My Top 25 Neo Geo Games

The Neo Geo, or NEO·GEO if you insist, was a unique entry in the 90s gaming world. SNK aimed to corner the arcade market with their Multi-Video System, an arcade standard which used switchable game cartridges, instead of each cabinet housing a single game. They then released the Advanced Entertainment System, a home console running the same hardware as their arcade machines. This meant the AES could play arcade-perfect games. It was extremely expensive; a top-end, luxury item rather than a market leader. If you were really minted, you could get an adaptor to play the gigantic arcade carts on your home machine. SNK later released the Neo Geo CD, a cheaper CD-Rom-based home console that was otherwise more-or-less the same as the AES.

This list’s a bit of a cheat, because I’ve never played a Neo Geo AES or NGCD. I mean, you had to be loaded to have one of those. I’m not sure I was even aware of the consoles as a kid. I might have played the odd Neo Geo arcade game, but I wasn’t a big arcade user, and I wouldn’t have paid attention to the manufacturer anyway. These days, though, Neo Geo games are easy to play through many other means, being licensed out widely to modern consoles, as well as the dedicated Neo Geo Mini range. There’s even a brand new recreation of the original console, the Neo Geo AES +, coming out next year (in theory). A hefty chunk of SNK’s output was one-on-one fighting games, but there’s a lot more variety in the library than most people realise.

As usual, I’ll include notes on licensed, legitimate ways to play these games. However, SNK is today owned by the Misk Foundation; officially a philanthropic organisation, it’s owned by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, de facto ruler of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, one of the worst authoritarian regimes on the planet. I don’t blame you if you don’t want to further line the pockets of a dictator and murderer; but don’t worry, there are plenty of ways to play these games through unofficial means as well.

With that unpleasantness out of the way, here are my 25 favourite Neo Geo games. MVS, AES and CD are all eligible.

25) Zed Blade (Operation Ragnarok) (1994)

A Gradius-esque side-scrolling shooter that generally receives mediocre reviews, but I enjoy it more than most. I like the aesthetics, and the bombastic music and SFX. I also appreciate the high level of customisation at the beginning, allowing you to choose your character and their associated ship, which impacts speed and number of bombs, and then assign additional weapons. Whatever you choose, you make your way through the Solar System battling various enemy forces, from replicating blobs to huge, stomping mechs. It’s not a long game, but with plenty of variation for replay value.

Availability: Zed Blade is available as part of Hamster’s Arcade Archives series ACA Neo Geo. It’s available on all the platforms that support this series: Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, XBox One, PC through the Microsoft Store, iOS devices via the App Store and Android devices via the Google Play Store.

24) Robo Army (1991)

An early Neo Geo title, and it looks it. This scrolling beat-em-up sees you play as a cyborg, battling all manner of robotic creatures. I don’t think Robo Army is an objectively great game, but I like the look and feel of it; the hits have a good, impactful feel about them. Any game where you can throw a car at a robot, then pick up its severed arm and beat up its mates is going to be a winner.

Availability: Robo Army is included on the Neo Geo Arcade 4 cartridge for Blaze Evercade, and as part of the ACA Neo Geo series for all platforms.

23) Prehistoric Isle 2 (1999)

Prehistoric Isle 2 is another not objectively great game – it’s not even as good as the first one – but it’s one I find incredibly appealing. Fly through varied environments blasting away at some utterly ridiculous dinosaurs while trying to save hapless civilians. It’s all a bit sloppy but it’s a lark, and as shooters go on this system, it’s one of the more forgiving ones.

Availability: Prehistoric Isle 2 is part of the ACA Neo Geo range on all platforms.

22) Bang Bead (2000)

Essentially an elaborate version of Pong, Bang Bead is Visco’s follow-up to a very similar game, Battle Flip Shot, but with a bigger selection of peculiar characters to whack their balls at each other and a refined method of play. I prefer Bang Bead to its predecessor, and to SNK’s own, much more popular Windjammers.

