When did Waterworld release?

Waterworld was first released on December 31, 1995.

Waterworld

Dec 31, 1995ShooterPlatformArcadeSuper Nintendo Entertainment System Sega Mega Drive/Genesis

Waterworld — frequently asked questions

What platforms is Waterworld on?: Waterworld was released on Super Nintendo Entertainment System, Sega Mega Drive/Genesis.
When did Waterworld release?: Waterworld was first released on December 31, 1995.

About Waterworld

In Waterworld, you play from an overhead/isometric perspective controlling the Mariner's boat on the ocean. The point of the game is to destroy the Smokers' boats and dive for sunken artifacts, at which point the game switches to a side on perspective so that the player can directly control the Mariner underwater.

Summary via IGDB.

Game details

Platforms: Super Nintendo Entertainment System, Sega Mega Drive/Genesis
Developer: DMA Design
Publisher: Ocean Software
Game modes: Single player
Themes: Action, Science fiction
Series: Waterworld

Details via IGDB.

Reception

IGDB rating

53/100

from 5 ratings

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: Super Nintendo Entertainment System · Sega Mega Drive/Genesis. 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	March 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

An Ocean movie tie-in that reached Genesis owners only as a Sega Channel download.

Waterworld is Ocean's Genesis adaptation of the 1995 Kevin Costner film, developed by Data Design Interactive and a port of Ocean's Super NES version. It came to North America in March 1996 only through the Sega Channel download service, not on a cartridge. Sega Pro reported that Ocean was working on a Mega Drive conversion of the film.

What the press said at the time

“For a Genesis title, the graphics look really good, and the sound is well above average.”
— Electronic Gaming Monthly, December 1995

Before you buy

There was no retail Genesis cartridge, so treat any cartridge offered as the Genesis Waterworld with suspicion and ask the seller exactly what it is before paying.