ultimate).
	Demolition Racer: No Exit	Racing	In this racer, you must find a balance between beating your rivals to a pulp (for points), finishing in a good position (for a point multiplier), and not being beaten to a pulp by your rivals (for, you know, finishing the race at all). Nice gameplay, sweet graphics, and a badass industrial / techno soundtrack. Also on the PS1, in a vastly inferior form.
	Dino Crisis	Survival Horror	Capcom capitalized on the popularity of Resident Evil with another survival horror series, though this one is set in an island where dinosaurs have been brought back via genetic experiments. Faster-paced and more trigger-happy than Resident Evil, with multiple endings, less puzzles and some great set pieces and boss battles. Originally for PS, this port has nicer textures and graphics all-around, but is otherwise the same.
	Dynamite Cop (US/EU) Dynamite Deka 2 (JP)	Beat-Em-Up	Sequel to Die Hard Arcade (aka Dynamite Deka). Are you a bad enough dude to rescue the presidents daughter from Old Solidus, the Kraken, and KRAB PEOPLE? Using a wide variety of wrestling moves(yes, suplexing is of course included), nuclear missile launchers, machine guns, and of course, your own fists, you must fight your way through baddies and monsters on a cruise ship big enough to house a small country, with the interesting ability to choose your routes of infiltration for multiple ways to play. A direct port from the Arcade
	Ecco the Dolphin: Defender of the Future	Action-Adventure	The first Ecco game in 3D manages to translate the beauty of the previous titles to one of the most achingly gorgeous underwater worlds ever envisioned. The New Age-isms of the Ecco series, what with this being a franchise about magical psychic dolphins saving Mother Earth from aliens, continue to baffle and charm. Controls were surprisingly well-implemented, but are far from perfect. As expected from Ecco, it's tough as nails. Avoid the shoddy PS2 port.
	Elemental Gimmick Gear	Action RPG	You play an egg-shaped robot recently dug out of a ruin and re-activated, now trying to uncover your past. A Zelda-like overhead action-RPG with impossibly pretty hand-drawn environments. Good luck getting past those gates, you'll see. Boss battles are 3D arena battles, by contrast. A great, underlooked DC title.
	Evolution	RPG/ Dungeon Crawler	Lighthearted JRPG that has you trying to get out of debt by exploring randomized dungeons filled with traps and finding artifacts and treasure. Typical JRPG turn based combat, now with 50% more status effects. Was joint to its sequel and ported to the GCN as a single package, but this, the first game, was substantially stripped down.
	F355 Challenge: Passione Rossa	Racing	Awwwwww yeah baby, time to get serious racin' on in here. Curious that it's ported from an arcade, but it's still a hardcore realistic simulator.
	Fatal Fury / Garou: Mark Of The Wolves	2D Fighting	SNK's answer to Street Fighter III. Considered by many to be the finest 2D fighting game of all time. Plot-wise it's set a decade after Real Bout Fatal Fury. A mostly new roster, although some characters are related to classic ones. Note: while this port is mostly solid, it has some slight issues of slowdown and audio skip. If that irks you, go ahead and spend a grand on the Neo Geo cartridge. Also on several other systems.
	Fur Fighters	Third person shooter	Lighthearted action game about cute fluffy animals shooting the shit out of each other. Very fun and tough, vast environments, but goddamn it makes you backtrack a lot. Later also released on PS2, with cel-shaded graphics and actual voice acting (it's debatable if these are improvements).
	Gauntlet Legends	Action RPG	A port of the arcade. Play up to 4 Players. Level your character up and fight back against Skorne. Also on N64 and PS1 (Dark Legacy: PS2, Gamecube, and Xbox).
	Giga Wing (1 and 2)	Shmup	Sweet arcade vertical bullet hells by Capcom and Takumi, set in a fantasy/steampunk world. You have a special attack to reflect the enemy fire back at the baddies. The first game was ported from the CPS-2, so it has some "shimmering" due to that board's weird resolution, it's still fine but you may prefer emulating on MAME instead. The second was on the Naomi board so it doesn't have that issue, it has great 3D graphics and an epic orchestral soundtrack. But it's quite rare so it goes for $500+ these days.
