EDIT: Shoot, let‘s rank all the Neo Geo games available on Switch! Submit your votes! You can select from the games listed on Hamster's site, as well as Windjammers, which was released by DotEmu. Let’s make the cutoff Dec 31, 2021.
Background/original post:
Listening to an episode of the excellent [Video Game History Hour](https://gamehistory.org/video-game-history-hour/) podcast last night, I got inspired to add some Neo Geo games to my collection on Switch. The discussion revolved around how the Neo Geo was a rare and elusive console, only owned by rich kids. I sure never knew anyone who owned one, when I was a kid. Though I did hear tell about it.
Anyway, Hamster has made tons (98, by my reckon!) of Neo Geo games available on the Switch e-shop. I've already got the ones I know I love, but am probably missing some great stuff!
Here's the [full list of available games](http://www.hamster.co.jp/american_hamster/arcadearchives/switch/title_list_neogeo.htm).
Here are the ones I already own:
King of Fighters '98
Mark of the Wolves
Waku Waku 7
The Last Blade 1 & 2
Samurai Shodown 2
Money Puzzle Exchanger
Sengoku 3
Blazing Star
Art of Fighting 2
Fatal Fury Special
I enjoy all of them to varying degrees! Somehow, I don't have any Metal Slugs? Must be because I have the Metal Slug collection for PSP.
I just want to find out what Neo Geo games people enjoy! Specifically I'm curious about which are the best SNK fighting games, and which Metal Slugs are the best, but other recommendations are also appreciated. I'm in the mood for some Neo Geo times.
Me and my brother play it all the time (we used to play it on the switch but I recently got a MiSTer so I assume we‘ll play it on there from now on) if you enjoy Shoot ’em ups and multiplayer garbage-throwing puzzle games you are in for a treat!
Oh and Windjammers is also excellent on the switch!
edit: I just noticed this a ranking thing so my vote goes for Twinkle Star Sprites
edit 2: my ranking is:
1 - Twinkle Star Sprites
2 - Windjammers
3 - Neo Turf Masters
Real Bout 2 wins every discussion and everyone here as impeccable taste so this will obviously be a short thread. Here is a good entry guide video in English to catch up.
https://youtu.be/m3rOn5lAj8E
(There are a few minor errors inside but nothing you can’t easily shake out later.)
@chazumaru Real Bout 2 is so amazing, I am only conflicted because if you can play it with the Arranged Soundtrack on Neo Geo CD or PS2 Battle Archives it is transformative. That is the true version of the game to me.
This topic didn’t really take off compared to other recent community lists, and the guidelines are fairly loose (is there a cut-off number for the ranking?) but the voting deadline is officially tonight so here is my Top 10.
1. Real Bout Fatal Fury 2
2. Big Tournament Golf
3. Baseball Stars 2
4. The King of Fighters 2000
5. Metal Slug
6. Samurai Shodown II
7. Puzzle Bobble 2
8. The King of Fighters '98
9. Fatal Fury Special
10. Windjammers
(Replace Windjammers with League Bowling if we go strictly for the ACA releases.)
**Shock Troopers 2nd Squad** did not make it in my list but it was featured in this week’s RTAinJapan marathon (the local equivalent of AGDQ) with an impressive « one player two controllers » real time attack speedrun.
Ah we get a top 10? Okay, updated. Tried to keep it not ALL fighting games. But I just can‘t get into any of the shoot ’em ups on the Neo Geo, they are all to brutal
1.) Metal Slug X
2.) Real Bout Fatal Fury 2
3.) Garou Mark of the Wolves
4.) Shock Troopers 2
5.) Samurai Shodown 2
6.) Spinmaster
7.) King of Fighters 98
8.) Art of Fighting 3
9.) Kizuna Encounter
10.) Mutation Nation
I think there's a good variety in this list and for the fighting games you've got the best or most approachable versions of each respective series.
2021 was actually the year I got into Samurai Shodown, The whole Samurai Shodown collection is a treasure, I'll definitely be returning to those games every once in a while.
1) Fatal Fury 3: Road to the Final Victory
2) Waku Waku 7
3) Samurai Shodown V: Special
4) Puzzle Bobble
5) Puzzle Bobble 2
6) King of Fighters 95
7) Fatal Fury Special
8) Wind Jammers
9) Samurai Shodown IV
10) King of the Monsters 2
Holy crap, we have found the most insertcredulous Neo Geo Top Ten List! How come you like FF3 that much? Is it the single player experience? The insane ambition of the game? Some very personal memory?
To contextualize for other readers, that’s like saying Devil May Cry 2 or Metal Gear: Snake’s Revenge is your favorite in the series.
Aero Fighters 2
Money Idol Exchanger
Shock Troopers
Twinkle Star Sprites
The King of Fighters 2000
World Heroes Perfect
Toss in Karnov's Revenge, Blazing Star, Neo Turf MXXXXXX and Street Hoop if you want a full top-10.
Speaking broadly, I do think it's silly that SNK is so insistent on not making the AES versions of their games as widely available as the MVS version—the only real difference between the MVS/AES versions of many of their later fighting gsmes, for example, is the ability to freely select characters after each round, so why would you deny people that convenience? This isn't just an ACA thing, either; I've heard they've put that restriction on other licensees over the last few years as well.
Haha I didn‘t think it was that controversial! My love definitely comes from the single player experience, I’m a very casual fighting game player, and don‘t have a lot of in-person friends who play fighting games, aside from something like Smash Bros. It’s possible a lot of the balance and technical things are beyond me, but personally I love the 3-plane fighting more than the 2-plane, it feels more strategic to dodge that way. Blue Mary and Bob Wilson are also great classic characters, and the earlier rosters feel less interesting without them. Yamazaki is a great fight because the dude keeps his hands in his pockets the entire time. The story mode in general with the world map and little sprites adds an extra garnish of charm.
I love me some NeoGeo games! Off the top of my head, my favourites are:
Real Bout Special
Sengoku 1 or 2
Ninja Master’s
World Heroes Perfect
Kizuna Encounter
Last Blade 2
Samurai Shodown II
Blazing Star
Last Resort ~~Viewpoint~~
Magician Lord