Top 10 TurboGrafx-16 Games You Didn't Play But Should

I found Neutopia in the kind of bargain-bin that smells faintly of cigarette smoke and unfulfilled promises. The box art looked like a knock-off Zelda and the price tag could have funded a sandwich and a small regret - and yet, two hours later I was stuck in its surprisingly sly labyrinth, wondering why I’d ever been convinced that the 16-bit era belonged only to the obvious icons.

The TurboGrafx-16 (born PC Engine in Japan) never stamped the world the way the SNES or Genesis did, but that’s precisely why it’s a fertile place to go looking for surprises. The console is the thrift-store of the 16‑bit generation: dusty, a little foreign, and filled with small masterpieces people walked past because they were distracted by louder marketing.

Below are ten of those masterpieces: the games you probably missed because you followed the crowd, and why they’re worth stealing an afternoon back from whichever remaster is currently devouring your attention.

Quick context: why the TurboGrafx-16 matters

The TurboGrafx-16 (PC Engine) squeezed a surprising amount of color and CD audio out of its tiny engineering heart and cultivated an oddball library - shmups with rock‑opera soundtracks, action-RPGs that feel like arcade cabinets wearing cloaks, and experimental pinball that’s more occult ritual than physics lesson. If you like games that wear their ambition on their sleeve and sometimes stumble gloriously, this system is a gold mine. For platform and release context, see the TurboGrafx-16 article on Wikipedia.

(If you want sources while you hunt, the individual game pages are linked under each entry.)

1) Neutopia (1989)

Why you should try it: A lovingly blunt Zelda echo, executed with confidence.

The pitch - You are a green‑hooded hero in a top‑down quest of dungeons, keys, and slightly obnoxious screen‑clearing spells. If Zelda’s first outing is a comfort food, Neutopia is its unfamiliar cousin who actually finishes their vegetables.
Why it’s underrated - Western players dismissed it as “Zelda‑like” and moved on. That’s fair, but it’s also a neat package of crisp puzzles, nimble combat, and surprisingly clever dungeon design that rewards exploration.
Where to read more - Neutopia on Wikipedia

2) Dungeon Explorer (1989)

Why you should try it: Four-player action-RPG that feels like an arcade co-op session stretched into an epic.

The pitch - Imagine Gauntlet with a class system, towns, loot, and monthly social obligations to rescue princesses. The party system makes the game less about single-player heroics and more about emergent chaos - the good kind.
Why it’s underrated - Local multiplayer is a rare treat these days. Dungeon Explorer’s replay value lives in friends abusing spells and stealing loot from each other.
Read more - Dungeon Explorer on Wikipedia

3) Blazing Lazers / Gunhed (1989)

Why you should try it: One of the purest, most satisfying vertical shooters of the 16‑bit era.

The pitch - Fast, clean controls, explosive powerups, and relentless design. It’s a technical demo of how crisp a shmup can feel when everything is tuned to precision.
Why it’s underrated - It was overshadowed by arcade conversions on other systems. Play it to remember why shmups are still a religion for certain kinds of players.
Read more - Blazing Lazers on Wikipedia

4) Gate of Thunder (1992)

Why you should try it: Cinematic CD‑era shoot ’em up with stage‑by‑stage nail‑biting and a soundtrack that thinks it’s a movie score.

The pitch - A horizontally scrolling romp with big ships, bigger bosses, and music that sounds like the game consulted a metal album before choosing notes.
Why it’s underrated - If you were only shopping by box art in the West, you missed a handful of PC Engine CD shmups that outclassed many console peers.
Read more - Gate of Thunder on Wikipedia

5) Lords of Thunder (1993)

Why you should try it: Heavy‑metal shmup with art direction and audio that never pretend to be modest.

The pitch - It’s a thunderous, neon-laced shooter - the kind that would be the soundtrack to a fantasy biker gang. The CD version’s audio elevates it into a small myth.
Why it’s underrated - Released late in the PC Engine life cycle and mostly in Japan; Western appreciation came slowly.
Read more - Lords of Thunder on Wikipedia

6) Cotton: Fantastic Night Dreams (1991)

Why you should try it: Cute ’em up with charm, personality, and surprisingly addictive shooting mechanics.

The pitch - A candy-coated shmup starring a broom-riding witch and a yoshis-with-style familiar. It looks sugary and plays sharp.
Why it’s underrated - “Cute” was treated like a market niche, and lots of players skipped it for grimdark shooters. That was a mistake.
Read more - Cotton: Fantastic Night Dreams on Wikipedia

7) Super Star Soldier (1990)

Why you should try it: A polished, addictive descendant of the star soldier lineage; fast, precise, and terribly satisfying.

The pitch - If you want a concise, perfectly engineered horizontal/vertical hybrid shmup with smart progression and clear design, this is it.
Why it’s underrated - The market for shooters was crowded. But this one holds up as a masterclass in “more, but not gratuitous.”
Read more - Super Star Soldier on Wikipedia

8) Devil’s Crush (1990)

Why you should try it: Pinball reimagined as gothic ritual.

The pitch - Pinball tables drenched in skulls, demons, and high-score psychosis. It’s not just pinball; it’s pinball with a story about why you keep flinging virtual balls into oblivion.
Why it’s underrated - Pinball doesn’t always register in lists of “core” gaming experiences, but Devil’s Crush is a piece of design that’s as playable today as it was frighteningly addictive then.
Read more - Devil’s Crush on Wikipedia

9) Ninja Spirit (1989/1990 port)

Why you should try it: A brutal, elegant run-and-slash that demands precision and rewards guts.

The pitch - Fast platforming action with tight controls, timed parries, and bosses that punish flailing. It’s merciless in the way older games often were - unforgiving, but fair.
Why it’s underrated - It’s easy to rush past it if you think only aesthetics matter. Play it for the way it teaches patience through punishment.
Read more - Ninja Spirit on Wikipedia

10) Ys (PC Engine CD version - Ys Book I & II)

Why you should try it: The Ys series is weirdly timeless; the TurboGrafx CD version is one of the best ways to experience its pounding soundtrack and vivid action-RPG pacing.

The pitch - Fast-paced, bump-to-attack combat and a narrative that feels like myth condensed into compact maps. The CD soundtrack is a highlight.
Why it’s underrated - Some players prefer modernized Ys releases; this one preserves a raw, energetic feel that modern remakes sometimes smooth away.
Read more - Ys series on Wikipedia

How to play these days (short, practical notes)

Official re-releases crop up on platforms like the TurboGrafx-16 Mini and various digital stores. Check legitimate storefronts first.
Physical HuCards and CD-ROMs exist and are collectible; prices vary wildly by title and region.
If you’re new to the format, try the TurboGrafx-16 Mini or curated digital collections - they’re the least painful route to discovery.

Parting thought

The TurboGrafx-16 didn’t win the platform wars. That’s its moral victory. The system’s library didn’t have to be homogenized by the loudest advertising budgets. It kept oddities, experiments, and quietly excellent games that reward curiosity. If you’ve been traveling the obvious roads, take a detour into the PC Engine’s side streets. You’ll find craftsmanship, odd generosity, and games that still have the nerve to surprise.

References