Gunstar Heroes
Gunstar Heroes — frequently asked questions
- What platforms is Gunstar Heroes on?
- Gunstar Heroes was released on PlayStation 3, Linux, Wii, Sega Mega Drive/Genesis, Android, PC (Microsoft Windows), iOS, Mac, Xbox 360, Sega Game Gear, Nintendo 3DS.
- When did Gunstar Heroes release?
- Gunstar Heroes was first released on September 9, 1993.
About Gunstar Heroes
The Gunstar family are the protectors of the planet Gunstar 9. After many years of peace, vicious dictator Colonel Red kidnapped the Gunstar twins’ older brother and used mind control to make him his slave.
Summary via IGDB.
Game details
- Platforms
- PlayStation 3, Linux, Wii, Sega Mega Drive/Genesis, Android, PC (Microsoft Windows), iOS, Mac, Xbox 360, Sega Game Gear, Nintendo 3DS
- Developer
- Treasure
- Publisher
- Tec Toy
- Game modes
- Single player, Multiplayer, Co-operative
- Themes
- Action, Science fiction, Warfare
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 Genesis | 1993 | $70 | $160 | $249 | 6 reviews | Medium |
Also released on: PlayStation 3 · Linux · Wii · Sega Mega Drive/Genesis · Android · PC (Microsoft Windows) · iOS · Mac · Xbox 360 · Sega Game Gear · Nintendo 3DS. We haven’t priced or authenticated those versions yet.
Collector value & authenticity
Sega Genesis · PriceCharting sold data · Verified 2026-10-29
Other releases and variants
| Release | Loose | Complete | Sealed |
|---|---|---|---|
| European (PAL) release | $69 | $228 | — |
| Japanese release | $50 | $133 | — |
How often it sells
- Loose: about 2 times a week
- Complete: about 2 times 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 $16.91 in Oct 2007, $70 five years ago, and $70 as of Oct 2026.
Show as table
| Month | Loose | Complete |
|---|---|---|
| Jan 2008 | $18.99 | — |
| Jan 2009 | $17.29 | — |
| Jan 2010 | $21 | — |
| Jan 2011 | $15.50 | — |
| Jan 2012 | $13.65 | — |
| Jan 2013 | $22 | — |
| Jan 2014 | $30 | $51 |
| Jan 2015 | $34 | $65 |
| Jan 2016 | $47 | $87 |
| Jan 2017 | $46 | $78 |
| Jan 2018 | $43 | $90 |
| Jan 2019 | $42 | $80 |
| Jan 2020 | $39 | $85 |
| Jan 2021 | $52 | $128 |
| Jan 2022 | $65 | $150 |
| Jan 2023 | $53 | $130 |
| Jan 2024 | $55 | $145 |
| Jan 2025 | $59 | $139 |
| Jan 2026 | $59 | $126 |
| Oct 2026 | $70 | $160 |
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 | September 1993 | 1077 | 010086010770 | 171-5978B |
| Europe / PAL | September 1993 | 670-3657 | — | — |
| Japan | 10 September 1993 | G-4103 | 4974365541033 | — |
- Region
- NA+EU+JP
- Released
- 1993
- Authenticity
- Med
Treasure's debut is a manic, inventive run-and-gun that still looks and plays superbly, and it costs accordingly.
This is the Genesis version of Gunstar Heroes, developed by Treasure and published by Sega, which released it in North America and Europe in September 1993 and in Japan on 10 September 1993. A pair of Gunstars try to stop an evil empire recovering four powerful gems. They can fire guns and perform acrobatic moves, and four weapons can be combined to create different shot types.
The team had come from programming for the Super NES at Konami and chose the Genesis for its 68000 processor, using programming tricks to give the scenery the look of more layers than the hardware supports. Mean Machines Sega said it was setting a new standard for action games on the Genesis, and Electronic Gaming Monthly agreed.
What the press said at the time
| Sega Magazine January 1994 | January 1994 | 94% |
| MegaTech Issue 22 | October 1993 | 95% |
| MegaTech Issue 26 | February 1994 | 95% |
| MegaTech Issue 27 | March 1994 | 95% |
| MegaTech Issue 33 | September 1994 | 95% |
| MegaTech Issue 34 | October 1994 | 95% |
“It's super-fast, it's action-packed and it's packed with herds of monstrous bosses. So, it's pretty good then? Yes, of course it is. It's better then good, it's brilliant!”
“Gunstar Heroes is a solid title for both shooter and action fans. Contra fans should give this one a long, hard look.”
“Gunstar Heroes is a title no self-respecting Megadrive owner can afford to be without, and only misses out being Release of the Month due to impossible competition from Street Fighter Il.”
“Utterly superb graphics, rock hard tunes, explosive explosions, as well as some of the most fantastic special effects you'll see on ANY console, Gunstar Heroes is fast, addictive and fun, fun, fun.”
How the Sega Genesis version differs
Treasure chose the Genesis because Masato Maegawa found its Motorola 68000 easier to program for than the Super NES.
Also on other platforms
Game Gear · Nintendo 3DS
- Game Gear. It was re-released several times, including a dedicated port to the Game Gear.
Before you buy
Among US carts this is one of the pricier ones, and it is a known repro target, so check carefully. A Western Genesis cart has no notch in its shell, so a flat shell with a notch is a repro sign, and for a copy at this price ask for a photo of the board and compare it with the board listed on this page. The European loose cart usually costs about the same as the US one, while the complete European copy usually costs more; the Japanese cart usually costs less and has a different shape.
Gunstar Heroes screenshots
Watch on YouTube
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