	Grandia II	RPG	A gruff mercenary and his talking bird assistant are hired to protect a group of nuns as they perform a ritual. But as they're massacred by actual friggin' demons, things get complicated real quick. Though unrelated story-wise, Grandia II follows its PS1 predecessor in spirit. The protagonist is refreshingly sarcastic and distrustful of the various, colorful characters who join his party, all of which have their own charms. Once again, the character-driven story and battle system, which combines active-time battles with turn-based strategy, are the main draws. Gets sappy towards the end, but who cares. Ported to PS2 (with bugs) and PC (bugs fixed). Easily one of the best JRPGs of its generation all time.
	Gunbird 2	Shoot 'em up	Vertical shmup that features amusing cutscenes. Also homoerotic endings (dead serious). Although the second plays a bit better than the first, it isn't quite as funny. Also on PS2 (together with the first one) and re-released on Switch and Steam.
	Half-Life	FPS	You may be thinking: "What's this bullshit, Half-Life for the Dreamcast was cancelled!" Yes, it was - but it's out there nonetheless. A great port, including the High Definition pack and the Blue Shift expansion (both in fact created for this version and later ported to the PC). Strangely, the save file's size changes as you progress, so be sure to devote a VMU completely to this game. Now, it won't run as well as on any modern computer, so why do it? For the best of all reasons: the heck of it! A bunch of mods (and counter strike) have been ported over as well, if you're into that.
	Headhunter (EU)	Stealth action	In a near future where police is fully privatized and perps have their organs harvested, an amnesiac bounty hunter is hired to find who's behind the murder of his former boss. This was called "Sega's Metal Gear" back then due to the obvious gameplay inspiration, but the plot feels much more satirical, a la RoboCop. An excellent game with a sweet soundtrack by Richard Jacques. Somewhat rare, as it was only released in Europe; had a PS2 port and a PS2/Xbox sequel.
	Heavy Metal: Geomatrix	Arena Shooter / Fighter	Based off the sci-fi/fantasy comic book of the same name (but no plot connection to the 1981 film), HM:G is a third person fighting game similar to Power Stone. The difference being the bigger emphasis on weapons and overall style. It also has a kickass soundtrack featuring Megadeath, Halford and W.A.S.P to name a few.
	Hydro Thunder	Racing	One of the best Arcade Racers to be ported to the Dreamcast. 13 Boats, 13 Tracks. Boost like hell, race your boat to the finish, and find all the shortcuts. Also on PS1 and N64, each with a unique feature (Career Mode and 4 Player Split-screen respectfully). DC version is the basis for the port featured on Midway Arcade Treasures 3 (on GC, Xbox, PS2). Sequel is exclusive to XBLA (Xbone Compatible)
	Illbleed	Survival horror	A group of horror fans are invited to a very exclusive horror theme park: if they get out of it alive, they'll get a boatload of cash. A very tongue-in-cheek parody of the horror B-movie clichés. Unlike Resident Evil and other such games, it's less about fighting monsters and more about detecting and defusing traps that can literally scare you to death.
	Jet Set / Grind Radio	3D Trick Platformer	Recruit stylish young people and rollerskate through sprawling, colorful urban environments pulling off tricks and tagging spots with graffiti to fight the creativity-repressing establishment! An incredibly cool-looking game with great cel-shaded graphics and an even better soundtrack. Fair level of challenge. Fun if you can get over the sluggish controls. Be sure to grab the Japanese "De La Jet Set Radio" version if you can, as that one not only includes levels from the North American and PAL versions, but also additional music as well. Also has a GBA version. Was ported to PSN/XBLA, PC and iOS/Android that's based on the "De La Jet Set Radio" version. Sequel on Xbox (Jet Set Radio Future).
	JoJo's Bizarre Adventure	2D Fightan	aka JoJo's Bizarre Adventure: Heritage for the Future. This game is awesome and you all know it. Based on Stardust Crusaders arc (you know, the one with Jotaro as the lead). Anyway, one of THE best manga-based fighters of all time (that Capcom label helps too). Very fun and very arcade-like. A must have for the Dreamcast. Also on PS1 (with worse graphics), Xbox 360, and PS3
	Legacy of Kain: Soul Reaver	Adventure	The next chapter in the Legacy of Kain saga, in full 3D now. This time you play as Raziel, one of Kain's followers who is betrayed by his master. As usual, great storyline and voice acting. Looks even better emulated with the HD texture pack.
