11 Best SEGA Dreamcast Platformer Games

The Sega Dreamcast debuted at an interesting point in the gaming industry, bringing exceptional 3D graphics and introducing gamers to online functionality for the first time. Thanks to these incredible features, the Dreamcast was able to offer several fantastic titles that grabbed the gaming industry by storm. Despite the Dreamcast’s brief lifespan, it had several fantastic exclusives, including a slew of fantastic platformers.

From amazing classic 3D platformers like Rayman 2 and Toy Story 2 to obscure and dark platformers like Evil Twin, the Dreamcast was more than capable of delivering the definitive platforming experience for both hardcore and casual players. In today’s article, we are going to explore the best platformers on the console, reliving a lost era of 3d excitement and celebrating the creativity that defines an era.

Rayman 2: The Great Escape 1999

About
	Release Date October 01, 1999
	Developer Ubisoft Montpellier
	Publisher Ubisoft
	Franchise Rayman
	Genre 3D Platformer
	Players Single Player
	Monetization Buy to Play
	Country of Origin France

Dreamcast Releases
2000-03-21
2000-03-22
2000-03-23

Rayman 2; The Great Escape continues the legacy of its predecessor as a true classic that is still considered one of the greatest platformers among fans to this very day. The story follows the tale of our limbless hero Rayman as he embarks on a new journey to take down the Robo-Pirates and their malevolent leader, Admiral Razorbeard.

Unlike the previous game, this sequel takes a huge leap toward the 3D universe where you can jump, glide, and explore your environment in open 3D levels. The journey offers more challenge with several puzzles along the way that demands both creative playing and imaginative thinking. Each level was carefully crafted to include detailed designs, amazing platforms, and exciting secrets to uncover.

Visuals were also perfected taking advantage of the newly at the time Dreamcast hardware, delivering a true masterpiece in both level design and audio production. As a whole, Rayman 2 is a timeless classic that should be played at least once by any gamer who enjoys platformers, if this is the first time you’re hearing about it, I hugely recommend checking it out.

Disney · Pixar Toy Story 2: Buzz Lightyear to the Rescue 1999

About
	Release Date November 30, 1999
	Developer Traveller's Tales
	Publisher Activision
	Genre 3D Platformer
	Graphics 3D
	Perspective Third-Person
	Players Single Player
	Monetization Buy to Play
	Country of Origin United States

Dreamcast Releases
2000-06-30

Disney · Pixar Toy Story 2: Buzz Lightyear to the Rescue brings the beautiful world of Toy Story to the realm of the Dreamcast. The game faithfully follows the plot of the second movie featuring Buzz as he tries to rescue his best friend Woody from the greedy toy collector.

Players can explore settings inspired by the film, such as Andy’s house, Al’s Toy Barn, and the bustling streets of Al’s Toy Barn. Each level is designed to replicate the quirky and vibrant world of Toy Story 2 delivering an authentic experience that captures the heart of the movie with beautiful visuals and charming music.

At its core, the game is a classic 3D action platformer where the player control Buzz who can jump, shoot, and use various gadget to travel through the levels and defeat his enemies. Additionally, the game’s story adds more to the package with witty dialogue, catchy jokes, and cool interaction between the movie’s heroes.

All in all, while the game is not something exceptional compared to heavy hitters like Sonic and Rayman it still provides a decent 3D platformer for gamers who are looking for something new or even a nostalgic trip that will remind them of their favorite 3d movies.

Disney's Donald Duck: Goin' Quackers 2000

About
	Release Date November 14, 2000
	Developer Ubisoft Montreal
	Publisher Ubisoft
	Genre 3D Platformer
	Players Single Player
	Monetization Buy to Play
	Country of Origin Canada

Dreamcast Releases
2000-12-13
2000-12-15

At first sight, Disney’s Donald Duck: Goin’ Quackers might seem like your typical Disney game, but upon further inspection, it has so much more to offer as one of the best-hidden gems on this list. Developed by the legendary Ubisoft studio, the game takes the player on a journey across multiple Disney worlds blending in the fun of classic 3D platformers with the humorous nature of Donald Duck.

The narrative unfolds through humorous cutscenes where you must save Donald’s girlfriend from the clutch of an evil magician named Merlock. The player ventures into multiple themed levels where you visit worlds inspired by Disney movies like Aladin, Mickey Mouse, Tarzan, and many more. At its core, the game is a classic platformer, you can jump run, move from one platformer to the other, and solve puzzles to reach your objective.

The game’s cartoony visuals add to the overall by offering a genuine Disney look that fully utilizes the Dreamcast hardware. The soundtrack is also wonderfully placed, drawing inspiration from old-school Disney movies and creating an amazing atmosphere that corresponds to the level that the players are visiting.

