We count down the 25 best titles in the Sega Game Gear library
1. Land of Illusion Starring Mickey Mouse
The genre du jour during the Game Gears heyday was rollicking side-on platformers, and Land of Illusion is an exemplary entrant in the canon. The main Mickey sprite is large and full of expression, with the environments appropriately bold and detailed, demonstrating just how far Sega had come in terms of getting the most out of the hardware since Castle of Illusion a couple of years beforehand.
But it's the level design that elevates Mickey above even Sonic to take the crown as Game Gear's best game. With an ever-expanding move set allowing the mouse to revisit previously-passed areas and discover hidden items, the game even has longevity beyond the final boss as you seek out every last hidden bonus in search of the perfect completion run. The soundtrack is full of some of the 8-bit machine's finest tunes and there are plenty of Disney cameos along the way too. They simply don't make 'em like this any more, which is a real shame. This is AAA-quality gaming, just in 32 colors on a tiny, fuzzy, 2D screen. And it's wonderful.
Shift into high gear
What do you think? Did we get them all? Tell us your opinion of the selections and our order in the comment section below. The Game Gear had plenty of great games, and weve done our best to honor them all, but why not chime and name a game or two?
Sam Loveridge is the Brand Director and former Global Editor-in-Chief of GamesRadar. She joined the team in August 2017. Sam came to GamesRadar after working at TrustedReviews, Digital Spy, and Fandom, following the completion of an MA in Journalism. In her time, she's also had appearances on The Guardian, BBC, and more. Her experience has seen her cover console and PC games, along with gaming hardware, for a decade, and for GamesRadar, she's in charge of the site's overall direction, managing the team, and making sure it's the best it can be. Her gaming passions lie with weird simulation games, big open-world RPGs, and beautifully crafted indies. She plays across all platforms, and specializes in titles like Pokemon, Assassin's Creed, The Sims, and more. Basically, she loves all games that aren't sports or fighting titles! In her spare time, Sam likes to live like Stardew Valley by cooking and baking, growing vegetables, and enjoying life in the countryside.
