Dr. Robotnik's Mean Bean Machine
Dr. Robotnik's Mean Bean Machine — frequently asked questions
- What platforms is Dr. Robotnik's Mean Bean Machine on?
- Dr. Robotnik's Mean Bean Machine was released on Linux, Wii, Sega Mega Drive/Genesis, PC (Microsoft Windows), Mac, Sega Master System/Mark III, Sega Game Gear.
- When did Dr. Robotnik's Mean Bean Machine release?
- Dr. Robotnik's Mean Bean Machine was first released on November 26, 1993.
About Dr. Robotnik's Mean Bean Machine
Dr. Robotnik is changing the jolly folk of Beanville into devious little robots that will help rid Planet Mobius of music and fun forever. Group the beans together to help them escape, and compete against Robotnik’s wily henchbots!
Summary via IGDB.
Dr. Robotnik's Mean Bean Machine on Wikipedia
Dr. Robotnik's Mean Bean Machine is a falling block puzzle video game developed by Compile and published by Sega. It was released for the Sega Genesis and Game Gear in 1993 and ported to the Master System in 1994.
Source: Wikipedia (text under CC BY-SA 4.0).
Game details
- Platforms
- Linux, Wii, Sega Mega Drive/Genesis, PC (Microsoft Windows), Mac, Sega Master System/Mark III, Sega Game Gear
- Developer
- Compile
- Publisher
- Tec Toy
- Game modes
- Single player, Multiplayer, Split screen
- Themes
- Action, Science fiction, Comedy
- Series
- Sonic The Hedgehog
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 SystemDetails ↓ | 1994 | $89 | $257 | — | — | Medium (look-alike) |
| Sega GenesisDetails ↓ | 1993 | $20 | $35 | $261 | 91% | Low |
The cheapest way to own it loose is the Sega Genesis version ($20).
Also released on: Linux · Wii · Sega Mega Drive/Genesis · PC (Microsoft Windows) · Mac · Sega Master System/Mark III · 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 Master System · PriceCharting sold data · Verified 2026-10-28
How often it sells
- Loose: about 4 times a year
- Complete: about 6 times a year
- 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 $21 in Jul 2011, $74 five years ago, and $89 as of Oct 2026.
Show as table
| Month | Loose | Complete |
|---|---|---|
| Jan 2012 | $44 | — |
| Jan 2013 | $44 | — |
| Jan 2014 | $44 | — |
| Jan 2015 | $5.00 | $79 |
| Jan 2016 | $9.00 | $125 |
| Jan 2017 | $9.00 | $125 |
| Jan 2018 | $43 | $121 |
| Jan 2019 | $54 | $120 |
| Jan 2020 | $51 | $120 |
| Jan 2021 | $72 | $130 |
| Jan 2022 | $76 | $136 |
| Jan 2023 | $116 | $130 |
| Jan 2024 | $91 | $148 |
| Jan 2025 | $69 | $153 |
| Jan 2026 | $87 | $249 |
| Oct 2026 | $89 | $293 |
Monthly price estimates from PriceCharting's completed-sale records, sampled quarterly, through Oct 2026.
Release record
| Territory | Date | Product number |
|---|---|---|
| Europe / PAL | March 1994 | 7123 |
- Region
- EU
- Released
- 1994
- Authenticity
- Med
The Sega Master System version
A falling-bean puzzler with Sonic characters and one of the priciest European-only Master System carts.
Dr. Robotnik's Mean Bean Machine was developed by Compile and published by Sega, and the Master System version reached Europe in March 1994. It is a Westernized version of Compile's Puyo Puyo with the characters swapped for ones from the Sonic the Hedgehog franchise, and the gameplay is similar to Tetris-style puzzle games where you arrange colored shapes as they descend.
The Master System and Game Gear versions add a Puzzle Mode, in which you try to clear predetermined sets of beans.
How the Sega Master System version differs
The Master System game came out a year after the Genesis and Game Gear releases and was adapted from the Japanese Nazo Puyo game.