	Maken X	Slasher	A slasher game made by FATLUS that has the whole "Atlus artstyle" to it. You control the blade rather than the person using it in a unique first-person perspective that involves neat ideas such as brainjacking. Western versions have a bad dub and lots of censorship, so consider the Japanese version. Later soullessly reworked for PS2 as Maken Shao, with a third-person perspective and more detailed cutscenes. Avoid that one, if you can.
	Mars Matrix	Shoot 'em up	Port from CPS-2 arcade system. Probably the most overlooked shooter on Dreamcast. Ugly as hell and hard as nails but get past stage one and you will find this to be one of the best shmups on the system. Play through arcade mode and earn money to buy cool stuff like Pro-tip movies, extra lives for your ship, etc. Go play Mars Matrix.
	Marvel vs. Capcom: Clash of Super Heroes	2D Fighting	Good fighting game featuring some cool characters and good controls. Some prefer MvC2 over this, but this is still good even compared to MvC2. Also on PS1, but that version lacks the 2-vs-2 system. Lame.
	Marvel vs. Capcom 2	2D Fighting	Exactly what the title says. Notable for its large cast of characters (56 in the home versions) and tag-team gameplay. Notably arcade perfect. Ported to other consoles but only the PSN and XBLA versions are proper ports of this one, the Xbox and PS2 games have minor gameplay differences.
	MDK2	Shooter	3rd person shooter/puzzle/awesome! Stupidly hard and stupidly fun. Also on PS2, WiiWare, and PC (and a PC HD remaster).
	Metropolis Street Racer	Racing	Predecessor to the Project Gotham series on the Xbox, it consists of slick arcade-style racing in the urban environments of Tokyo, London and San Francisco to the tunes of Sega's maestro Richard Jacques. While it is not a simulator, the environments are very detailed and faithful to reality. In fact, the game uses the console's internal clock and calculates the time zone, to set each race to the correct time of the day in each city. Brilliant stuff. Important note: avoid the bug-ridden European version.
	Midway's Greatest Arcade Hits Volume 1	Compilation	Midway decided we love them old school arcade games and gave us this. INCLUDES JOUST! SO NOW YOU HAVE SOMETHING TO PLAY WHILE HIGH AS FUCK! Games: Bubbles, Defender, Defender II, Joust, Robotron, and Sinistar.
	Midway's Greatest Arcade Hits Volume 2	Compilation	More midway-ian goodness all in one pack. Games: 720º, Gauntlet, Moon Patrol, Paperboy, Rampage, and Spy Hunter.
	Mortal Kombat Gold	Fighting	Updated port of MK4 with actual voiced and animated endings and slightly updated graphics. Pick it up if you're an MK fan looking for a Dreamcast entry. Important note: be sure to get the second release (on a red disc instead of gold, and marked "Hot! New!" on the cover). The first release was rushed for the system's launch, so it was a bit of a buggy mess that even lacks VMU support; the reissue came out a month later, fixing all of it and adding proper VMU support.
	Mr. Driller	Puzzle	Drill through colored blocks. If 4 or more colored block connect, they're automatically cleared. This creates and encourages crazy mad combos. Just don't run out of air or get squashed. Features a ton of different controller options, including the Samba de Amigo maracas. Ported to every console and handheld since this one.
	Namco Museum	Compilation	Basically a smaller version of the best early 1980s Namco games out there. Get it if you love arcade-y ness and whatnot. Quite bare, it lacks the "museum" from the Namco Museum titles for the PlayStation. Games: Pac-Man, Ms. Pac-Man, Galaga, Galaxian, Dig Dug, and Pole Position.
	NBA 2K1	Sports	Basketball done right.
	NFL 2K1	Sports	Handegg done right.
	Ooga Booga	Brawl	An extremely fun party game where you and up to 4 other people control witch doctors fighting on an island with melee attacks, spells and ridable animals. Bot support makes for an enjoyable experience, but with 2 or more humans it becomes a blast. Also features Boar Polo, possibly the best idea ever conceived. (Note: As of Oct. 2010 it does not appear to work on NullDC. If you are playing a burnt copy, press start at the pirate screen without doing anything else or the game will freeze during play.)