Availability: Bang Bead is included on the Visco Arcade 2 cart for Blaze Evercade and the Visco Collection, downloadable to Switch, PS4, Xbox One, and PC via Steam.

21) ZuPaPa! (2001)

The Neo Geo had a few single screen, elimination-style platformers, with ZuPaPa! Being one of the most visually striking. A cutesy but challenging game, ZuPaPa! Sees you collecting up sweet little critters called Zooks, then mercilessly chucking them at your enemies to make them explode. Take them all out before the timer runs down, and you pass to the next level. This was originally developed by a company named Face for a 1994 release, before being pulled last minute. SNK got the rights and eventually published it, in arcades only, seven years later. It would have felt old fashioned in 1994, and archaic in 2001, but no longer having to compete with newer games lets it stand as a fun time.

Availability: ZuPaPa! is available as part of the ACA Neo Geo series, on all platforms.

20) Spinmaster (Miracle Adventure) (1993)

A side-scrolling platformer from Data East, Spinmaster plays almost like a modern-day update of their caveman game Joe & Mac but is far better in my opinion. You charge through various worldwide locations, taking down enemies with your trusty yo-yo. You can upgrade this with all manner of weapons, up to and including screen-clearing smart bombs. It’s not super challenging, but it’s breathless fun.

Availability: Spinmaster is part of the ACA Neo Geo series, available on Switch, PS4, XBox One and PC. It’s also included on the Data East edition Super Pocket from Blaze/HyperMegaTech.

19) Matrimelee (Power Instinct Matrimelee) (2003)

A late entry in the huge roster of Neo Geo fighting games, Matrimelee is a game that is not at all interested in taking itself seriously, with a large cast of entertaining characters to choose from, including Poochy, a dog reincarnated through the body of Power Instinct 2’s fighter Kinta; series mascot Clara, a little girl who can transform into an adult; and Princess Sissy, a superpowered girl who is both the final boss and the tournament prize, and unlockable only in the home console version. Matrimelee also includes the Stress Meter gimmick from the previous game, a fun tweak on the power bar which fills up when you’re losing.

Availability: No official rerelease for this one, so far as I know.

18) Samurai Shodown V Special (2004)

The last game to be released for the Neo Geo during its original lifespan, this is an expanded and revised version of Samurai Showdown V, although not even its final form; that was Samurai Shodown V Perfect, which didn’t actually get a release until 2020 and not on the original hardware (also, I haven’t played it). SSV is already a great fighter, but SSV Special cranks everything up a notch: beautiful graphics, great sound, new stages. The roster is a bit more balanced, but there’s also a new Overkill move, a ridiculous instant death option on top of the already brutal returning fatalities. The AES version was censored to tone this down, but the arcade version is utterly over-the-top.

Availability: SSV Special got a new port for the PS4 and PS Vita in 2017, fully intact with all the horrible bits. It’s since been released as part of the ACA Neo Geo series for all platforms; is on every version of the Neo Geo Mini and the Arcade Stick Pro; and it’s planned to be republished for the AES+. It’s also on the Samurai Shodown Neo Geo Collection for PS4, XBox One, Nintendo Switch and PC via Steam and the Epic Store. The collection also includes the first four Samurai Shodown games and SSV Perfect.

17) Neo Bomberman (1997)

The only mainline Bomberman game on the Neo Geo, and the last Bomberman game in arcades for twenty years. Pretty standard Bomberman gameplay: take out all the enemies in the maze, uncover the exit, and escape to the next stage, with endless bombs and power-ups as your tools. A variation here has helper bombers in single-player mode who can be freed from traps, although to be honest, they’re as much a hindrance as a help. Just as fun, frustrating and moreish as any Bomberman game, with an especially nice visual style.

Availability: Neo Bomberman never got a release outside Japan, and never on a console. It’s never had an official rerelease, so you’re on your own if you want to source it.

