Sword of Vermilion
Sword of Vermilion — frequently asked questions
- What platforms is Sword of Vermilion on?
- Sword of Vermilion was released on Linux, Wii, Sega Mega Drive/Genesis, PC (Microsoft Windows), Mac.
- When did Sword of Vermilion release?
- Sword of Vermilion was first released on December 16, 1989.
About Sword of Vermilion
To take revenge against Tsarkon over his father’s death, the prince must collect the eight Rings of Good hidden throughout the land. Out-hack and out-smart Tsarkon’s minions while collecting the hidden Rings until you reach the final bastion where Tsarkon waits. Defeat Tsarkon and banish evil from the world.
Summary via IGDB.
Game details
- Platforms
- Linux, Wii, Sega Mega Drive/Genesis, PC (Microsoft Windows), Mac
- Developer
- Sega AM2
- Publisher
- Sega Corporation
- Game modes
- Single player
- Themes
- Action, Fantasy, Historical, Open world
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 | 1990 | $18 | $37 | — | 12 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 | $11 | $40 | — |
| Japanese release (Vermilion) | $7 | $20 | — |
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 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 $2.62 in Jan 2008, $15.37 five years ago, and $17.61 as of Oct 2026.
Show as table
| Month | Loose | Complete |
|---|---|---|
| Jan 2008 | $2.62 | — |
| Jan 2009 | $1.95 | — |
| Jan 2010 | $1.80 | — |
| Jan 2011 | $1.75 | — |
| Jan 2012 | $1.63 | — |
| Jan 2013 | $0.90 | — |
| Jan 2014 | $6.25 | $10.47 |
| Jan 2015 | $6.69 | $14.00 |
| Jan 2016 | $7.26 | $16.00 |
| Jan 2017 | $6.14 | $16.99 |
| Jan 2018 | $10.00 | $18.20 |
| Jan 2019 | $7.94 | $21 |
| Jan 2020 | $10.74 | $22 |
| Jan 2021 | $12.49 | $22 |
| Jan 2022 | $18.05 | $28 |
| Jan 2023 | $13.50 | $26 |
| Jan 2024 | $12.74 | $35 |
| Jan 2025 | $10.92 | $32 |
| Jan 2026 | $16.06 | $34 |
| Oct 2026 | $17.61 | $37 |
Monthly price estimates from PriceCharting's completed-sale records, sampled quarterly, through Oct 2026.
Release record
| Territory | Date | Product number | Barcode |
|---|---|---|---|
| North America | 10 November 1990 | — | 010086013023 |
| Europe / PAL | 1990 | — | — |
| Japan | 16 December 1989 | G-5502 | — |
- Region
- NA+EU+JP
- Released
- 1990
- Authenticity
- Low
An early Sega action role-playing game that still plays well and is easy to own, particularly outside the US.
Sword of Vermilion is an action role-playing game from Sega AM2, published by Sega. You control an unnamed prince who must save the realm of Vermilion by collecting a series of rings across the overworld, dungeons and battles with bosses. It came out in Japan as Vermilion on 16 December 1989, in North America on 10 November 1990 and in Europe in 1990. During its North American launch it was the role-playing game promoted in the Genesis does what Nintendon't campaign.
Mean Machines Sega called it probably the best role-playing game on the Mega Drive, with a gripping plot and user-friendly controls, and MegaTech said much the same. Game Player's gave it its Best Fantasy Role-Playing Game award in February 1991.
What the press said at the time
| MegaTech Issue 1 | December 1991 | MEGATECH RATING 87% |
| Mean Machines Games Guide | May 1992 | OVERALL 87% |
| Mean Machines Sega Issue 3 | December 1992 | 87% |
| MegaTech Issue 17 | May 1993 | 87% |
| MegaTech Issue 18 | June 1993 | MT RATING: 87% |
| MegaTech Issue 19 | July 1993 | 87% |
| Computer and Video Games | 91% | |
| Electronic Gaming Monthly | 7/10, 8/10, 7/10, 6/10 | |
| Digital Press | 9 / 10 | |
| Joystick | 88% | |
| Player One | 94% | |
| Sega Power | 95% |
“Although combat is exciting, | would like to have seen more options. All you really have are two moves—hacking and magic—and the ability to move around. This gets repetitive.”
“Put simply, this is probably the best RPG on the Megadrive. A gripping plot combined with user-friendly controls and great presentation make for an RPG that even a die-hard laser brain should thoroughly enjoy.”
“Put simply, this is probably the best RPG on tne Megadrive. A gripping plot combined with user-friendly controls and great presentation make for an RPGthat even a die-hard laser brain should thoroughly enjoy.”
“Put simply, this is probably the best RPG on the Megadrive. A gripping plot combined with user-friendly controls and great presentation make for an RPG that even a die-hard laser brain should thor oughly enjoy.”
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 cart usually costs less loose and about the same complete, and the Japanese Vermilion 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.
Sword of Vermilion screenshots
Watch on YouTube
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