Play Michael Jackson’s Moonwalker Online

Michael Jackson's Moonwalker came out on the Sega Genesis in 1990, published by Sega. It was one of those movie and music tie-in games that felt like a gamble back then, a time when the Genesis was competing hard and needed recognizable names. You got a side-scrolling action game that tried to capture the energy of the film and the artist, which was a tall order for the hardware.

You control Michael Jackson through various levels, from a city street to a nightclub, with the main goal being to find and rescue all the children hidden in each stage. Your primary attack is a magical dance move that stuns or defeats enemies, and collecting enough sparkling orbs lets you unleash a special attack where Michael transforms into a giant robot to clear the screen. The pacing is methodical, as you need to search every corner for kids while fending off constant enemies, and the difficulty can spike unexpectedly. It feels like a strange but earnest tribute, where the spectacle of the performance is just as important as finishing the level.