16) Twinkle Star Sprites (1996)

An unusual one, this. It’s a vertically scrolling shooter, but it plays like a falling block puzzler. Two players have one half of the screen each, blasting at enemies with a standard weapon and a charge/bomb-style special weapon. Except that destroying enemies sends obstacles into the other player’s field, Puyo Puyo-style. It’s also the cutesiest cute-em-up that ever did cute.

Availability: Twinkle Star Sprites is part of ACA Neo Geo on all platforms. It’s on the Neo Geo Arcade Stick Pro and on most editions of the Neo Geo Mini, except for the International and MVS editions. It’s also on Neo Geo Arcade 3 for Evercade, and there’s a port for PC and Mac available through Steam and GOG.com. Finally, it’s set to be republished for the launch of the Neo Geo AES+.

15) Metal Slug: Super Vehicle-001 (1996)

The start of a series that became synonymous with the Neo Geo, Metal Slug showcases much of what the series would become famous for: ludicrous violence, over-the-top humour, gorgeous graphics and addictive run-and-gun gameplay. It’s a shorter and straighter game than its sequels, but I enjoy the purity of it.

Availability: Metal Slug is included on all versions of the Neo Geo Mini and is included on the Neo Geo Arcade Stick Pro as an unlockable update. It’s planned to be republished for the release of the Neo Geo AES+. It’s also available as part of the ACA Neo Geo series on all platforms, and is on the Evercade cartridge Neo Geo Arcade 1.

14) Captain Tomaday (1999)

Another vertical shoot-em-up, except that it’s not exactly a shooter. Captain Tomaday is a mutant tomato, sent to fight the Eggplant Aliens, using his fists but in a shooter-like action. Tomaday can undergo various transformations to give him special abilities, resulting some absolutely baffling cartoon violence. A lot of fun in short bursts, it gets a bit stale after a while.

Availability: Captain Tomaday is on Visco Arcade 2 for Evercade, and Visco Collection on Switch, PS4, XBox One and Steam.

13) Garou: Mark of the Wolves (1999)

I’m not a fan of the Fatal Fury series, but Garou – the first game to retain something of the Japanese name for the series – is a completely different animal. As a reboot of the series with a largely new cast of characters, Garou is also a much smoother playing experience. There are some interesting variations on the fighting game formula – I particularly like the Just Defend that advantages blocking – and the game really is just a pleasure to play. Graphically it’s gorgeous as well, with detailed sprites and appealing stages.

Availability: A bit of a jewel in the crown, Garou has had a number of rereleases. A port for PS4 got a physical release which is fairly expensive these days and is also playable online through PlayStation Plus. The original arcade version is available in the ACA Neo Geo series on all platforms. It’s also available on GOG.com and Steam, and for Evercade on the cart Neo Geo Arcade 2. The game is on the Neo Geo Arcade Stick Pro and all versions of the Neo Geo Mini, and is planned for republishing for the launch of the new Neo Geo AES+.

12) Blazing Star (1998)

The sequel to the also very good but overly tough Pulstar, this is a cracking, R-Type-style side-scrolling shooter with some beautiful, detailed graphics. The addition of the charge-up and multiple blast types adds a lot to the game, making it much more manageable to face different assault patterns and daunting bosses. Most versions suffer with annoying slowdown, though, which is a pain.

Availability: The ACA Neo Geo version is available on all of that series’ platforms, and has eliminated the slowdown issue. A Windows/Mac/Linux port remains available on GOG.com. Blazing Star is also on the Neo Geo Edition Super Pocket and the Neo Geo Arcade 4 Evercade cartridge, and is on all versions of the Neo Geo Mini except the MVS Edition.

