The Lion King
The Lion King — frequently asked questions
- What platforms is The Lion King on?
- The Lion King was released on Super Nintendo Entertainment System, Linux, Sega Mega Drive/Genesis, PC (Microsoft Windows), Mac, DOS, Amiga, Super Famicom, Sega Master System/Mark III, Sega Game Gear, Game Boy, Nintendo Entertainment System.
- When did The Lion King release?
- The Lion King was first released on November 4, 1994.
About The Lion King
The Lion King brings to life the majesty and mystery of Africa through the tale of Simba, a lion cub faced with the challenging transition to maturity. Believing himself to be responsible for his father's death, Simba enters the wilderness - where he finds salvation with Pumbaa the warthog and Timon the meerkat, and his education begins. Take control of the young cub Simba and, through interaction as detailed as the lust terrain, guide him safely through.
Summary via IGDB.
Game details
- Platforms
- Super Nintendo Entertainment System, Linux, Sega Mega Drive/Genesis, PC (Microsoft Windows), Mac, DOS, Amiga, Super Famicom, Sega Master System/Mark III, Sega Game Gear, Game Boy, Nintendo Entertainment System
- Developer
- Westwood Studios
- Publisher
- Gradiente
- Game modes
- Single player
- Themes
- Action, Kids
- Series
- Disney's The Lion King
Details via IGDB.
Reception
Every version compared
Prices, contemporary reception and the studio credited for each release
| Platform | Year | Loose | Complete | Sealed | Period reviews | Built by | Fake risk |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sega Master SystemDetails ↓ | 1994 | $7 | $20 | $125 | 2 reviews | — | Low (look-alike) |
| Sega GenesisDetails ↓ | 1994 | $8 | $19 | $100 | — | Dark Technologies | Medium |
The cheapest way to own it loose is the Sega Master System version ($7).
Also released on: Super Nintendo Entertainment System · Linux · Sega Mega Drive/Genesis · PC (Microsoft Windows) · Mac · DOS · Amiga · Super Famicom · Sega Master System/Mark III · Sega Game Gear · Game Boy · 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 2 times a month
- Sealed: about once a year
Prices marked “few sales” rest on about one recorded sale a year, so treat them as a rough guide: the next copy could sell well above or below. Expect to wait for one to come up.
Sales frequency from PriceCharting's completed-sale records, as of 2026-10-28.
Price over time
- Loose
- Complete
A loose copy sold for about $2.00 in Jan 2010, $11.20 five years ago, and $6.58 as of Oct 2026.
Show as table
| Month | Loose | Complete |
|---|---|---|
| Jan 2010 | $2.00 | — |
| Jan 2011 | $2.00 | — |
| Jan 2012 | $19.99 | — |
| Jan 2013 | $20 | — |
| Jan 2014 | $11.99 | $9.17 |
| Jan 2015 | $4.85 | $14.99 |
| Jan 2016 | $28 | $23 |
| Jan 2017 | $2.25 | $23 |
| Jan 2018 | $10.22 | $16.26 |
| Jan 2019 | $8.21 | $14.99 |
| Jan 2020 | $8.13 | $8.81 |
| Jan 2021 | $9.30 | $10.60 |
| Jan 2022 | $13.18 | $24 |
| Jan 2023 | $9.41 | $12.43 |
| Jan 2024 | $5.26 | $11.83 |
| Jan 2025 | $7.09 | $18.34 |
| Jan 2026 | $6.14 | $21 |
| Oct 2026 | $6.58 | $19.99 |
Monthly price estimates from PriceCharting's completed-sale records, sampled quarterly, through Oct 2026.
Release record
| Territory | Date | Product number |
|---|---|---|
| Europe / PAL | 4 November 1994 | MK-27081-50 |
- Region
- EU
- Released
- 1994
- Authenticity
- Low
The Sega Master System version
A late Master System film tie-in that was a hit at home in Britain, and an inexpensive European cart.
This is the Master System version of The Lion King, developed by Syrox Developments and published by Virgin Interactive Entertainment in Europe on 4 November 1994. It is a port of the platform game made for the Super NES and Mega Drive.
In the United Kingdom it was the top-selling Master System game in November 1994.
How it was made
Syrox Developments made the Master System and Game Gear versions.
What the press said at the time
| Sega Pro Issue 39 | December 1994 | Graphics 92% Sound 87% Gameplay 86% Challenge 84% |
| Mean Machines Sega Issue 27 | January 1995 | GRAPHICS 90 SOUND 78 PLAYABILITY 85 LASTABILITY 85 VFM 88 OVERALL 86 |
“In comparison with. the MD version there are fewer levels and the scrolling gets a little jerky from time to time, but as a faithful translation this did not let me down.”