	Outtrigger	FPS/TPS	Be a member of an anti-terrorist team, each with different stats and weapons. This game has a rather different style from the typical PC-centric, US-made shootans because this is a Japanese arcade port. It is played in small arenas, where you have to gun down a number of enemies (or collect medals) under a time limit. You can swap between first and third person views. Split screen battles for up to 4 players.
	Phantasy Star Online	MMORPG	The game that revolutionized online gaming on consoles. It is one of the best games in Sega's Phantasy Star series and was kickass playing a game like this on the Dreamcast until the official servers were shut down in 2006. Fan servers are currently available and have a decent following. Updated port of Ver. 2 on Dreamcast and PC. Updated with a new Ep. GameCube, Xbox, and PC.
	Plasma Sword (US) Star Gladiator 2: Nightmare of Bilstein (JP)	3D Fighting	Sequel to Star Gladiator on the PS1. Good game, it's fun like most Capcom fighters.
	Power Stone	3D Fighting	A mostly forgotten Capcom game with a colorful, multicultural cast of cartoons who seek out the legendary Power Stones. Close to Super Smash Bros. in spirit, with isometric-view 3D fighting in hazard-filled stages, items and super-powered forms for everyone. Buckets of fun. Ported to PSP with its sequel (Power Stone Collection), but get ready to squint if you want to make anything out.
	Power Stone 2	3D Fighting	Like any other fighting game sequel, Power Stone 2 adds more of everything, spruces up the graphics, vaguely develops the story and brings more of the original game's four-player party antics. There was a short-lived anime series based on the franchise. Ported to PSP with the first game (Power Stone Collection), but get ready to squint if you want to make anything out.
	Project Justice: Rival Schools 2	3D Fighting	Sequel to hot-blooded, shounen-inspired, high school tag-team anime fighter Rival Schools (PS), Project Justice has a surprisingly developed story and actually great voice acting. The characters are all wildly exaggerated anime and manga archetypes and combat is a blast, as it feels more 2D than 3D. Assemble three-man teams with ridiculous team-up attacks. Drab-looking stages aside, the graphics and soundtrack stand the test of time. A nostalgic, fun, Saturday-morning-cartoon romp.
	Propeller Arena: Aviation Battle Championship	Air combat	Cancelled when it was pretty much completed, eventually leaked on teh interwebs; and the fanboys rejoiced, for Propeller Arena is among the finest titles in the Dreamcast's library. This game is sheer arcade-style multiplayer air combat fun with a mean punk rock soundtrack.
	Psychic Force 2012	3D Fighting	The much improved sequel to the already wicked cool flight fighter. PF2012 speeds up the game pace by adding a new type of dash that allows you to close the distance while simultaneously avoiding projectiles, a much needed barrier crush attack, and two different tech options, one of which being an early example of the burst system featured in many modern fighters. There was also a port to the PSX with downgraded graphics and a few characters you may or may not haved missed from the first game included.
	Quake III Arena	FPS	The definitive classic online multiplayer FPS. Quake III Arena has no story, just get some fucking friends or get online and start blastin' buddy. The official servers were closed down a long time ago, but there are fan servers to connect to. The graphics are pretty close to the PC version, with a solid framerate, while the soundtrack is excellent - and completely different from the original!
	Rayman 2	Platformer	One of the best platformers of the PS1/N64 era, ported to the DC with a faster framerate and cleaner graphics and downloadable stuff! Also on DS as a half-assed port and 3DS as a better, though still not perfect, port with minor fixes, as well as tons of other systems. The Dreamcast version is actually the best version out there for some, as the expanded PS2 version (Rayman 2: Revolution) has a hub world and voice acting, but muddier graphics and subpar framerate, as well as the hub world being a slog to get through.
	Resident Evil 2	Survival Horror	Good game that has enhanced graphics and all that shit. It's worth to mention that this version is the one with most unlockables and extra stuff, so if that matters to you, this could be the best version Sourcenext's PC port with Gemini's "Classic REbirth" patch is considered to be the best version with the Gamecube version before it, though it doesn't hurt to check this version out.
