Prince of Persia
Prince of Persia — frequently asked questions
- What platforms is Prince of Persia on?
- Prince of Persia was released on Apple II, Sega Master System/Mark III, Sega Mega Drive/Genesis, Sega CD, see Ports, DOS, Mac, PC (Microsoft Windows), Super Nintendo Entertainment System.
- When did Prince of Persia release?
- Prince of Persia was first released on October 3, 1989.
About Prince of Persia
The game is set in ancient Persia. While the sultan is fighting a war in a foreign land, his vizier Jaffar, a wizard, seizes power. Jaffar's only obstacle to the throne is the Sultan's daughter (although the game never specifically mentions how). Jaffar locks her in a tower and orders her, under threat of execution, to become his wife. The game's nameless protagonist, whom the Princess loves, is thrown into the palace dungeons. The player must lead the protagonist out of the dungeons and to the palace tower, defeating Jaffar and freeing the Princess in under 60 minutes. In addition to guards, various traps and dungeons, the protagonist is further hindered by his own doppelgänger, an apparition of his own self that is conjured out of a magic mirror.
Summary via IGDB.
Game details
- Platforms
- Apple II, Sega Master System/Mark III, Sega Mega Drive/Genesis, Sega CD, see Ports, DOS, Mac, PC (Microsoft Windows), Super Nintendo Entertainment System
- Developer
- Brøderbund Software
- Publisher
- Brøderbund Software
- Game modes
- Single player
- Themes
- Action
- Series
- Prince of Persia
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 Master SystemDetails ↓ | 1992 | $13 | $32 | — | 11 reviews | Low (look-alike) |
| Sega GenesisDetails ↓ | 1994 | $18 | $50 | — | 2 reviews | Low |
| Sega CDDetails ↓ | 1992 | $14 | $50 | $155 | 4 reviews | Low |
The cheapest way to own it loose is the Sega Master System version ($13).
Also released on: Apple II · Sega Master System/Mark III · Sega Mega Drive/Genesis · see Ports · DOS · Mac · PC (Microsoft Windows) · Super Nintendo Entertainment System. 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 Master System · PriceCharting sold data · Verified 2026-10-28
How often it sells
- Loose: about once a month
- Complete: about once a week
- Sealed: about once a year
Sales frequency from PriceCharting's completed-sale records, as of 2026-10-28.
Price over time
- Loose
- Complete
A loose copy sold for about $7.00 in Oct 2010, $10.51 five years ago, and $12.89 as of Oct 2026.
Show as table
| Month | Loose | Complete |
|---|---|---|
| Jan 2011 | $7.00 | — |
| Jan 2012 | $15.99 | — |
| Jan 2013 | $16.49 | — |
| Jan 2014 | $18.57 | $15.99 |
| Jan 2015 | $18.57 | $15.99 |
| Jan 2016 | $18.57 | $15.99 |
| Jan 2017 | $18.57 | $15.99 |
| Jan 2018 | $10.86 | $17.77 |
| Jan 2019 | $12.56 | $20 |
| Jan 2020 | $11.03 | $16.17 |
| Jan 2021 | $10.50 | $15.01 |
| Jan 2022 | $12.19 | $21 |
| Jan 2023 | $17.04 | $20 |
| Jan 2024 | $11.94 | $19.61 |
| Jan 2025 | $12.03 | $29 |
| Jan 2026 | $13.34 | $33 |
| Oct 2026 | $12.89 | $32 |
Monthly price estimates from PriceCharting's completed-sale records, sampled quarterly, through Oct 2026.
Release record
| Territory | Date | Product number |
|---|---|---|
| Europe / PAL | 1 October 1992 | 27022-50 |
- Region
- EU
- Released
- 1992
- Authenticity
- Low
The Sega Master System version
A European-only Domark port of a classic computer platformer, priced about in the middle of the European-only carts.
This is the Master System version of Prince of Persia, developed by The Kremlin and published by Domark in Europe on 1 October 1992. The game itself began in 1989 as a cinematic platformer by Jordan Mechner for the Apple II.
