Genesis / Mega Drive
Sega's 16-bit powerhouse and its add-ons.
Overview
The Sega Genesis (1988, called Mega Drive outside North America) was Sega's most successful console. Sonic the Hedgehog, Streets of Rage, Phantasy Star, and hundreds of classics. The Sega CD and 32X add-ons expanded its capabilities.
| System | Year | Media |
|---|---|---|
| Genesis / Mega Drive | 1988 | Cartridge |
| Sega CD / Mega-CD | 1991 | CD-ROM |
| 32X | 1994 | Cartridge (enhanced) |
Emulators
| Emulator | Type | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Genesis Plus GX | RetroArch core | Best overall, plays all systems |
| PicoDrive | RetroArch core | Fast, 32X support |
| BlastEm | Standalone | Most accurate Genesis |
Setup
ROM Folders
roms/genesis/ or roms/megadrive/
roms/segacd/
roms/sega32x/
File Formats
.md,.gen,.bin- Genesis ROMs.32x- 32X ROMs.chd,.iso,.bin/.cue- Sega CD.zip- Compressed cartridge ROMs
Sega CD
Sega CD games require BIOS files:
Required for Sega CD
bios_CD_U.bin- US Sega CDbios_CD_E.bin- European Mega-CDbios_CD_J.bin- Japanese Mega-CD
32X
32X games also need BIOS:
Required for 32X
32X_G_BIOS.bin32X_M_BIOS.bin32X_S_BIOS.bin
Where to Find Games
No-Intro for cartridge games, Redump for Sega CD on Myrient. See the Download Guide.