The Sega Genesis Mini, called the Mega Drive Mini in areas outside North America, is a special console designed to resemble the original Sega Genesis. It copies the original console's 16-bit hardware and includes 42 games provided through M2's emulation software. It was released in North America and Japan in September 2019 and in Europe and the Middle East in October 2019. A newer version, the Sega Genesis Mini 2, was released in October 2022 and includes 60 games from the Genesis and Sega CD.

Hardware and accessories

The Sega Genesis Mini is half the size of the original Sega Genesis console. Inside the Mini is a special processor called the ZUIKI Z7213, which is based on ARM technology. It has 512 MB of flash memory, which includes four central processing cores and a graphics processing unit. The Mini also has 512 MB of flash storage and 256 MB of DDR3 memory. It comes with one or two full-size replica controllers, depending on the region. These controllers connect through USB, which means the original controllers cannot be used. The Mini 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 available for North America, Europe, Asia, and Japan. These versions match the original console's decal and color designs for each region. In Korea, the Mini does not include the names "Super Gam*Boy" or "Super Aladdin Boy," as the Mega Drive was previously sold there under different names by Samsung.

All games on the Mini include a save state feature, which allows players to pause and resume their progress. 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 language from English to Japanese changes the game "Dr. Robotnik's Mean Bean Machine" to "Puyo Puyo."

The North American and European versions of the Genesis Mini come with two three-button controllers. The Japanese version includes two six-button controllers. Official six-button controllers designed 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 replicas of the Sega CD and Sega 32X were also made for North America and Europe but were only given to select media members.

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 processor chip as the first Mini but has more memory and storage. In addition to the features of the first Mini, the Mini 2 can also emulate the sound outputs of the original Genesis or Genesis 2. In Japan, a set of accessories was released with the Mini 2, including miniature replicas 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. 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 original Sega Genesis system. The selection of games may change based on the region where the Mini is sold. In addition to these games, the Mini also includes two bonus games, Darius and Tetris, which are new versions created specifically for the Mini system and were not available on the original console.

The Sega Genesis Mini 2 includes 53 games that were released for both the Genesis and the Sega CD, an extra device that worked with the Genesis. Like the original Mini, the Mini 2 also includes seven additional games that were never released for the Genesis system. These games include titles that were not made public before and new versions of games from arcades.

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, missing the 30th anniversary of the original Sega Genesis console. 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 ports. Sega highlighted its own production standards in its marketing, as the company returned to making hardware after its last console, the Sega Dreamcast, was released in 2001. The menu music for the Mini was composed by Yuzo Koshiro, who also wrote 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.