	Resident Evil 3 Nemesis	Survival Horror / STAAAAARS	Look out, STARS because fucking NEMESIS is out for your ass! This game is awesome and truly can scare the shit out of you. WHAT A CLASSIC! Regardless, some would consider this more of a Resident Evil 2: Episode 2 rather than an actual RE3. It has some minor differences with the original release for PSX. The mini-game "The Mercenaries", Epilogue, and all extra costumes are available since the beginning of the game. And visuals are nicer: better resolution, better 3D poly models, etc.
	Resident Evil: Code Veronica	Survival Horror	In some ways, this is the real Resident Evil 3. Classic RE at its finest, Code Veronica follows Claire Redfield and Steve Burnside uncovering the mysteries on Rockfort Island, an island lab in the Arctic owned by the Umbrella Corporation. A "Complete Edition" was released exclusively in Japan that featured eleven minutes worth of extra cutscenes and a new hairstyle for Steve. This was the version ported to later consoles as Resident Evil: Code Veronica X
	Re-Volt	Racing	Fuckawesome racer! Better than N64 and PC versions. Racing as remote controlled cars, you must kick ass throughout the neighborhood.
	Rez (JP/EU)	Rail shooter	Eden, the world's most advanced artificial intelligence, is about to crash under the weight of too much knowledge. You are a computer virus whose task is to fight past her defenses to force a reboot. A psychedelic, rhythm-based rail shooter where you traverse trippy cyber-worlds as your avatar evolves and changes with your score and the music. Make sure you unlock the hidden level, it's completely worth it. One of the most original and exciting games of its kind. Also on PS2 (with better framerate but more jaggies), later ported in hi-def to PC and newer consoles. See also Child of Eden for the PS3 and X360, it is a spiritual sequel by the same producer.
	Samba de Amigo	Rhythm	Shake your maracas to the songs in order to become the king of the Rumba beat and make everything go chick chicky boom, chick chicky boom. Pretty fun, though a bit tough get right at times. Sequel is Japan only and okay; Wii version is broken. Version 2000 is more of an upgrade than a sequel.
	San Francisco Rush 2049	Racing	1-4 player, 60fps, loaded with plenty to do. Race, Stunt, Battle. Great arcade racer. Sure, it's not a full port of the arcade, but its the closest we're going to get. Also on N64. Like Hydro Thunder, this version was the source for the port on Midway Arcade Treasures 3 (Xbox, GC, PS2)
	Seaman	Virtual Pet	Raise a fish/tadpole/frog/man thing while occasionally talking to it for some often hilarious dialogue (make sure you say Seaman correctly). At times, horrifying. Narrated by Leonard motherfucking Nemoy. You need the Dreamcast Microphone to play this! If you know and speak moonspeak, there's an updated version on the DC and sequel on the PS2.
	Sega Bass Fishing	Sim / Fishing	Fuck yeah, Sega Fishan games! Fun fishing game that really shined through if you had the Sega Fishing Controller. This shit was seriously fun as fuck. Also on PS3, Xbox 360 and PC. Has Move support, but strangely no Kinect support.
	Sega Bass Fishing 2	Sim / Fishing	Sequel to the above, said to be overall improved and more difficult but no 2 player.
	Sega GT (Homologation Special)	Racing	Despite the similar name, this is not related to arcade-only Sega Super GT a.k.a. Scud Race. Instead, this may be the closest to Gran Turismo that the Dreamcast ever got. Excellent graphics, a lot of depth, but the floaty controls may mar the experience for some. The European release has extra cars. Also for PC, and two Xbox sequels.
	Sega Marine Fishing	Sim / Fishing	Couldn't get enough out of your Sega Fishing Controller with Sega Bass Fishing? Well here's the next game to itch your reelin' scratch. This game is considered much better by many due to the addition of collecting elements, which include things to customize your playable character with.
	Sega Rally 2	Racing	GAME OVER YEEEAAAHHH!! Awesome arcade rally racing, plays as well as the original. However, it doesn't look as good: as an early title, it ran at 30fps (although it has a hidden 60fps mode - that often drops to 30 anyway).
