Sega Ages Collections and also the delightful Sega 3D Classics Collection for Nintendo 3DS. It would be hard to find a developer with a better pedigree to handle the software for the first-party Sega Genesis Mini, so these Sega Genesis classics should get the respect they deserve.
Sega Genesis Mini at a Glance:
- Price: $79.99
- Release Date: September 19, 2019
- Included Games: 40 total, 30 confirmed
- Number of Controllers: 2 (3-button)
- AC Adapter: Included
- Output: HDMI
6-Button Controller?
The 6-button controller doesn’t ship with the Genesis Mini. If you want a Genesis Mini 6-button controller from Sega, you’ll have to import a Mega Drive Mini. However, Retro-Bit makes an officially licensed 6-button Sega Genesis controller that looks and feels everything the part of a first-party controller. Better still, it’s available in cool styles like translucent blue.
What to Look Out For
Navigating the world of Sega Genesis Mini retail is something of a minefield. Sega played fast and loose with its licensing in the past. Be advised: there are a lot of third-party “Sega Genesis mini” consoles already on the market, but only one official Sega Genesis Mini, coming out September 19, 2019.
The third-party Sega Genesis mini consoles seem like a good value, packed with tons of games, but they have poor emulation and don’t output a high-definition signal. In fact, some of them ONLY plug in using A/V cables, a feature that’s starting to disappear from modern television sets. Don’t be fooled!
The good news when it comes to supply is it doesn’t look as though the Sega Genesis Mini is in danger of selling out immediately, as was the case with the first runs of the NES and Super NES Classics from Nintendo.
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Sega has M2 working on the emulation for its mini console.
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The Sega Genesis Mini has been selling so strongly since its announcement, it’s one of the top-selling video game items on Amazon, and has remained in the top 25 gaming items on Amazon since it was first revealed. At one point, it was THE top-selling video game item. That’s a tall feat: the spot is almost the exclusive domain of the $10 Sony PlayStation Store gift card.
Hopefully Sega has no supply problems like those that plagued Nintendo’s initial releases, but two weeks into its announced availability, it’s still available for preorder at the major online retailers.
All in all, it looks like this will be a hit, unlike Sony’s PlayStation Classic mini console, which is regarded by almost everyone (except emulation hackers) as a complete disappointment. Its weird selection of games, emulation problems, PAL versions of some games, and a $99 price tag turned people off. You can still pick one up at Walmart for a clearance price of $39, to show how far it’s fallen.
Japanese Mega Drive Mini Games List
If you’re the sort of person who drops extra money to get the Japanese versions of your favorite mini-consoles, here’s what games have been announced for the Mega Drive Mini, also releasing on September 19, 2019. If it’s anything like the Famicom and Super Famicom Mini, you should eventually be able to order them directly from Amazon, although probably through a 3rd party seller. People did have luck ordering the Famicom Mini directly from Amazon Japan, so that’s another possibility.
Here are the confirmed games for the Mega Drive Mini coming to Japan:
- Castlevania: Bloodlines
- Comix Zone
- Gunstar Heroes
- Madou Monogatari I
- Powerball
- Puyo Puyo Tsu
- Rent-A-Hero
- Shining Force
- Sonic the Hedgehog 2
- Space Harrier 2
- Thunder Force III
- Super Fantasy Zone
- Musha
- World of Illusion Starring Mickey Mouse and Donald Duck
- Streets of Rage 2
- The Hybrid Front
- Landstalker
- Contra: Hard Corps
- Dyna Brothers 2
- Game no Kanzume Otokuyou
- Ghouls ‘n Ghosts
- Street Fighter II: Special Champion Edition
- Mega Man: The Wily Wars
- Golden Axe
- The Revenge of Shinobi
- Phantasy Star IV
- Beyond Oasis (The Story of Thor: A Successor of The Light)
- Puzzle & Action: Tant-R
- Party Quiz Mega Q
- Yu Yu Hakusho: Makyou Touitsusen
Seth Macy is IGN’s tech and commerce editor and just wants to be your friend. Find him on Twitter @sethmacy.