Aztec Adventure
Aztec Adventure — frequently asked questions
- What platforms is Aztec Adventure on?
- Aztec Adventure was released on Sega Master System/Mark III.
- When did Aztec Adventure release?
- Aztec Adventure was first released on September 20, 1987.
About Aztec Adventure
Gameplay involves the player trying to reach Paradise by exploring ten different lands, including desert, marshes, ruins, underground waterways, and forest. While exploring you can collect weapons, by destroying plants. A variety of in-game weapons can be found, some more powerful than others. Some weapons can be used against bosses, which can take a certain amount of hits from the player's default weapon, unless he has companions. The player's companions need to be hired with gold, and until he pays them they remain your enemies. Players must either bribe them or battle them to make them join his quest.
Summary via IGDB.
Aztec Adventure on Wikipedia
Aztec Adventure, known in Japan as Nazca '88: The Golden Road to Paradise , is a 1987 action game developed and published by Sega for the Master System.
Source: Wikipedia (text under CC BY-SA 4.0).
Game details
- Developer
- Sega Enterprises, Ltd.
- Publisher
- Sega Enterprises, Ltd.
- Game modes
- Single player
- Themes
- Action, Fantasy
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 Master System | 1988 | $16 | $25 | — | 7 reviews | Low (look-alike) |
Also released on: Sega Master System/Mark III. We haven’t priced or authenticated that version yet.
Collector value & authenticity
Sega Master System · PriceCharting sold data · Verified 2026-10-28
Other releases and variants
| Release | Loose | Complete | Sealed |
|---|---|---|---|
| European (PAL) release | $8 | $17 | $39 |
| Japanese release (Nazca '88) | $23 | $85 | — |
How often it sells
- Loose: about once a month
- Complete: about once a week
- Sealed: about once a year
Sales frequency from PriceCharting's completed-sale records, as of 2026-10-28.
Price over time
- Loose
- Complete
A loose copy sold for about $2.93 in Jul 2009, $9.99 five years ago, and $15.88 as of Oct 2026.
Show as table
| Month | Loose | Complete |
|---|---|---|
| Jan 2010 | $1.99 | — |
| Jan 2011 | $1.68 | — |
| Jan 2012 | $1.49 | — |
| Jan 2013 | $2.53 | — |
| Jan 2014 | $4.99 | $1.99 |
| Jan 2015 | $6.00 | $5.50 |
| Jan 2016 | $7.95 | $12.99 |
| Jan 2017 | $9.47 | $15.47 |
| Jan 2018 | $7.20 | $11.22 |
| Jan 2019 | $8.50 | $13.33 |
| Jan 2020 | $7.99 | $11.99 |
| Jan 2021 | $9.49 | $13.99 |
| Jan 2022 | $10.94 | $20 |
| Jan 2023 | $10.83 | $17.70 |
| Jan 2024 | $12.97 | $16.13 |
| Jan 2025 | $12.99 | $19.98 |
| Jan 2026 | $10.00 | $19.36 |
| Oct 2026 | $15.88 | $25 |
Monthly price estimates from PriceCharting's completed-sale records, sampled quarterly, through Oct 2026.
Release record
| Territory | Date | Product number | Known board |
|---|---|---|---|
| North America | March 1988 | 5100 | ?? · MPR-11121 |
| Europe / PAL | October 1988 | 5100 | ?? · MPR-11121 |
| Japan | 20 September 1987 | — | — |
- Region
- NA+EU+JP
- Released
- 1988
- Authenticity
- Low
An overhead treasure-hunting adventure with a Zelda flavor that Computer Entertainer found likeable but missing that game's charm.
Sega developed and published Aztec Adventure, which came out in Japan on September 20, 1987 as Nazca '88: The Golden Road to Paradise. For the international releases the story and title moved from Nazca to an Aztec setting, though Nazca Lines can still be spotted. You control Nino, who threads a maze looking for treasure while three computer-controlled adventurers race him to it. Money buys enemies, who then turn into allies for a while.
Computer Entertainer, in its review, found the overhead view and some of the play reminiscent of The Legend of Zelda but felt it lacked the special charm and variety that sets Zelda apart. North America got it in March 1988 and Europe in October 1988.
What the press said at the time
| Mean Machines Games Guide | May 1992 | OVERALL 38% |
| Sega Pro Issue 23 | September 1993 | 70% |
| Sega Pro Issue 24 | October 1993 | 70% |
| Sega Pro Issue 25 | November 1993 | 70% |
| Sega Pro Issue 26 | December 1993 | 70% |
| Sega Pro Issue 37 | October 1994 | 70% |
| Sega Pro Issue 43 | April 1995 | 60% |
“Considering the plethora of other RPGs on the Sega, this Is a very poor offering indeed”
“Considering the plethora of other RPGs on the Sega, this is a very poor offering indeed and the only rec¬ ommendation we can offer is take a look at all the others and avoid this like the plague!”
“Couid háve been a fun arcade adventure if you didn’t get chucked back to the start every time you die. If the graphics weren't good. it wouid be insufferable.”
“Couid háve been a fun arcade adventure if you didn't get chucked back to the start every time you die. If the graphics weren’t good, it wouid be insufferable.”
Before you buy
Choose between the US, European and Japanese carts. The European cart is much cheaper than the US one in both conditions, while the Japanese cart costs more loose and far more complete. The Japanese cart is a different, smaller shape and does not fit a Western console without an adapter. The US cart sits at about the typical price for its year and the look-alike risk is low, so the main thing to check is that the manual is there.
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