What the press said at the time
| Sega Pro Issue 18 | April 1993 | 94% |
| Sega Pro Issue 21 | July 1993 | 94% |
| Sega Pro Issue 22 | August 1993 | 94% |
| Sega Pro Issue 23 | September 1993 | 94% |
| Sega Master Force Issue 5 | November 1993 | 93% |
| Sega Pro Issue 26 | December 1993 | 94% |
| Sega Pro Issue 34 | July 1994 | 94% |
| Sega Pro Issue 35 | August 1994 | 94% |
| Sega Pro Issue 43 | April 1995 | 85% |
| Mean Machines | 91% | |
| Sega Force | 94% |
“this is a superior Master System game. Quality graphics and sound tor the MS, heaps of challenge — what more couid you ask for?”
“Save the princess from a fate worse than death in this classic platform game, boasting stunning ani¬ mation. A large quest with loads of levels and more than its fair share of excitement, Prince of Persia is an essential buy!”
“Packed with 14 massive levels and amazing animation, this is an essential MS purchase. Very easy to piek up and extremely addictive.”
“Packed with 14 massive levels and amazing animation, this is an essential MS purchase.”
Undated scores are from the review table in the game's Wikipedia article, limited to reviews of the Sega Master System version.
In the sales charts
In 13 sales charts, March 1993 to November 1993; highest position #3.
Show all 13 placings
- #10 in the Master System chart — Sega Force, Issue 15, March 1993
- #5 in the Our Price Master System chart — Sega Pro, Issue 18, April 1993
- #7 in the HMV Master System chart — Sega Pro, Issue 18, April 1993
- #4 in the Our Price Master System chart — Sega Pro, Issue 19, May 1993
- #9 in the HMV Master System chart — Sega Pro, Issue 19, May 1993
- #3 in the Our Price Master System chart — Sega Pro, Issue 20, June 1993
- #7 in the Virgin Master System chart — Sega Pro, Issue 20, June 1993
- #6 in the Our Price Master System chart — Sega Pro, Issue 21, July 1993
- #5 in the Our Price Master System chart — Sega Pro, Issue 22, August 1993
- #7 in the Our Price Master System chart — Sega Pro, Issue 23, September 1993
- #9 in the HMV Master System chart — Sega Pro, Issue 23, September 1993
- #7 in the Our Price Master System chart — Sega Pro, Issue 24, October 1993
- #7 in the Our Price Master System chart — Sega Pro, Issue 25, November 1993
Sales charts as printed in the magazines of the time.
Also on other platforms
Apple II · MS-DOS · Mac · Windows · Genesis · Super NES · Sega CD
| Apple II | Broderbund |
- Super NES. The Super NES version has 10 extra levels and allows 120 minutes instead of 60.
- MS-DOS. The DOS port will not give a game over once the player reaches the final area of level 12 in time.
How the other versions reviewed
| Mac | Dragon | 5/5 |
| Windows | Génération 4 | 90% |
| MS-DOS | Adventure Classic Gaming | 4/5 |
| Super NES | Bad Influence! | 8/10 |
| Mac | MacWorld | 4/5 |
| Super NES | Mean Machines | 93% |
These are the other versions’ scores, not this one’s. Ports of this era were frequently built by different studios, so they do not transfer.
Before you buy
Only the European cart exists. Loose, it sits about in the middle of the European-only carts, and the look-alike risk is low. Check the manual is there on a complete copy.
Collector value & authenticity
Sega Genesis · PriceCharting sold data · Verified 2026-10-29
Other releases and variants
| Release | Loose | Complete | Sealed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cardboard box release | — | $30 | — |
| European (PAL) release | $27 | $87 | — |
How often it sells
- Loose: about once a week
- Complete: about once a week
- 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 $5.80 in Oct 2007, $15.00 five years ago, and $17.99 as of Oct 2026.