All in all, Disney’s Donald Duck: Goin’ Quackers is an amazing little gem that might have been overlooked by many gamers in the past years, if you’re new to the game I hugely recommend picking it up ASAP.

Sonic™ Adventure / Sonic™ Adventure 2 1998 / 2001

About
	Full Name Sonic™ Adventure
	Release Date December 23, 1998
	Developer Sonic Team
	Publisher SEGA
	Franchise Sonic™
	Genre 3D Platformer
	Graphics 3D
	Perspective Third-Person
	Interaction Real-Time
	Players Single Player
	Monetization Buy to Play
	Country of Origin Japan

Dreamcast Releases
1998-12-23
1999-09-09
1999-09-23

About
	Full Name Sonic Adventure 2
	Release Date June 19, 2001
	Developer Sonic Team
	Publisher SEGA
	Franchise Sonic™
	Genre 3D Platformer
	Players Single Player
	Monetization Buy to Play
	Country of Origin United States

Dreamcast Releases
2001-06-19
2001-06-23

Sonic Adventure 1 and 2 stand as the most iconic titles on the mighty Dreamcast, these two games are considered masterpieces by many Sega die-hard fans and offer the peak platforming experience on the console with visuals that push the hardware to the limit and content that will keep you busy for hours and hours. Sonic Adventure 1 game marked the first true transition for the Sonic franchise from 2D to 3D, delivering a true sonic adventure where the player can experience the thrilling world of Sonic.

You go on a trip to stop Dr. Robotnik’s next nefarious plan with up to 6 players. Sonic can travel through levels at high speeds, while E-102 Gamma is a massive robot that can demolish entire maps with one swing. Tails and Knuckles are also fully playable with their campaign experience. With one of the best graphics on the platform, the game pushes the Dreamcast technology to its limits, producing a butter smooth framerate and 3D environment that still holds up to this day.

Sonic Adventure 2 builds on the legacy of its predecessor by moving the plot forward. This time, the player can witness the story of both the Hero and the Darkside, as both sides’ secrets are revealed to give an enthralling story never before told. The game also introduces Shadow as the best and strongest Sonic nemesis and one of the best anti-heroes in the Sega universe.

The gameplay has also been overhauled, with faster platforming, the ability to grind through rails and many other features. The level design has been improved as well, with a more complex setting and larger spaces to explore. The game included a competitive multiplayer option in which players fought each other across specially built stages. Overall, Sonic Adventure 1 and 2 are two of the best Dreamcast games. Any Dreamcast collector should own these two games as they define a whole generation of timeless 3D platformers.

Super Magnetic Neo 2000

About
	Release Date February 03, 2000
	Developer Genki
	Publisher Crave Entertainment
	Genre 3D Platformer
	Graphics 3D
	Perspective Third-Person
	Interaction Real-Time
	Players Single Player
	Monetization Buy to Play
	Country of Origin Japan

Dreamcast Releases
2000-02

Super Magnetic Neo is your typical wacky Japanese platformer, the game offers a unique atmosphere and gameplay with its weird art style and innovative gameplay. The game features a light-hearted storyline where you control our quirky hero Neo, as he embarks on a journey to save his fellow citizens of Magnetia.

The gameplay revolves around magnetism; you can use Neo’s magnetic abilities to attract and repel things, which will aid you in your battle against foes as you platform your way through several stages. Neo, for example, can use the magnet to connect himself to metal ropes or to repel himself from metal things to do high jumps.

The game adds to the bundle with a variety of stages that vary in shape and form, each with its own set of adversaries and riddles to overcome. While the gameplay might seem simple and it is, the brilliance of the game lies in the responsive controls and the quirky levels that will keep you hooked for hours.

Napple Tale: Arsia in Daydream October, 2000 TBC

About
	Release Date October, 2000 TBC
	Developer Chime
	Publisher SEGA
	Genre 3D Platformer
	Graphics 3D
	Perspective Isometric
	Interaction Real-Time
	Players Single Player
	Monetization Buy to Play
	Country of Origin Japan

Dreamcast Releases
2000-10

Naple Tales: Arsia in Daydream is a Japanese-only 2.5D platformer that was never released in the West. Fortunately, the game is incredibly import-friendly, with simple menus and easygoing gameplay. Naple Tales tells the narrative of Arsia, a young girl who gets Isekaied to a fantastical land called Naple. With colorful stages, strange adversaries, and innovative gameplay, the game has an artistic appearance.

The gameplay takes place in a hub world where you can assist Naple inhabitants with their difficulties. Solving each problem will advance the game further, unlocking new story scenes and explaining the mysteries of this strange realm.

Each level has linear gameplay in which you progress from point A to point B before fighting a boss at the end of the level. The graphics raise the bar even further, taking full advantage of the Dreamcast power and giving a smooth framerate with stunning-level designs.