Also on other platforms
Genesis · Game Gear
Before you buy
The European cart is the one to look for, and loose it is among the most expensive European-only carts, with a complete copy costing much more again. For a copy at this price, ask for clear photos of the cart and its label. A US console plays European carts, so a listing calling it an American copy deserves a second look. The manual is the part most often missing.
Collector value & authenticity
Sega Genesis · PriceCharting sold data · Verified 2026-10-29
Other releases and variants
| Release | Loose | Complete | Sealed |
|---|---|---|---|
| European (PAL) release | $21 | $82 | — |
| Japanese release (Puyo Puyo) | $8 | $21 | $388 |
How often it sells
- Loose: about 2 times a week
- Complete: about once a week
- Sealed: about 2 times 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 $2.62 in Oct 2007, $11.99 five years ago, and $19.99 as of Oct 2026.
Show as table
| Month | Loose | Complete |
|---|---|---|
| Jan 2008 | $2.48 | — |
| Jan 2009 | $2.50 | — |
| Jan 2010 | $1.99 | — |
| Jan 2011 | $2.59 | — |
| Jan 2012 | $1.37 | — |
| Jan 2013 | $2.57 | — |
| Jan 2014 | $4.99 | $7.99 |
| Jan 2015 | $4.99 | $9.96 |
| Jan 2016 | $6.79 | $13.95 |
| Jan 2017 | $7.61 | $14.21 |
| Jan 2018 | $10.24 | $14.99 |
| Jan 2019 | $9.99 | $17.59 |
| Jan 2020 | $8.86 | $21 |
| Jan 2021 | $12.30 | $24 |
| Jan 2022 | $16.45 | $33 |
| Jan 2023 | $17.88 | $33 |
| Jan 2024 | $16.93 | $35 |
| Jan 2025 | $15.99 | $34 |
| Jan 2026 | $19.47 | $40 |
| Oct 2026 | $19.99 | $35 |
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 | December 1993 | 1706 | 010086017069 | — |
| Europe / PAL | 21 January 1994 | 1706-50 | 4974365617066 | 171-5978BA |
| Japan | 18 December 1992 | — | 4974365540821 | — |
- Region
- NA+EU+JP
- Released
- 1993
- Authenticity
- Low
The Sega Genesis version
A fine falling-bean puzzler for two players that is easy to enjoy and priced above the middle among US carts.
This is the Genesis version of Dr. Robotnik's Mean Bean Machine, a falling-block puzzle game from Compile that Sega published. It is built on Compile's Puyo Puyo, whose Mega Drive version came out in Japan on 18 December 1992, with nearly all of the characters replaced by ones from the Sonic the Hedgehog cartoon series. The game reached North America in December 1993 and Europe on 21 January 1994. Puyo Puyo's Carbuncle appears as Has Bean.
Nintendo Life's review thought the game is built to encourage two-player competition, and found its challenge decent even though a lone player can get bored. Game Players magazine printed passwords for the last stage of each of the four difficulty levels in May 1994.
What the press said at the time
| MegaTech Issue 24 | December 1993 | 91% |
“Quite frankly, Dr Robotnik's Mean Bean Machine is the best puzzle game available for the Megadrive. One of those “must buy” type of games.”
“Dr Robotnik is simply a fun-filled version of Tetris or Columns. It’s easy to understand, is simple in design and provides hours of totally addictive fun.”
“The computer opponents are tough, it's brilliant as a two-player game, and it proves incredibly addictive. What more could you want?”
How the Sega Genesis version differs
Sega replaced the characters of the Japanese Puyo Puyo with Sonic the Hedgehog characters, fearing the original would not appeal to Western audiences.
Also on other platforms
Master System · Game Gear
| Game Gear | Compile |
- Game Gear. The Game Gear and Master System versions add a Puzzle Mode in which players clear predetermined sets of beans.
Before you buy
Among US carts it sits above the middle, and the risk of a fake is low. The European cart costs about the same loose, but a complete European copy usually costs much more than a complete US one. The Japanese cart, which is Puyo Puyo, usually costs less and has a different cartridge shape from a Western Genesis cart.
Dr. Robotnik's Mean Bean Machine screenshots
Watch on YouTube
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