Starflight
Starflight — frequently asked questions
- What platforms is Starflight on?
- Starflight was released on Commodore C64/128/MAX, Sega Mega Drive/Genesis, Atari ST/STE, Mac, DOS, Amiga, IBM PC.
- When did Starflight release?
- Starflight was first released on August 15, 1986.
About Starflight
Starflight is a space exploration role-playing adventure video game developed by Binary Systems and published by Electronic Arts in 1986. Originally developed for IBM compatible and Tandy systems, it was later released for the Amiga, Atari ST, Macintosh and Commodore 64. A fully revamped version of the game was developed for the Sega Mega Drive/Genesis in 1991. Set in the year 4620, the game puts players in the role of a starship captain sent to explore the galaxy. There is no set path, allowing players to switch freely between mining, ship-to-ship combat, and alien diplomacy. The broader plot of the game emerges slowly, as the player discovers that an ancient race of beings is causing stars to flare and destroy all living creatures.
Summary via IGDB.
Game details
- Developer
- Binary Systems
- Publisher
- Electronic Arts
- Game modes
- Single player
- 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 | 1991 | $19 | $69 | — | 2 reviews | Low |
Also released on: Commodore C64/128/MAX · Sega Mega Drive/Genesis · Atari ST/STE · Mac · DOS · Amiga · IBM PC. 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 | $18 | $61 | — |
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 (game booklet; MAME cartridge records).
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 $3.50 in Oct 2008, $16.04 five years ago, and $19.47 as of Oct 2026.
Show as table
| Month | Loose | Complete |
|---|---|---|
| Jan 2009 | $3.35 | — |
| Jan 2010 | $4.27 | — |
| Jan 2011 | $4.95 | — |
| Jan 2012 | $5.01 | — |
| Jan 2013 | $6.33 | — |
| Jan 2014 | $9.95 | $23 |
| Jan 2015 | $12.27 | $25 |
| Jan 2016 | $12.13 | $25 |
| Jan 2017 | $14.75 | $33 |
| Jan 2018 | $13.46 | $29 |
| Jan 2019 | $15.78 | $36 |
| Jan 2020 | $15.09 | $31 |
| Jan 2021 | $16.53 | $34 |
| Jan 2022 | $19.42 | $50 |
| Jan 2023 | $19.47 | $54 |
| Jan 2024 | $23 | $52 |
| Jan 2025 | $20 | $35 |
| Jan 2026 | $16.07 | $47 |
| Oct 2026 | $19.47 | $69 |
Monthly price estimates from PriceCharting's completed-sale records, sampled quarterly, through Oct 2026.
Release record
| Territory | Date | Barcode |
|---|---|---|
| North America | 7 October 1991 | 014633070149 |
| Europe / PAL | 9 October 1991 | — |
- Region
- NA+EU
- Released
- 1991
- Authenticity
- Low
A rebuilt EA space-trading epic that sits modestly above the middle among US carts.
Starflight is a space exploration, combat and trading role-playing game, set in the year 4620 and played as a starship captain who can go where he likes. It began on IBM PCs in 1986. The Genesis version, from BlueSky Software and Electronic Arts, is a revamped game released in North America on 7 October 1991 and in Europe two days later, with new graphics, ship modifications and Terrain Vehicle upgrades including amphibious mining.
Computer and Video Games praised the addictive loop of menus, planet landings, conversations with dangerous-looking aliens and shooting them if you do not like the way they look at you.
What the press said at the time
| Mean Machines Sega Issue 3 | December 1992 | 94% |
| Sega Pro Issue 23 | September 1993 | 80% |
“...to boldly go where no man has gone before! And it's a mission which will keep you playing for weeksI”
“It's a massive, highly involved and thoroughly enjoyable space flight/exploration/RPG-style game. It might not sound or look like fun, but give it a go • you'll be surprised as to just how brilliant the game is (and it keeps you playing for weeks and weeks, rather than a few days like most arcade games do).”
“Deep space mining is the name of this game. Plenty of combat, but aIso plenty of stratégy. Beware of repetition, though.”
How the Sega Genesis version differs
The Genesis release was a fully revamped version of the game, published in 1991.
Video Games & Computer Entertainment said Starflight made the trip to the Genesis without loss, filling a void in the console's genre lineup.
Also on other platforms
Amiga · Atari ST · Commodore 64 · IBM PC · Mac · MS-DOS
| MS-DOS | Binary Systems |
- MS-DOS. The original was coded mostly in Forth, since the game had to fit into 128 KB of RAM.
Before you buy
Among US carts it is above the middle. The European loose cart usually costs about the same as the US one, and the complete European copy usually costs a little less. The cartridge saves to a battery inside it, so test that a save holds; a replaced battery is a normal repair.
Starflight screenshots
Watch on YouTube
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