“MS owners shouldn't feel left out of this Disney circus — this version is right in there.”
How the Sega Master System version differs
The Master System version was released only in the PAL region, alongside the Amiga and NES versions.
Also on other platforms
Genesis · Game Gear · Super NES · Game Boy · MS-DOS · Amiga · NES
| Super NES | Westwood Studios |
| MS-DOS | East Point Software |
| NES | Dark Technologies |
| Game Boy | Dark Technologies |
- MS-DOS. The MS-DOS port added enhanced sound effects and music.
- Amiga. The Amiga 1200 version was written in assembly language in two months by Dave Semmons.
- NES. The 1995 European NES version was that console's last official release in all regions.
Before you buy
Only the European cart exists. Loose, it sits below 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 | $7 | $18 | — |
| European (PAL) release | $7 | $21 | $135 |
| Japanese release | $65 | $200 | — |
What it needs to play
- OptionalSix-button control pad — uses the extra X, Y and Z buttons of Sega's six-button control pad (game booklet).
How often it sells
- Loose: about once a day
- Complete: about once a day
- Sealed: about once a month
Sales frequency from PriceCharting's completed-sale records, as of 2026-10-29.
Price over time
- Loose
- Complete
A loose copy sold for about $0.98 in Oct 2007, $7.99 five years ago, and $7.74 as of Oct 2026.
Show as table
| Month | Loose | Complete |
|---|---|---|
| Jan 2008 | $2.69 | — |
| Jan 2009 | $1.75 | — |
| Jan 2010 | $0.98 | — |
| Jan 2011 | $1.74 | — |
| Jan 2012 | $3.05 | — |
| Jan 2013 | $2.50 | — |
| Jan 2014 | $7.00 | $10.00 |
| Jan 2015 | $5.50 | $11.90 |
| Jan 2016 | $6.28 | $13.68 |
| Jan 2017 | $8.00 | $14.89 |
| Jan 2018 | $9.89 | $12.99 |
| Jan 2019 | $8.52 | $12.56 |
| Jan 2020 | $7.56 | $13.05 |
| Jan 2021 | $6.00 | $12.00 |
| Jan 2022 | $6.77 | $14.04 |
| Jan 2023 | $8.42 | $15.00 |
| Jan 2024 | $5.75 | $13.21 |
| Jan 2025 | $7.25 | $16.24 |
| Jan 2026 | $7.99 | $15.72 |
| Oct 2026 | $7.74 | $18.77 |
Monthly price estimates from PriceCharting's completed-sale records, sampled quarterly, through Oct 2026.
Release record
| Territory | Date | Barcode |
|---|---|---|
| North America | 9 November 1994 | 052145820241 |
| Europe / PAL | 4 November 1994 | 5028587020018 |
| Japan | 9 December 1994 | — |
- Region
- NA+EU+JP
- Released
- 1994
- Authenticity
- Med
The Sega Genesis version
A good-looking Disney platformer that is cheap on a US cart and surprisingly pricey if you want the Japanese cart.
This is the Genesis version of The Lion King, built by Westwood Studios and published by Virgin Interactive Entertainment. It reached Europe on 4 November 1994, North America on 9 November and Japan on 9 December. You follow Simba's story from a young cub on, in a platformer based on Disney's 1994 film.
Electronic Gaming Monthly called it an excellent movie-to-game translation with knock-out graphics and sound and challenging play. The game uses the extra X, Y and Z buttons of Sega's six-button pad as an option, according to its booklet.
What the press said at the time
“Superlative graphics, decent gameplay and a tough challenge - marred only by a lack of originality.”
Also on other platforms
Master System · Game Gear · Super NES · Game Boy · MS-DOS · Amiga · NES
| Super NES | Westwood Studios |
| MS-DOS | East Point Software |
| Game Gear | Syrox Developments |
| NES | Dark Technologies |
- Amiga. The Amiga 1200 version was written in assembly language in two months by Dave Semmons, who had hoped to port from the Genesis source code but found it was written in C.
- MS-DOS. East Point Software ported the game to MS-DOS with enhanced sound effects and music, and more than 200,000 copies were sold.
- Super NES. The Super NES version sold 1.27 million copies in the United States.
Before you buy
Among US carts it sits below the middle, so it is cheap to buy. The European loose cart usually costs a little less than the US one, and a complete European copy costs about the same. The Japanese cart usually costs far more than the US one and has a different cartridge shape. A cardboard-box edition is priced separately from the plastic-case copy.
The Lion King screenshots
Watch on YouTube
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