Acclaimed Video Games

The top 1,000 most recommended games across 904 critic lists from 141 publications.

Updated: February 3, 2026

Most Acclaimed Sega Master System Games of All Time

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12 of 12

#1 Lemmings (1991) (#136)

DMA Design | DOS, MAC, 5, SMS, GEN, TG16, SNES | Strategy / Puzzle | ~20h | 33 lists

#2 Double Dragon (1987) (#268)

Technos Japan | ARC, NES, SMS | Beat 'em Up | ~1h | 20 lists

#3 R-Type (1987) (#391)

Irem | ARC, 7, SMS, TG16 | Shooter | ~1h | 15 lists

#4 Populous (1989) (#402)

Bullfrog Productions | 3, SMS, GEN, SNES | God Game | ~12h | 12 lists

#5 Speedball 2: Brutal Deluxe (1990) (#439)

The Bitmap Brothers | DOS, 3, SMS, GEN | Action / Sports | ~3h | 12 lists

#6 Sensible Soccer: European Champions / 92/93 / International Edition / Championship Soccer '94 (1992) (#528)

Sensible Software | DOS, AST, AMI, 3, SNES, JAG | Football (Association) / Sports | ~15h | 8 lists

#7 Rainbow Islands: The Story of Bubble Bobble 2 (1987) (#653)

Taito | ARC, 5, NES, SMS, GEN, TG16 | Platform | ~2h | 8 lists

#8 Shinobi (1987) (#725)

Team Shinobi | ARC, DOS, 6, NES, SMS, TG16 | Hack and Slash / Platform | ~1h | 6 lists

#9 Wonder Boy III: The Dragon's Trap (1989) (#759)

Sega Enterprises, Ltd. | SMS, TG16 | Action-Adventure / Platform | ~6h | 4 lists

#10 Golden Axe (1989) (#775)

Team Shinobi | ARC, SMS, GEN | Beat 'em Up | ~1h | 7 lists

#11 Smash TV (1990) (#852)

Williams | ARC, 5, NES, SNES, SMS, GEN | Shooter | ~2h | 5 lists

#12 Phantasy Star (1987) (#963)

Sega Enterprises, Ltd. | SMS | Role-Playing | ~15h | 5 lists

#136

DMA Design

AMI, MAC, AST, DOS, FMT, PC98, SMS, GEN, SNES, TG16, ZXS

Strategy / Puzzle

~20h

33 lists

Lemmings 1991

#268

Technos Japan

ARC, NES, SMS

Beat 'em Up

~1h

20 lists

Double Dragon 1987

#391

Irem

AMI, CPC, ARC, AST, C64, MSX, PC88, SMS, TG16, ZXS

Shooter

~1h

15 lists

R-Type 1987

#402

Bullfrog Productions

AMI, AST, PC98, SMS, GEN, SNES

God Game

~12h

12 lists

Populous 1989

#439

The Bitmap Brothers

AMI, AST, C64, DOS, SMS, GEN

Action / Sports

~3h

12 lists

Speedball 2: Brutal Deluxe 1990

#528

Sensible Software

AMI, JAG, AST, DOS, GG, SMS, GEN, SNES

Football (Association) / Sports

~15h

8 lists

Sensible Soccer: European Champions / 92/93 / International Edition / Championship Soccer '94 1992

#653

Taito

AMI, CPC, ARC, AST, C64, NES, SMS, GEN, TG16, ZXS

Platform

~2h

8 lists

Rainbow Islands: The Story of Bubble Bobble 2 1987

#725

Team Shinobi

AMI, CPC, ARC, AST, C64, DOS, MSX, NES, SMS, TG16, ZXS

Hack and Slash / Platform

~1h

6 lists

Shinobi 1987

#759

Sega Enterprises, Ltd.

SMS, TG16

Action-Adventure / Platform

~6h

4 lists

Wonder Boy III: The Dragon's Trap 1989

#10

#775

Team Shinobi

ARC, SMS, GEN

Beat 'em Up

~1h

7 lists

Golden Axe 1989

#11

#852

Williams

AMI, CPC, ARC, AST, C64, NES, SMS, GEN, SNES, ZXS

Shooter

~2h

5 lists

Smash TV 1990

#12

#963

Sega Enterprises, Ltd.

SMS

Role-Playing

~15h

5 lists

Phantasy Star 1987

All 12 results loaded

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