Contra: Hard Corps review

Contra: Hard Corps is the hardest game on this list and the one where a modern copy saves the most money. Konami sells it on Steam inside the Contra Anniversary Collection for $19.99, alongside nine other Contra releases including the arcade original, Super C and Contra III: The Alien Wars, plus a digital Bonus Book with concept documents, sketches and an interview with the series producer. Konami's page says two controllers are needed for two-player mode and recommends a gamepad. It is also in the Nintendo Switch Online SEGA Genesis library, where Nintendo dates it to 1994. On cartridge, DKOldies lists a used copy at $99.99, five times the price of the whole Steam collection. It ranks low on ease of setup because the difficulty is aimed at experienced players, not because it lacks content. Buy the collection unless you collect carts.

Who it is for

experienced players who like a hard challenge

Price

Used Genesis cartridge from $99.99 at DKOldies (regular price, before sales).

Original price: $99.99
Quoted from the vendor pricing page on November 11, 2026.

Key features

• Included in Konami's Contra Anniversary Collection with nine other Contra releases
• Collection includes a digital Bonus Book with concept documents and sketches
• Two-player mode needs two controllers on PC
• Included in the Nintendo Switch Online SEGA Genesis library
• Released in 1994, according to Nintendo's Genesis library page

Strengths and weaknesses

• Strength: Contra Anniversary Collection costs $19.99 on Steam
• Strength: Play alone or with a friend
• Strength: Two legal modern routes: Steam and Switch
• Weakness: $99.99 used is the second most expensive cart here
• Weakness: Hard difficulty makes it a poor first Genesis game
• Weakness: Konami recommends a gamepad on PC

Key facts

• Publisher: Konami
• Original release: 1994
• Collection price (Steam): $19.99
• Players: 1 or 2

Where it ranks

Contra: Hard Corps is No. 9 in our Best Sega Genesis Games verdict.