11) Aero Fighters 2 (Sonic Wings 2) (1994)

A solid vertically scrolling shoot-em-up that combines serious flying and gunfire with some utterly ridiculous conceits. Unlike on most shmups of the era, you get to a host of characters to choose from, each with their own distinct vehicle and weaponry. Choosing between a cyborg head-in-a-jar, a baby who’s also a captain in the RAF, and a hyperintelligent dolphin would be tough if they all played more-or-less the same, but who you pick makes a massive difference in how you’ll progress.

Availability: Aero Fighters 2 is available as part of the ACA Neo Geo series on all platforms.

10) Aero Fighters 3 (Sonic Wings 3) (1995)

Aero Fighters 2 is probably the better game, but I find its sequel just a bit more fun. It’s even sillier, as an even bigger ragtag bunch of pilots in mismatched planes battle invading forces from the past with such weapons as gigantic robots and even more gigantic Matryoshka dolls. Not everyone likes the super-short stages – the game’s practically a boss rush – but it makes the game a rapid-fire mission. Loads of fun.

Availability: This one is also part of ACA Neo Geo on all platforms.

9) Nightmare in the Dark (2000)

A single-screen elimination platformer that’s got more than a little of Snow Bros. to it, but in this you’re rolling your enemies up in fireballs, not snowballs. You play a little grave watcher who has to fight all manner of monsters away from his graveyard using his special power. I love the whole look of this game; it’s spooky but safe, like Hallowe’en. The bosses all look great, and you can’t hurt them directly, instead having to use the smaller enemies as flaming weapons.

Availability: There doesn’t seem to be any official availability for this one, and it never even got a console release back in the day. I don’t know who even has the rights to it.

8) The King of Fighters ’97 (1997)

The King of Fighters is easily SNK’s biggest series, and as a concept it just works: characters from throughout the developer’s huge range of fighting games (and more), come together to form teams to scrap it out. There are lots of differences between the games, but they’re all similar enough that it’s tricky to pick out a best entry. KOF ’97, the fourth entry in the series, marks the end of the series’ original storyline, combining a strong narrative with the option to pick between Advanced and Extra modes, bringing in the best elements of the earlier three games. Definitely one of the best entries in the series.

Availability: The ACA Neo Geo entry is available on all that range’s platforms. A different emulated version, The King of Fighters ’97 – Global Match, with an online multiplayer option, remains available for PC via Steam and GOG.com. The game is also included on the Neo Geo Arcade Stick Pro and all editions of the Neo Geo Mini, and on Neo Geo Arcade 3 for Blaze Evercade.

7) The King of Fighters ’98: The Slugfest (1998)

The next entry, for me, stands as the best of the series. It’s really just an enhanced version of KOF ’97, except dropping any pretence of storyline in favour of a greatest hits, chuck-everyone-at-the-screen approach. Having team of three play a best-of-five match means that KOF always has a huge roster of characters, but KOF ’98 really goes for it. Yet it remains balanced and smoothly playable. A great fighting game.

Availability: KOF ’98 is part of ACA Neo Geo for all platforms, and is the first entry in the ACA 2 Neo Geo series for PS5 and XBox Series X/Series S. It’s on the Arcade Stick Pro and all versions of the Neo Geo Mini.

6) Metal Slug X (1999)

The revamped version of Metal Slug 2, running on the third game’s engine to eliminate the original’s slowdown, and with numerous tweaks to make the levels busier and more elaborate to take full advantage of that. Metal Slug 2 introduced the SPARROWS, Eri and Fio, as playable characters, ramped up the humour and started adding paranormal elements into the story, culminating in the battle with the Mars People. Metal Slug X is simply a better version of the game, so it clearly takes the spot. It’s a shame the first level is so painfully racist, and that keeps this behind Metal Slug 3.

Availability: Metal Slug X is included on the International, MVS and Christmas editions of the Neo Geo Mini, and the limited Samurai Shodown Kuroko Edition. It’s also on the Neo Geo edition Super Pocket from Blaze, and is unlockable, along with the rest of the Neo Geo Metal Slug series, on the Arcade Stick Pro. The ACA Neo Geo release is available on all platforms.

