It signals excitement, action, and reminds us that fighting for justice is among the coolest things anyone can do. It may have been created as a giant ad for PR-themed toys, pajamas, and even shower curtains meant to deplete our parent’s hard-earned money. But the choreographed fights of the spandex-wearing warriors meant much, much more to those sitting in front of the TV. Despite Power Rangers being such a well-known and appreciated IP, the license has been historically mishandled. And video-games with the campy color-coded heroes are generally lost in a sea of other mediocre games. Join me as we take a look at over 20 years of Power Rangers in video games, remembering some iconic titles and finding out whether there’s a single authentically good game in the entire series(hint: there definitely is!).
15. Mighty Morphin Power Rangers (SNES) (1994)
The very first game to see the light of day with the Power Rangers license attached to it was also the worst. Which is a lot to say when talking about this franchise’s video games, as you’ll soon realize. It lets the player fight as one of the five original rangers in a 2D beat-’em-up adventure, fending off hordes of Rita Repulsa’s minions who, much like in the show, seem choreographed to suck at fighting. Something I did find interesting is that you start the levels as the untransformed heroes and need to beat up some baddies before you can morph. Which is great in comparison to the rest of the game’s features.
14. Power Rangers S.P.D. (2005)
The GBA saw its fair share of Power Ranger-themed releases, and S.P.D. was one of the best – but that doesn’t mean it was “good”. Not only did they go with a graphical style that tried too hard to look “realistic” in a console that simply couldn’t handle it. But the side-scrolling beat-’em-up gameplay gets old fast. That said, the animations were pretty fluid. And the game does include a couple of stages that change up the gameplay, such as a shoot-’em-up one where you play as the robot dog. If you’re a fan of Power Ranges then yeah dive into this. If you are more casually interested in the series, then just keep reading. Better games lie ahead.
13. Power Rangers Ninja Storm (2003)
Despite being released two years before S.P.D., the Ninja Storm GBA title was considerably better. The game featured a cel-shaded graphic style that made the characters look more appealing. This, along with hand-drawn backgrounds, really showed the developers put some care into making a good-looking game to go with the dull gameplay, which is the usual beat-’em-up affair. Regrettably the game failed to mimic the show’s campy humor, which made the plot boring and forgettable.
12. Mighty Morphin Power Rangers (SEGA CD) (1994)
Back when I was a kid, I could watch the same VHS tape over and over again. Be it Disney movies, cartoons, or a season from my favorite Super Sentai show. Well grab that VHS, put it on a CD, add some quick-time events and you’ve got MMPR for the SEGA CD. Rather than a game, this is an interactive video recording of sorts.
11. Mighty Morphin Power Rangers (SEGA Genesis) (1994)
Yes, I know we’ve already covered three games with the same name. Get used to it, because this isn’t even the last one. MMPR on the SEGA Genesis departs from the beat-’em-up formula by having the rangers throw punches at baddies one on one. The gameplay tries to mimic Street Fighter II, but with much less depth and only five rangers to choose from, plus an unlockable sixth in the form of the Green Ranger. It may not be the best fighter ever. But I admit that beating monsters from the show to a pulp as your favorite color-coded hero can be fun.
10. Power Rangers Lightspeed Rescue (2000)
Making the jump to 3D may not have improved gameplay on these licensed titles too much. But this game became somewhat iconic among me and my fellow kids back in the day. The developers took the “Rescue” part from the title pretty seriously, so the game is about rescuing people. The 3D beat-’em-up gameplay is sluggish at best, but hey, 3D Megazord battles! Oh, and I’m only talking about the PlayStation version of the game. Let’s all pretend the N64 disaster never happened.
9. Power Rangers Time Force (2001)
Time Force is simply the upgraded version of Lightspeed Rescue, and true to the whole “Time” thing, there’s now a time attack element to rescuing people. Fun! It’s definitely the better version of the PR 3D beat-’em-up formula, and it shows the developers cared enough to learn from their mistakes and put out an improved experience. Plus, better graphics. This feels more middle-of-the-road to me. Worth a try, but don’t be disappointed if you move onto another game fairly soon after booting this up.
