Sega Genesis / Mega Drive · Puzzle
Columns III
| System | Sega Genesis / Mega Drive |
|---|---|
| Released | 1993 |
| Genre | Puzzle |
| Developer | Tokai Engineering |
| Publisher | SEGA |
| Players | 1–5 players |
| Commitment | Quick session (Under an hour, or endless arcade fun) |
| Series | Columns |
| ESRB | E |
| Legacy | Well-known · legacy score 9 |
Columns III is a puzzle game released in 1993 for the Sega Genesis / Mega Drive, developed by Tokai Engineering and published by SEGA.
It landed about 4 years into the Genesis's life. Other notable Genesis releases from 1993 include Mortal Kombat, Flashback and Sonic the Hedgehog Spinball. Among the 25 Genesis puzzle games in our database, it ranks #7 by legacy score.
It is part of the Columns series; on the Genesis you can also try Columns and Columns III: Taiketsu! Columns World. The series also appears on other systems with Columns (Master System) and Columns (TurboGrafx-16). Tokai Engineering also made Trouble Shooter and Kick Off 3: European Challenge for the Genesis.
Columns III supports up to 5 players, whether that means taking turns or going head-to-head.
Pick it if…
- you want to think and plan
- you have time for a quick session (under an hour, or endless arcade fun)
- you have a friend to play against
Maybe skip it if…
- you want story, exploration or action
What playing Columns III is like
Puzzle games challenge pattern recognition, planning and quick thinking, from falling-block games to single-screen logic puzzles.
Tip for newcomers: Puzzle games are perfect for short sessions and often have endless or score-attack modes, so they never really end.
Columns III cheats & codes
45 codes on file (Other codes). Here are a few Other codes codes to start with:
| Attacks always remove 1 row | P5ZA-BGV2 |
|---|---|
| Attacks always remove 2 rows | P5ZA-BLV2 |
| Attacks always remove 3 rows | P5ZA-BRV2 |
| Attacks always remove 4 rows | P5ZA-BWV2 |
| Attacks always remove 5 rows | P5ZA-B0V2 |
| Attacks always remove 6 rows | P5ZA-B4V2 |
Columns III walkthroughs & guides
Stuck, or want to go deeper? These trusted sites have full walkthroughs, completion times and more for Columns III.
If you like Columns III, the Matrix also picks…
Columns Classic Co-op
Lemmings Classic
Tetris Classic
Dr. Robotnik's Mean Bean Machine Classic
Sonic Eraser Classic
Playing Genesis games today
Genesis games are fast and immediate, and many are made for two players. Official collections and Nintendo Switch Online carry a big slice of the library, and Rec0m88 can run your own Genesis backups with online netplay.
Columns III FAQ
When did Columns III come out on the Genesis?
Columns III was released for the Sega Genesis / Mega Drive in 1993.
Who made Columns III?
It was developed by Tokai Engineering and published by SEGA.
Is Columns III multiplayer?
Yes. Columns III supports up to 5 players.
How long does Columns III take to play?
As a puzzle game, Columns III typically falls into the "Quick session" category: under an hour, or endless arcade fun. Your time will vary with skill and how much you explore.
Read more about Columns III on Wikipedia. Facts on this page are compiled from the open libretro database and Wikidata; "legacy score" reflects how widely a game is documented across Wikipedia's language editions. Spotted an error? Let us know.