History Platform / SegaGenesis

* The console has a 16/32-Bit [[UsefulNotes/CentralProcessingUnit Motorola 68000]][[note]]Which got around quite a bit, it was also in the Platform/AppleMacintosh, Platform/NeoGeo AES, Platform/SuperACan, and the Platform/AtariJaguar (as a co-prosessor)[[/note]] that runs at 7.68 [=MHz=] (varies per region). The 16-bit part was prominently used as a marketing point over the 8-bit NES. Its arithmetic and logic unit is 16 bits wide, but its registers are 32 bits wide. This CPU uses microcode to emulate 32 bit instructions in hardware slower than a full 32 bit processor, but faster than emulating the 32 bit instructions in 16 bit software.

* ''Last Battle'' (an early launch title for the console, being a DivorcedInstallment of a ''Manga/FistOfTheNorthStar'' video game, sans the story and violence)

** ''WesternAnimation/{{Gargoyles}}''

** ''Lethal Enforcers''
** ''Lethal Enforcers II: Gun Fighters''

** ''Lotus II R.E.C.S.''
** ''Lotus Turbo Challenge''

** ''Micro Machines: Turbo Tournament '96''

** ''VideoGame/ShiningInTheDarkness''

** ''[[VideoGame/SonicTheHedgehogSpinball Sonic Spinball]]''

** ''VideoGame/Sonic3AndKnuckles'' (sold separately as ''Sonic The Hedgehog 3'' and ''Sonic & Knuckles'' respectively. The latter uses custom "Lock-On Technology" built into the cartridge to plug both cartridges together, combining both games into the originally-intended product)
** ''VideoGame/SonicEraser'' (a Japan exclusive puzzle game which was only released as a downloadable title for the Sega Meganet service)

* ''Zoom''

** ''Micro Machines 2 Turbo Tournament''
** ''Micro Machines Military''
** ''Micro Machines Turbo Tournament 96''

* ''VideoGame/AfterBurner II''

* ''VideoGame/BonanzaBros''

* ''Lotus II R.E.C.S.''

* ''VideoGame/StimpysInvention''

Enter the '''Mega Drive''' or, as North Americans refer to it, the '''Sega Genesis''',[[note]]It was commonly believed that the name change was because "Mega Drive" was already trademarked in the U.S. by Mega Drive Systems, Inc., a manufacturer of hard disk drives. In actuality, according to the 2014 book ''Sega Mega Drive Collected Works'' by Keith Stuart, it was Sega co-founder [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_Rosen_(businessman) David Rosen]] who wanted the name change because he disliked the name "Mega Drive" and wanted the console to represent "a new beginning" for Sega.[[/note]] released in [[TheEighties 1988 in Japan, 1989 in North America,]] and [[TheNineties 1990 elsewhere]].

