Summary
- Sega transitioned from consoles to game development, focusing on quality titles players love.
- Sonic Frontiers, Yakuza: Like a Dragon, and Two Point Hospital were surprising hits for fans.
- Sega's experimental approach with games like Sonic Mania and Alien: Isolation paid off significantly.
Sega is one of the most important companies in the video game industry, competing head-on with Nintendo's console offerings before eventually shutting down this department and focusing solely on developing high-quality games.
The 27 Best PS5 RPGs, Ranked (2025)
The best PS5 RPGs find ways to push the console to its limits, providing players with an engrossing experience unlike anything else that came before.
This approach has paid dividends, with some of the best gaming franchises flourishing under Sega's watchful gaze. This has led to some surprise hits from this company that players love, even though they had little to no expectations for these titles before they launched.
7 Sonic Frontiers
An Open-World Sonic Game That Somehow Wasn't A Total Disaster
Sonic Frontiers
- Released
- November 8, 2022
WHERE TO PLAY
Sonic fans have had a rough time, with the games featuring this beloved hedgehog being all over the place in terms of quality. So, while the promise of an open-world Sonic game was tantalizing, fans knew better than to get hyped for an experimental 3D series entry inspired by Breath of the Wild.
Therefore, fans were pleasantly surprised when Sonic Frontiers turned out to be a pretty riveting open-world platformer. Barring some odd visual design and on-rails platforming, most of the gameplay in Sonic Frontiers is solid and worth checking out for fans.
6 Yakuza: Like A Dragon
The Shift To A Turn-Based Combat System Was Surprisingly Smooth
Yakuza: Like A Dragon
- Released
- November 10, 2020
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- M for Mature: Blood, Intense Violence, Sexual Themes, Strong Language, Use of Alcohol
- Genre(s)
- JRPG
When RGG Studio announced that Yakuza would go turn-based with its seventh mainline entry, fans had no idea what to expect. The real-time combat was satisfying and iconic to thd series, and players didn't know why the studio was discarding a tight combat system for something so experimental.
16 Best Open-World FPS Games, Ranked
The FPS and open-world genres are two of gaming's most popular. Put them together, and you've got a serious recipe for success.
Thankfully, it was clear that the developers loved JRPGs and crafted a riveting combat system that fit perfectly with Ichiban Kasuga's RPG-obsessed personality. It made for a fun time and turned Yakuza: Like a Dragon into one of the best entries in a series that fans already loved.
5 Two Point Hospital
A Surprisingly Riveting Simulation Game That Pays Homage To The Classics
Two Point Hospital
- Released
- August 30, 2018
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- E10+ For Everyone 10+ Due To Animated Blood, Crude Humor
- Genre(s)
- Simulation
Two Point Hospital is a game that fans of classic simulation titles like Theme Hospital and RollerCoaster Tycoon will feel right at home with. The quirky illnesses and equally hilarious remedies make every level in Two Point Hospital a joy to witness.
Fans love how great it feels to make progress in each stage, slowly turn a profit, and unlock the opportunity to tackle more complex diseases. This satisfying progression curve ensures that players will have a surprisingly great time with Two Point Hospital, which many fans were initially unsure about, only for the game to release and quickly endear itself to players.
4 Sonic Mania
A Bunch Of Fans Knew How To Craft One Of The Best Sonic Games Ever Made
Sonic Mania
- Released
- August 15, 2017
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- E For Everyone due to Mild Cartoon Violence
- Genre(s)
- Platformer
After the Sonic IP suffered a string of mediocre releases, Sega decided to let the fan community attempt to create a mainline 2D Sonic game instead. The results were incredible, transforming Sonic Mania into one of the best games in the series.
The Best RPGs On Game Boy Advance, Ranked
The Game Boy Advance had some of the best RPGs of its era in its library. These are the best you can play on the console.
The creative levels and excellent takes on classic stages ensured that Sonic fans would be more than happy with this entry. It was a title that players had low expectations for, so to see Sonic Mania thriving is a welcome change of pace for the series.
3 Alien: Isolation
Everyone Was Shocked By The Revolutionary AI And Engaging Immersive Sim Elements Of This Title
Alien: Isolation
- Released
- October 7, 2014
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- M for Mature: Blood, Strong Language, Violence
- Genre(s)
- Survival Horror
Alien: Isolation is one of the best video games ever made, a phrase that no one would've thought about uttering before this title's release. Most people expected this title to capitalize on the Alien IP and let players enjoy a sinister but uninspired horror game, akin to what the franchise had been stuck with leading up to this release.
Instead, the immersive sim elements of Alien: Isolation, coupled with some impressive enemy AI, turned it into one of the best titles in the genre. Amanda Ripley's adventures in search of her mother are riveting, especially given the odds she must overcome with every step.
2 Condemned: Criminal Origins
The Revolutionary Combat Mechanics Made For A Pleasant Surprise
Condemned: Criminal Origins
- Released
- November 22, 2005
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- M For Mature 17+ // Blood and Gore, Intense Violence, Strong Language
- Genre(s)
- Survival Horror, Action
Fans were expecting a spooky detective mystery with jump scares when Condemned: Criminal Origins came out. What they didn't expect was a chaotic and engaging combat system that made every encounter as crunchy as can be.
Fights were swift and frenzied, forcing players to prioritize both defense and offense equally against their foes. It made for a great time as players took on numerous unhinged maniacs in their quest to clear their name and figure out the truth behind Condemned's central mystery.
1 Panzer Dragoon Saga
No One Expected An RPG Spinoff Of A Popular Shoot-'Em-Up Series To Be So Incredible
Panzer Dragoon Saga
- Released
- January 29, 1998
- Developer(s)
- Team Andromeda
- Publisher(s)
- Sega
- Genre(s)
- RPG
The Panzer Dragoon series had been an on-rails shooter for the longest time, with compelling worldbuilding that did enough to keep fans invested. However, with Square pulling out the heavy hitters on the PS1 and turning Final Fantasy 7 into a household name, Sega realized that they wanted a big-budget JRPG on their console, too.
This led to the release of Panzer Dragoon Saga, a game that blew expectations out of the water and became one of the best titles in the series. It transformed an arcade-style shooting game into a memorable JRPG with excellent gameplay that more fans should check out.
- Date Founded
- June 3, 1960
- Headquarters
- Shinagawa City, Tokyo, Japan
- CEO
- Hajime Satomi
- Subsidiaries
- Sonic Team, Rovio, Relic Entertainment
- Known For
- Sonic the Hedgehog, Phantasy Star, Super Monkey Ball