10 Best Neogeo Games That You Should Know Update 03/2024

best neogeo games

Many of the company’s fighting game series are still going strong today. SNK used to be a big player in the hardware business, but that changed a long time ago.

In the 1990s, their cartridge-based Neo Geo arcade machine was one of the most versatile game cabinets. The Neo Geo AES and Neo Geo CD consoles, on the other hand, brought the power of arcades to the living room in a way that no other console could match.

A lot of people still have the Neo Geo and its games. They are some of the most valuable gaming items ever made. Because of this, the bright red cabinet is an important reminder of a time that is long gone.

To see what all the fuss was about back in the day or just to reminisce, check out this list of the best 30 Neo Geo games ever made.

Money Puzzle Exchanger

Money Puzzle Exchanger

A lot of people wonder if what they’re seeing is ironic or if the developers put too many poppy seeds on their bagels every morning before they went to work. Our first game is one of those games that makes you think about that.

This 1997 puzzle game was made by Face. It’s a lot like games like Puzzle Bobble or Magical Drop.

But instead of bubbles or colourful spheres, you’re shooting money at the screen.

People who play the game have names like Debtmiser or Eldylabor because it has a weird financial look to it.

Neo Drift Out: New Technology

Neo Drift Out, a 1996 game made by Visco Corp., is a good game for something more normal.

When you do this, you get to drive a classic rally car around six different tracks from all over the world.

One of the best things about this game, besides its tight controls and exciting gameplay, is that it lets you choose from a Mitsubishi Lancer, a Toyota Celica, or a Subaru Impreza as your car, and each one has its own unique style.

A lot of the time, it feels like you’re playing a game called Initial D. It’s also very fun.

Super Sidekicks 3: The Next Glory

Super Sidekicks 3 The Next Glory

Neo Geo had a lot of sports-themed games.

And SNK’s “Super” games were some of the best.

The third Super Sidekicks movie came out in 1995, and it’s the best one in the whole series.

It does everything Super Sidekicks 2 did well, but it also changes the presentation, making an already fun game look even better.

This was one of the best soccer games of the decade because it had a lot of different gameplay options, from quick play to regional cups.

Puzzle Bobble

There’s no reason not to play a game just because it looks good.

If the game is as fun as Puzzle Bobble, then it’s a game you should play right away.

This 1994 game made by Taito wasn’t the first color-matching game, but it wasn’t the only one. But because it’s so popular in arcades, it’s one of the most important.

That’s mostly because of how intense multiplayer games can be, even though the game has simple puzzle gameplay.

Last Resort

Last Resort

As long as I can remember, I’ve always been a big fan of shoot-em-ups in any presentation. And even though I know there are better games out there, my local arcade only had SNK’s Last Resort for most of its life.

Not at all!

This 1992 game has great graphics and very smooth enemy animations.

So even though I played this game a lot as a child, I couldn’t get through it.

Lucky for me, it came out on a lot of different systems as part of SNK Arcade Classics Vol. 1. I was finally able to play through its five levels and amazing bosses in full.

Spinmaster

Spinmaster is one of the most unique games on the Neo Geo. It looks like a Japanese version of a Western cartoon that was made in Japan.

This is what you might call Saturday Morning Doraemon.

He isn’t just a pretty face. Spinmaster is much more than just a face. I like Metal Slug, but I don’t have a gun. I use things like a yoyo or shuriken as weapons in this game.

Co-ops are also great!

Twinkle Star Sprites

Twinkle Star Sprites

A top-down shoot-em-up called Twinkle Star Sprites was one of the first Japanese games to reach Western audiences in the 1990s. It had a cutesy Magical Girl look that wasn’t usually seen in western games at that time.

You play as an anime girl who shoots magical beams at puffs of colour with “uwu” faces. This 1996 game was made by ADK and came out in 1996.

It doesn’t get any cuter on the Neo Geo.

It doesn’t matter if this game is cute or not. The frantic multiplayer and intense gameplay are what made this game rise to the top. You’ll have to carefully chain the explosions of enemies together to get the most out of them, which isn’t easy but very fun.

Robo Army

A game called Robo Army is on this list of the best Neo Geo games of all time. It’s number 34.

When you play Robo Army, the game lets you control two different characters as they fight each other in side-scrolling levels. The Neo Geo is good at these kinds of games.

In this game, both of the characters are hardcore cyborg fighters who punch and kick their way to victory against other robotic foes.

When you don’t have super strength, you can pick up a car shell or a broken robot part as a weapon or a shield. They can even turn into armoured vehicles for a short time.

Move over, Optimus Prime, there’s a new guy in town.

When it comes to Robo Army, people love and hate it. I think it’s a great game; it’s Metal Slug with metal fighters. Love it!

Metal Slug 2

Metal Slug 2

Metal Slug is one of the best Neo Geo games. Metal Slug 2 is next. The sequel to the original Metal Slug game had a lot to live up to, but it did well.

The game isn’t very different from the first Metal Slug game, but it’s still fun to play. Save POWs, shoot bad guys, and use melee attacks to fight off enemies as you move through the levels in the game. This is how you progress.

Second game in the Metal Slug series isn’t bad at all. That arcade vibe would have been so great in your living room back in the ’90s, too.

Metal Slug X, a remake of Metal Slug 2, came out soon after. It fixed many problems with the original game. The original unaltered series isn’t important to you, so if you don’t care about that, get this version and play the game as it was meant to be.

League Bowling

Anyone who likes bowling can play League Bowling from the comfort of their own home.

When it comes to League Bowling, there isn’t much to say about it. This is a bowling game. We already know how popular bowling games are after Wii Sports had such a big hit!

With four Neo Geo consoles linked together, up to eight people could play at the same time. This is great if you live with a lot of people and can’t go outside during the Covid-19 pandemic.

Choose balls that weigh between 8 and 15 pounds before setting power and direction The scoring is the same as when you play bowling in a normal way. There are, however, other ways to play, with different scoring rules and different ways to win.

When League Bowling came out, it was the first arcade game to focus on bowling instead of button-mashing fight games. Unless you get into a fight with your friends, there won’t be any blood or punching. It’s a lot of fun, though.