Check Out the Sega Genesis Mini Showcase Trailer

The full Sega Genesis Mini games list was announced June 4, and to the surprise of everyone, not only did Sega add more games than initially promised, but also announcing some rare Genesis gems, including games that never came to the US version of the Sega Genesis.

Sega Genesis Mini preorders are $79.99 with a September 19, 2019 release date:
M2 is handling the Genesis Mini software and emulation, and if you’re familiar with M2, you know it has a storied history of going above and beyond when it comes to bringing old games to modern hardware. A port of the arcade game Darius is packed inside the Genesis Mini, a game that never existed for Sega Genesis in an official capacity. The Genesis version of Tetris is also part of the 42 games coming to Sega Genesis Mini, as well as Monster World IV, both of which never released in the US for the console.

With a September 19 release date and a $79.99 price tag, there’s plenty of time to grab one for yourself, and the good news is you can preorder the Sega Genesis Mini right now.

It looks like the Genesis Mini will be closer to Nintendo’s offerings with the NES Classic and Super NES Classic than to Sony’s misstep with the PlayStation Classic. The Sega Genesis Mini game list is chock full of popular classics, rare gems, and even a wholly new port. It could very well be the new gold standard when it comes to retro all-in-one consoles.

Sega Genesis Mini Games List

Some of the best Sega Genesis classics are coming to the Sega Genesis Mini. All told, it has 42 games, 2 more than initially promised.

Here is the full list of Sega Genesis Mini games:

• Ecco the Dolphin
• Castlevania: Bloodlines (Castlevania: The New Generation in AU/UK)
• Space Harrier 2
• Shining Force
• Dr. Robotnik’s Mean Bean Machine
• Toe Jam & Earl
• Comix Zone
• Sonic the Hedgehog
• Altered Beast
• Gunstar Heroes
• Sonic the Hedgehog 2
• Earthworm Jim
• Castle of Illusion Starring Mickey Mouse
• World of Illusion Starring Mickey Mouse and Donald Duck
• Thunder Force III
• Super Fantasy Zone
• Shinobi III: Return of the Ninja Master
• Streets of Rage 2
• Contra Hard Corps (Probotector in AU/UK)
• Landstalker
• Mega Man: The Wily Wars
• Street Fighter II: Special Champion Edition
• Sonic Spinball
• Phantasy Star IV
• Beyond Oasis (The Story of Thor in AU/UK)
• Ghouls ‘N Ghosts
• Alex Kidd in the Enchanted Castle
• Golden Axe
• Vectorman
• Wonder Boy in Monster World
• Tetris
• Darius
• Virtua Fighter 2
• Alisia Dragoon
• Monster World IV
• Kid Chameleon
• Road Rash II
• Eternal Champions
• Columns
• Dynamite Headdy
• Strider
• Light Crusader

Every Confirmed Game for Sega Genesis Mini

If you’re unfamiliar with M2, it handled the excellent 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.

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 “mini Sega Genesis” 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 most don’t output a high-definition signal. In fact, some of them ONLY output using A/V cables, a feature increasingly absent from modern television sets. Don’t be fooled!

Sega Genesis Mini

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.

The Sega Genesis Mini has been selling so strongly since its announcement, it was the top-selling video game items on Amazon when first announced. That’s a tall feat: the spot is almost the exclusive domain of the $10 Sony PlayStation Store gift card. Fortunately, it’s been available since its initial announcement, so it looks like it won’t suffer the same supply issues as the Super NES Classic and NES Classic. At least, for now.

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. It’s also now almost always on sale for more than 60% off its original price.

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 the full list of games coming to 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. Or you can order directly from Amazon.jp and have it shipped to the states.

Here is the fill list of Mega Drive Mini games 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
• Tetris
• Darius
• Virtua Fighter 2
• Alisia Dragoon
• Monster World IV
• Kid Chameleon
• Road Rash II
• Eternal Champions
• Columns
• Dynamite Headdy
• Strider
• Light Crusader

Mega Drive Mini Tower of Power

The Mega Drive Mini is getting an extra bonus in the way of a purely cosmetic “Megadora Tower Mini,” also known as the Sega Tower of Power. While real life versions can get even more ridiculous, this beastly amalgam is comprised of miniature, official hardware replicas. It’s extremely cool and limited-edition, and so far it looks like only Japan is getting the add-on. The Mega Drive Mini tower releases in Japan on September 19, the same say as the Sega Genesis Mini and Mega Drive Mini.

Seth Macy is IGN’s tech and commerce editor and just wants to be your friend. Find him on Twitter @sethmacy.