	Sega Swirl	Puzzle	You may already have this game and not even know it, since it never got a standalone release, but it was included with several demo discs, the web browser disc, and the Smash Pack compilation. Be sure to look for it, because it is one neat little puzzle game. Also for Windows and Palm, but the Dreamcast version has the best graphics by far. Note: the gameplay is nearly identical to an old PC game called Flux.
	Shadow Man	Platformer / Action	Notable as Acclaim's GOTYAY and for good reason. The game is fun as hell, story is kind of like spawn if you think about it. This version is probably the best version. All other versions are good too EXCEPT the horrible PS1 version.
	Shenmue	Adventure	A young jujitsu fighter investigates his father's murder by a strange foreigner with ties to the Chinese mafia. A highly ambitious game (at the time the most expensive ever) that is basically a Japanese martial arts soap opera in video game form. Its insanely detailed portrayal of a real Japanese city is still astonishing. The fully-voiced cutscenes, minigames, QTEs, endless collectibles, and fetch quests are part of the game's charm, but the real-time format makes for a slow pace and a lot of downtime. Combat is basically a 3D fighting game (as the project started as a Virtua Fighter RPG). Very atmospheric and lovingly crafted. Ends on a shameless cliffhanger. You will dream of working the forklift at the docks. If you'd rather play with Japanese voices, get the undub. Or just play the remasters. The Yakuza series is a spiritual successor, by the way. PROTIP: Switch "Run" to RT, and use that to move forward (a half-pull will cause him to walk). Way less clunky than pressing up on the D-pad.
	Shenmue II (JP/EU)	Adventure	Ryo reaches Hong Kong and continues his search for the bastich who killed his father. Directly continues the story of the first game; gameplay and presentation are pretty much the same, with equally amazing production values for the time, and the same cinematic slow pacing. However, things flow a bit more smoothly this time around and there isn't as much waiting for appointments or asking everyone what to do. Awesome final boss fight. DC version reached Europe (with Japanese voices), but only the Xbox port came out in the US (with English voices). A remaster of I&II for modern systems came out in 2018, and the third game finally in 2019.
	Skies of Arcadia	RPG	One of the best JRPGs of its generation, this game follows the exploits of young skyfaring pirates in a world of floating islands and magical moons. Everything about it is immensely enjoyable and a treat for fans of the adventure anime-inspired JRPG. Its quality should be no surprise, as it was made by members of the original Phantasy Star and Panzer Dragoon crews. The rare Gamecube port (Legends) is superior due to better graphics and extra content (including a whole new character arc), despite having inferior music quality. Play this however you can.
	Soldier of Fortune	FPS	Neo-Nazi terrorists stole four Russian nukes, it's up to a mercenary group to get them back. Incredibly violent, with realistic dismemberment effects. Despite absurd loading times, it's still pretty good. PROTIP: Using a GD-EMU or USB-GDROM will help cut down on the load times
	SoulCalibur	3D Fighting	The original Dreamcast killer app. Arcade-perfect is not enough, this version blows the arcade out of the water, with graphics better than any other fighting game at the time, along with extra modes and characters. Also for XBLA, in higher def but lacking the mission mode, so the Dreamcast version still wins.
	Sonic Adventure	Platformer	Sonic? In 3D? And it doesn't suck? Sign me up! Voice acting is terrible, but the gameplay is fun enough to make up for that. Cutscenes are hilarious as for some reason everyone talks with their eyebrows. Ported with minor graphical updates to GameCube, Xbox 360, PS3 and PC. This version looks better overall though.
	Sonic Adventure 2	Platformer	Follows the formula of the first Adventure as far as making 3D Sonic not suck is concerned, and mostly succeeds. The story is divided into Sonic and brooding newcomer Shadow's story, with three types of missions: the standard (Sonic/Shadow), annoying scavenging/treasure hunts (Knuckles/Rouge) and action-shooting romps (Tails/Eggman). Both plotlines come together for the climactic finale. The Chao-raising side-game is very robust and, if you're a monster-raising sim fan, might be the best part of the game. A mostly great game whose characters would later star in a lot of crap. Ported to GCN with loads of extra content. Again, this version looks better visually.
