SEGA Genesis

SEGA Genesis
Developer: Sega
Released: 1988

Sega Genesis Specifications

Processor: Motorola 68000
Processor Speed: 7.61 MHz
Co-Processor: Zilog Z80
Co-Processor Speed: 4 MHz
RAM: 64 KByte
Available Colors: 512 Palatte
Max Colors on Screen: 64
Planes: 3 (2 Scrolling playfields, 1 Sprite Plane)
Resolution: 320 x 224 Pixels

The Sega Genesis, known as the Mega Drive outside North America, is a 16-bit console developed and sold by Sega. It is the successor to the Master System.

In Japan it struggled against Nintendo and NEC’s PC Engine, but it was much more successful in North America and Europe, helped by its large game library.

The Genesis has a library of over 900 games from Sega and a wide range of third-party publishers, all on ROM cartridges. It includes classics such as Sonic the Hedgehog, Disney’s Aladdin and Mortal Kombat.

A number of peripherals were released for the console, including a light gun, a mouse and a foam-covered baseball bat. When the new 32-bit consoles arrived at the end of 1994, the Genesis quickly became outdated. By the time it was discontinued it had sold an estimated 40 million units.

The Genesis still has a strong fan base, with people collecting the original consoles and games, and many use emulators to replay the classics they grew up with.

Advertisement

Sega Genesis Emulators

ares
ares
Popular

ares is an open source multi-system emulator focused on accuracy and preservation, covering the NES, SNES, N64, Sega consoles and more. The successor to higan.

Genesis Plus GX
Genesis Plus GX
Popular

Genesis Plus GX is an accurate Sega Genesis, Sega CD, Master System, Game Gear and SG-1000 emulator by Eke-Eke, mostly used as a RetroArch core.

Kega Fusion
Kega Fusion
Popular

Kega Fusion is a Sega multi-system emulator by Steve Snake for the SG-1000, Master System, Game Gear, Genesis, Sega CD and 32X. It was last updated in 2010.

Mednafen
Mednafen
Popular

Mednafen is an open source multi-system emulator, controlled from the command line, known for accurate Sega Saturn and PlayStation emulation.

PicoDrive
PicoDrive
Popular

PicoDrive is a fast SEGA emulator for the Genesis, SEGA CD, 32X, Pico, Master System and Game Gear, first written for ARM handhelds.

BlastEM
BlastEM
Popular

BlastEm is a highly accurate Sega Genesis emulator for Windows, Linux and macOS, optimised well enough to run at full speed even on low-end hardware.

Exodus
Exodus

Exodus is a highly accurate Sega Genesis emulator designed as a debugging tool for developers. It can play games, but it is not intended for everyday play.

Genesis Plus
Genesis Plus

Genesis Plus is an accurate Sega Genesis emulator by Charles MacDonald. Its maintained successor, Genesis Plus GX, is one of the most accurate available.

Gens32 Surreal
Gens32 Surreal

Gens32 Surreal is a Sega Genesis emulator based on Gens. It adds Kaillera netplay, tools for translating and captioning games, and music replacement.

Sonic & Knuckles
Sonic & Knuckles
Sonic 3 & Knuckles
Sonic 3 & Knuckles
Sonic the Hedgehog
Sonic the Hedgehog
Sonic the Hedgehog 2
Sonic the Hedgehog 2
Sonic the Hedgehog 3
Sonic the Hedgehog 3