Alex Kidd in the Enchanted Castle
Alex Kidd in the Enchanted Castle — frequently asked questions
- What platforms is Alex Kidd in the Enchanted Castle on?
- Alex Kidd in the Enchanted Castle was released on Linux, Wii, Sega Mega Drive/Genesis, PC (Microsoft Windows), Mac.
- When did Alex Kidd in the Enchanted Castle release?
- Alex Kidd in the Enchanted Castle was first released on February 10, 1989.
About Alex Kidd in the Enchanted Castle
The whole Kidd family is upset! Alex’s father, King Thor, is missing, and they suspect he has been kidnapped by Ashra, the mean ruler of the planet Paperock. Alex speeds to Paperock to investigate, but the creatures of Paperock decide to hinder his efforts and try to keep him away from Sky Castle, Ashra’s hideaway. Luckily Alex knows how to jump, punch and kick his way through the most stubborn of enemies.
Summary via IGDB.
Game details
- Platforms
- Linux, Wii, Sega Mega Drive/Genesis, PC (Microsoft Windows), Mac
- Developer
- Sega Enterprises, Ltd.
- Publisher
- Sega Enterprises, Ltd.
- Game modes
- Single player
- Themes
- Action, Fantasy
- Series
- Alex Kidd
Details via IGDB.
Reception
Every version compared
Prices, contemporary reception and the studio credited for each release
| Platform | Year | Loose | Complete | Sealed | Period reviews | Fake risk |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sega Genesis | 1990 | $16 | $31 | — | 11 reviews | Low |
Also released on: Linux · Wii · Sega Mega Drive/Genesis · PC (Microsoft Windows) · Mac. We haven’t priced or authenticated those versions yet.
Collector value & authenticity
Sega Genesis · PriceCharting sold data · Verified 2026-10-29
Other releases and variants
| Release | Loose | Complete | Sealed |
|---|---|---|---|
| European (PAL) release | $12 | $23 | — |
| Japanese release | $10 | $47 | — |
How often it sells
- Loose: about once a week
- Complete: about once a week
- Sealed: about once a year
Sales frequency from PriceCharting's completed-sale records, as of 2026-10-29.
Price over time
- Loose
- Complete
A loose copy sold for about $5.87 in Jan 2008, $12.03 five years ago, and $15.79 as of Oct 2026.
Show as table
| Month | Loose | Complete |
|---|---|---|
| Jan 2008 | $5.87 | — |
| Jan 2009 | $2.49 | — |
| Jan 2010 | $4.92 | — |
| Jan 2011 | $3.90 | — |
| Jan 2012 | $3.00 | — |
| Jan 2013 | $2.87 | — |
| Jan 2014 | $6.27 | $11.99 |
| Jan 2015 | $8.50 | $16.99 |
| Jan 2016 | $8.50 | $20 |
| Jan 2017 | $9.40 | $18.95 |
| Jan 2018 | $9.99 | $18.68 |
| Jan 2019 | $11.84 | $25 |
| Jan 2020 | $8.37 | $19.52 |
| Jan 2021 | $14.91 | $25 |
| Jan 2022 | $15.00 | $33 |
| Jan 2023 | $16.31 | $27 |
| Jan 2024 | $12.50 | $25 |
| Jan 2025 | $12.09 | $25 |
| Jan 2026 | $14.02 | $29 |
| Oct 2026 | $15.79 | $31 |
Monthly price estimates from PriceCharting's completed-sale records, sampled quarterly, through Oct 2026.
Release record
| Territory | Date | Product number | Barcode | Known board |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| North America | January 1990 | 1005 | 010086010053 | — |
| Europe / PAL | 1990 | MK-1005-50 | 4974365610050 | 171-5703 · MPR-12608A-S |
| Japan | 10 February 1989 | G-4004 | 4974365540043 | — |
- Region
- NA+EU+JP
- Released
- 1990
- Authenticity
- Low
A colorful Alex Kidd adventure that critics found enjoyable but plain, and a fair-priced early Genesis cart.
Sega developed and published Alex Kidd in the Enchanted Castle, a platform game for the Genesis. It came out in Japan on 10 February 1989, in North America in January 1990 and in Europe in 1990. Alex travels through eleven worlds on the planet Paperock looking for his father, King Thor, using a motorbike, a pedicopter and a pogo stick, and he settles many fights with rock-paper-scissors matches.
Video Games & Computer Entertainment recommended it in 1990 for its vivid, fanciful graphics. Mean Machines called its graphics and sound close to Master System standard and said it lacked the addictive spark of the 8-bit Alex Kidd games, though it liked the secret rooms. Console XS thought it average and eventually boring. GamePro's tips note that you need a good stock of gold to continue after dying.
What the press said at the time
| MegaTech Issue 1 | December 1991 | MEGATECH RATING 68% |
| Sega Pro Issue 20 | June 1993 | 62% |
| Sega Pro Issue 28 | February 1994 | 62% |
| Sega Pro Issue 35 | August 1994 | 62% |
| Sega Pro Issue 36 | September 1994 | 62% |
| Sega Pro Issue 43 | April 1995 | 48% |
| GameRankings (aggregate) | 47.5% | |
| IGN | 4.5/10 | |
| GameSpot | 3.8/10 | |
| Eurogamer | 4/10 | |
| Console XS | 72% |
“it's fun to play, with plenty of secret rooms and things to work out, it lacks that really addictive spark that makes the 8-bit Sega Alex Kidd comes so much fun to play. For ardent Alex Kidd fans only.”
“it lacks that really addictive spark that makes the 8-bit Sega Alex Kidd games so much fun to play.”
“The graphics and sound are almost Master System standard, and while it's fun to play, with plenty of secret rooms and things to work out, it lacks that really addictive spark”
“The graphics and sound are almost Master System standard, and while it’s fun to play, with plenty of secret rooms and things to work out, it lacks that really addictive spark that makes the 8-bit Sega Alex Kidd games so much fun to play. For ardent Alex Kidd fans only.”
Undated scores are from the review table in the game's Wikipedia article, limited to reviews of the Genesis version.
Before you buy
Among US carts it sits above the middle. The European cart usually costs less than the US one. The Japanese loose cart usually costs less too, but a complete Japanese copy usually costs more; the Japanese cartridge has a different shape and needs an adapter or two plastic tabs removed from a Western console's slot. A complete US copy means the case, cartridge and manual.
Alex Kidd in the Enchanted Castle screenshots
Watch on YouTube
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