10 Great Hidden Gem Dreamcast Games

The last of several Sega consoles, the Dreamcast is a gaming system that found itself greatly overshadowed by the PlayStation 2 and eventually the Xbox. While the third-party system was awfully low, the console still had some hits during its relatively short lifespan.

With an underrated game console came some underrated games – and the Dreamcast had plenty to offer. These titles may be obscure to many but are still worth playing.

Alien Front Online (2001)

Alien Front Online is basically an online version of the original Alien Front, which was an arcade game released by Sega. It’s also one of the only Dreamcast titles to use the Dreamcast microphone, which allowed for online communication.

The premise for this game is very simple. Players have to fight on one of two teams – the Triclops alien force or the US Army – and wage war against one another as they battle with tanks, mechas, and other armored vehicles. Up to eight players can play at a time, as they duke it out on the arena while powering up their vehicles.

Elemental Gimmick Gear (1999)

Elemental Gimmick Gear is distinguished by its art design, featuring beautiful hand-drawn sprites and backgrounds in a 2D overhead setting. It’s a very colorful game with lively maps and 3D boss battles that are both dramatic and challenging at the same time.

Gameplay-wise, Elemental Gimmick Gear plays similarly to Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past. Taking control of a character in an egg-shaped robot suit, the player has to explore dungeons, solve puzzles, collect items, and talk to townsfolk to advance through the game. Mini-games and sidequests are also present, although some mini-games are hard to clear.

D2 (1999)

D2 follows the story of Laura Parton, a woman who survives after a group of terrorists hijacked a plane and crashed it. She ends up lost in the Canadian wilderness, where folks infected by a parasitic plant are creeping around every corner.

As if the plot itself isn’t enticing enough, D2 is more or less a survival horror game that comes with RPG-style battles. Laura can use a gun for defeating monsters in battle, and a knife for hunting animals for their meat which can heal her. A tense atmosphere overtakes this game, mainly thanks in part to its wilderness setting.

Ooga Booga (2001)

Ooga Booga is sort of like to the Dreamcast what Spyro the Dragon was to the PlayStation. It has a colorful, expansive world, but only with Kahunas using magic and shrunken heads to deal with the evil forces. There’s a very Polynesian flair to it, taking place on several islands that were created by a volcano goddess.

What also separates Ooga Booga from the Spyro series is the focus on teamwork. Players can work together to take out the bad guys, using the skills that each kahuna comes with. Multiplayer islands can be unlocked, as well as other kahunas – with a kahuna based on Abraham Lincoln being one of them.

Crazy Taxi 2 (2001)

This sequel to the first Crazy Taxi game plays just like the original, with the player having to drive around and take passengers to their destinations. The only difference, however – aside from new characters and levels – is the ability to have multiple passengers in the taxi at a time, which is awfully convenient.

Players can pull off all sorts of stunts in Crazy Taxi 2, such as the “Crazy Hop” and “Crazy Dash.” Performing these stunts raises the tips from the passengers, thereby resulting in a higher score. With awesome minigames and a rocking soundtrack featuring artists like The Offspring, there’s plenty to like about Crazy Taxi 2.

Armada (1999)

Armada is a shooter game with aliens, but one that has a bunch of RPG elements to it. Players can fly around the galaxy in their ships, which can be improved through numerous upgrades. Side missions are also available.

Perhaps the biggest feature in Armada is the local co-op, as up to four players can work together as a team to take out enemy forces. Many critics derided Armada for dropping its planned online component before launch, but the game is still fun to play with other friends.

Fatal Fury: Mark of the Wolves (2001)

Originally known as Garou: Mark of the Wolves on the Neo Geo, Fatal Fury: Mark of the Wolves would make its way to the Dreamcast in 2001. It’s one of the more underrated fighting games out there, but it still packs a punch regardless. No pun intended.

Mark of the Wolves is an entertaining game, featuring appealing graphics and some good mechanics. There’s also a lot of strategy involved compared to other fighting games, which comes in the “Just Defend” system. Blocking attacks will reward the player a small amount of health, and will also allow them to counterattack a block stun.

Fire Pro Wrestling D (2001)

Fire Pro Wrestling is a  pro wrestling video game series popular in Japan, and one of a few wrestling game series not associated with WWE. The series only has one entry on the Dreamcast, in Fire Pro Wrestling D. And much like the other games, it was a Japanese-only release.

Fire Pro Wrestling D is very akin to other wrestling games such as WWF No Mercy, but only with a lot more substance. It comes with a roster of 200 American and Japanese wrestlers and has some pretty smooth gameplay – as well as some necessary button-mashing.

NBA Showtime NBA on NBC (1999)

The Dreamcast was no stranger to basketball games, as it was the original home of the NBA 2K series. However, 2K Sports wasn’t the only company to bring basketball to the Sega console. Midway had a game of hoops of their own, with NBA Showtime.

Unlike NBA 2K, which is strictly a simulation game, NBA Showtime is more of a basketball arcade affair. It’s awfully similar to NBA Jam, with two-on-two play, unrealistic physics, and dunks galore. There are standard basketball rules in place, but the game still has the “on fire” feature from NBA Jam – meaning that making three consecutive shots will allow the player to make shots from anywhere on the court.

Space Channel 5 (2000)

As a music video game, Space Channel 5 is very, very campy. The main star of the game is Ulala, a news reporter who must fend off an alien race called the Morolians. How must Ulala defeat these aliens? By dancing to pop music, killing the aliens with her dancing skills by mimicking their every move.

Space Channel 5 also comes with a combat section, in which Ulala must shoot at aliens while at the same time rescuing hostages. Those who end up being rescued join in the fun, dancing and shooting along with Ulala and driving up the game’s campiness even more.