Dynamite Headdy
Dynamite Headdy — frequently asked questions
- What platforms is Dynamite Headdy on?
- Dynamite Headdy was released on Linux, Wii, Sega Mega Drive/Genesis, PC (Microsoft Windows), Mac, Sega Master System/Mark III, Sega Genesis/Mega Drive, Sega Game Gear.
- When did Dynamite Headdy release?
- Dynamite Headdy was first released on August 5, 1994.
About Dynamite Headdy
Dynamite Headdy is a platform game in which the player controls Headdy, a puppet with a detachable head. This head can be fired in eight directions to attack enemies and obstacles, as well as retrieve out of reach items. By grabbing a HangMan, Headdy is able to pull himself up various platforms, or drag certain areas towards him. By finding a walking case named HeadCase, Headdy can gain a special head type depending on the image shown on HeadCase at the time he hits it. These range from offensive heads that increase his strength, allows him to shoot homing stars or suck up everything on screen, to support heads which include invulnerability, shrinking to reach small areas and sleeping to regain health. Most of these heads have a time limit before the head returns to normal, with the player able to cancel at any time, though some heads, such as the Pin Head, disable manual cancellation. The game also features a side-scrolling shooter stage, during which Headdy can change between three unique Head Types.
Summary via IGDB.
Game details
- Platforms
- Linux, Wii, Sega Mega Drive/Genesis, PC (Microsoft Windows), Mac, Sega Master System/Mark III, Sega Genesis/Mega Drive, Sega Game Gear
- Developer
- Treasure
- Publisher
- Tec Toy
- Game modes
- Single player
- Themes
- Action
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 ↓ | 1995 | $138 | $413 | — | — | Medium (look-alike) |
| Sega GenesisDetails ↓ | 1994 | $28 | $60 | $247 | 10 reviews | Medium |
The cheapest way to own it loose is the Sega Genesis version ($28).
Also released on: Linux · Wii · Sega Mega Drive/Genesis · PC (Microsoft Windows) · Mac · Sega Master System/Mark III · Sega Genesis/Mega Drive · 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 once a year
- Complete: about once a year
- Sealed: rarely — fewer than one recorded sale 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 2026-10-28.
Price over time
- Loose
- Complete
A loose copy sold for about $199 in Jul 2012, $138 five years ago, and $138 as of Oct 2026.
Show as table
| Month | Loose | Complete |
|---|---|---|
| Jan 2013 | $150 | — |
| Jan 2014 | $150 | $220 |
| Jan 2015 | $320 | $25 |
| Jan 2016 | $320 | $25 |
| Jan 2017 | $70 | $25 |
| Jan 2018 | $25 | $25 |
| Jan 2019 | $25 | $25 |
| Jan 2020 | $25 | $25 |
| Jan 2021 | $68 | $110 |
| Jan 2022 | $164 | $455 |
| Jan 2023 | $138 | $495 |
| Jan 2024 | $138 | $470 |
| Jan 2025 | $138 | $491 |
| Jan 2026 | $138 | $413 |
| Oct 2026 | $138 | $413 |
Monthly price estimates from PriceCharting's completed-sale records, sampled quarterly, through Oct 2026.
Release record
| Territory | Date | Product number |
|---|---|---|
| Brazil | 1995 | 028.570 |
- Region
- BR
- Released
- 1995
- Authenticity
- Med
The Sega Master System version
A Brazil-only Tec Toy port of a Mega Drive favorite, built from the Game Gear version and pricier than most Brazil-only carts.
Dynamite Headdy began as a Treasure game on the Genesis/Mega Drive in 1994. It then came to the Game Gear, and the Master System version, released by Tec Toy in Brazil in 1995, was ported from that Game Gear version. Minato Giken is credited as its developer.
It was released only in Brazil, so this is a Tec Toy cartridge from start to finish, not a Sega-published one.
Also on other platforms
Sega Genesis/Mega Drive · Game Gear · Genesis
| Genesis | Treasure |
How the other versions reviewed
| Game Gear | Electronic Gaming Monthly | 9/10, 7/10, / 6/10, 8/10 |
| Game Gear | Famitsu | 7/10, 5/10, / 6/10, 5/10 |
These are the other versions’ scores, not this one’s. Ports of this era were frequently built by different studios, so they do not transfer.
Before you buy
The Brazilian Tec Toy cart is the only one to look for. It is one of the pricier carts among the Brazil-only games, so for a copy at this price, ask for a photo of the board and compare it with the board listed on this page. Check the case and manual if you want a complete copy.
