What platforms is Curse on?

Curse was released on Sega Mega Drive/Genesis.

When did Curse release?

Curse was first released on December 23, 1989.

Curse

Dec 23, 1989ShooterSega Mega Drive/Genesis

Curse — frequently asked questions

What platforms is Curse on?: Curse was released on Sega Mega Drive/Genesis.
When did Curse release?: Curse was first released on December 23, 1989.

About Curse

Curse is a 1989 shoot 'em up game developed by Micronet for the Mega Drive video game console. It was a sideways scrolling shoot 'em up spread across five levels. Although an American release was planned, it was never officially released outside Japan.

Summary via IGDB.

Game details

Developer: Micronet
Publisher: Micronet
Game modes: Single player
Themes: Action

Details via IGDB.

Every version compared

Prices, contemporary reception and the studio credited for each release

Platform	Year	Loose	Complete	Sealed	Period reviews	Fake risk
Sega Genesis	1989	$29	$76	—	11 reviews	Low

Also released on: Sega Mega Drive/Genesis. We haven’t priced or authenticated that version yet.

Collector value & authenticity

Sega Genesis · PriceCharting sold data · Verified 2026-10-29

Loose

$29

Complete

$76

Sealed

—

How often it sells

Loose: about once a month
Complete: about once a month
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 $26 in Oct 2019, $48 five years ago, and $30 as of Oct 2026.

Show as table

Month	Loose	Complete
Jan 2020	$27	$43
Jan 2021	$43	$47
Jan 2022	$56	$65
Jan 2023	$56	$58
Jan 2024	$31	$65
Jan 2025	$36	$63
Jan 2026	$34	$75
Oct 2026	$30	$74

Monthly price estimates from PriceCharting's completed-sale records, sampled quarterly, through Oct 2026.

Release record

Territory	Date	Product number	Barcode
Japan	23 December 1989	T-22013	4957227700144

Source: Product numbers: MAME's Mega Drive software list and the No-Intro serial records in the libretro database, published where both agree on the same cartridge dump, or from the libretro records alone where MAME lists no number for that dump. Board and ROM numbers: MAME's software list

Region: JP
Released: 1989
Authenticity: Low

Modern re-releases, such as Sega Ages, the Genesis Mini and Nintendo Switch Online, are not tracked hereLow counterfeit risk

Sega Genesis prices, all games & how to spot a fake

A Japan-only 1989 shooter that critics rated poorly and that costs a little more than the middle of its group.

Curse is a scrolling shooter developed and published by Micronet for the Mega Drive. It came out in Japan on 23 December 1989; an American release was planned but never happened.

Mean Machines found it fun to play but lacking in originality, with only five levels, and suggested Hellfire or Gynoug instead. Console XS went further and called it the worst shoot 'em up on the Mega Drive.

What the press said at the time

Mean Machines Sega Issue 3	December 1992	70%
Aktueller Software Markt		3/12
Beep! MegaDrive		6.3/10
Computer and Video Games		85%
Tilt		9/20
Console XS		28/100
Mega Drive Advanced Gaming		4%
MegaTech		70%
Power Play		23%
Sega Power		2/5
Sega Pro		25/100

“While Curse is fun to play, it suffers from a lack of originality and levels (there are only five). Try out other shoot 'em ups like Hellfire or Gynoug.”
— Mean Machines Sega, December 1992

“There are so many of these to choose from, you really don't need to bother with this one. … Check out Hellfire or Aero Blasters instead.”
— Mega, July 1993

Undated scores are from the review table in the game's Wikipedia article, limited to reviews of the Genesis version.

Before you buy

Among Japan-only carts it sits above the middle. Japanese cartridges have a different shape and do not fit a Western console without an adapter or removing two plastic tabs in its slot.