The very same Nintendo/Sega rivalry would find a new light in 2019 when Sega responded to Nintendo's release of Classic Mini Platform/PlugnPlayGame systems with their own Sega Genesis Mini (called the Mega Drive Mini outside North America). The system would release worldwide on September 19, 2019. [[labelnote:List (exclusives in bold)]]'''''VideoGame/AlexKidd in the Enchanted Castle''''', '''''VideoGame/AlienSoldier''''', ''VideoGame/AlisiaDragoon'', '''''VideoGame/AlteredBeast1988''''', '''''Assault Suit Leynos''''', ''Beyond Oasis 2'', '''''VideoGame/CastleOfIllusion Starring Mickey Mouse''''', ''VideoGame/CastlevaniaBloodlines'', ''VideoGame/{{Columns}}'', '''''VideoGame/ComixZone''''', ''VideoGame/ContraHardCorps'', ''VideoGame/{{Darius}}'', '''''VideoGame/DrRobotniksMeanBeanMachine''''', '''''Dyna Brothers 2''''', '''''VideoGame/DynamiteHeaddy''''', '''''VideoGame/EarthwormJim''''', '''''VideoGame/EccoTheDolphin''''', '''''VideoGame/EternalChampions''''', ''Game no Kanzume Otokuyou'', ''Ghouls N Ghosts'', ''VideoGame/GoldenAxe'', ''VideoGame/GunstarHeroes'', '''''VideoGame/KidChameleon''''', ''VideoGame/{{Landstalker}}'', '''''Langrisser II''''', '''''VideoGame/LightCrusader''''', '''''VideoGame/LordMonarch''''', ''Madō Monogatari I'', ''VideoGame/MegaMan: The Wily Wars (officially releasing this game in North America for the first time)'', ''Monster World IV'', '''''VideoGame/{{MUSHA}}''''', '''''VideoGame/OutRun 2019''''', '''''Party Quiz Mega-Q''''', ''VideoGame/PhantasyStarIV'', Powerball, '''''VideoGame/PuyoPuyo 2''''', '''''Puzzle & Action Tant-R''''', '''''Rent-A-Hero''''', ''VideoGame/RoadRash 2'', ''VideoGame/ShiningForce'', '''''Shining Force 2''''', '''''Shinobi 3: Return of the Ninja Master''''', '''''Slap Fight MD''''', '''''Snow Bros''''', '''''VideoGame/SonicSpinball''''', '''''VideoGame/SonicTheHedgehog1''''', ''VideoGame/SonicTheHedgehog2'', ''Space Harrier 2'', '''''VideoGame/StreetFighterII Special Championship Edition''''', ''VideoGame/StreetsOfRage 2'', '''''VideoGame/{{Strider}}''''', ''Super Fantsay Zone'', '''''Sword of Vermillion''''', ''VideoGame/{{Tetris}}'' (saving a long-lost Genesis port of that game from DevelopmentHell), '''''The Hybrid Front''''', '''''The Revenge of Shinobi''''', ''VideoGame/ThunderForce 3'', '''''VideoGame/ToeJamAndEarl''''', '''''VideoGame/{{Vectorman}}''''', '''''VideoGame/VirtuaFighter 2''''', '''''VideoGame/WonderBoyInMonsterWorld''''', ''VideoGame/WorldOfIllusion'', and ''''' Yu Yu Hakusho Makyō Tōitsusen''''' [[/labelnote]] In 2021, Nintendo introduced an Expansion Pack for its Platform/NintendoSwitch Online service, which includes a library of Sega Genesis games. New games are added to the library every so often. Nintendo also introduced a replica three button Genesis controller that can be used with the Switch. In 2022, following the Mini's massive success, Sega revealed the Sega Genesis Mini 2 (again named the Mega Drive Mini 2 outside North America), modelled after the Genesis Model 2 and featuring another 50+ games, including a number of Sega CD games[[labelnote:List (exclusives in bold)]]'''''Aa Harimanada''''', ''VideoGame/AfterBurner II'', ''VideoGame/AlienSoldier'' (previously only on the Taiwan/Korea version of the original Genesis Mini), ''VideoGame/AtomicRunnerChelnov'', ''VideoGame/BonanzaBros'', '''''VideoGame/CaptainTsubasa''''', '''''VideoGame/ClayFighter''''', '''''VideoGame/{{Columns}} III''''', ''VideoGame/CrusaderOfCenty'', '''''VideoGame/DesertStrike''''', ''Devi & Pii'' (an unreleased game developed by Takashi Iizuka pre-''[[VideoGame/SonicTheHedgehog3AndKnuckles Sonic 3]]''), ''[[VideoGame/RoboAleste Dennin Aleste]]'' (''Robo Aleste'' outside Japan), '''''VideoGame/EarthwormJim 2''''', '''''Elemental Master''''', ''VideoGame/EccoTheDolphin CD'', ''[[VideoGame/EccoTheDolphin Ecco: The Tides of Time CD]]'', ''VideoGame/FantasyZone'', ''VideoGame/FatalFury2'', ''VideoGame/FinalFight CD'', ''VideoGame/GainGround'', '''''VideoGame/GoldenAxeII''''', ''Granada'', '''''VideoGame/Hellfire1989''''', '''''VideoGame/HerzogZwei''''', '''''Honoo no Toukyuuji Dodge Danpei''''', '''''Katayama Masayuki no Mahjong Dojo''''', '''''[[VideoGame/LangrisserI Langrisser]]''''' (under its English name, ''Warsong'') '''''VideoGame/LunarEternalBlue''''', '''''VideoGame/LunarTheSilverStar''''', '''''Manga/MagicalTarurutoKun''''', '''''Mahou no Shoujo: Silky Lip!''''', ''VideoGame/MansionOfHiddenSouls'', ''Megapanel'', ''VideoGame/MidnightResistance'', '''''Anime/NadiaTheSecretOfBlueWater''''', ''VideoGame/NightStriker'', ''VideoGame/NightTrap'', ''VideoGame/{{TheNinjaWarriors|1987}}'', '''''VideoGame/TheOoze''''', ''VideoGame/OutRun'', '''''[[VideoGame/OutRun OutRunners]]''''', '''''Party Quiz Mega-Q 2022''''', '''''Party Quiz Sega-Q''''', ''VideoGame/PhantasyStarII'' (includes the easy difficulty added with the [=PS2=] Sega AGES release) '''''VideoGame/PopfulMail''''', ''VideoGame/{{Populous}}'', '''''Puzzle & Action: Ichidant-R''''', '''''VideoGame/RainbowIslands Extra''''', ''VideoGame/RangerX'', '''''VideoGame/TheRevengeOfShinobi''''', '''''VideoGame/{{Ristar}}''''', ''VideoGame/RollingThunder 2'', '''''VideoGame/{{Romance of the Three Kingdoms|Koei}} III: Dragon of Destiny''''' (both the Mega Drive and Mega-CD versions), '''''VideoGame/SewerShark''''', '''''VideoGame/ShadowDancer''''', '''''[[VideoGame/ShinMegamiTenseiI Shin Megami Tensei]]''''', '''''VideoGame/ShiningForceII''''', ''[[VideoGame/ShiningForceGaidenGames Shining Force CD]]'', ''VideoGame/ShiningInTheDarkness'', ''VideoGame/{{Silpheed}}'', '''''VideoGame/Sonic3DBlast''''', ''VideoGame/SonicCD'', '''''[[VideoGame/DragonSlayer Sorcerian]]''''', ''VideoGame/SpaceHarrier'', ''VideoGame/SpaceHarrier II'' (an upgraded version that plays more akin to the original arcade game), ''Spatter'' (a new port of a Sega arcade game), ''VideoGame/{{Splatterhouse}} 2'', '''''Star Cruiser''''', ''Star Mobile'' (a completed, but previously-unannounced and unreleased game from 1992), '''''VideoGame/{{Starblade}}''''', '''''VideoGame/StreetsOfRage 3''''', '''''Super VideoGame/HangOn''''', ''Super Locomotive'' (another new Sega arcade game port), ''Super VideoGame/StreetFighterII'', '''''Tenka Fubu: Eiyuutachi no Houkou''''', ''VideoGame/ThunderForce IV'' (''Lightening Force: Quest for the Darkstar'' outside Japan), '''''VideoGame/ToeJamAndEarl in Panic on Funkotron''''', '''''Tougi-ou King Colossus''''', ''Viewpoint'' (officially releasing in Japan for the first time), '''''VideoGame/{{Vectorman}} 2''''', ''VideoGame/VirtuaRacing'' (the SVC chip-powered Genesis/Mega Drive version), ''VS VideoGame/PuyoPuyoSun'' (a demake of the Saturn game's 2-player mode with tweaked/updated mechanics), '''''Wondermega Collection'''''[[/labelnote]], which was released natively in Japan and via import in the US and Europe on October 27 of that year.

