When did Truxton release?

Truxton was first released on October 1, 1988.

Truxton

Oct 1, 1988ShooterArcadeArcadeLinuxSega Mega Drive/GenesisAndroidPC (Microsoft Windows)

Truxton — frequently asked questions

What platforms is Truxton on?: Truxton was released on Arcade, Linux, Sega Mega Drive/Genesis, Android, PC (Microsoft Windows), TurboGrafx-16/PC Engine, iOS, Mac, PC Engine.
When did Truxton release?: Truxton was first released on October 1, 1988.

About Truxton

Truxton is a 1988 vertically scrolling, shoot 'em up arcade game developed by Toaplan, later ported to the Mega Drive (worldwide) and the PC Engine (Japan-only). Like many other scrolling shooters, the game is set in outer space, where the player takes control of a small spaceship across several planets. The game is played with an eight-way joystick and two buttons (a shot and a bomb button) through five large levels and their bosses (which then loop forever, at higher difficulties).

Summary via IGDB.

Game details

Platforms: Arcade, Linux, Sega Mega Drive/Genesis, Android, PC (Microsoft Windows), TurboGrafx-16/PC Engine, iOS, Mac, PC Engine
Developer: Toaplan
Publisher: Taito
Game modes: Single player, Multiplayer, Co-operative
Themes: Action, Science fiction

Details via IGDB.

Reception

IGDB rating

69/100

from 12 ratings

Every version compared

Prices, contemporary reception and the studio credited for each release

Platform	Year	Loose	Complete	Sealed	Period reviews	Fake risk
Sega Genesis	1989	$44	$133	$150	2 reviews	Low

Also released on: Arcade · Linux · Sega Mega Drive/Genesis · Android · PC (Microsoft Windows) · TurboGrafx-16/PC Engine · iOS · Mac · PC Engine. We haven’t priced or authenticated those versions yet.

Collector value & authenticity

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

Loose

$44

Complete

$133

Sealed

$150

Other releases and variants

Release	Loose	Complete	Sealed
European (PAL) release	$39	$109	$257
Japanese release (Tatsujin)	$29	$72	—

How often it sells

Loose: about once a week
Complete: about once a week
Sealed: about 2 times 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 $7.99 in Apr 2008, $56 five years ago, and $44 as of Oct 2026.

Show as table

Month	Loose	Complete
Jan 2009	$4.99	—
Jan 2010	$6.63	—
Jan 2011	$9.99	—
Jan 2012	$12.47	—
Jan 2013	$17.49	—
Jan 2014	$20	$37
Jan 2015	$37	$61
Jan 2016	$44	$78
Jan 2017	$57	$90
Jan 2018	$42	$88
Jan 2019	$43	$93
Jan 2020	$45	$106
Jan 2021	$49	$103
Jan 2022	$68	$133
Jan 2023	$50	$123
Jan 2024	$40	$95
Jan 2025	$42	$105
Jan 2026	$44	$96
Oct 2026	$44	$133

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

Release record

Territory	Date	Barcode
North America	December 1989	010086010121
Europe / PAL	November 1990	—
Japan	9 December 1989	4974365540203

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+EU+JP
Released: 1989
Authenticity: Low

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

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

A tough, no-frills Genesis shooter from the arcade's own team, and one of the pricier US carts.

Truxton is a vertically scrolling shooter that Toaplan brought to the Genesis from its own arcade game. It was released in Japan on 9 December 1989 as Tatsujin, in North America in December 1989 and in Europe in November 1990, published by Sega. The Genesis conversion stays faithful to the arcade game but has a smaller color palette that meant recoloring sprites, among other changes.

Mean Machines called it a fine example of a pure, no-frills arcade blast, and when Mean Machines Sega revisited it in 1992 one reviewer said it was still one of the most difficult Mega Drive games around. Electronic Games later named it with Raiden and R-Type as shooters with a magic that others lacked.

How it was made

The conversion was done by Toaplan, the arcade developer, after Sega discussed bringing the game to the console. Staff have said the Genesis hardware's restrictions made the work difficult.

What the press said at the time

Mean Machines Sega Issue 3	December 1992	82%
Mega Action Issue 1	June 1993	88%

“It's a good, solid blast which offers plenty o1 action, speed and excitement.”
— Mean Machines, May 1992

“Although original features are distinctly lacking in this vertically scrolling arcade conversion (which incidentally is also known as Tatsujin), it's a good, solid blast which offers plenty of action, speed and excitement.”
— Mean Machines Sega, December 1992

“This has to be one of the most exhilarating shoot'em-ups on the Mega Drive today. It successfully combines frantic action with impressive sound effects and beautifully detailed graphics”
— Mega Action, June 1993

“This has to be one of the most exhilarating shoot'em-ups on the Mega Drive today.”
— Mega Action, August 1993

How the Sega Genesis version differs

Sega Force's 1992 guide pitched the cartridge as the first shooter on the Genesis.

Also on other platforms

Arcade · PC Engine · iOS · Android

Arcade

Toaplan

Arcade. The arcade original was a commercial success in Japan, earning several awards from Gamest, but was less successful in the West with mixed magazine reception.

Before you buy

Among US carts it is one of the pricier ones, well above the middle. The European cart usually costs somewhat less than the US one, and the Japanese cart usually costs noticeably less but has a different cartridge shape. A complete US copy means the case, cartridge and manual.