Golden Axe III Genesis box art

Sega Genesis / Mega Drive · Beat 'em Up / Action

Golden Axe III

Certified classic Co-op

SystemSega Genesis / Mega Drive
Released1993
GenreBeat 'em Up, Action
DeveloperSEGA
PublisherSEGA
Players1–2 players (co-op)
CommitmentQuick session (Under an hour, or endless arcade fun)
SeriesGolden Axe
ESRBE10+
LegacyCertified classic · legacy score 13

Released for the Sega Genesis / Mega Drive in 1993, Golden Axe III is a beat 'em up developed by SEGA. It blends beat 'em up and action elements.

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 34 Genesis beat 'em ups in our database, it ranks #7 by legacy score.

It is part of the Golden Axe series; on the Genesis you can also try Golden Axe and Golden Axe II. The series also appears on other systems with Golden Axe Warrior (Master System) and Golden Axe (C64). SEGA also made Sonic the Hedgehog, Sonic the Hedgehog 2 and Tetris for the Genesis.

Golden Axe III supports up to 2 players, including cooperative play, which makes it a strong pick for playing with a friend.

Pick it if…

  • you want to fight, blast and test your reflexes
  • you have time for a quick session (under an hour, or endless arcade fun)
  • you want a game to beat together with a friend
  • you want to experience one of the Genesis's defining games

Maybe skip it if…

  • you want depth and variety over simple, satisfying brawling

What playing Golden Axe III is like

Beat 'em ups send you down scrolling streets fighting waves of thugs with punches, kicks, throws and grabbed weapons. Most can be finished in a single sitting and shine with a second player.

Tip for newcomers: Avoid getting surrounded: keep enemies on one side of you and save your special attacks for crowds. Bring a friend if the game supports co-op.

Golden Axe III gameplay screenshot on Genesis
In-game screenshot (Genesis)

Golden Axe III cheats & codes

95 codes on file (Action Replay, Other codes). Here are a few Action Replay codes to start with:

Infinite Energy (Take No Damage From Enemies)FFC8E6:3300
Infinite Lives (Player 1)FFC8E0:02
Infinite Lives (Player 2)FFCA40:02
Infinite Health (Player 1)FFC8E6:33
Infinite Health (Player 2)FFCA46:33
Set Max. Health Meter (Player 1)FFC8E8:03

See all Golden Axe III cheats

Golden Axe III walkthroughs & guides

Stuck, or want to go deeper? These trusted sites have full walkthroughs, completion times and more for Golden Axe III.

If you like Golden Axe III, the Matrix also picks…

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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.

Golden Axe III FAQ

When did Golden Axe III come out on the Genesis?

Golden Axe III was released for the Sega Genesis / Mega Drive in 1993.

Who made Golden Axe III?

It was developed by SEGA.

Is Golden Axe III multiplayer?

Yes. Golden Axe III supports up to 2 players, including co-op play.

How long does Golden Axe III take to play?

As a beat 'em up, Golden Axe 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 Golden Axe 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.

Not sure? Let the Matrix pick for you