The Sega Genesis, known as the Mega Drive [1] in regions outside of North America, is a 16-bit video game console that was designed and produced by Sega. First released in Japan on October 29, 1988, in North America on August 1989, and in PAL regions in 1990, the Genesis is Sega's third console and the successor to the Master System. The system supports a library of 876 [a] officially licensed games created both by Sega and a wide array of third-party publishers and delivered on ROM cartridges. [2] It can also play Master System games when the separately sold Power Base Converter is installed. The Sega Genesis also sported numerous peripherals, including the Sega CD and 32X, several network services, and multiple first-party and third-party variations of the console that focused on extending its functionality. The console and its games continue to be popular among fans, collectors, video game music fans, and emulation enthusiasts. Licensed third party re-releases of the console are still being produced, [3] and several indie game developers continue to produce games for it. [4] Many games have also been re-released in compilations for newer consoles and offered for download on various digital distribution services, such as Virtual Console, Xbox Live Arcade, PlayStation Network, and Steam. [5] [6] [7] [8]
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The Genesis library was initially modest, but eventually grew to contain games to appeal to all types of players. The initial pack-in title was Altered Beast , which was later replaced with Sonic the Hedgehog . [9] Top sellers included Sonic the Hedgehog, its sequel Sonic the Hedgehog 2 , and Disney's Aladdin . [10] During development for the console, Sega Enterprises in Japan focused on developing action games while Sega of America was tasked with developing sports games. A large part of the appeal of the Genesis library during the console's lifetime was the arcade-based experience of its games, as well as more difficult entries such as Ecco the Dolphin and sports games such as Joe Montana Football . [9] Compared to its competition, Sega advertised to an older audience by hosting more mature games, including the uncensored version of Mortal Kombat . [9]
Titles listed do not include releases for the Sega CD and 32X add-ons, or titles released through the online service Sega Meganet in Japan. Included in this list are titles not licensed by Sega, including releases in Taiwan by several developers such as Gamtec, as well as releases by Accolade before being licensed following the events of Sega v. Accolade . This list also includes titles developed by unlicensed third-party developers after the discontinuation of the Genesis, such as Pier Solar and the Great Architects .
A few games were only released exclusively on the Sega Channel subscription service, which was active from 1994 to 1998, in the US. This means that, whilst cartridges were officially released for use on PAL and Japanese consoles, they were unavailable physically in the US. While few games were released this way, some of them are considered to be staples in the Genesis library, such as Pulseman and Mega Man: The Wily Wars .
| Regions released | Region description |
|---|---|
| JP (Japan) | Japanese (NTSC-J) format release |
| NA (North America) | North America and other NTSC territories, besides Japan |
| PAL | PAL/SECAM territories: much of Europe, Australia, parts of Asia |
| BR (Brazil) | PAL-M release exclusively in Brazil |
| KR (South Korea) | NTSC-J release exclusively in South Korea |
| TW (Taiwan) | NTSC-J release exclusively in Taiwan |