* ''VideoGame/{{Frogger}}'' (the last game officially released for the console in the U.S., apart from licensed {{indie game}}s during TheNewTens)

** ''VideoGame/MegaManTheWilyWars''/''Rockman Megaworld'' (a CompilationRerelease of ''VideoGame/MegaMan'', ''VideoGame/MegaMan2'' and ''VideoGame/MegaMan3'' with 16-bit graphics and sounds. [[NoExportForYou Only released in Europe and Japan]], although it was briefly available in the U.S. via the Sega Channel, and is now locally available via the Sega Genesis Mini)

** ''[[VideoGame/StriderReturns Journey From Darkness: Strider Returns]]'' (a sequel outsourced to US Gold. Not well regarded)

* GermansLoveDavidHasselhoff: The Mega Drive was never a big success in Japan compared to the PC Engine or the Super Famicom, but the console was popular in the rest of the world, especially North America and Europe. It was released two years before the SNES and outsold it in the U.S. and UK. The only reason the SNES was able to outsell the Genesis in North America during its dying days was due to the release of ''Donkey Kong Country''. In UsefulNotes/{{Russia}}, the Mega Drive was (and in many cases still is) the only 16-bit console. The Russian video game market in the '90s was mainly based on bootlegging and piracy, and the SNES was nearly impossible to clone at that time; it was much easier and cheaper for video game stores to import countless unlicensed Mega Drive clones and cartridges. Before the rise of the internet, many people in Russia didn't even know the SNES existed. Much like its predeccesor the Master System, it was also hugely popular in UsefulNotes/{{Brazil}}, with both systems being supported by third-party manufacturers to this day.

* LateExportForYou: The Mega Drive was first released in Japan in 1988, but it didn't reach US shores until 1989 (and didn't go international until 1990).

* SpellMyNameWithAnS: In Europe (particularly within the UK), Mega Drive is sometimes spelled as one word (Megadrive) rather than two.

* TakeThat: The ad campaign in America took heavy pot-shots at Nintendo, whether by comparing the Genesis' Blast Processing (represented as a drag race car) to a broken-down ice cream truck with ''[[VideoGame/SuperMarioKart Mario Kart]]'' playing on it, or comparing Nintendo to a bloodsucking mosquito because they charged an extra $10 for certain games on the SNES. They also took a swipe at the [[Platform/ThreeDOInteractiveMultiplayer 3DO]] [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=no1xCpLJgaI in one of their 32X ads.]] They also successfully sabotaged the Platform/TurboGrafx16 launch in the U.S. by airing ads of this kind in the select markets the [=TG16=] was going to be tested in.

