When did The Chessmaster release?

The Chessmaster was first released on November 1, 1989.

The Chessmaster

Nov 1, 1989Card & Board GameNintendo Entertainment System Sega Mega Drive/GenesisApple IIAtari 8-bitCommodore C64/128/MAX

The Chessmaster — frequently asked questions

What platforms is The Chessmaster on?: The Chessmaster was released on Nintendo Entertainment System, Sega Mega Drive/Genesis, Apple II, Atari 8-bit, Commodore C64/128/MAX, DOS, Amiga, Atari ST/STE, Amstrad CPC, ZX Spectrum, MSX, Mac, Game Boy, Game Boy Color, Game Boy Advance, Sega Game Gear, Super Nintendo Entertainment System, PC (Microsoft Windows), PlayStation, PlayStation 2, PlayStation Portable, Nintendo DS, Android, BlackBerry, Windows Mobile, Xbox, Xbox 360.
When did The Chessmaster release?: The Chessmaster was first released on November 1, 1989.

Game details

Platforms: Nintendo Entertainment System, Sega Mega Drive/Genesis, Apple II, Atari 8-bit, Commodore C64/128/MAX, DOS, Amiga, Atari ST/STE, Amstrad CPC, ZX Spectrum, MSX, Mac, Game Boy, Game Boy Color, Game Boy Advance, Sega Game Gear, Super Nintendo Entertainment System, PC (Microsoft Windows), PlayStation, PlayStation 2, PlayStation Portable, Nintendo DS, Android, BlackBerry, Windows Mobile, Xbox, Xbox 360
Developer: The Software Toolworks
Publisher: Hi-Tech Expressions
Game modes: Single player

Details via IGDB.

Every version compared

Prices, contemporary reception and the studio credited for each release

Platform	Year	Loose	Complete	Sealed	Fake risk
Sega Genesis	1996	—	—	—	Medium

Also released on: Nintendo Entertainment System · Sega Mega Drive/Genesis · Apple II · Atari 8-bit · Commodore C64/128/MAX · DOS · Amiga · Atari ST/STE · Amstrad CPC · ZX Spectrum · MSX · Mac · Game Boy · Game Boy Color · Game Boy Advance · Sega Game Gear · Super Nintendo Entertainment System · PC (Microsoft Windows) · PlayStation · PlayStation 2 · PlayStation Portable · Nintendo DS · Android · BlackBerry · Windows Mobile · Xbox · Xbox 360. We haven’t priced or authenticated those versions yet.

Collector value & authenticity

Sega Genesis · PriceCharting sold data · Verified 2026-10-29

Loose

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Complete

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Sealed

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Release record

Territory	Date
North America	June 1996

Source: Product numbers: MAME's Mega Drive software list and the No-Intro serial records in the libretro database, published where both agree on the same cartridge dump, or from the libretro records alone where MAME lists no number for that dump. Board and ROM numbers: MAME's software list

Region: NA
Released: 1996
Authenticity: Med

Modern re-releases, such as Sega Ages, the Genesis Mini and Nintendo Switch Online, are not tracked hereMedium counterfeit risk

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

A Genesis version of Mindscape's chess game that North America could only download, never buy on a cartridge.

The Chessmaster on the Genesis is a chess game from Mindscape, part of the long-running Chessmaster series. It was one of the Sega Channel's exclusive games in North America: subscribers downloaded it through the service, and Sega Retro notes it has not been seen since the broadcasts.

How the Sega Genesis version differs

The Genesis edition arrived in 1992, two years after the NES original and in the same year as the Super NES version.

Also on other platforms

Apple II · Atari 8-bit · Commodore 64 · MS-DOS · Amiga · Atari ST · Amstrad CPC · ZX Spectrum · MSX · Mac · Game Boy · Game Boy Color · Game Boy Advance · Game Gear · NES · Super NES · Windows · PlayStation · PlayStation 2 · PlayStation Portable · Nintendo DS · Android · BlackBerry · Windows Mobile · Xbox · Xbox 360

NES. The console series began with the 1990 NES release of The Chessmaster.
Game Gear. The Game Gear version followed in 1991, alongside the Game Boy version.

Before you buy

There was no retail cartridge of the Genesis Chessmaster, so treat any cartridge offered under that name with suspicion and ask the seller exactly what it is before paying.