Show as table
| Month | Loose | Complete |
|---|---|---|
| Jan 2008 | $4.75 | — |
| Jan 2009 | $3.28 | — |
| Jan 2010 | $6.79 | — |
| Jan 2011 | $1.53 | — |
| Jan 2012 | $2.26 | — |
| Jan 2013 | $3.33 | — |
| Jan 2014 | $6.00 | $12.99 |
| Jan 2015 | $6.95 | $9.95 |
| Jan 2016 | $7.95 | $19.00 |
| Jan 2017 | $8.50 | $12.25 |
| Jan 2018 | $9.13 | $21 |
| Jan 2019 | $8.37 | $23 |
| Jan 2020 | $11.09 | $20 |
| Jan 2021 | $11.91 | $33 |
| Jan 2022 | $16.79 | $36 |
| Jan 2023 | $24 | $32 |
| Jan 2024 | $14.45 | $26 |
| Jan 2025 | $16.88 | $35 |
| Jan 2026 | $19.98 | $37 |
| Oct 2026 | $17.99 | $50 |
Monthly price estimates from PriceCharting's completed-sale records, sampled quarterly, through Oct 2026.
Release record
| Territory | Date | Barcode |
|---|---|---|
| North America | February 1994 | 031763053507 |
| Europe / PAL | March 1994 | — |
- Region
- NA+EU
- Released
- 1994
- Authenticity
- Low
The Sega Genesis version
A fluid, careful Genesis version of Jordan Mechner's classic that reviewers liked and that costs a little more than the typical US cart.
Prince of Persia began in 1989 as a cinematic platformer designed by Jordan Mechner for the Apple II. The Genesis cartridge was made by Domark and published by Tengen and Domark, reaching North America in February 1994 and Europe in March 1994. You guide an unnamed hero through dungeons to defeat the Grand Vizier Jaffar and save an imprisoned princess.
GamePro praised the extremely fluid animation of the lead character and found the controls hard to master but very effective, and judged the Genesis version better looking than the Super NES one, which it thought had the better music. Electronic Gaming Monthly called it an excellent conversion, and Electronic Games in March 1994 was glad the port had finally been done well.
How it was made
Mechner has said he was offended by the cover art of the Genesis version, which shows the prince as a Luke Skywalker lookalike about to strike down a helpless guard, but by the time he objected it was already being printed.
What the press said at the time
| Electronic Gaming Monthly | 32/40 | |
| MegaTech | 82% |
“An excellent conversion of the classic action game. … Lots of strategy and technique will keep one playing for hours.”
Undated scores are from the review table in the game's Wikipedia article, limited to reviews of the Genesis version.
Also on other platforms
Master System · Apple II · MS-DOS · Mac · Windows · Super NES · Sega CD
- Super NES. The Super NES version has 10 extra levels, so the time limit is 120 minutes instead of 60.
- MS-DOS. In the DOS and Macintosh ports the player gets no game over once the final area of level 12 is reached on time.
How the other versions reviewed
| Mac | Dragon | 5/5 |
| Windows | Génération 4 | 90% |
| MS-DOS | Adventure Classic Gaming | 4/5 |
| Super NES | Bad Influence! | 8/10 |
| Mac | MacWorld | 4/5 |
| Super NES | Mean Machines | 93% |
These are the other versions’ scores, not this one’s. Ports of this era were frequently built by different studios, so they do not transfer.
Before you buy
Among US carts it sits above the middle. The European cart usually costs more than the US one, and noticeably more when complete. A cardboard-box edition is priced separately from the plastic-case copy, so check which one a listing is before comparing.
Collector value & authenticity
Sega CD · PriceCharting sold data · Verified 2026-11-02
Other releases and variants
| Release | Loose | Complete | Sealed |
|---|---|---|---|
| European (PAL) release | $20 | $49 | — |
| Japanese release | $13 | $29 | $45 |
How often it sells
- Loose: about 2 times a month
- Complete: about once a week
- Sealed: about 2 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 $3.99 in Apr 2008, $14.43 five years ago, and $14.13 as of Nov 2026.
