Phantasy Star IV Genesis box art

Sega Genesis / Mega Drive · RPG

Phantasy Star IV

Certified classic

SystemSega Genesis / Mega Drive
Released1994
GenreRPG
DeveloperSEGA
PublisherSEGA
Players1 player
CommitmentEpic journey (20+ hours of adventure)
SeriesPhantasy Star
ESRBE10+
LegacyCertified classic · legacy score 12

Developed by SEGA, Phantasy Star IV arrived on the Sega Genesis / Mega Drive in 1994 as a role-playing game.

It landed about 5 years into the Genesis's life. Other notable Genesis releases from 1994 include Sonic the Hedgehog 3, Mortal Kombat II and FIFA International Soccer. Among the 37 Genesis RPGs in our database, it ranks #6 by legacy score.

It is part of the Phantasy Star series; on the Genesis you can also try Phantasy Star II and Phantasy Star III. The series also appears on other systems with Phantasy Star (Master System) and Phantasy Star Online (Dreamcast). SEGA also made Sonic the Hedgehog, Sonic the Hedgehog 2 and Tetris for the Genesis.

This is a solo experience: one player, no waiting on anyone else.

Pick it if…

  • you want to get lost in a long quest
  • you have time for an epic journey (20+ hours of adventure)
  • you want to experience one of the Genesis's defining games

Maybe skip it if…

  • you want instant action rather than menus, story and grinding
  • you are looking for something to play with friends
  • you only have a few minutes at a time

What playing Phantasy Star IV is like

Role-playing games trade reflexes for strategy and story. You build a party, level up, manage equipment and travel across a large world, usually through menu-based battles.

Tip for newcomers: Retro RPGs can require some level grinding and rarely tell you exactly where to go next. Talk to every townsperson, save often and use a guide if you get stuck: there is no shame in it.

Phantasy Star IV gameplay screenshot on Genesis
In-game screenshot (Genesis)

Phantasy Star IV cheats & codes

614 codes on file (Emulator memory codes). Here are a few Emulator memory codes codes to start with:

Have Infinite/Lots MesetaFFF43A:00FF
1st Item Slot 1FFF410:00BE
2nd Item Slot 2FFF410:0000
No Random AttacksFFECE4:000A
Bookoo Exp.FFF58A:00FF
High STRFFF598:00FF

See all Phantasy Star IV cheats

Phantasy Star IV walkthroughs & guides

Stuck, or want to go deeper? These trusted sites have full walkthroughs, completion times and more for Phantasy Star IV.

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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.

Phantasy Star IV FAQ

When did Phantasy Star IV come out on the Genesis?

Phantasy Star IV was released for the Sega Genesis / Mega Drive in 1994.

Who made Phantasy Star IV?

It was developed by SEGA.

Is Phantasy Star IV multiplayer?

No. Phantasy Star IV is a single-player game.

How long does Phantasy Star IV take to play?

As a role-playing game, Phantasy Star IV typically falls into the "Epic journey" category: 20+ hours of adventure. Your time will vary with skill and how much you explore.

Read more about Phantasy Star IV 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