Get ready to relive your retro gaming dreams—12 classic SEGA Game Gear titles are coming to Yakuza Kiwami 3 & Dark Ties on Xbox, and it’s a nostalgia-packed surprise that’s dividing opinions. With just weeks until the February 12th release on Xbox Series X|S, fans are buzzing about the unexpected inclusion of these beloved games, from Sonic Chaos and Streets of Rage to Pac-Man and Fantasy Zone Gear. But here’s where it gets controversial: these retro gems are only playable within the Yakuza game itself, leaving some fans scratching their heads. Why not let them stand alone? And this is the part most people miss—while it’s easy to feel disappointed, there’s something uniquely charming about experiencing these classics inside the immersive world of Yakuza, Judgment, or Like a Dragon. It’s like a retro arcade hidden within a modern masterpiece.
Here’s the full lineup of the 12 SEGA Game Gear titles, many of which support split-screen multiplayer for some old-school couch co-op fun:
- Columns
- Fantasy Zone Gear
- Galaga 2
- G-LOC: Air Battle
- Mappy
- Pac-Man
- Puzlow Kids
- Sonic Chaos (Sonic & Tails)
- Sonic Drift
- Streets of Rage
- The GG Shinobi
- Woody Pop
But wait, there’s more! Three SEGA arcade classics are also joining the party: Emergency Call Ambulance, SlashOut, and Magical Truck Adventure. It’s shaping up to be a retro gamer’s paradise, but the question remains: Is bundling these games within Yakuza Kiwami 3 a genius move or a missed opportunity?
We’ll leave you with a sneak peek at some Game Gear and arcade game visuals below. What’s your take? Are you thrilled to revisit these classics in a new context, or do you wish they were standalone releases? Let us know in the comments—this is one debate that’s just getting started!
