Phantasy Star III: Generations of Doom
Phantasy Star III: Generations of Doom — frequently asked questions
- What platforms is Phantasy Star III: Generations of Doom on?
- Phantasy Star III: Generations of Doom was released on Linux, Wii, Sega Mega Drive/Genesis, PC (Microsoft Windows), Mac.
- When did Phantasy Star III: Generations of Doom release?
- Phantasy Star III: Generations of Doom was first released on April 21, 1990.
About Phantasy Star III: Generations of Doom
Just as you’re about to marry Maia, the mysterious woman you found on the shore, a winged dragon grabs her and disappears. This is the tragic start of what seems like a never-ending journey into a world of loathsome creatures and wicked souls that spans three generations.
Summary via IGDB.
Game details
- Platforms
- Linux, Wii, Sega Mega Drive/Genesis, PC (Microsoft Windows), Mac
- Developer
- Sega Enterprises, Ltd.
- Publisher
- Tec Toy
- Game modes
- Single player
- Themes
- Fantasy, Science fiction
- Series
- Phantasy Star
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 | 1991 | $27 | $88 | $351 | 8 reviews | Low |
Also released on: Linux · Wii · Sega Mega Drive/Genesis · PC (Microsoft Windows) · Mac. 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 | $26 | $103 | — |
| Japanese release (Phantasy Star III: Generations of Doom) | $11 | $26 | — |
What it needs to play
- Some modesSave battery (inside the cartridge) — saves to memory kept alive by a battery inside the cartridge; if that battery has died, saves are lost (MAME cartridge records).
How often it sells
- Loose: about once a week
- Complete: about 2 times 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 $3.98 in Oct 2007, $35 five years ago, and $27 as of Oct 2026.
Show as table
| Month | Loose | Complete |
|---|---|---|
| Jan 2008 | $3.00 | — |
| Jan 2009 | $7.00 | — |
| Jan 2010 | $4.85 | — |
| Jan 2011 | $3.98 | — |
| Jan 2012 | $4.11 | — |
| Jan 2013 | $6.07 | — |
| Jan 2014 | $12.99 | $19.99 |
| Jan 2015 | $11.94 | $21 |
| Jan 2016 | $12.25 | $30 |
| Jan 2017 | $20 | $27 |
| Jan 2018 | $14.50 | $35 |
| Jan 2019 | $16.47 | $31 |
| Jan 2020 | $16.17 | $36 |
| Jan 2021 | $20 | $35 |
| Jan 2022 | $38 | $70 |
| Jan 2023 | $26 | $50 |
| Jan 2024 | $22 | $48 |
| Jan 2025 | $22 | $60 |
| Jan 2026 | $30 | $51 |
| Oct 2026 | $27 | $88 |
Monthly price estimates from PriceCharting's completed-sale records, sampled quarterly, through Oct 2026.
Release record
| Territory | Date | Product number | Barcode |
|---|---|---|---|
| North America | June 1991 | — | 010086013030 |
| Europe / PAL | October 1991 | — | — |
| Japan | 21 April 1990 | G-5503 | 4974365555030 |
- Region
- NA+EU+JP
- Released
- 1991
- Authenticity
- Low
A big, brave Genesis role-playing game that earned praise at the time, and it is priced above the middle.
Phantasy Star III: Generations of Doom was developed and published by Sega. It reached Japan on 21 April 1990, North America in June 1991 and Europe in October 1991. The story spans three generations, following the prince Rhys and his descendants as a conflict between two warring factions escalates. It is the first in the series made without co-creator Yuji Naka, since most of the staff of Phantasy Star II had moved on to Sonic the Hedgehog.
Mean Machines Sega called it far deeper and more varied than its predecessor and by far the best role-playing game on the Mega Drive at the time. Computer Gaming World in 1991 praised its graphics and plot twists, and Mega placed it twelfth in its 1992 list of the top Mega Drive games.
What the press said at the time
| Mean Machines Sega Issue 3 | December 1992 | 89% |
| Sega Pro Issue 33 | June 1994 | 78% |
| MegaTech Issue 33 | September 1994 | 89% |
| Consoles + | 94% | |
| Dragon | 4/5 | |
| Electronic Gaming Monthly | 32/40 | |
| Player One | 97% | |
| Sega Power | 93% |
“Reviewing Phantasy Star Ill is a piece of cake! … Phantasy Star Ill is, as anticipated, more of the same, only better.”
“Fans of the series won't be disappointed with this latest epic adventure. The gorgeous 3-D graphics, including beautiful landscapes and wonderful animation, are enhanced by an above average sound track.”
“Another enormous role-playing game, but this one has far more depth and variety than its predecessor. It's by far the best RPG on the Megadrive, but the real bummer is that it costs a massive £60.00! Eeek!”
“Now this is more like it - ten quid cheaper than the originál! The progress shows with improved graphics, but the sound is still very weak and iťs still very pricey for what you get.”
Undated scores are from the review table in the game's Wikipedia article, limited to reviews of the Genesis version.
Before you buy
Among US carts it sits above the middle. The European loose cart usually costs about the same as the US one, and a complete European copy usually costs a little more. The Japanese cart usually costs much less and has a different cartridge shape. The cartridge saves to a battery inside it, so test that a save holds; a replaced battery is a normal repair and not a sign of a fake.
Phantasy Star III: Generations of Doom screenshots
Watch on YouTube
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