PowerMonger
PowerMonger — frequently asked questions
- What platforms is PowerMonger on?
- PowerMonger was released on Super Nintendo Entertainment System, Sega Mega Drive/Genesis, Atari ST/STE, Mac, DOS, Amiga, Sega CD, PC-98, Sharp X68000, FM Towns.
- When did PowerMonger release?
- PowerMonger was first released on December 31, 1990.
About PowerMonger
In a world without kings, power is the only law. No leader controls the destiny of this new world. Yet. Can you? Unite each territory by word or by sword or face bitter defeat at the hands of the other PowerMongers. Encounter a living world. Win the loyalty of farmers, shepherds, merchants, ranchers- even thieves. Hundreds of people with individual homes, jobs, and personalities. React to changing seasons. Store food for the winter- your soldiers won't take orders on an empty stomach.
Summary via IGDB.
Game details
- Platforms
- Super Nintendo Entertainment System, Sega Mega Drive/Genesis, Atari ST/STE, Mac, DOS, Amiga, Sega CD, PC-98, Sharp X68000, FM Towns
- Developer
- Bullfrog Productions
- Publisher
- Electronic Arts
- Game modes
- Single player, Split screen
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 GenesisDetails ↓ | 1992 | $11 | $25 | — | 3 reviews | Low |
| Sega CDDetails ↓ | 1994 | $22 | $35 | $61 | 4 reviews | Low |
The cheapest way to own it loose is the Sega Genesis version ($11).
Also released on: Super Nintendo Entertainment System · Sega Mega Drive/Genesis · Atari ST/STE · Mac · DOS · Amiga · PC-98 · Sharp X68000 · FM Towns. 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 Genesis · PriceCharting sold data · Verified 2026-10-29
Other releases and variants
| Release | Loose | Complete | Sealed |
|---|---|---|---|
| European (PAL) release | $5 | $11 | $47 |
| Japanese release (Power Monger) | $13 | $43 | — |
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 month
- Complete: about 2 times 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 $7.88 in Apr 2008, $9.41 five years ago, and $11.39 as of Oct 2026.
Show as table
| Month | Loose | Complete |
|---|---|---|
| Jan 2009 | $3.71 | — |
| Jan 2010 | $5.54 | — |
| Jan 2011 | $2.97 | — |
| Jan 2012 | $4.95 | — |
| Jan 2013 | $2.96 | — |
| Jan 2014 | $4.79 | $3.95 |
| Jan 2015 | $5.95 | $25 |
| Jan 2016 | $5.56 | $7.95 |
| Jan 2017 | $8.99 | $14.99 |
| Jan 2018 | $8.21 | $11.53 |
| Jan 2019 | $6.12 | $13.71 |
| Jan 2020 | $6.50 | $12.51 |
| Jan 2021 | $7.52 | $15.24 |
| Jan 2022 | $10.52 | $15.93 |
| Jan 2023 | $12.75 | $19.60 |
| Jan 2024 | $10.76 | $15.00 |
| Jan 2025 | $10.00 | $22 |
| Jan 2026 | $10.99 | $21 |
| Oct 2026 | $11.39 | $25 |
Monthly price estimates from PriceCharting's completed-sale records, sampled quarterly, through Oct 2026.
Release record
| Territory | Date | Barcode |
|---|---|---|
| North America | 1992 | 014633071054 |
| Europe / PAL | March 1993 | — |
| Japan | 18 June 1993 | — |
- Region
- NA+EU+JP
- Released
- 1992
- Authenticity
- Low
The Sega Genesis version
A strategy game of conquest that came across to the Genesis, cheap on a US cart and cheaper still in Europe.
This is the Genesis version of Powermonger, developed by Sprytes and published by Electronic Arts. It came out in North America in 1992, in Europe in March 1993 and in Japan on 18 June 1993. The game is based on Bullfrog's 1990 computer original, a real-time strategy game derived from the Populous engine but presented with a three-dimensional map.
Sega Pro called the Mega Drive version a viable alternative to Populous that was very popular with strategy fans.
What the press said at the time
| Sega Force Issue 15 | March 1993 | 61% |
| MegaTech Issue 24 | December 1993 | 81% |
| MegaTech Issue 33 | September 1994 | 81% |
“To sum up, the attention to detail’s something to commend but doesn’t make up for the lack of gameplay and repetitiveness of it all.”
“Overall, PowerMonger's a good video game adaptation of a PC classic. The biggest loss for fans of the original is the two-player head-to-head mode.”
“If you’ve got the time and the patience to get to grips with this game, you’ll come away more than satisfied.”
“Lead your gang of savages to supremacy on a vast archipelago of islands in this pseudo-sequel to Populous. Teach them to build boats and weapons and build up alliances with neighbouring leaders. A Technically it's excellent and feels very simulationy. ▼ The serious approach makes it less fun than Mega-Lo-Mania. Very samey.”