Show as table
| Month | Loose | Complete |
|---|---|---|
| Jan 2009 | $3.76 | — |
| Jan 2010 | $3.76 | — |
| Jan 2011 | $0.97 | — |
| Jan 2012 | $3.97 | — |
| Jan 2013 | $3.00 | — |
| Jan 2014 | $3.74 | $16.74 |
| Jan 2015 | $5.75 | $15.00 |
| Jan 2016 | $17.99 | $15.50 |
| Jan 2017 | $9.49 | $32 |
| Jan 2018 | $9.00 | $21 |
| Jan 2019 | $10.41 | $25 |
| Jan 2020 | $9.91 | $30 |
| Jan 2021 | $11.80 | $60 |
| Jan 2022 | $24 | $85 |
| Jan 2023 | $19.99 | $47 |
| Jan 2024 | $14.90 | $48 |
| Jan 2025 | $13.05 | $42 |
| Jan 2026 | $12.78 | $49 |
| Nov 2026 | $14.13 | $50 |
Monthly price estimates from PriceCharting's completed-sale records, sampled quarterly, through Nov 2026.
Release record
| Territory | Date | Product number | Barcode | MSRP |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| North America | 1992 | 4652 | 010086046526 | — |
| Europe / PAL | 2 April 1993 | MK-4652-50 | — | — |
| Japan | 7 August 1992 | T-60014 | — | ¥7,800 |
- Region
- NA+EU+JP
- Released
- 1992
- Authenticity
- Low
The Sega CD version
A faithful platformer whose CD extras are thin, so it stands or falls on how much you like its exacting controls.
This is the Sega CD version of Prince of Persia, with Bits Laboratory listed as developer. It came out in Japan on 7 August 1992, in North America in 1992 and in Europe on 2 April 1993. Mega Tech found the Mega-CD additions slim, a mildly diverting intro and decent CD sound, and said that apart from the lack of Mega-CD features it was still a dead good game with all the atmosphere of the other versions, though the background colors were a little light and the controls frustrating.
Sega Pro went further on the look in its issue 13 review: it admired the animation but called the colors disappointing, with the 16-bit graphics resembling eight-color PC graphics. Its later roundup in issue 34 called the game totally engrossing but possibly too challenging, and rated the graphics average because of a poor choice of colors.
What the press said at the time
| MegaTech Issue 10 | October 1992 | 90% |
| MegaTech Issue 17 | May 1993 | 89% |
| MegaTech Issue 26 | February 1994 | 70% |
| Sega Pro Issue 36 | September 1994 | 65% |
“One of the best Megadrive platform games available, but it’s a shame more use wasn’t made of the CD.”
“Like Mat, I had high hopes before I played Prince Of Persia on CD. Those hopes were soon dashed. Okay, the opening sequence is impressive, but POP is one of those CDs where the intro’s more exciting than the game!”
“A nice game to play, but not something that you’ll get a lot of value for money from.”
“Brilliantly animated characters and cunning traps make this gripping from start to finish.”
Also on other platforms
Master System · Apple II · MS-DOS · Mac · Windows · Genesis · Super NES
How the other versions reviewed
| Mac | Dragon | 5/5 |
| Windows | Génération 4 | 90% |
| MS-DOS | Adventure Classic Gaming | 4/5 |
| Super NES | Bad Influence! | 8/10 |
| Mac | MacWorld | 4/5 |
| Super NES | Mean Machines | 93% |
These are the other versions’ scores, not this one’s. Ports of this era were frequently built by different studios, so they do not transfer.
Before you buy
A quick look at the printed label and a case that matches the game is enough. The US loose disc sits below the middle for North American Sega CD games. The European disc usually costs somewhat more loose and about the same complete, and a Japanese disc usually costs about the same loose and noticeably less complete. The US disc suits a North American Sega CD, the European disc a European Mega-CD and the Japanese disc a Japanese Mega-CD.
Prince of Persia screenshots
Watch on YouTube
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