Mortal Kombat Classic
Sega Genesis / Mega Drive · Fighting / Action
Samurai Shodown
Certified classic
| System | Sega Genesis / Mega Drive |
|---|---|
| Released | 1994 |
| Genre | Fighting, Action |
| Developer | SNK |
| Publisher | Saurus |
| Players | 1–2 players |
| Commitment | Quick session (Under an hour, or endless arcade fun) |
| Series | Samurai Shodown |
| ESRB | T |
| Legacy | Certified classic · legacy score 18 |
Developed by SNK and published by Saurus, Samurai Shodown arrived on the Sega Genesis / Mega Drive in 1994 as a fighting game. It blends fighting and action elements.
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 41 Genesis fighting games in our database, it ranks #5 by legacy score.
It is part of the Samurai Shodown series. The series also appears on other systems with Samurai Shodown (Neo Geo) and Samurai Shodown (PS1). SNK also made King of the Monsters, Fatal Fury 2 and Fatal Fury: King of Fighters for the Genesis.
Samurai Shodown supports up to 2 players, whether that means taking turns or going head-to-head.
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 have a friend to play against
- you want to experience one of the Genesis's defining games
Maybe skip it if…
- you prefer story-driven games or have no one to play against
What playing Samurai Shodown is like
Fighting games pit two characters against each other in short one-on-one bouts. Depth comes from learning special moves, combos and each character's strengths.
Tip for newcomers: Pick one character and learn their basic special moves before branching out. Fighting games are at their best against a friend at a similar skill level.
Samurai Shodown cheats & codes
46 codes on file (Action Replay, Emulator memory codes). Here are a few Action Replay codes to start with:
| Infinite Energy P1 | FF483F:80 |
|---|---|
| Infinite Energy P2 | FF498F:80 |
| No Energy P1 | FF483F:00 |
| No Energy P2 | FF498F:00 |
| Full POW Meter P1 | FF4879:21 |
| Full POW Meter P2 | FF49C9:21 |
Samurai Shodown walkthroughs & guides
Stuck, or want to go deeper? These trusted sites have full walkthroughs, completion times and more for Samurai Shodown.
If you like Samurai Shodown, the Matrix also picks…
Mortal Kombat II Classic
Mortal Kombat 3 Classic
Ultimate Mortal Kombat 3 Classic
Fatal Fury: King of Fighters Deep cut
ClayFighter 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.
Samurai Shodown FAQ
When did Samurai Shodown come out on the Genesis?
Samurai Shodown was released for the Sega Genesis / Mega Drive in 1994.
Who made Samurai Shodown?
It was developed by SNK and published by Saurus.
Is Samurai Shodown multiplayer?
Yes. Samurai Shodown supports up to 2 players.
How long does Samurai Shodown take to play?
As a fighting game, Samurai Shodown 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 Samurai Shodown 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.