The Sega Genesis Mini, called the Mega Drive Mini in areas outside North America, is a special-purpose console designed to resemble the original Sega Genesis. It uses software to copy the original console's 16-bit technology and includes 42 games provided by M2 through emulation. The Mini was released in North America and Japan in September 2019 and in Europe and the Middle East in October 2019. A later version, the Sega Genesis Mini 2, was released in October 2022 and features 60 games from the Genesis and Sega CD.
Hardware and accessories
The Mini is half the size of the original Sega Genesis. Inside the Mini is a special chip called the ZUIKI Z7213, which is based on ARM technology, and it has 512 MB of flash memory. This chip includes four central processing cores called ARM Cortex-A7 and a graphics processing unit called ARM Mali 400 MP2. The Mini has 512 MB of flash storage and 256 MB of DDR3 memory. It includes one or two full-size replica controllers, depending on the region’s bundle options. These controllers connect through USB, which means the original controllers are not compatible. It also includes a USB-to-Micro-B power cable (called a USB AC adapter in North America) and an HDMI video cable. Separate versions of the Mini are released for North America, Europe, Asia, and Japan, as the Mini reproduces the original console’s decal and color variations from those regions. Korea is an exception because the Mega Drive was sold there by Samsung under different names, such as Super Gam*Boy and Super Aladdin Boy, and these names are not on the Korean Mini.
All games on the Mini have a feature that allows players to pause and continue their progress later. Games can be played in the original 4:3 aspect ratio with optional background images or stretched to 16:9 widescreen, with on-screen elements adjusted to fit the screen. Some games have different versions based on the region, which can be accessed by changing the system’s language settings. For example, switching the system language from English to Japanese changes the game Dr. Robotnik's Mean Bean Machine into Puyo Puyo.
The North American and European versions of the Genesis Mini come with two three-button controllers, while the Japanese version includes two six-button controllers. Official six-button controllers made specifically for the Mini are also sold separately in North America and Europe. In Japan, additional accessories were sold separately, including miniature replicas of the Mega-CD, Super 32X, Sonic & Knuckles lock-on Genesis cartridge, and Sonic the Hedgehog standard Mega Drive cartridge. Miniature versions of the Sega CD and Sega 32X were also made for North America and Europe but were only given to select members of the media.
The Mini 2 system is based on the Mega Drive 2 version of the original console. It comes with over 50 games and one six-button controller in all regions. It uses the same type of chip as the first Mini but has more memory and storage. In addition to the first Mini’s features, the Mini 2 can emulate the sound outputs of the original Genesis or Genesis 2. Like the original Mega Drive Mini, Japan released accessories for the Mini 2, including miniature versions of the Mega-CD 2, Virtua Racing cartridge, and Sonic CD disc. These accessories are compatible with the first Mega Drive Mini and its accessories. A USB-powered Cyber Stick controller, based on the original flight stick made by Sharp, was also released in Japan with the Mini 2. This controller provides analog input for games like After Burner II, Night Striker, and Starblade.
Games
The Sega Genesis Mini includes 40 games from the Sega Genesis library. The selection of these games may change based on where you live. The system also includes two extra games, Darius and Tetris, which are new versions created specifically for the Mini and were never released for the original Sega Genesis console.
The Sega Genesis Mini 2 contains 53 games that were available for the Genesis and the Sega CD, an extra device that connects to the Genesis. Like the original Mini, the Mini 2 also includes seven additional games that were not released for the Genesis, such as games that were never made public and new versions of arcade games.
Production and release
The Sega Genesis Mini was first introduced at the Sega Fes event in April 2018. This announcement was part of a pattern of creating smaller versions of classic video game consoles. The release was delayed in September 2018 and missed the console’s 30th-anniversary celebration. At that time, Sega ended its partnership with AtGames, a company whose 2017 Sega Genesis Flashback console received poor reviews for its quality. Instead of using AtGames’s software for a Japan-only version, Sega produced the Mini itself. The system was released globally on September 19, 2019, except in Europe and the Middle East, where it was delayed until October 4, 2019, because of distribution problems.
M2, a company that previously worked with Sega on the Sega Ages and Sega 3D Classics Collection series, created the Mini’s game versions. Sega focused on high-quality production in its marketing for the Mini, as the company returned to making hardware after its last console, the Sega Dreamcast, was released in 2001. The menu music was composed by Yuzo Koshiro, who also created the music for the compilation’s games Beyond Oasis, Streets of Rage 2, and The Revenge of Shinobi. By the end of March 2020, the Sega Genesis Mini had sold more than 300,000 units.
A later version, the Sega Genesis Mini 2, was released worldwide on October 27, 2022. Koshiro composed the menu music for this version as well.