The very same Nintendo/Sega rivalry would find a new light in 2019 when Sega responded to Nintendo's release of Classic Mini Platform/PlugnPlayGame systems with their own Sega Genesis Mini (called the Mega Drive Mini outside North America). The system would release worldwide on September 19, 2019. [[labelnote:List (exclusives in bold)]]'''''VideoGame/AlexKidd in the Enchanted Castle''''', '''''VideoGame/AlienSoldier''''', ''VideoGame/AlisiaDragoon'', '''''VideoGame/AlteredBeast1988''''', '''''Assault Suit Leynos''''', ''Beyond Oasis 2'', '''''VideoGame/CastleOfIllusion Starring Mickey Mouse''''', ''VideoGame/CastlevaniaBloodlines'', ''VideoGame/{{Columns}}'', '''''VideoGame/ComixZone''''', ''VideoGame/ContraHardCorps'', ''VideoGame/{{Darius}}'', '''''VideoGame/DrRobotniksMeanBeanMachine''''', '''''Dyna Brothers 2''''', '''''VideoGame/DynamiteHeaddy''''', '''''VideoGame/EarthwormJim''''', '''''VideoGame/EccoTheDolphin''''', '''''VideoGame/EternalChampions''''', ''Game no Kanzume Otokuyou'', ''Ghouls N Ghosts'', ''VideoGame/GoldenAxe'', ''VideoGame/GunstarHeroes'', '''''VideoGame/KidChameleon''''', ''VideoGame/{{Landstalker}}'', '''''Langrisser II''''', '''''VideoGame/LightCrusader''''', '''''VideoGame/LordMonarch''''', ''Madō Monogatari I'', ''VideoGame/MegaMan: The Wily Wars (officially releasing this game in North America for the first time)'', ''Monster World IV'', '''''VideoGame/{{MUSHA}}''''', '''''VideoGame/OutRun 2019''''', '''''Party Quiz Mega-Q''''', ''VideoGame/PhantasyStarIV'', Powerball, '''''VideoGame/PuyoPuyo 2''''', '''''Puzzle & Action Tant-R''''', '''''Rent-A-Hero''''', ''VideoGame/RoadRash 2'', ''VideoGame/ShiningForce'', '''''Shining Force 2''''', '''''Shinobi 3: Return of the Ninja Master''''', '''''Slap Fight MD''''', '''''Snow Bros''''', '''''VideoGame/SonicSpinball''''', '''''VideoGame/SonicTheHedgehog1''''', ''VideoGame/SonicTheHedgehog2'', ''Space Harrier 2'', '''''VideoGame/StreetFighterII Special Championship Edition''''', ''VideoGame/StreetsOfRage 2'', '''''VideoGame/{{Strider}}''''', ''Super Fantsay Zone'', '''''Sword of Vermillion''''', ''VideoGame/{{Tetris}}'' (saving a long-lost Genesis port of that game from DevelopmentHell), '''''The Hybrid Front''''', '''''The Revenge of Shinobi''''', ''VideoGame/ThunderForce 3'', '''''VideoGame/ToeJamAndEarl''''', '''''VideoGame/{{Vectorman}}''''', '''''VideoGame/VirtuaFighter 2''''', '''''VideoGame/WonderBoyInMonsterWorld''''', ''VideoGame/WorldOfIllusion'', and ''''' Yu Yu Hakusho Makyō Tōitsusen''''' [[/labelnote]] In 2021, Nintendo introduced an Expansion Pack for its Platform/NintendoSwitch Online service, which includes a library of Sega Genesis games. New games are added to the library every so often. Nintendo also introduced a replica three button Genesis controller that can be used with the Switch. In 2022, following the Mini's massive success, Sega revealed the Sega Genesis Mini 2 (again named the Mega Drive Mini 2 outside North America), modelled after the Genesis Model 2 and featuring another 50+ games, including a number of Sega CD games[[labelnote:List (exclusives in bold)]]'''''Aa Harimanada''''', ''VideoGame/AfterBurner II'', ''VideoGame/AlienSoldier'' (previously only on the Taiwan/Korea version of the original Genesis Mini), ''VideoGame/AtomicRunnerChelnov'', ''VideoGame/BonanzaBros'', '''''VideoGame/CaptainTsubasa''''', '''''VideoGame/ClayFighter''''', '''''VideoGame/{{Columns}} III''''', ''VideoGame/CrusaderOfCenty'', '''''VideoGame/DesertStrike''''', ''Devi & Pii'' (an unreleased game developed by Takashi Iizuka pre-''[[VideoGame/SonicTheHedgehog3AndKnuckles Sonic 3]]''), ''[[VideoGame/RoboAleste Dennin Aleste]]'' (''Robo Aleste'' outside Japan), '''''VideoGame/EarthwormJim 2''''', '''''Elemental Master''''', ''VideoGame/EccoTheDolphin CD'', ''[[VideoGame/EccoTheDolphin Ecco: The Tides of Time CD]]'', ''VideoGame/FantasyZone'', ''VideoGame/FatalFury2'', ''VideoGame/FinalFight CD'', ''VideoGame/GainGround'', '''''VideoGame/GoldenAxeII''''', ''Granada'', '''''VideoGame/Hellfire1989''''', '''''VideoGame/HerzogZwei''''', '''''Honoo no Toukyuuji Dodge Danpei''''', '''''Katayama Masayuki no Mahjong Dojo''''', '''''[[VideoGame/LangrisserI Langrisser]]''''' (under its English name, ''Warsong'') '''''VideoGame/LunarEternalBlue''''', '''''VideoGame/LunarTheSilverStar''''', '''''Manga/MagicalTarurutoKun''''', '''''Mahou no Shoujo: Silky Lip!''''', ''VideoGame/MansionOfHiddenSouls'', ''Megapanel'', ''VideoGame/MidnightResistance'', '''''Anime/NadiaTheSecretOfBlueWater''''', ''VideoGame/NightStriker'', ''VideoGame/NightTrap'', ''VideoGame/{{TheNinjaWarriors|1987}}'', '''''VideoGame/TheOoze''''', ''VideoGame/OutRun'', '''''[[VideoGame/OutRun OutRunners]]''''', '''''Party Quiz Mega-Q 2022''''', '''''Party Quiz Sega-Q''''', ''VideoGame/PhantasyStarII'' (includes the easy difficulty added with the [=PS2=] Sega AGES release) '''''VideoGame/PopfulMail''''', ''VideoGame/{{Populous}}'', '''''Puzzle & Action: Ichidant-R''''', '''''VideoGame/RainbowIslands Extra''''', ''VideoGame/RangerX'', '''''VideoGame/TheRevengeOfShinobi''''', '''''VideoGame/{{Ristar}}''''', ''VideoGame/RollingThunder 2'', '''''VideoGame/{{Romance of the Three Kingdoms|Koei}} III: Dragon of Destiny''''' (both the Mega Drive and Mega-CD versions), '''''VideoGame/SewerShark''''', '''''VideoGame/ShadowDancer''''', '''''[[VideoGame/ShinMegamiTenseiI Shin Megami Tensei]]''''', '''''VideoGame/ShiningForceII''''', ''[[VideoGame/ShiningForceGaidenGames Shining Force CD]]'', ''VideoGame/ShiningInTheDarkness'', ''VideoGame/{{Silpheed}}'', '''''VideoGame/Sonic3DBlast''''', ''VideoGame/SonicCD'', '''''[[VideoGame/DragonSlayer Sorcerian]]''''', ''VideoGame/SpaceHarrier'', ''VideoGame/SpaceHarrier II'' (an upgraded version that plays more akin to the original arcade game), ''Spatter'' (a new port of a Sega arcade game), ''VideoGame/{{Splatterhouse}} 2'', '''''Star Cruiser''''', ''Star Mobile'' (a completed, but previously-unannounced and unreleased game from 1992), '''''VideoGame/{{Starblade}}''''', '''''VideoGame/StreetsOfRage 3''''', '''''Super VideoGame/HangOn''''', ''Super Locomotive'' (another new SEGA arcade game port), ''Super VideoGame/StreetFighterII'', '''''Tenka Fubu: Eiyuutachi no Houkou''''', ''VideoGame/ThunderForce IV'' (''Lightening Force: Quest for the Darkstar'' outside Japan), '''''VideoGame/ToeJamAndEarl in Panic on Funkotron''''', '''''Tougi-ou King Colossus''''', ''Viewpoint'' (officially releasing in Japan for the first time), '''''VideoGame/{{Vectorman}} 2''''', ''VideoGame/VirtuaRacing'' (the SVC chip-powered Genesis/Mega Drive version), ''VS VideoGame/PuyoPuyoSun'' (a demake of the Saturn game's 2-player mode with tweaked/updated mechanics), '''''Wondermega Collection'''''[[/labelnote]], slated for release natively in Japan and via import in the U.S. and Europe on October 27 of that year.