8. Power Rangers: Super Legends (2007)
This PS2 title is an outlier in the series. Unlike the others where the story is a bit of an afterthought, it’s the plot that carries this game forward. Several rangers from different timeframes must come together to collect “time crystals” so that they can free the Omega Ranger from the Hall of Legends, an inter-dimensional repository of all Power Ranger knowledge. It’s a pretty unimaginative single-plane beat-’em-up, but unlocking notorious rangers from each generation will be pretty entertaining for any fan.
7. Mighty Morphin Power Rangers: The Fighting Edition (1995)
MMPR: The Fighting Edition is proof that sometimes it’s better to focus your efforts on doing a couple of things right rather than spreading your butter too thin over too much bread. This competent little fighter focuses on the giant-scale battles between Megazords and oversized baddies, of which there are four characters each. The combat is simple, and the fighters may not be many. But the sprites might be the best in the entire series. Those mechs look very, very cool.
6. Mighty Morphin Power Rangers: The Movie (1995)
And it’s… another side-scrolling beat-’em-up. Released as a companion piece to 1995’s MMPR movie, this Sega Genesis title improves on the prequel with a beautiful color palette, more freedom of movement rather than a single plane, and the addition of Co-Op, which is probably its best feature. Unlike others, it also puts a lot of emphasis on the movie’s plot, which it follows closely… through long, detailed walls of text between levels.
5. Mighty Morphin Power Rangers: Mega Battle (2017)
In this modern re-telling of the original MMPR series, up to four players can take control of the original rangers to fight off hordes of Rita Repulsa’s minions. I’m aware that it sounds just like every other beat-’em-up in the series. But as the most recently-released one, this game has a lot more depth than the SNES-era titles. Plus the art-style has a hand-drawn aesthetic with muscular chibi designs for every ranger. If you want to team up with your squad and beat up some baddies, this isn’t just a great option, but the most accessible option considering it’s available on 8th generation consoles. And thankfully if you grab a copy for PS4 it should be compatible with your new flashy PS5 too.
4. Power Rangers: Legacy Wars (2017)
Legacy Wars follows a small group of rangers traveling across time trying to save their fellow heroes after Rita Repulsa manages to corrupt the Morphin Grid. Despite being a blatant gacha-centric game with the sole objective of draining your bank account through micro-transactions, it’s hard to deny the appeal of collecting rangers from all over the franchise. The gameplay is a sort of beat-’em-up with rock-paper-scissors mechanics. But it’s more about growing your collection than anything else. Still, very fun.
3. Power Rangers: Beats of Power (2017)
At first glance, you may be forgiven for mistaking this game for the original MMPR on the SNES. But pay close attention to the improved sprites, vibrant color palette, and most noticeable of all, the improved soundtrack! Beats of Power is a fan-made beat-’em-up based on the first couple of MMPR games. It’s a love letter to a series of games that probably deserve none. And with its 4-player Co-Op support, it’s a true pleasure to play with basically anyone.
2. Chroma Squad (2015)
It’s always a pleasure to see a game that started by looking for funding on Kickstarter go on to become one of the best titles in its niche. Chroma Squad is a Strategy RPG that puts you in control of a group of stunt actors for a Super Sentai show much like Power Rangers who quit their job to start their own studio. The battles are staged episodes of your show, and you’ll have to make sure you get through them in such a way that your fans are satisfied and the money flows in. The only reason I’m not placing Chroma Squad in first place is that… well, it’s not an actual Power Rangers title. Still, I couldn’t possibly miss a chance to encourage at least one person to play this amazing game. If you’re a real fan of Power Rangers, especially any of the games, you’re going to enjoy playing Chroma Squad.
1. Power Rangers: Battle for the Grid (2019)
Luckily whoever controls the Power Rangers license recently got their act together and managed to produce a game that I’d actually want to play even if I wasn’t a fan of the series. This tag-team fighter plays in a way that’s similar to Marvel vs. Capcom down to the flashy special attacks and three on three battles. Thanks to its streamlined combat, it’s also quite easy to get into. But there’s still enough depth to keep anyone interested in mastering it. Great for kids, adults, and whatever it’s called when you’re kinda both. Granted it’s not the best fighter ever. But if what you’re after is some good old PR badassery, this is exactly where you’ll get it. Plus it’s available on all major consoles and PC so you’re good to go however you game.
