Cliffhanger
Cliffhanger — frequently asked questions
- What platforms is Cliffhanger on?
- Cliffhanger was released on Super Nintendo Entertainment System, Sega Mega Drive/Genesis, Sega CD, Amiga, Nintendo Entertainment System, Game Boy, Sega Game Gear.
- When did Cliffhanger release?
- Cliffhanger was first released on October 1, 1993.
About Cliffhanger
Standard side-scrolling fighter based off of the Stallone film of the same name. Sly must fight thugs and the elements as he tracks down suitcases of stolen cash dropped around the peaks of the Rockies. Combat follows the Final Fight standard, broken up by some mountain climbing and running (or 3-D snowboarding on the Sega CD) from avalanches. Enemies are the standard brawler crooks, occasionally carrying guns and knives the player can pick up. The game tends to follow a pattern of having you deal with a natural hazard (scaling a cliff, leaping over gaps), then locking the screen down for a fighting segment, nature again, fighting again, etc. The available fighting moves is limited, compared to other games of this type, and the ability to hit an enemy character is noticeably less accurate. The plot is identical to the film, with levels based off of, or inspired by, scenes in the movie. Animated cutscenes move the story along on the cartridge systems, while brief clips from the film play between levels on the Sega CD.
Summary via IGDB.
Game details
- Platforms
- Super Nintendo Entertainment System, Sega Mega Drive/Genesis, Sega CD, Amiga, Nintendo Entertainment System, Game Boy, Sega Game Gear
- Developer
- Malibu Interactive
- Publisher
- Sony Imagesoft
- Game modes
- Single player, Multiplayer
- Themes
- Action
- Series
- Cliffhanger
Details via IGDB.
Reception
Every version compared
Prices, contemporary reception and the studio credited for each release
| Platform | Year | Loose | Complete | Sealed | Period reviews | Built by | Fake risk |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sega GenesisDetails ↓ | 1993 | $10 | $19 | $88 | Graphics 3.5, Sound 4.0, Control 2.5, FunFactor 2.5 | Spidersoft | Low |
| Sega CDDetails ↓ | 1993 | $10 | $25 | $70 | 49% | — | Low |
The cheapest way to own it loose is the Sega Genesis version ($10).
Also released on: Super Nintendo Entertainment System · Sega Mega Drive/Genesis · Amiga · Nintendo Entertainment System · Game Boy · Sega Game Gear. We haven’t priced or authenticated those versions yet.
Prices are per version and are not interchangeable, and neither are the reviews: conversions in this era were often built by a different studio than the original, so a score earned on one machine says nothing about how another plays.
Collector value & authenticity
Sega Genesis · PriceCharting sold data · Verified 2026-10-29
Other releases and variants
| Release | Loose | Complete | Sealed |
|---|---|---|---|
| European (PAL) release | $36 | $105 | — |
How often it sells
- Loose: about 2 times a month
- Complete: about once a week
- Sealed: about once a year
Prices marked “few sales” rest on about one recorded sale a year, so treat them as a rough guide: the next copy could sell well above or below. Expect to wait for one to come up.
Sales frequency from PriceCharting's completed-sale records, as of 2026-10-29.
Price over time
- Loose
- Complete
A loose copy sold for about $0.75 in Oct 2007, $8.99 five years ago, and $9.96 as of Oct 2026.
Show as table
| Month | Loose | Complete |
|---|---|---|
| Jan 2008 | $0.75 | — |
| Jan 2009 | $3.13 | — |
| Jan 2010 | $2.91 | — |
| Jan 2011 | $0.75 | — |
| Jan 2012 | $0.87 | — |
| Jan 2013 | $1.37 | — |
| Jan 2014 | $3.47 | $10.97 |
| Jan 2015 | $4.01 | $6.46 |
| Jan 2016 | $3.62 | $1.99 |
| Jan 2017 | $4.60 | $6.97 |
| Jan 2018 | $5.47 | $9.97 |
| Jan 2019 | $4.69 | $6.99 |
| Jan 2020 | $4.77 | $9.37 |
| Jan 2021 | $7.76 | $12.00 |
| Jan 2022 | $9.12 | $17.00 |
| Jan 2023 | $14.31 | $14.72 |
| Jan 2024 | $7.71 | $17.99 |
| Jan 2025 | $9.02 | $19.92 |
| Jan 2026 | $7.95 | $15.00 |
| Oct 2026 | $9.96 | $19.09 |
Monthly price estimates from PriceCharting's completed-sale records, sampled quarterly, through Oct 2026.
Release record
| Territory | Date | Product number | Barcode |
|---|---|---|---|
| North America | November 1993 | T-93036 | 090451406032 |
| Europe / PAL | 4 February 1994 | T-93036-50 | — |
- Region
- NA+EU
- Released
- 1993
- Authenticity
- Low
The Sega Genesis version
A rough-and-ready movie beat-'em-up that is cheap in North America and much dearer in Europe.
Two different Cliffhanger games were made in 1993 from the Sylvester Stallone film. This page is the Genesis cartridge from Malibu Interactive, published by Sony Imagesoft in North America in November 1993 and in Europe on 4 February 1994. The Genesis, Super NES and Sega CD versions are almost identical and play like street brawlers such as Double Dragon and Final Fight.