Enter the '''Mega Drive''' or, as North Americans refer to it, the '''Sega Genesis''',[[note]]It was commonly believed that the name change was because "Mega Drive" was already trademarked in the US by Mega Drive Systems, Inc., a manufacturer of hard disk drives. In actuality, according to the 2014 book ''Sega Mega Drive Collected Works'' by Keith Stuart, it was Sega co-founder [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_Rosen_(businessman) David Rosen]] who wanted the name change because he disliked the name "Mega Drive" and wanted the console to represent "a new beginning" for Sega.[[/note]] released in [[TheEighties 1988 in Japan, 1989 in North America,]] and [[TheNineties 1990 elsewhere]].

The very same Nintendo/Sega rivalry would find a new light in 2019 when Sega responded to Nintendo's release of Classic Mini Platform/PlugnPlayGame systems with their own Sega Genesis Mini (called the Mega Drive Mini outside North America). The system would release worldwide on September 19, 2019. [[labelnote:List (exclusives in bold)]]'''''VideoGame/AlexKidd in the Enchanted Castle''''', '''''VideoGame/AlienSoldier''''', ''VideoGame/AlisiaDragoon'', '''''VideoGame/AlteredBeast1988''''', '''''Assault Suit Leynos''''', ''Beyond Oasis 2'', '''''VideoGame/CastleOfIllusion Starring Mickey Mouse''''', ''VideoGame/CastlevaniaBloodlines'', ''VideoGame/{{Columns}}'', '''''VideoGame/ComixZone''''', ''VideoGame/ContraHardCorps'', ''VideoGame/{{Darius}}'', '''''VideoGame/DrRobotniksMeanBeanMachine''''', '''''Dyna Brothers 2''''', '''''VideoGame/DynamiteHeaddy''''', '''''VideoGame/EarthwormJim''''', '''''VideoGame/EccoTheDolphin''''', '''''VideoGame/EternalChampions''''', ''Game no Kanzume Otokuyou'', ''Ghouls N Ghosts'', ''VideoGame/GoldenAxe'', ''VideoGame/GunstarHeroes'', '''''VideoGame/KidChameleon''''', ''VideoGame/{{Landstalker}}'', '''''Langrisser II''''', '''''VideoGame/LightCrusader''''', '''''VideoGame/LordMonarch''''', ''Madō Monogatari I'', ''VideoGame/MegaMan: The Wily Wars (officially releasing this game in North America for the first time)'', ''Monster World IV'', '''''VideoGame/{{MUSHA}}''''', '''''VideoGame/OutRun 2019''''', '''''Party Quiz Mega-Q''''', ''VideoGame/PhantasyStarIV'', Powerball, '''''VideoGame/PuyoPuyo 2''''', '''''Puzzle & Action Tant-R''''', '''''Rent-A-Hero''''', ''VideoGame/RoadRash 2'', ''VideoGame/ShiningForce'', '''''Shining Force 2''''', '''''Shinobi 3: Return of the Ninja Master''''', '''''Slap Fight MD''''', '''''Snow Bros''''', '''''VideoGame/SonicSpinball''''', '''''VideoGame/SonicTheHedgehog1''''', ''VideoGame/SonicTheHedgehog2'', ''Space Harrier 2'', '''''VideoGame/StreetFighterII Special Championship Edition''''', ''VideoGame/StreetsOfRage 2'', '''''VideoGame/{{Strider}}''''', ''Super Fantsay Zone'', '''''Sword of Vermillion''''', ''VideoGame/{{Tetris}}'' (saving a long-lost Genesis port of that game from DevelopmentHell), '''''The Hybrid Front''''', '''''The Revenge of Shinobi''''', ''VideoGame/ThunderForce 3'', '''''VideoGame/ToeJamAndEarl''''', '''''VideoGame/{{Vectorman}}''''', '''''VideoGame/VirtuaFighter 2''''', '''''VideoGame/WonderBoyInMonsterWorld''''', ''VideoGame/WorldOfIllusion'', and ''''' Yu Yu Hakusho Makyō Tōitsusen''''' [[/labelnote]] In 2021, Nintendo introduced an Expansion Pack for its Platform/NintendoSwitch Online service, which includes a library of Sega Genesis games. New games are added to the library every so often. Nintendo also introduced a replica three button Genesis controller that can be used with the Switch. In 2022, following the Mini's massive success, Sega revealed the Sega Genesis Mini 2 (again named the Mega Drive Mini 2 outside North America), modelled after the Genesis Model 2 and featuring another 50+ games, including a number of Sega CD games[[labelnote:List (exclusives in bold)]]'''''Aa Harimanada''''', ''VideoGame/AfterBurner II'', ''VideoGame/AlienSoldier'' (previously only on the Taiwan/Korea version of the original Genesis Mini), ''VideoGame/AtomicRunnerChelnov'', ''VideoGame/BonanzaBros'', '''''VideoGame/CaptainTsubasa''''', '''''VideoGame/ClayFighter''''', '''''VideoGame/{{Columns}} III''''', ''VideoGame/CrusaderOfCenty'', '''''VideoGame/DesertStrike''''', ''Devi & Pii'' (an unreleased game developed by Takashi Iizuka pre-''[[VideoGame/SonicTheHedgehog3AndKnuckles Sonic 3]]''), ''[[VideoGame/RoboAleste Dennin Aleste]]'' (''Robo Aleste'' outside Japan), '''''VideoGame/EarthwormJim 2''''', '''''Elemental Master''''', ''VideoGame/EccoTheDolphin CD'', ''[[VideoGame/EccoTheDolphin Ecco: The Tides of Time CD]]'', ''VideoGame/FantasyZone'', ''VideoGame/FatalFury2'', ''VideoGame/FinalFight CD'', ''VideoGame/GainGround'', '''''VideoGame/GoldenAxeII''''', ''Granada'', '''''VideoGame/Hellfire1989''''', '''''VideoGame/HerzogZwei''''', '''''Honoo no Toukyuuji Dodge Danpei''''', '''''Katayama Masayuki no Mahjong Dojo''''', '''''[[VideoGame/LangrisserI Langrisser]]''''' (under its English name, ''Warsong'') '''''VideoGame/LunarEternalBlue''''', '''''VideoGame/LunarTheSilverStar''''', '''''Manga/MagicalTarurutoKun''''', '''''Mahou no Shoujo: Silky Lip!''''', ''VideoGame/MansionOfHiddenSouls'', ''Megapanel'', ''VideoGame/MidnightResistance'', '''''Anime/NadiaTheSecretOfBlueWater''''', ''VideoGame/NightStriker'', ''VideoGame/NightTrap'', ''VideoGame/{{TheNinjaWarriors|1987}}'', '''''VideoGame/TheOoze''''', ''VideoGame/OutRun'', '''''[[VideoGame/OutRun OutRunners]]''''', '''''Party Quiz Mega-Q 2022''''', '''''Party Quiz Sega-Q''''', ''VideoGame/PhantasyStarII'' (includes the easy difficulty added with the [=PS2=] Sega AGES release) '''''VideoGame/PopfulMail''''', ''VideoGame/{{Populous}}'', '''''Puzzle & Action: Ichidant-R''''', '''''VideoGame/RainbowIslands Extra''''', ''VideoGame/RangerX'', '''''VideoGame/TheRevengeOfShinobi''''', '''''VideoGame/{{Ristar}}''''', ''VideoGame/RollingThunder 2'', '''''VideoGame/{{Romance of the Three Kingdoms|Koei}} III: Dragon of Destiny''''' (both the Mega Drive and Mega-CD versions), '''''VideoGame/SewerShark''''', '''''VideoGame/ShadowDancer''''', '''''[[VideoGame/ShinMegamiTenseiI Shin Megami Tensei]]''''', '''''VideoGame/ShiningForceII''''', ''[[VideoGame/ShiningForceGaidenGames Shining Force CD]]'', ''VideoGame/ShiningInTheDarkness'', ''VideoGame/{{Silpheed}}'', '''''VideoGame/Sonic3DBlast''''', ''VideoGame/SonicCD'', '''''[[VideoGame/DragonSlayer Sorcerian]]''''', ''VideoGame/SpaceHarrier'', ''VideoGame/SpaceHarrier II'' (an upgraded version that plays more akin to the original arcade game), ''Spatter'' (a new port of a Sega arcade game), ''VideoGame/{{Splatterhouse}} 2'', '''''Star Cruiser''''', ''Star Mobile'' (a completed, but previously-unannounced and unreleased game from 1992), '''''VideoGame/{{Starblade}}''''', '''''VideoGame/StreetsOfRage 3''''', '''''Super VideoGame/HangOn''''', ''Super Locomotive'' (another new SEGA arcade game port), ''Super VideoGame/StreetFighterII'', '''''Tenka Fubu: Eiyuutachi no Houkou''''', ''VideoGame/ThunderForce IV'' (''Lightening Force: Quest for the Darkstar'' outside Japan), '''''VideoGame/ToeJamAndEarl in Panic on Funkotron''''', '''''Tougi-ou King Colossus''''', ''Viewpoint'' (officially releasing in Japan for the first time), '''''VideoGame/{{Vectorman}} 2''''', ''VideoGame/VirtuaRacing'' (the SVC chip-powered Genesis/Mega Drive version), ''VS VideoGame/PuyoPuyoSun'' (a demake of the Saturn game's 2-player mode with tweaked/updated mechanics), '''''Wondermega Collection'''''[[/labelnote]], slated for release natively in Japan and via import in the US and Europe on October 27 of that year.