Floigan Bros. Episode 1 2001

About
	Release Date July 30, 2001
	Developer Visual Concepts
	Publisher SEGA
	Genre 3D Platformer
	Graphics 3D
	Perspective Third-Person
	Interaction Real-Time
	Players Single Player
	Monetization Buy to Play
	Country of Origin United States

Dreamcast Releases
2001-11

Floigan Bros. Episode 1 takes inspiration from Saturday morning cartoons delivering a comical adventure starring the two brothers Hoigle and Moigle. The game has the two brothers working together to solve various puzzles and platform their way through numerous obstacles to reach their objective.

To continue through the level, the user must control Hoigle, who can jump, run, and interact. The unique interaction method in this game allows you to interact with Moigle to accomplish numerous activities that Hoigle cannot.

You can, for example, play games, teach, hug and even abuse Moigle; each of these acts will elicit a different emotion from Hoigle, making this game ahead of its time. While the visuals don’t hold up to the game’s clever gameplay, it still offers an okay experience for players who are willing to dive deep into the obscure Dreamcast library.

Evil Twin Cyprien's Chronicles December, 2001 TBC

About
	Release Date December, 2001 TBC
	Developer In Utero
	Publisher Ubisoft
	Genre 3D Platformer
	Graphics 3D
	Perspective Third-Person
	Interaction Real-Time
	Players Single Player
	Monetization Buy to Play
	Country of Origin Canada

Dreamcast Releases
2002-04

Evil Twins is a dark 3d platformer game that takes inspiration from titles like American McGee’s Alice. The player steps in the shoes of Cyprien, a young boy who finds himself trapped in his nightmare. The game offers a dark and surreal narrative where the player dives deep into the dark nightmarish world of Dreamgaard.

At its core, the game is a 3D platformer in which you guide Cyprien as he jumps and advances from one platform to the next while avoiding traps and discovering hidden regions. The puzzle aspects of the game contribute to the excitement by requiring the player to apply creative thinking by altering the environment, triggering devices, and decoding surreal mysteries.

The nonlinear narrative, which allows the player to explore the environment at his or her speed, is also unique to the game. This nonlinear structure allows you some freedom, inviting players to take their journey through Dreamgaard. Overall, Evil Twins Cyprien’s Chronicles is a true hidden gem on the system that will please many fans especially gamers who enjoyed American McGee’s Alice.

Kao the Kangaroo 2000

About
	Release Date November 23, 2000
	Developer Tate Multimedia
	Publisher Titus Interactive
	Genre 3D Platformer
	Graphics 3D
	Perspective Third-Person
	Interaction Real-Time
	Players Single Player
	Monetization Buy to Play
	Country of Origin Poland

Dreamcast Releases
2000-12

While Kao the Kangaroo didn’t get the love it deserved during its initial release, it still offers a good taste of classic 3D platforming that will please hardcore retro enjoyers. Starring Kao the playful kangaroo, the player must control Kao as he embarks on a journey to escape the hunters that captured him.

The gameplay is straightforward, you can jump, move, punch, and use your tail to defeat your opponent. Each level is mainly linear where you must combine Kao’s multiple skills to move from point A to point B. Special levels offer a nice change where you can control Kao on a snowboard, a speedboat, and even an air glider. Visuals are not the game’s strongest element since the polygons are fairly mediocre with some badly aged-level design.

Overall, if you’re in for a classic platformer with a tough challenge, then Kao the Kangaroo might be your next favorite gem, if you’re a casual player who is looking for an easy in-and-out game, I don’t recommend this game.

Disney•Pixar Buzz Lightyear of Star Command 2000

About
	Release Date October 04, 2000
	Developer Traveller's Tales
	Publisher Activision
	Genre 3D Platformer
	Graphics 3D
	Perspective Third-Person
	Interaction Real-Time
	Players Single Player
	Monetization Buy to Play
	Country of Origin United Kingdom

Dreamcast Releases
2000-10

Buzz Lightyear of Star Command takes inspiration from an animated television series holding the same name. The story follows the adventure of Buzz Lightyear a space ranger who protects the intergalactic world from any threat that might disturb the harmony of coexisting alien creatures.

The game offers a unique blend of action, platforming, and racing elements. You can control buzz as he platforms his way through many treacherous hazards while using his gadgets to shoot down the bad guys and even glide his way from one platform to the other. Race stages have you controlling Buzz over a hoverbike or even a hoverboard, these levels act as chase levels where you must reach the other side as fast as possible before the timer runs out.

Visually, the game’s graphics are a little rough around the edges, with very forgettable images that unfortunately don’t live up to today’s standards. While the game is unlikely to win any awards, it does provide an overall nice experience, particularly for gamers seeking something easy or basic.