Chris Shrigley, a programmer on the Genesis version, released its source code to the public in December 2012 for educational purposes.
How it was made
Eric Hammond is credited with the music of the Genesis and Sega CD versions.
What the press said at the time
| GamePro Issue 53 | December 1993 | Graphics 3.5, Sound 4.0, Control 2.5, FunFactor 2.5 |
“Although you get fight scenes, harrowing jumps, and chase action, Cliffhanger's uneven game play will keep it from being a smash.”
Also on other platforms
Amiga · Sega CD · Super NES · NES · Game Boy · Game Gear
| Super NES | Malibu Interactive |
| Sega CD | Malibu Interactive |
| NES | Spidersoft |
| Game Boy | Spidersoft |
- Amiga. The Amiga, NES, Game Boy and Game Gear versions are a different game, with lower resolution graphics and simpler side-scrolling play.
Before you buy
Among US carts it sits below the middle. The European cart usually costs several times as much as the US one. A complete US copy means the case, cartridge and manual.
Collector value & authenticity
Sega CD · PriceCharting sold data · Verified 2026-11-02
How often it sells
- Loose: about once a month
- Complete: about once a week
- Sealed: about 2 times a year
Sales frequency from PriceCharting's completed-sale records, as of 2026-11-02.
Price over time
- Loose
- Complete
A loose copy sold for about $0.75 in Apr 2008, $17.40 five years ago, and $9.95 as of Nov 2026.
Show as table
| Month | Loose | Complete |
|---|---|---|
| Jan 2009 | $2.99 | — |
| Jan 2010 | $1.33 | — |
| Jan 2011 | $3.49 | — |
| Jan 2012 | $2.00 | — |
| Jan 2013 | $2.58 | — |
| Jan 2014 | $2.00 | $13.00 |
| Jan 2015 | $4.09 | $7.89 |
| Jan 2016 | $5.99 | $4.25 |
| Jan 2017 | $6.41 | $6.00 |
| Jan 2018 | $7.44 | $11.42 |
| Jan 2019 | $8.65 | $11.25 |
| Jan 2020 | $9.82 | $14.04 |
| Jan 2021 | $13.76 | $16.79 |
| Jan 2022 | $15.43 | $23 |
| Jan 2023 | $7.01 | $19.97 |
| Jan 2024 | $9.49 | $21 |
| Jan 2025 | $10.53 | $19.81 |
| Jan 2026 | $11.97 | $23 |
| Nov 2026 | $9.95 | $25 |
Monthly price estimates from PriceCharting's completed-sale records, sampled quarterly, through Nov 2026.
Release record
| Territory | Date | Product number | Barcode |
|---|---|---|---|
| North America | November 1993 | T-93075 | 090451606036 |
- Region
- NA
- Released
- 1993
- Authenticity
- Low
The Sega CD version
A repetitive Sega CD side-scrolling brawler whose snowboarding avalanche stages are the reason to pick it over the cartridge.
This is the Sega CD version of the Cliffhanger movie tie-in. Sony Imagesoft brought it out in North America only, and Malibu Interactive developed it. The Genesis and Super NES versions are almost identical street-brawler-style action games, and what sets the Sega CD disc apart is a 3D snowboarding sequence in which you escape an avalanche.
GamePro, reviewing the Sega CD version, found the five platforming levels repetitive to the point of monotony and complained that the game leans toward them rather than the snowboarding. It called the two snowboarding levels extremely challenging and fun. Sega Visions listed the game among its finalists for best graphics on the Sega CD.
What the press said at the time
| MegaTech Issue 28 | April 1994 | 49% |
“Pretty poor conversion of a pretty good film. Guide Sylvester Stallone about the mountains through many different yet tedious stages.”
Also on other platforms
Genesis · Amiga · Super NES · NES · Game Boy · Game Gear
Before you buy
It came out only in North America, so a US disc on a standard Genesis plus Sega CD setup is all you need. Loose copies sit below the middle of the pack among North American Sega CD games, and nothing here calls for more than a glance at the disc: its printed label should match the case.
Cliffhanger screenshots
Watch on YouTube
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Latest news mentioning Cliffhanger
- The BloodRayne Series Is Getting A New Comic Next Year That Picks Up From A 22-Year-Old CliffhangerTime Extension · Nov 6
- Doctor Who Ex-Showrunner Says He's Not Bothered About Walking Away With His Cliffhanger Ending Left UnresolvedIGN · Oct 5
- Spider-Man: The Animated Series’ Decades-Old Cliffhanger to Be Officially Resolved in Surprise SequelPolygon · Sep 23
- 21 Years Ago, an Iconic Sci-Fi Series Delivered Its Most Mind-Blowing CliffhangerPolygon · Sep 23
- Billie Piper Says She's 'Not the Next Doctor' After That Bizarre Doctor Who Cliffhanger, Asks Fans to 'Chill Out'IGN · Aug 24
- Kyle Chandler says Lanterns won't be a "slow burn" after Hal Jordan's episode 1 cliffhanger: "It's an exciting poker game"GamesRadar · Aug 18