* ''VideoGame/{{Frogger}}'' (the last game officially released for the console in the US, apart from licensed {{indie game}}s during TheNewTens)

** ''VideoGame/MegaManTheWilyWars''/''Rockman Megaworld'' (a CompilationRerelease of ''VideoGame/MegaMan'', ''VideoGame/MegaMan2'' and ''VideoGame/MegaMan3'' with 16-bit graphics and sounds. [[NoExportForYou Only released in Europe and Japan]], although it was briefly available in the US via the Sega Channel, and is now locally available via the Sega Genesis Mini)

* GermansLoveDavidHasselhoff: The Mega Drive was never a big success in Japan compared to the PC Engine or the Super Famicom, but the console was popular in the rest of the world, especially North America and Europe. It was released two years before the SNES and outsold it in the US and UK. The only reason the SNES was able to outsell the Genesis in North America during its dying days was due to the release of ''Donkey Kong Country''. In UsefulNotes/{{Russia}}, the Mega Drive was (and in many cases still is) the only 16-bit console. The Russian video game market in the '90s was mainly based on bootlegging and piracy, and the SNES was nearly impossible to clone at that time; it was much easier and cheaper for video game stores to import countless unlicensed Mega Drive clones and cartridges. Before the rise of the internet, many people in Russia didn't even know the SNES existed. Much like its predeccesor the Master System, it was also hugely popular in UsefulNotes/{{Brazil}}, with both systems being supported by third-party manufacturers to this day.

* TakeThat: The ad campaign in America took heavy pot-shots at Nintendo, whether by comparing the Genesis' Blast Processing (represented as a drag race car) to a broken-down ice cream truck with ''[[VideoGame/SuperMarioKart Mario Kart]]'' playing on it, or comparing Nintendo to a bloodsucking mosquito because they charged an extra $10 for certain games on the SNES. They also took a swipe at the [[Platform/ThreeDOInteractiveMultiplayer 3DO]] [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=no1xCpLJgaI in one of their 32X ads.]] They also successfully sabotaged the Platform/TurboGrafx16 launch in the US by airing ads of this kind in the select markets the [=TG16=] was going to be tested in.

