• Ninja Combat
Release Date: 1990
Genre: Beat 'em Up
Players: 1–2
• Description - One of the Neo Geo launch titles, Ninja Combat follows Joe and Hayabusa as they battle a criminal organization led by the evil Kage Shima. The game blends side-scrolling brawling with ninja-themed weapons and special attacks.
• Co-op Experience - Two players fight side-by-side through the entire campaign, battling enemy ninjas and bosses together.
• Ninja Commando
Release Date: 1992
Genre: Run and Gun
Players: 1–2
• Description - Ninja Commando is a vertically scrolling action shooter from Alpha Denshi. Players select one of three ninja warriors and travel through time battling enemies from various historical eras.
• Co-op Experience - Two players can play simultaneously, combining weapons, ninja magic, and special attacks against large groups of enemies and bosses.
• Prehistoric Isle 2
Release Date: 1999
Genre: Shoot 'em Up
Players: 1–2
• Description - Prehistoric Isle 2 is a sequel to SNK's arcade shooter featuring aircraft battling dinosaurs, giant prehistoric creatures, and massive bosses. The game was released exclusively for the Neo Geo MVS arcade platform.
• Co-op Experience - Two players pilot separate aircraft simultaneously through the entire campaign, coordinating attacks against airborne and ground-based threats.
• Robo Army
Release Date: 1991
Genre: Beat 'em Up
Players: 1–2
• Description - Robo Army is a cyberpunk beat 'em up where players control powerful cyborgs Maxima and Rocky as they battle an army of machines through a ruined future city.
• Co-op Experience - Two players fight side-by-side through the entire game, using grabs, weapons, and special attacks to destroy robotic enemies and bosses.
• Sengoku
Release Date: 1991
Genre: Beat 'em Up
Players: 1–2
• Description - Sengoku combines side-scrolling brawler action with Japanese mythology and supernatural themes. Players battle undead warriors, demons, and spirits while transforming into powerful historical figures and mythical creatures.
• Co-op Experience - Two players fight simultaneously through the entire adventure, using transformations and special abilities to overcome enemies and bosses together.
• Sengoku 2
Release Date: 1993
Genre: Beat 'em Up
Players: 1–2
• Description - Sengoku 2 improves upon the original with smoother combat, multiple playable forms, and more varied stages inspired by Japanese mythology and history.
• Co-op Experience - Two players battle through the entire campaign together, transforming into powerful warriors and creatures while defeating supernatural enemies.
• Sengoku 3
Release Date: 2001
Genre: Beat 'em Up
Players: 1–2
• Description - Widely considered the best game in the series, Sengoku 3 features combo-based combat, multiple playable characters, and polished visuals.
• Co-op Experience - Two players fight simultaneously through the entire campaign, chaining combos together and cooperating against large enemy encounters.
• Shock Troopers: 2nd Squad
Release Date: 1998
Genre: Run and Gun
Players: 1–2
• Description - Shock Troopers: 2nd Squad shifts the series to a more military-themed presentation while retaining its fast-paced action. Players choose from a roster of elite soldiers and battle through branching missions filled with enemy vehicles, troops, and bosses. The game received an AES release in Japan and was also available on the Neo Geo MVS.
• Co-op Experience - Two players can play through the entire campaign simultaneously, combining firepower and special attacks while tackling different routes and mission objectives together.
• SpinMaster
Release Date: 1993
Genre: Platformer / Run and Gun
Players: 1–2
• Description - Developed by Data East, SpinMaster follows treasure hunters Johnny and Tom as they search for pieces of a magical treasure map. The game combines platforming, shooting, and comedic animation.
• Co-op Experience - Two players can play through the entire adventure together, using a variety of weapons and special attacks while exploring each stage.
• Strikers 1945 Plus
Release Date: 1999
Genre: Shoot 'em Up
Players: 1–2
• Description - Strikers 1945 Plus is a Neo Geo adaptation of Psikyo's arcade shooter series featuring fast-paced action, charge attacks, and large boss encounters. The game was released exclusively for the Neo Geo MVS.
• Co-op Experience - Two players pilot separate fighters simultaneously through the entire game, combining firepower to survive dense enemy patterns and defeat bosses.
• Top Hunter: Roddy & Cathy
Release Date: 1994
Genre: Platformer
Players: 1–2
• Description - Top Hunter: Roddy & Cathy is a unique platformer from SNK where players can grab foreground and background objects, throw enemies, and interact with stages in unusual ways. The game follows bounty hunters Roddy and Cathy as they pursue space pirates across multiple planets.
• Co-op Experience - Two players can play through the entire adventure simultaneously, cooperating to defeat enemies, collect power-ups, and uncover hidden secrets throughout the stages.
• Viewpoint
Release Date: 1992
Genre: Shoot 'em Up
Players: 1–2
• Description - Viewpoint is an isometric shoot 'em up developed by Sammy and published by SNK. Rather than using the traditional side-scrolling or vertical perspective common to the genre, Viewpoint presents its action from a distinctive angled viewpoint that creates a pseudo-3D battlefield. Players navigate dense bullet patterns, environmental hazards, and massive bosses across six visually striking stages.
• Co-op Experience - Although the game is typically known as a single-player shooter, Viewpoint contains a hidden two-player cooperative mode that can be enabled through the Neo Geo soft DIP menu. Once activated, two players can pilot separate ships simultaneously through the entire campaign, combining firepower against enemy formations and bosses. Because the feature is hidden within the system settings, many players never realized the game supported co-op at all, making it one of the Neo Geo's lesser-known cooperative experiences.
• Zed Blade
Release Date: 1994
Genre: Shoot 'em Up
Players: 1–2
• Description - Zed Blade is a side-scrolling shooter developed by NMK featuring customizable weapon loadouts, large bosses, and detailed sci-fi environments. The game was released exclusively for the Neo Geo MVS arcade platform.
• Co-op Experience - Two players pilot separate starfighters simultaneously through the entire campaign, combining weapons and attacks against enemy fleets and massive bosses.
• 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.
Chip-chan Kick! (PC-FX)
Release Date: 1996
Genre: Single-Screen Platformer
Players: 1–2
Description - Chip-chan Kick! is a fast-paced single-screen platformer in the style of Bubble Bobble or Parasol Stars. Players use blob-like creatures to attack enemies, then kick them so they bounce around the stage and take out other foes.
Co-op Experience - Two players play simultaneously on the same screen, attacking enemies together and clearing each stage by defeating every monster.
Kishin Douji Zenki FX: Vajura Fight (PC-FX)
Release Date: 1996
Genre: Action / Beat ’em Up
Players: 1–2
Description - A side-scrolling action game based on the Zenki anime, featuring combat-focused gameplay with special moves and enemy encounters.
Co-op Experience - Two players play simultaneously on the same screen, each controlling a character and progressing through stages together.
• 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.
1941: Counter Attack (SuperGrafx)
Release Date: 1991
Genre: Shoot ’em Up
Players: 1–2
Description - 1941: Counter Attack is a vertical scrolling shoot ’em up and part of Capcom’s 19XX series. Players pilot fighter planes through World War II-inspired stages, taking down waves of enemies and bosses while collecting power-ups.
Co-op Experience - Two players play simultaneously on the same screen, each controlling their own plane and progressing through the stages together.