When did Silpheed release?

Silpheed was first released on December 5, 1986.

Silpheed

Dec 5, 1986ShooterApple IIGSPC-8800 SeriesTRS-80 Color ComputerDOSFM-7

Silpheed — frequently asked questions

What platforms is Silpheed on?: Silpheed was released on Apple IIGS, PC-8800 Series, TRS-80 Color Computer, DOS, FM-7, Sega CD, PC-8801mkII SR, FM-77AV.
When did Silpheed release?: Silpheed was first released on December 5, 1986.

About Silpheed

In Silpheed, the player pilots a spaceship through levels of increasing difficulty, in a pseudo-3D vertically scrolling field, shooting everything in his path. New weapons will become available as he gathers points, and power-ups are sprinkled throughout the levels. The game is one of the first-ever that used music as a selling point.

Summary via IGDB.

Game details

Platforms: Apple IIGS, PC-8800 Series, TRS-80 Color Computer, DOS, FM-7, Sega CD, PC-8801mkII SR, FM-77AV
Developer: Game Arts
Publisher: Sega
Game modes: Single player
Themes: Action, Science fiction

Details via IGDB.

Reception

IGDB rating

54/100

from 5 ratings

Every version compared

Prices, contemporary reception and the studio credited for each release

Platform	Year	Loose	Complete	Sealed	Period reviews	Fake risk
Sega CD	1993	$22	$31	$63	2 reviews	Low

Also released on: Apple IIGS · PC-8800 Series · TRS-80 Color Computer · DOS · FM-7 · PC-8801mkII SR · FM-77AV. We haven’t priced or authenticated those versions yet.

Collector value & authenticity

Sega CD · PriceCharting sold data · Verified 2026-11-02

Loose

$22

Complete

$31

Sealed

$63

Other releases and variants

Release	Loose	Complete	Sealed
European (PAL) release	$15	$50	$169
Japanese release	$15	$33	—

How often it sells

Loose: about 2 times a month
Complete: about 2 times a week
Sealed: about 4 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 $1.74 in Jul 2008, $18.93 five years ago, and $22 as of Nov 2026.

Show as table

Month	Loose	Complete
Jan 2009	$2.82	—
Jan 2010	$1.75	—
Jan 2011	$3.00	—
Jan 2012	$4.47	—
Jan 2013	$5.47	—
Jan 2014	$6.99	$13.82
Jan 2015	$14.79	$16.52
Jan 2016	$14.00	$16.98
Jan 2017	$16.50	$22
Jan 2018	$13.93	$19.99
Jan 2019	$14.46	$25
Jan 2020	$17.22	$27
Jan 2021	$19.66	$28
Jan 2022	$25	$37
Jan 2023	$25	$30
Jan 2024	$16.54	$27
Jan 2025	$15.87	$28
Jan 2026	$13.14	$30
Nov 2026	$22	$31

Monthly price estimates from PriceCharting's completed-sale records, sampled quarterly, through Nov 2026.

Release record

Territory	Date	Product number	Barcode	MSRP
North America	October 1993	4423	010086044232	—
Europe / PAL	September 1993	4423	4974365644239	—
Japan	30 July 1993	T-45054	—	¥8,800

Source: Japanese product numbers, dates and prices: Sega Japan's Mega-CD software lists, each number checked against MAME's Mega-CD software list. North American and European numbers: the number printed on the disc as recorded by Redump, shown where MAME's list agrees or has no number

Region: NA+EU+JP
Released: 1993
Authenticity: Low

Modern re-releases of these games are not tracked hereLow counterfeit risk

Sega CD prices, all games & how to spot a fake

A space shooter that put polygon ships over rendered video backgrounds, which dazzled European critics even if the gameplay was nothing revolutionary.

This is the Sega CD version of Silpheed, a remake by Game Arts of its own earlier computer game. It came out in Japan on 30 July 1993, in Europe in September 1993 and in North America in October 1993. It places polygon ships over a pre-rendered video background, and a prototype with fewer enemies was shown at the Winter Consumer Electronics Show in January 1993.

Mega Tech, reviewing an import copy, called it undoubtedly one of the best games yet for the Mega-CD, praising the smooth intro and the 3-D graphics, though it also called the gameplay, although challenging, nothing revolutionary or spectacular. GamePro named the Sega CD version a runner-up for its 1993 CD Game of the Year award.

How it was made

Game Arts developed the Sega CD version; the original design is credited to Takeshi Miyaji.

What the press said at the time

MegaTech Issue 22	October 1993	94%
Sega Pro Issue 35	August 1994	69%

“Simple but fun action. The graphics make the game, though. … 12 levels of fairly tough action. You'll have another go to see everything again.”
— MegaTech, September 1993

“Absolutely brilliant! Silpheed heads the list for shooter of the decade. The technology present in this game not only represents the “Next Level” but the very best in game design.”
— Diehard GameFan, September 1993

“Silpheed is one of the greatest shooters I've played in a long while — and an ESSENTIAL buy for Mega-CD owners.”
— Mean Machines Sega, October 1993

“Remember, we rate games in comparison to others on that system and as far as I'm concerned this is the best the Sega CD will ever get.”
— Diehard GameFan, October 1993

Also on other platforms

PC-8801mkII SR · FM-77AV · Apple IIGS · TRS-80 Color Computer · MS-DOS

Before you buy

Among North American Sega CD games the US disc sits about at the middle on price. The European disc usually costs somewhat less loose but noticeably more complete, while the Japanese disc usually costs somewhat less loose and about the same complete. Each suits a Mega-CD of its own region. Check that the case matches the game.