* ''VideoGame/{{Ys}} III: Wanderers from Ys''

* Graphics generated by the [[UsefulNotes/{{GPU}} Video Display Processor (VDP)]], which is a further customized and beefed up version of the Texas Instruments [=TI9928=] GPU used by the Master System. It is more advanced than the one used the Master System but retains most if not all backwards compatibility. The Genesis/Mega Drive VDP is clocked at 13 [=MHz=].

* 64 KB of main UsefulNotes/RandomAccessMemory and 64 KB of UsefulNotes/VideoRAM (VRAM). The main RAM bus is clocked at 5.26 [=MHz=] and the VRAM bus is clocked at 8 [=MHz=].

* FanNickname: A Genesis/Mega Drive with every possible add-on: Power Base Converter, CD add-on, a 32X, a lock-on ''Sonic & Knuckles'' cartridge with ''Sonic 2'' or ''3'' hooked in, the cleaning cartridge, and possibly (if you're feeling bold) a UsefulNotes/GameGenie (as seen [[https://unrealitymag.com/behold-the-sega-tower-of-power/ here]]). Nicknames for this setup include the "Tower of Babel", the "Tower of Power" or the "Doom Tower."

* ''VideoGame/{{Outlander}}''

* ''[[VideoGame/{{Commando}} Mercs]]''

*** ''Film/BatmanReturns''

While the Platform/SegaMasterSystem was a decent success in Europe and South America (mostly in UsefulNotes/{{Brazil}}), it failed to make any strong dents in the North American and Japanese markets. The hold of the [[Platform/NintendoEntertainmentSystem NES/Famicom]] was too strong, and the Master System wasn't advanced enough to topple the juggernaut. So Creator/{{Sega}} decided to just top it. Creator/{{Nintendo}} were complacent with their success and dragging their feet on developing a [[MediaNotes/The16bitEraOfConsoleVideoGames 16-bit]] system, which was the {{UsefulNotes/arcade|game}} standard at the time. They were already being impacted in Japan by the sudden success of NEC's [[Platform/TurboGrafx16 PC Engine]] ([=TurboGrafx-16=] in the West) which, while not ''actually'' 16-bit, was a noticeable technical improvement from the Famicom, which was underpowered even for its time. Thus, Sega decided that they would beat Nintendo to the punch with a console based on their System 16 arcade board (codenamed "Mark V").

For the most part, it worked. [[GermansLoveDavidHasselhoff Outside of Japan, anyway.]] It was nursed along by Nintendo's [[UsefulNotes/RegionCoding region lock]] policy, which was viewed by some developers as a violation of anti-trust regulations. Those same developers flocked to Sega due to the latter's apparent laxity; Sega were angling toward the same kind of lockout policy until Creator/ElectronicArts broke the mechanism and then, characteristically, threatened to leak the details out to other third parties unless Sega agreed to more favorable terms. At any rate, Nintendo voluntarily dropped a lot of these policies later.

