Golden Axe III Classic Co-op
Sega Genesis / Mega Drive · Beat 'em Up / Action
Golden Axe
Certified classic Co-op
| System | Sega Genesis / Mega Drive |
|---|---|
| Released | 1989 |
| Genre | Beat 'em Up, Action |
| Developer | SEGA |
| Publisher | SEGA |
| Players | 1–2 players (co-op) |
| Commitment | Quick session (Under an hour, or endless arcade fun) |
| Series | Golden Axe |
| ESRB | E |
| Legacy | Certified classic · legacy score 26 |
Golden Axe is a beat 'em up released in 1989 for the Sega Genesis / Mega Drive, developed by SEGA. It blends beat 'em up and action elements.
It belongs to the Genesis's earliest wave of games. Other notable Genesis releases from 1989 include Tetris, Phantasy Star II and Alex Kidd in the Enchanted Castle. Among the 34 Genesis beat 'em ups in our database, it ranks #1 by legacy score.
It is part of the Golden Axe series; on the Genesis you can also try Golden Axe III 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 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 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 cheats & codes
64 codes on file (Action Replay, Other codes). Here are a few Action Replay codes to start with:
| Infinite Lives (On A Real PAR) | FFFE7C:0003 |
|---|---|
| Infinite Lives (Player 1) | FFFE7C:03 |
| Infinite Lives (Player 2) | FFFE8C:03 |
| Infinite Health (Player 1) | FFFE7E:64 |
| Infinite Health (Player 2) | FFFE8E:64 |
| Invincible (Player 1) | FFD003:01 |
Golden Axe walkthroughs & guides
Stuck, or want to go deeper? These trusted sites have full walkthroughs, completion times and more for Golden Axe.
If you like Golden Axe, the Matrix also picks…
Golden Axe II Co-op
Alien Storm Deep cut
Comix Zone Classic
Michael Jackson's Moonwalker Classic Co-op
Streets of Rage Classic Co-op
Streets of Rage 2 Classic Co-op
DJ Boy Deep cut
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 FAQ
When did Golden Axe come out on the Genesis?
Golden Axe was released for the Sega Genesis / Mega Drive in 1989.
Who made Golden Axe?
It was developed by SEGA.
Is Golden Axe multiplayer?
Yes. Golden Axe supports up to 2 players, including co-op play.
How long does Golden Axe take to play?
As a beat 'em up, Golden Axe 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 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.