When did Golden Axe III release?

Golden Axe III was first released on June 25, 1993.

Golden Axe III

Jun 25, 1993Hack and slash/Beat 'em upLinuxWii Sega Mega Drive/GenesisPC (Microsoft Windows)iOS

Golden Axe III — frequently asked questions

What platforms is Golden Axe III on?: Golden Axe III was released on Linux, Wii, Sega Mega Drive/Genesis, PC (Microsoft Windows), iOS, Mac.
When did Golden Axe III release?: Golden Axe III was first released on June 25, 1993.

About Golden Axe III

Chaos is spreading across the land once again as the Prince of Darkness arises to conquer the world. To stop him and retrieve the legendary Golden Axe, four heroes step forward to accept the challenge.

Summary via IGDB.

Game details

Platforms: Linux, Wii, Sega Mega Drive/Genesis, PC (Microsoft Windows), iOS, Mac
Developer: Sega Enterprises, Ltd.
Publisher: Sega Enterprises, Ltd.
Game modes: Single player, Multiplayer
Themes: Action, Fantasy
Series: Golden Axe

Details via IGDB.

Reception

IGDB rating

77/100

from 61 ratings

Every version compared

Prices, contemporary reception and the studio credited for each release

Platform	Year	Loose	Complete	Sealed	Period reviews	Fake risk
Sega Genesis	1995	$88	$199	—	17 reviews	Medium

Also released on: Linux · Wii · Sega Mega Drive/Genesis · PC (Microsoft Windows) · iOS · Mac. We haven’t priced or authenticated those versions yet.

Collector value & authenticity

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

Loose

$88

Complete

$199

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 $70 in Oct 2019, $130 five years ago, and $88 as of Oct 2026.

Show as table

Month	Loose	Complete
Jan 2020	$70	$128
Jan 2021	$99	$124
Jan 2022	$126	$131
Jan 2023	$111	$147
Jan 2024	$64	$150
Jan 2025	$56	$177
Jan 2026	$95	$200
Oct 2026	$88	$199

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

Release record

Territory	Date	Product number	Barcode
North America	1995	—	—
Japan	25 June 1993	G-4093	4974365540937

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+NA
Released: 1995
Authenticity: Med

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

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

A Golden Axe sequel that changed the look more than the play, and a Japanese cart that Western collectors have to hunt for.

Golden Axe III was developed and published by Sega and came out in Japan on 25 June 1993. You pick one of four warriors to take on Damud Hellstrike, who has stolen the Golden Axe and kidnapped the princess of Yuria. As in the earlier games you fight through side-scrolling levels and can ride creatures called Bizarrians. New moves include blocking and projectile attacks.

It reached North America only through the Sega Channel download service and was not released on a US cartridge (Sega Retro). Mean Machines Sega later wrote that the second and third games tried to improve the appearance but did nothing to update the gameplay, and called the third such a poor effort that Sega UK did not bother to release it.

What the press said at the time

Beep! MegaDrive		5/10
Computer and Video Games		62/100
Famitsu		8/10, 5/10, 6/10, 7/10
HobbyConsolas		86/100
Joystick		70%
Video Games		79%
Consolemania		92/100
Dengeki Mega Drive		49/100, 55/100 / 55/100, 50/100
Game Power		81/100
Hippon Super!		6/10
Mega		79%
MegaTech		55/100
MegaZone		79/100
Sega Power		34%
Sega Pro		57%
Sega Zone		6/100
TodoSega		88/100

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

Before you buy

The cartridge to look for is the Japanese one, which has a different shape from a Western cart and needs an adapter or two plastic tabs removed from a Western console's slot. It sits above the middle of the group of games that have no US cartridge. Any US-style cartridge is a modern reproduction or homebrew cart. The risk tier is Medium, so ask for a photo of the board before paying.