• Tempest 2000
Release Date: 1996
Genre: Shoot ’em Up / Tube Shooter
Players: 1–2
• Description - Tempest 2000 is a fast, stylish update to the arcade classic, built around blasting enemies while moving around geometric tube-like stages. It is simple in concept, but the visuals, speed, and soundtrack make it incredibly addictive.
• Co-op Experience - Two players can play together and work through the stages side by side, helping cover enemies as the pace gets faster and more chaotic.
• Sonic Jam
Release Date: 1997
Genre: Platformer / Compilation
Players: 1–2
• Description - Sonic Jam is a compilation of the main Genesis Sonic games, including Sonic the Hedgehog, Sonic 2, Sonic 3, and Sonic & Knuckles. It is mostly a collection release, but it still counts thanks to the co-op functionality built into some of the included games.
• Co-op Experience - The co-op content comes from Sonic 2 and Sonic 3, where a second player can control Tails alongside Sonic. It is the same assist-style co-op from the Genesis versions.
• Revolution X
Release Date: 1996
Genre: Shooter
Players: 1–2
• Description - Revolution X is a weird arcade shooter built around rescuing Aerosmith from an oppressive futuristic regime. It is full of cheesy acting, ridiculous scenarios, and a lot of “so bad it’s good” energy that makes it more memorable than it is actually good.
• Co-op Experience - Two players can move cursors around the screen and shoot through the campaign together, taking out enemies and blowing up scenery.
• Rampage World Tour
Release Date: 1997
Genre: Action / Arcade
Players: 1–2
• Description - Rampage World Tour is an updated version of the classic arcade destruction game where players choose giant monsters and tear through cities one building at a time. It is simple, dumb fun with a lot of smashing, but it can start to feel repetitive if you play for too long.
• Co-op Experience - Two players can team up and destroy cities together while swatting away military attacks and leveling everything in sight. It is easy to jump into and works best as a casual co-op game in shorter sessions.
• Midway Presents Arcade’s Greatest Hits: The Arcade Collection 1
Release Date: 1996
Genre: Arcade Compilation
Players: 1–2
• Description - This Midway collection brings together several classic arcade games in one package. For co-op purposes, the main reason to include it is Joust, which remains one of the most recognizable multiplayer arcade games ever made.
• Co-op Experience - The co-op content here is basically Joust, where two players can fly together and survive waves of enemies on the same screen.
• Crimewave
Release Date: 1996
Genre: Vehicular Combat / Shooter
Players: 1–2
• Description - Crimewave is an isometric vehicular combat game where players drive armed vehicles through urban stages while hunting down enemies. It has a fast arcade feel, even if the controls can be a little awkward.
• Co-op Experience - Two players can play in split-screen and drive through the same stages together. It technically functions as co-op, though it can sometimes feel like both players are racing to destroy targets first rather than fully coordinating.
• Crime Patrol
Release Date: 1996
Genre: Full Motion Video / Shooter
Players: 1–2
• Description - Crime Patrol is a full motion video shooter built around live-action police scenarios where players react to armed criminals appearing on screen. It is a very gimmicky mid-’90s style game and only exists on Saturn as a prototype.
• Co-op Experience - Two players can work together by shooting threats as they appear and trying to survive each scene.
• Bubble Bobble also featuring Rainbow Islands
Release Date: 1996
Genre: Platformer / Arcade Compilation
Players: 1–2
• Description - This collection includes Bubble Bobble and Rainbow Islands, bringing two classic arcade games to the Sega Saturn. For co-op fans, the main attraction is Bubble Bobble, the single-screen action platformer built around trapping enemies in bubbles.
• Co-op Experience - Two players can play through Bubble Bobble together just like the arcade version, working cooperatively to clear each stage and set up combos.
• Area 51
Release Date: 1996
Genre: Light Gun Shooter
Players: 1–2
• Description - Area 51 is a home port of the arcade light gun shooter where players battle aliens and infected soldiers inside the famous military base. It leans heavily into cheesy live-action presentation, digitized enemies, and campy arcade sci-fi style.
• Co-op Experience - Two players can shoot through the campaign together, covering the screen and reacting to enemies as they appear. The fun mostly comes from the fast arcade pacing, the cheesy presentation, and trying not to accidentally shoot civilians.
• Amok
Release Date: 1996
Genre: Vehicular Combat / Shooter
Players: 1–2
• Description - Amok is a sci-fi vehicular combat game where players pilot transformable machines through underwater and land-based missions. It has a darker futuristic style and mixes free-roaming combat with stage objectives, giving it a feel somewhat like an underwater version of Twisted Metal.
