Herzog Zwei
Herzog Zwei — frequently asked questions
- What platforms is Herzog Zwei on?
- Herzog Zwei was released on Sega Mega Drive/Genesis, Nintendo Switch.
- When did Herzog Zwei release?
- Herzog Zwei was first released on December 15, 1989.
About Herzog Zwei
Herzog Zwei is a Sega Genesis-exclusive game by Technosoft, published in 1989 (released in North America and Europe in early 1990). It is an early real-time strategy game, predating the genre-popularizing Dune II. Herzog Zwei combines the arcade-style play of Technosoft's own Thunder Force series with a simple, easy-to-grasp level of strategy. In Herzog Zwei, the player directly pilots a flying, transforming mech, a multi-role robot suited for utility and combat. Through the mech, the player purchases surface combat units, airlifts them across the battlefield, and issues them orders. These command activities can only be performed through the mech. Vehicles follow their assigned orders (which are fairly basic: patrol, garrison, capture base) until they either run out of fuel or are destroyed. Tactical re-deployment (mission reassignment, vehicle repair) involves a great deal of micromanagement, due to the required involvement of the mech.
Summary via IGDB.
Game details
- Platforms
- Sega Mega Drive/Genesis, Nintendo Switch
- Developer
- Technosoft
- Publisher
- Technosoft
- Game modes
- Single player, Multiplayer, Split screen, Massively Multiplayer Online (MMO)
- Themes
- Science fiction
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 | 1990 | $41 | $83 | $405 | 2 reviews | Low |
Also released on: Sega Mega Drive/Genesis · Nintendo Switch. 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 | $43 | $72 | — |
| Japanese release | $14 | $36 | — |
How often it sells
- Loose: about once a week
- Complete: about once a week
- Sealed: about 3 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 $25 in Jul 2008, $43 five years ago, and $41 as of Oct 2026.
Show as table
| Month | Loose | Complete |
|---|---|---|
| Jan 2009 | $18.55 | — |
| Jan 2010 | $18.55 | — |
| Jan 2011 | $25 | — |
| Jan 2012 | $23 | — |
| Jan 2013 | $27 | — |
| Jan 2014 | $18.61 | $32 |
| Jan 2015 | $26 | $60 |
| Jan 2016 | $30 | $44 |
| Jan 2017 | $34 | $66 |
| Jan 2018 | $33 | $53 |
| Jan 2019 | $40 | $57 |
| Jan 2020 | $35 | $63 |
| Jan 2021 | $40 | $80 |
| Jan 2022 | $49 | $102 |
| Jan 2023 | $40 | $80 |
| Jan 2024 | $36 | $72 |
| Jan 2025 | $40 | $71 |
| Jan 2026 | $35 | $72 |
| Oct 2026 | $41 | $83 |
Monthly price estimates from PriceCharting's completed-sale records, sampled quarterly, through Oct 2026.
Release record
| Territory | Date | Product number | Barcode |
|---|---|---|---|
| North America | March 1990 | — | 010086014006 |
| Europe / PAL | 1990 | — | — |
| Japan | 15 December 1989 | T-18023 | — |
- Region
- NA+EU+JP
- Released
- 1990
- Authenticity
- Low
A pioneering real-time strategy cartridge that costs more than most US carts.
Technosoft developed this real-time strategy game and Sega published it. It predates Dune II, and mixes the arcade play of Technosoft's Thunder Force series with simple strategy. It is the sequel to Herzog, which was on the MSX and PC-8801. Japan got it in December 1989, North America in March 1990 and Europe in 1990.
Video Games & Computer Entertainment described it in 1990 as a unique arcade game played at breakneck speed yet with the strategic elements of a sophisticated war game. Reception in Europe was generally more positive than elsewhere.
What the press said at the time
| Mean Machines Games Guide | May 1992 | OVERALL 76% |
| Mean Machines Sega Issue 3 | December 1992 | 76% |
“This game, with its frantic flicker-free graphics and dizzying strategic angles, is more than a match for any computer war game. But | believe Herzog Zwei is the first of its kind, and for those who enjoy wild shoot-’em-ups and war simulations, it's a superb and definitive crossbreed.”
“Aweird title for a weird game. Herzog Zwei is a sort of strategy shoot ‘em up in title which would be more suitable for thetactians, rather than arcade players.”
“Rather snort on action, but an interesting title for the thinkers amonost us which wouki be more suitable for the tacticians, rather than arcade players.”
“Rather short on action, but an interesting | title which would be more suitable for thetactidans, rather than arcade players.”
How the Sega Genesis version differs
In North America, Electronic Gaming Monthly rated the 1990 release 4.25 out of 10.
European reception of the Mega Drive version was more positive.
Sega Pro scored the import 76%, calling it a fair attempt at combining strategy with arcade action among tanks.
Also on other platforms
Nintendo Switch
Before you buy
Among US carts this is one of the dearer ones, well above the median. The European cart usually costs about the same loose and somewhat less complete. The Japanese Mega Drive cart usually costs far less and has a different cartridge shape. A complete US copy means the case, cartridge and manual.
Herzog Zwei screenshots
Watch on YouTube
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