	Space Channel 5	Rhythm	Groovy space-age reporter Ulala follows the development of an alien invasion putting Earth's population under mind control. The solution? Dance the invaders away in increasingly challenging rhythm sequences interspersed with cutscenes. Features Space Michael Jackson and a hilarious, campy seventies-in-space vibe. Sequel is JP-only, but both were ported in English to PS2. However, this game has serious sync issues in that port, making it kind of infuriating to play. Try to track down the original.
	Spawn: In the Demon's Hand	Action / Beat 'em Up	WTF? A Spawn that's actually good? When Capcom makes it.. YES! Supports up to 4 players.
	Spider-Man	Action / Beat 'em Up	A visually improved port of the PSX/N64 title, one of the coolest Spider-Man games. It is inspired by the '94 cartoon, so it's far more colorful and lighthearted than the later, movie-based Spidey games. Too bad the sequel, Enter Electro, is only on the PSX.
	Starlancer	Shooter / simulator	It's like the Cold War in space, if the Cold War had escalated into World War III. And had happened in space. Plays a lot like Wing Commander because it was made by the same people. Also on PC.
	Street Fighter Alpha / Zero 3	2D Fighting	Street Fighter in its pre-years. Pretty good arcade port like most Dreamcast games. On a fuckton of other consoles (Sat, PS1, GBA, PS2, PSP), some with additional features, so this one might be easier to come by.
	Super Magnetic Neo	3D platform game	The main character of the game, NiuNiu/Neo, has the ability to generate a magnetic field which emanates from his head. Along with running and jumping similar to other 3D platformers such as Crash Bandicoot, using the North or South fields can attract (i.e. stick to) or repel (e.g. bounce off) various objects to maneuver through levels.
	Street Fighter III: Double Impact	2D Fighting	A compilation of Street Fighter III: New Generation and its follow-up, Street Fighter III 2nd Impact: Giant Attack. A must-have for Street Fighter completionists, as it was the only console version of both games (only 3rd Strike was ported to later consoles).
	Street Fighter III: 3rd Strike	2D Fighting	One of the most respected fighting games ever made. Known for its excellent fighting system, its quirky cast, and its crisp, clean sprites. Included on SF Anniversary Collection on PS2 and Xbox. Ported to PSN and XBLA with online support.
	Suzuki Alstare Extreme Racing (US/EU) Redline Racer (JP)	Motor Bike Racing	A fun racing game with Suzuki motorbikes. Developed by Criterion, who would later create the famous Burnout series.
	Tech Romancer	3D Robot Fighting	Over-the-top, mecha anime-inspired giant robot fighter by Capcom, with destructible environments and amazing mecha designs. Each pilot has their own backstory and personality, within the constraints of the usual fighting game narrative. Loosely related to Cyberbots (PS), whose protagonist, Jin Saotome, is unlockable. Though far from a technical fighter, a total blast to play solo or with friends.
	Tennis 2k2	Sports	Sequel of the well-known Virtua Tennis, a great arcade-y tennis game. This is the kind of game that will keep you playing because it's simply fun, specially playing with friends since support 4 players, even if you aren't a tennis fan. Improves over it's predecessor with a tighter gameplay, cleaner graphics, wider roster (including female players now), more courts, better AI, etc. Also available on PC, PS2 and Arcades. Note: released as Power Smash 2 in Japan and Virtua Tennis 2 in Europe.
	Test Drive 6	Racing	HERE IN MY CAR, YOU'RE THE SAFEST OF ALL! I CAN LOCK ALL MY DOORS! IN CARS! Very fun and arcade-y game with so-so graphics, but has that feel that's just fun as fuck even for a race or two.
	Test Drive: Le Mans	Racing	A pretty cool driving simulation-ish game, with some stunning graphics that make it look almost like an Xbox game. There is seriously an option to play the 24 Heures du Mans in real time, with realistic day-to-night transition. This version was also ported to PS2 without the Test Drive name (Le Mans 24 Hours) with slightly worse graphics. Note: this is vastly different from the so-so PS1 game with the same name.
	The House of the Dead 2	Light Gun	A series fan favorite, the sequel to the arcade classic takes the cast to Rome, where G has unleashed an army of zombies and mutants. As always the writing and voice acting are terrible, hilarious and essential to the experience. Gameplay has remained mostly the same, with more alternate paths to take. Included in the Xbox port of HOTD3 as an extra, and ported along with HOTD3 to Wii. Also for arcades, obviously. DOGS OF THE A.M.S!