In the sales charts
In 2 sales charts, April 1993 to June 1993; highest position #4.
Show all 2 placings
- #4 in the Our Price Mega Drive chart — Sega Pro, Issue 18, April 1993
- #10 in the Our Price Mega Drive chart — Sega Pro, Issue 20, June 1993
Sales charts as printed in the magazines of the time.
Also on other platforms
Amiga · Atari ST · PC-98 · X68000 · MS-DOS · FM Towns · Super NES · Mac · Sega CD
| Amiga | Bullfrog Productions |
| Atari ST | Bullfrog Productions |
- Amiga. The Amiga version cost 29.99 pounds and was released in October 1990.
Before you buy
Among US carts it sits below the middle. The European cart usually costs far less than the US one, while the Japanese cart usually costs more and has a different cartridge shape. The cartridge saves to a battery inside it for some modes, so check that a save holds; a replaced battery is a normal repair and not a sign of a fake. The Mega-CD version is a different one.
Collector value & authenticity
Sega CD · PriceCharting sold data · Verified 2026-11-02
Other releases and variants
| Release | Loose | Complete | Sealed |
|---|---|---|---|
| European (PAL) release (PowerMonger) | $26 | $46 | $103 |
How often it sells
- Loose: about 5 times a year
- Complete: about once a month
- Sealed: about 3 times a year
Sales frequency from PriceCharting's completed-sale records, as of 2026-11-02.
Price over time
- Loose
- Complete
A loose copy sold for about $1.00 in Oct 2008, $11.56 five years ago, and $22 as of Nov 2026.
Show as table
| Month | Loose | Complete |
|---|---|---|
| Jan 2009 | $1.99 | — |
| Jan 2010 | $1.97 | — |
| Jan 2011 | $3.99 | — |
| Jan 2012 | $4.99 | — |
| Jan 2013 | $9.97 | — |
| Jan 2014 | $6.49 | $6.99 |
| Jan 2015 | $5.99 | $10.99 |
| Jan 2016 | $8.58 | $17.77 |
| Jan 2017 | $2.99 | $6.50 |
| Jan 2018 | $11.14 | $18.23 |
| Jan 2019 | $10.87 | $17.42 |
| Jan 2020 | $9.70 | $17.05 |
| Jan 2021 | $11.82 | $22 |
| Jan 2022 | $16.45 | $28 |
| Jan 2023 | $21 | $28 |
| Jan 2024 | $15.00 | $30 |
| Jan 2025 | $19.01 | $30 |
| Jan 2026 | $21 | $25 |
| Nov 2026 | $22 | $35 |
Monthly price estimates from PriceCharting's completed-sale records, sampled quarterly, through Nov 2026.
Release record
| Territory | Date | Product number | Barcode |
|---|---|---|---|
| North America | January 1994 | T-50035 | 014633072440 |
| Europe / PAL | April 1994 | T-50035-50 | 5015839139925 |
- Region
- NA+EU
- Released
- 1994
- Authenticity
- Low
The Sega CD version
A slow, deep conquest strategy game that the magazines of 1994 could not agree was worth the move to disc.
On the Sega CD, Powermonger came out from Electronic Arts in North America in January 1994 and in Europe in April 1994, where it is spelled PowerMonger.
Sega Visions said the CD version has more detail and more worlds than the Genesis version, now 500, plus a new digital soundtrack. MegaTech rated it highly, saying it brings nothing new to anyone who owns the cartridge but is the one to choose for a Mega-CD owner who wants a god-sim and does not. Mean Machines called it too little, too late and even slower than the cartridge, and GamePro criticized the pixelated maps that make it hard to see but still recommended its slow-paced strategy.
What the press said at the time
| Sega Magazine Issue 6 | June 1994 | 76% |
| MegaTech Issue 29 | May 1994 | 88% |
| Sega Pro Issue 36 | September 1994 | 79% |
| Sega Pro Issue 41 | February 1995 | 77% |
“On all computer formats Powermonger was a great game and this Mega-CD version is no exception.”
“Powermonger on the CD is a classic case of too little too late. It's more than a year since we saw the original cart version”
“The depth of the game along with its 195 levels does make Powermonger a game of interest to Mega-CD owners after a decent strategy title.”
“If you like your games slow and strategic, this game of conquest might be your cup of mead,”
Also on other platforms
Genesis · Amiga · Atari ST · PC-98 · X68000 · MS-DOS · FM Towns · Super NES · Mac
Before you buy
On price it sits about in the middle among North American Sega CD games, and the European disc usually costs a little more, loose and complete. A European disc needs a European Mega-CD. Check that the disc's printed title matches the case and that the manual is there, since a game this deep is awkward without it.
PowerMonger screenshots
Watch on YouTube
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