When did Zero Wing release?

Zero Wing was first released on July 1, 1989.

Zero Wing

Jul 1, 1989ShooterArcadeArcadeLinuxSega Mega Drive/GenesisPC (Microsoft Windows)Mac

Zero Wing — frequently asked questions

What platforms is Zero Wing on?: Zero Wing was released on Arcade, Linux, Sega Mega Drive/Genesis, PC (Microsoft Windows), Mac, Turbografx-16/PC Engine CD, TurboGrafx-CD.
When did Zero Wing release?: Zero Wing was first released on July 1, 1989.

About Zero Wing

Zero Wing is a side-scrolling shoot 'em up arcade game, notable for a poorly translated English version for Sega Mega Drive (Genesis) that spawned the "All your base are belong to us" Internet meme. Gameplay includes novel features such as being able to 'tractor' enemy ships, using them to shield your own.

Summary via IGDB.

Game details

Developer: Toaplan
Publisher: Toaplan
Game modes: Single player, Multiplayer, Co-operative
Themes: Action, Science fiction

Details via IGDB.

Reception

IGDB rating

70/100

from 22 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	1992	$61	$102	—	6 reviews	Medium

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

Collector value & authenticity

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

Loose

$61

Complete

$102

Sealed

—

Other releases and variants

Release	Loose	Complete	Sealed
Japanese release	$54	$114	—

How often it sells

Loose: about once a month
Complete: about 2 times a month
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 $28 in Apr 2018, $37 five years ago, and $61 as of Oct 2026.

Show as table

Month	Loose	Complete
Jan 2019	$29	$54
Jan 2020	$31	$61
Jan 2021	$36	$64
Jan 2022	$41	$70
Jan 2023	$43	$82
Jan 2024	$43	$71
Jan 2025	$39	$91
Jan 2026	$40	$120
Oct 2026	$61	$102

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

Release record

Territory	Date	Product number	Barcode	Known board
Europe / PAL	July 1992	—	4974365611385	171-5978BA
Japan	31 May 1991	T-40023	4988759911036	171-5978BA

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: EU+JP
Released: 1992
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 tough, enjoyable Toaplan shooter that originally came out in Japan and Europe and is one of the pricier European carts.

Zero Wing is a horizontally scrolling shooter from Toaplan. The Mega Drive version came out in Japan on 31 May 1991, with Toaplan publishing, and in Europe in July 1992, with Sega publishing. The European game later became widely known for the badly translated introductory cutscene behind the "All your base are belong to us" internet meme.

Mean Machines Sega called it a tough and thoroughly enjoyable scrolling shoot 'em up.

What the press said at the time

MegaTech Issue 18	June 1993	OVERALL 82%
MegaTech Issue 19	July 1993	89%
MegaTech Issue 24	December 1993	82%
Mega Drive Advanced Gaming Issue 17	January 1994	72%
MegaTech Issue 26	February 1994	90%
MegaTech Issue 27	March 1994	83%

“One of the best Megadrive biasts iti ages. Wetl worttf saving up for!”
— Mean Machines, July 1991

“Zero Wing cannot be faulted ... This game is lust a pleasure to playl”
— Computer + Video Games, August 1991

“Still, it is none the less a very playable shoot 'em up and at half price is definitely worthy of consideration.”
— MegaTech, June 1993

“A really lovely, playable shoot-’em-up, but way too easy for all but the most unco-ordinated.”
— Mega, July 1993

How the Sega Genesis version differs

Mean Machines Sega called the Mega Drive game a tough and thoroughly enjoyable shoot 'em up and scored it 91 percent.

Sega Force's reviewer thought the Mega Drive game a trifle easy, with three difficulty levels and infinite continues.

The Mega Drive version was later released in North America by Retro-Bit in 2020.

Also on other platforms

Arcade · PC Engine CD-ROM² · TurboGrafx-CD

Arcade

Toaplan

TurboGrafx-CD. In the PC Engine version the villain organization CATS is called Abigor.
Arcade. Depending on the arcade settings, a downed player either restarts from a checkpoint or respawns where they died.

Before you buy

There is no original US cartridge; the European or Japanese cart is the one to look for. Among European-only carts it is one of the pricier ones. The Japanese loose cart usually costs a little less than the European one, while a complete Japanese copy usually costs a little more, and it has a different cartridge shape. Since it is worth checking carefully, compare a photo of the board with the board listed on this page.