Collector value & authenticity
Sega Genesis · PriceCharting sold data · Verified 2026-10-29
Other releases and variants
| Release | Loose | Complete | Sealed |
|---|---|---|---|
| European (PAL) release | $13 | $31 | $94 |
| Japanese release | $70 | $124 | — |
How often it sells
- Loose: about once a week
- 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 $1.19 in Jan 2008, $23 five years ago, and $28 as of Oct 2026.
Show as table
| Month | Loose | Complete |
|---|---|---|
| Jan 2008 | $1.19 | — |
| Jan 2009 | $5.19 | — |
| Jan 2010 | $1.99 | — |
| Jan 2011 | $8.17 | — |
| Jan 2012 | $3.38 | — |
| Jan 2013 | $4.99 | — |
| Jan 2014 | $8.94 | $25 |
| Jan 2015 | $13.04 | $18.50 |
| Jan 2016 | $12.99 | $30 |
| Jan 2017 | $13.20 | $28 |
| Jan 2018 | $14.99 | $31 |
| Jan 2019 | $14.40 | $36 |
| Jan 2020 | $18.07 | $36 |
| Jan 2021 | $17.96 | $41 |
| Jan 2022 | $19.99 | $61 |
| Jan 2023 | $25 | $52 |
| Jan 2024 | $16.77 | $49 |
| Jan 2025 | $22 | $50 |
| Jan 2026 | $19.98 | $52 |
| Oct 2026 | $28 | $60 |
Monthly price estimates from PriceCharting's completed-sale records, sampled quarterly, through Oct 2026.
Release record
| Territory | Date | Product number | Barcode |
|---|---|---|---|
| North America | 28 September 1994 | — | 010086015430 |
| Europe / PAL | 28 October 1994 | — | 4974365615437 |
| Japan | 5 August 1994 | G-4117 | 4974365541170 |
- Region
- NA+EU+JP
- Released
- 1994
- Authenticity
- Med
The Sega Genesis version
One of the Genesis's best platformers, and priced like it among US carts.
On the Genesis, Dynamite Headdy is Treasure's platformer for Sega, released in Japan on 5 August 1994, in North America on 28 September 1994 and in Europe on 28 October 1994. You play a puppet who throws his head at enemies, uses it to pull himself around and swaps among many different heads that change how the game plays. Treasure followed up its earlier Gunstar Heroes with it.
Electronic Games noted in 1995 that the hero's bizarre method of attack, firing his head as a projectile, sets it apart. Retrospective reviews of the Genesis game have continued to praise it.
What the press said at the time
| Sega Magazine Issue 13 | January 1995 | 96% |
| Sega Pro Issue 41 | February 1995 | 83% |
| Sega Pro Issue 43 | April 1995 | 83% |
| Computer and Video Games | 92/100 | |
| Electronic Gaming Monthly | 8/10, 8/10 / 6/10, 8/10 / 8/10 | |
| Famitsu | 7/10, 7/10 / 7/10, 7/10 | |
| GamesMaster | 76/100 | |
| Mean Machines Sega | 93/100 | |
| Next Generation | 4/5 | |
| Game Players | 96% |
“Packed with incredible ideas and superbly executed, Headdy is one of the most super-looking games ever created.”
“With imaginative and varied game play, this game introduces a new Sega hero in fine style.”
“Forty five quid gets you the greatest Megadrive platform game ever devised. Dynamite Headdy is packed with secret bits, amazing bosses and unmatchable playability. An incredible release.”
“An appealing platformer with a cute main char acter who can change heads to do different things. Very playable with lots of attractive graph ics to see.”
Undated scores are from the review table in the game's Wikipedia article, limited to reviews of the Genesis version.
How the Sega Genesis version differs
For the overseas release, Sega of America asked Treasure to make the game more difficult.
Also on other platforms
Master System · Sega Genesis/Mega Drive · Game Gear
- Game Gear. An 8-bit version was released for the Game Gear.
How the other versions reviewed
| Game Gear | Electronic Gaming Monthly | 9/10, 7/10, / 6/10, 8/10 |
| Game Gear | Famitsu | 7/10, 5/10, / 6/10, 5/10 |
These are the other versions’ scores, not this one’s. Ports of this era were frequently built by different studios, so they do not transfer.
Before you buy
Among US carts it sits well above the middle, and its risk tier is medium. A Western Genesis cart has no notch in its shell, and a flat Western-style shell with a notch is a repro sign. For anything at this price, ask for a photo of the board. The European cart usually costs much less than the US one, and the Japanese cart usually costs much more and has a different cartridge shape.
Dynamite Headdy screenshots
Watch on YouTube
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