The very same Nintendo/Sega rivalry would find a new light in 2019 when Sega responded to Nintendo's release of Classic Mini UsefulNotes/PlugnPlayGame systems with their own Sega Genesis Mini (called the Mega Drive Mini outside North America). The system would release worldwide on September 19, 2019. [[labelnote:List (exclusives in bold)]]'''''VideoGame/AlexKidd in the Enchanted Castle''''', '''''VideoGame/AlienSoldier''''', ''VideoGame/AlisiaDragoon'', '''''VideoGame/AlteredBeast1988''''', '''''Assault Suit Leynos''''', ''Beyond Oasis 2'', '''''VideoGame/CastleOfIllusion Starring Mickey Mouse''''', ''VideoGame/CastlevaniaBloodlines'', ''VideoGame/{{Columns}}'', '''''VideoGame/ComixZone''''', ''VideoGame/ContraHardCorps'', ''VideoGame/{{Darius}}'', '''''VideoGame/DrRobotniksMeanBeanMachine''''', '''''Dyna Brothers 2''''', '''''VideoGame/DynamiteHeaddy''''', '''''VideoGame/EarthwormJim''''', '''''VideoGame/EccoTheDolphin''''', '''''VideoGame/EternalChampions''''', ''Game no Kanzume Otokuyou'', ''Ghouls N Ghosts'', ''VideoGame/GoldenAxe'', ''VideoGame/GunstarHeroes'', '''''VideoGame/KidChameleon''''', ''VideoGame/{{Landstalker}}'', '''''Langrisser II''''', '''''VideoGame/LightCrusader''''', '''''VideoGame/LordMonarch''''', ''Madō Monogatari I'', ''VideoGame/MegaMan: The Wily Wars (officially releasing this game in North America for the first time)'', ''Monster World IV'', '''''VideoGame/{{MUSHA}}''''', '''''VideoGame/OutRun 2019''''', '''''Party Quiz Mega-Q''''', ''VideoGame/PhantasyStarIV'', Powerball, '''''VideoGame/PuyoPuyo 2''''', '''''Puzzle & Action Tant-R''''', '''''Rent-A-Hero''''', ''VideoGame/RoadRash 2'', ''VideoGame/ShiningForce'', '''''Shining Force 2''''', '''''Shinobi 3: Return of the Ninja Master''''', '''''Slap Fight MD''''', '''''Snow Bros''''', '''''VideoGame/SonicSpinball''''', '''''VideoGame/SonicTheHedgehog1''''', ''VideoGame/SonicTheHedgehog2'', ''Space Harrier 2'', '''''VideoGame/StreetFighterII Special Championship Edition''''', ''VideoGame/StreetsOfRage 2'', '''''VideoGame/{{Strider}}''''', ''Super Fantsay Zone'', '''''Sword of Vermillion''''', ''VideoGame/{{Tetris}}'' (saving a long-lost Genesis port of that game from DevelopmentHell), '''''The Hybrid Front''''', '''''The Revenge of Shinobi''''', ''VideoGame/ThunderForce 3'', '''''VideoGame/ToeJamAndEarl''''', '''''VideoGame/{{Vectorman}}''''', '''''VideoGame/VirtuaFighter 2''''', '''''VideoGame/WonderBoyInMonsterWorld''''', ''VideoGame/WorldOfIllusion'', and ''''' Yu Yu Hakusho Makyō Tōitsusen''''' [[/labelnote]] In 2021, Nintendo introduced an Expansion Pack for its Platform/NintendoSwitch Online service, which includes a library of Sega Genesis games. New games are added to the library every so often. Nintendo also introduced a replica three button Genesis controller that can be used with the Switch. In 2022, following the Mini's massive success, Sega revealed the Sega Genesis Mini 2 (again named the Mega Drive Mini 2 outside North America), modelled after the Genesis Model 2 and featuring another 50+ games, including a number of Sega CD games[[labelnote:List (exclusives in bold)]]'''''Aa Harimanada''''', ''VideoGame/AfterBurner II'', ''VideoGame/AlienSoldier'' (previously only on the Taiwan/Korea version of the original Genesis Mini), ''VideoGame/AtomicRunnerChelnov'', ''VideoGame/BonanzaBros'', '''''VideoGame/CaptainTsubasa''''', '''''VideoGame/ClayFighter''''', '''''VideoGame/{{Columns}} III''''', ''VideoGame/CrusaderOfCenty'', '''''VideoGame/DesertStrike''''', ''Devi & Pii'' (an unreleased game developed by Takashi Iizuka pre-''[[VideoGame/SonicTheHedgehog3AndKnuckles Sonic 3]]''), ''[[VideoGame/RoboAleste Dennin Aleste]]'' (''Robo Aleste'' outside Japan), '''''VideoGame/EarthwormJim 2''''', '''''Elemental Master''''', ''VideoGame/EccoTheDolphin CD'', ''[[VideoGame/EccoTheDolphin Ecco: The Tides of Time CD]]'', ''VideoGame/FantasyZone'', ''VideoGame/FatalFury2'', ''VideoGame/FinalFight CD'', ''VideoGame/GainGround'', '''''VideoGame/GoldenAxeII''''', ''Granada'', '''''VideoGame/Hellfire1989''''', '''''VideoGame/HerzogZwei''''', '''''Honoo no Toukyuuji Dodge Danpei''''', '''''Katayama Masayuki no Mahjong Dojo''''', '''''[[VideoGame/LangrisserI Langrisser]]''''' (under its English name, ''Warsong'') '''''VideoGame/LunarEternalBlue''''', '''''VideoGame/LunarTheSilverStar''''', '''''Manga/MagicalTarurutoKun''''', '''''Mahou no Shoujo: Silky Lip!''''', ''VideoGame/MansionOfHiddenSouls'', ''Megapanel'', ''VideoGame/MidnightResistance'', '''''Anime/NadiaTheSecretOfBlueWater''''', ''VideoGame/NightStriker'', ''VideoGame/NightTrap'', ''VideoGame/{{TheNinjaWarriors|1987}}'', '''''VideoGame/TheOoze''''', ''VideoGame/OutRun'', '''''[[VideoGame/OutRun OutRunners]]''''', '''''Party Quiz Mega-Q 2022''''', '''''Party Quiz Sega-Q''''', ''VideoGame/PhantasyStarII'' (includes the easy difficulty added with the [=PS2=] Sega AGES release) '''''VideoGame/PopfulMail''''', ''VideoGame/{{Populous}}'', '''''Puzzle & Action: Ichidant-R''''', '''''VideoGame/RainbowIslands Extra''''', ''VideoGame/RangerX'', '''''VideoGame/TheRevengeOfShinobi''''', '''''VideoGame/{{Ristar}}''''', ''VideoGame/RollingThunder 2'', '''''VideoGame/{{Romance of the Three Kingdoms|Koei}} III: Dragon of Destiny''''' (both the Mega Drive and Mega-CD versions), '''''VideoGame/SewerShark''''', '''''VideoGame/ShadowDancer''''', '''''[[VideoGame/ShinMegamiTenseiI Shin Megami Tensei]]''''', '''''VideoGame/ShiningForceII''''', ''[[VideoGame/ShiningForceGaidenGames Shining Force CD]]'', ''VideoGame/ShiningInTheDarkness'', ''VideoGame/{{Silpheed}}'', '''''VideoGame/Sonic3DBlast''''', ''VideoGame/SonicCD'', '''''[[VideoGame/DragonSlayer Sorcerian]]''''', ''VideoGame/SpaceHarrier'', ''VideoGame/SpaceHarrier II'' (an upgraded version that plays more akin to the original arcade game), ''Spatter'' (a new port of a Sega arcade game), ''VideoGame/{{Splatterhouse}} 2'', '''''Star Cruiser''''', ''Star Mobile'' (a completed, but previously-unannounced and unreleased game from 1992), '''''VideoGame/{{Starblade}}''''', '''''VideoGame/StreetsOfRage 3''''', '''''Super VideoGame/HangOn''''', ''Super Locomotive'' (another new SEGA arcade game port), ''Super VideoGame/StreetFighterII'', '''''Tenka Fubu: Eiyuutachi no Houkou''''', ''VideoGame/ThunderForce IV'' (''Lightening Force: Quest for the Darkstar'' outside Japan), '''''VideoGame/ToeJamAndEarl in Panic on Funkotron''''', '''''Tougi-ou King Colossus''''', ''Viewpoint'' (officially releasing in Japan for the first time), '''''VideoGame/{{Vectorman}} 2''''', ''VideoGame/VirtuaRacing'' (the SVC chip-powered Genesis/Mega Drive version), ''VS VideoGame/PuyoPuyoSun'' (a demake of the Saturn game's 2-player mode with tweaked/updated mechanics), '''''Wondermega Collection'''''[[/labelnote]], slated for release natively in Japan and via import in the US and Europe on October 27 of that year.