	The King Of Fighters Evolution	2D Fighting	A greatly upgraded port of arcade fightan megahit KOF '99. Just like in KOF Dream Match 1999 (actually a port of KOF '98, go figure), SNK took the fantastic 2D sprite work from the Neo Geo and laid it on top of 3D stages that replicate amazingly well the original's style. But this time they did not fuck up the audio, which makes this a far more enjoyable game.
	The Last Blade 2: Heart Of The Samurai	2D Fighting	Possibly the pinnacle of SNK's fighters, an obscure weapons-based series set in the Bakumatsu period where Western culture has arrived and samurai have seen their final days. Heart-wrenchingly beautiful stage design and sprite work, balanced combat with parry system and a likeable cast. There is a JP-only PS2 compilation of The Last Blade 1 and 2.
	The Typing of the Dead	Edutainment / Horror	In order to help you with your typing skills, SEGA tweaked House of the Dead 2 so that you now kill zombies by typing words that appear on the screen as fast as possible, instead of, well, shooting them. Hilariously, the characters are actually seen wielding typewriters instead of firearms in the cutscenes. Most everything else is the same. A premise that makes for a ridiculous and fun one-off game. Requires the (now very rare) DC-compatible keyboard, though. Also available for PC.
	Tokyo Xtreme Racer	Racing	Pretty good game about one thing and one thing only, Tokyo highway racing. The game feature a plethora of cars and customization options. Extremely grindy but fun. Soundtrack is pretty good 'n arcadey.
	Tokyo Xtreme Racer 2	Racing	More of the same but better. Car customization got deeper and the graphics got a slight touch-up. Highly recommended if you enjoy racing games. 2 player got stripped out though! Sequel and pseudo-remake (Zero) are on the PS2.
	Tomb Raider: The Last Revelation	Adventure / 3D Platformer	This is probably the best Tomb Raider from the original series, despite what you read on many reviews. It's set on Egypt, which makes a great atmosphere for this kind of game. It's the same formula since the first Tomb Raider with all the good things (great level designs, clever puzzles, good orchestral music, etc) and bad things (stiffy controls, bad camera, etc), but with new moves, new weapons, and a great improvement in graphics in comparison with the PlayStation version. Also available on PlayStation, PC, Mac and PSN.
	Tony Hawk's Pro Skater	Extreme Sports	Pretty neato game about tony hawk and all that jazz. Features a fair amount of chracters and awesome music. Also on PS1/N64.
	Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 2	Extremeier Sports	Awesome sequel that improved upon the 1st one. This game is so fucking good nobody at metacritic scored it below a 90. This time around you've got even more of the shit that made the 1st awesome. Spidey's got a skateboard now. Also on PS1/N64, with an expanded Xbox port, 2X.
	Toy Commander	Action / Sandbox	Grand Theft Auto set in a toybox. Flying, shooting, racing all around some dude's house. A house... with a lot of toys... to command. Designed by Frédérick Raynal who's responsible for every underrated game ever from Little Big Adventure to Fade to Black and Soul Bubbles.
	Trickstyle	Hoverboard Racing	Hoverboard racing game by the rascals AKKLAIM. Reminds you of Sonic Riders, except this came first, so yeah. Made by Criterion as well, so that's pretty cool. Try it out if you want a good hoverboard racer game.
	Unreal Tournament	FPS	The best FPS for Dreamcast (although the framerate is not as solid as Quake III), and a great play, but takes time to master. Multiplayer is a blast.
	Virtua Fighter 3tb	Fightan...IN 3D!	Same ol' Virtua Fighter, but better. With more characters, better graphics and stages and shit. If you're sick of playing Capcom, Namco and SNK fighters, well, then I guess this is the best alternative. Also weird fucking name. The 3th? WTF? 3tb, stands for team battle.
	Wacky Races	Racing	A Mario Kart-esque racer using the license for the Hannah Barbara cartoon Wacky Races. Lots of fun.
	World Series Baseball 2K1	Sports	A very good baseball game. Baseball done right.

Recommendation copypasta

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  Best of the Dreamcast

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  Noteworthy Dreamcast games, October 2015

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  CD-R compatible and not