5) Metal Slug 3 (2000)

Metal Slug 3 maybe goes a bit too over the top compared to the previous games, pushing the action past frenetic into chaotic, and chucking in even more lunacy, but it’s a wild ride. You take submarines into the depths to fight huge sea creatures, battle absolutely gigantic bosses, even get transformed into a zombie. The branching paths add a bit of extra replay value, and while it’s short in terms of levels, the sheer chaos makes it a tough one. Fortunately, these days we can just credit load our way through.

Availability: Metal Slug 3 is included on all editions of the Neo Geo Mini and the Arcade Stick Pro, and is on Neo Geo Arcade 3 for Evercade. The ACA Neo Geo release is available on all platforms.

4) Bust-a-Move Again (Puzzle Bobble 2) (1999)

Puzzle Bobble was released on the Neo Geo in arcades and is, of course, amazing, but Puzzle Bobble 2 is even better. It’s the same colour-matching puzzler as the original, but with a bunch of little additions that elevate it to an absolute classic. For two players it’s much the same, but there’s so much more here for a solo player, with an expanded, branching puzzle mode and a vs-CPU tournament mode. While this never got an AES release, it was ported to multiple consoles even before moving to the Neo Geo systems in arcades.

Availability: If you’re specifically looking for the Neo Geo version, it’s part of the ACA Neo Geo range on Switch, PS4, XBox One and PC.

3) Bang Bang Busters (2010)

Another elimination-style platformer, this time seeing you protect the planet Palua from the evil space invader whose name strikes fear into the hearts of many… Honey. It’s a frantic game in which you have to zap your enemies to stun and inflate them, before throwing them across the screen to dispatch them. Aim it right, and you can take out a whole bunch of foes in one throw. Not a million miles from ZuPaPa! but Bang Bang Busters is the more exciting of the two. Also, like ZuPaPa! this was meant to be released in 1994, getting shelved until 2000 and then cancelled again. Indie publisher Neo Conception International got the rights and released it in 2010, for the AES, then MVS and NGCD over the next couple of years, making it a very late addition to the system’s library.

Availability: Bang Bang Busters is included on the recently released Visco Arcade 2 for Blaze Evercade. It also got an official Dreamcast port, of all things, in 2018, which will be much harder to find.

2) Waku Waku 7 (1996)

This might upset the KoF, Fatal Fury and Samurai Shodown fans out there, but Sunsoft’s very silly Waku Waku 7 is my favourite fighter on the Neo Geo. Like Matrimelee, it doesn’t take itself at all seriously, but this one really dials up the daffiness. While there’s only a few characters to choose from (actually nine in the AES version), they all have huge personality and a distinct feel to play as. The most memorable are Mauru, a big purple Totoro-knockoff and Politank-Z, a huge mecha piloted by a copper and his dog. Personally, I usually play as Dandy-J, a well-dressed Indiana Jones-a-like who brings his best mate’s daughter and her cat along to help out. Tremendous fun, and gorgeous graphics too.

Availability: Waku Waku 7 is available as part of the ACA Neo Geo range, on Switch, PS4, XBox One and PC.

1) Blue’s Journey (Raguy) (1990)

Shocking no one, my favourite game on the system is a platformer. Of the handful of fully realised, scrolling platformers on the Neo Geo, Blue’s Journey is by far the best. A cute and colourful adventure on the planet Raguy, where Blue must battle the rapacious forces of the Daruma Empire. This plays like an evolution of Bang Bang Busters or Nightmare in the Dark, with the primary move still being grabbing and throwing enemies at each other but extrapolated into an exploratory adventure. It’s a game with a very forgiving difficulty level, and like most arcade games of this genre it’s quite short, but there are multiple endings to keep you coming back. And, frankly, I just really, really enjoy it.

Availability: Blue’s Journey is available as part of the ACA Neo Geo range for all platforms.