• Co-op Experience - Two players can play in split-screen and work through the missions together while fighting enemy vehicles and completing objectives. The game is pretty difficult, so co-op helps make its chaotic and punishing stages a little more manageable.
• Astal
Release Date: 1995
Genre: Platformer
Players: 1–2
• Description - Astal is a beautifully animated 2D platformer with some of the best hand-drawn visuals on the Sega Saturn. It stands out for its colorful fantasy world, expressive character art, and polished presentation.
• Co-op Experience - The second player controls Astal’s bird companion, who can fly freely around the screen, attack enemies, and collect items. It is more of an assist role than a fully equal co-op mode, but it works well and adds a lot to the experience.
• Batman Forever: The Arcade Game
Release Date: 1997
Genre: Beat ’em Up
Players: 1–2
• Description - Batman Forever: The Arcade Game is a side-scrolling beat ’em up based on the arcade release rather than the much weaker console tie-ins. It uses digitized actors and a dark visual style that fits the era, even if it has not aged especially gracefully.
• Co-op Experience - Two players can team up as Batman and Robin and fight through enemies together using punches, gadgets, and special attacks. It is not one of the Saturn’s best beat ’em ups, but it is definitely more enjoyable with a second player.
• Contra: Legacy of War
Release Date: 1997
Genre: Run and Gun / Shooter
Players: 1–2
• Description - Contra: Legacy of War tries to bring the series into 3D with a top-down perspective and a stronger emphasis on movement and strafing. It is a rough transition compared to the classic 2D games, but it still carries some of the series’ intensity and challenge.
• Co-op Experience - Two players can fight through the game together, dodging enemy fire and trying to survive its difficult stages.
• Crypt Killer
Release Date: 1997
Genre: Light Gun Shooter
Players: 1–2
• Description - Crypt Killer is a horror-themed light gun shooter where players blast through stages filled with zombies, skeletons, and other monsters. It has a campy haunted-house feel and a weird charm that makes it more enjoyable than you might expect.
• Co-op Experience - Two players can team up and choose stages together while shooting through enemies side by side. It supports both light guns and controllers, but it is much more enjoyable with light guns and works well as an arcade-style co-op game.
• Darius Gaiden
Release Date: 1996
Genre: Shoot ’em Up
Players: 1–2
• Description - Darius Gaiden is a horizontal shoot ’em up with excellent music, colorful visuals, and memorable giant boss fights against mechanical sea creatures and other bizarre enemies. It also includes branching paths that let you choose your route through the game.
• Co-op Experience - Two players can fly together through the branching campaign, combining firepower and covering more of the screen.
• Die Hard Arcade
Release Date: 1997
Genre: Beat ’em Up
Players: 1–2
• Description - Die Hard Arcade is a 3D beat ’em up packed with ridiculous weapons, exaggerated action, and a lot of personality. It has a very arcade-first design and still stands out as one of the most fun and memorable brawlers on the system.
• Co-op Experience - Two players can fight through the full game together, picking up everything from guns to fish to bazookas while taking down waves of enemies.
• Galactic Attack
Release Date: 1996
Genre: Shoot ’em Up
Players: 1–2
• Description - Galactic Attack is a vertical shoot ’em up with detailed environments, fast arcade action, and some really cool boss designs. It is another strong example of how good the Saturn’s shooter library really was.
• Co-op Experience - Two players can fly together through the stages, helping cover enemy patterns and survive the larger boss fights.
• Guardian Heroes
Release Date: 1996
Genre: Beat ’em Up / Action RPG
Players: 1–2
• Description - Guardian Heroes is a beloved side-scrolling beat ’em up that mixes arcade combat with RPG systems, branching paths, and a large cast of characters. It has fantastic sprite work, fast combat, and far more depth than a typical brawler.
• Co-op Experience - Two players can work through the main adventure together, juggling enemies, using magic, and taking advantage of each character’s different strengths.
• Herc’s Adventures
Release Date: 1997
Genre: Action Adventure
Players: 1–2
• Description - Herc’s Adventures is an overhead action adventure inspired by Greek mythology and developed by LucasArts. It mixes combat, exploration, humor, and a large interconnected world in a way that feels somewhat similar to Zombies Ate My Neighbors.
• Co-op Experience - Two players can choose different heroes and explore the world together while fighting enemies and progressing through the adventure.
• The House of the Dead
Release Date: 1998
Genre: Light Gun Shooter
Players: 1–2
• Description - The House of the Dead is Sega’s iconic horror-themed arcade shooter filled with zombies, mutant monsters, cheesy dialogue, and campy horror energy. It is one of the most recognizable light gun games of the era and still a Saturn standout.
• Co-op Experience - Two players can blast through the campaign together, covering the screen and taking down monsters as they rush in. It works with controllers too, but it is clearly best played with light guns.