Sonic the Hedgehog 2 Classic Co-op
Sega Genesis / Mega Drive · Platformer / Adventure
The Pirates of Dark Water
| System | Sega Genesis / Mega Drive |
|---|---|
| Released | 1994 |
| Genre | Platformer, Adventure |
| Developer | Iguana Entertainment |
| Publisher | Sunsoft |
| Players | 1 player |
| Commitment | An evening or two (Roughly 1–6 hours to see it through) |
| Series | The Pirates of Dark Water |
| Legacy | Deep cut · legacy score 2 |
Released for the Sega Genesis / Mega Drive in 1994, The Pirates of Dark Water is a platformer developed by Iguana Entertainment and published by Sunsoft. It blends platformer and adventure 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.
It is part of the The Pirates of Dark Water series. The series also appears on other systems with The Pirates of Dark Water (SNES). Iguana Entertainment also made NBA Jam, Aero the Acro-Bat and Batman Forever for the Genesis.
This is a solo experience: one player, no waiting on anyone else.
Pick it if…
- you want to run, jump and explore
- you have time for an evening or two (roughly 1–6 hours to see it through)
- you've played the Genesis hits and want something less obvious
Maybe skip it if…
- you get frustrated by precise jumps and limited lives
- you are looking for something to play with friends
What playing The Pirates of Dark Water is like
Platformers are all about movement: running, jumping and timing your way across levels full of gaps, enemies and secrets. The best ones feel great to control within seconds and then slowly teach you to master every leap.
Tip for newcomers: Retro platformers often have limited lives and few checkpoints. Learn one level at a time, look for hidden 1-ups, and don't be shy about using a save feature when it is available.
The Pirates of Dark Water cheats & codes
75 codes on file (Action Replay, Other codes). Here are a few Action Replay codes to start with:
| Invincible | FF21200100 |
|---|---|
| Infinite Energy | FF0F667F00 |
| Max Energy | FF0F6A7F00 |
| Infinite Lives | FF0EF6FF09 |
| Infinite Daggers/Arrows/Magic | FF0CD09900 |
| Infinite Gold Coins | FF0CD69900 |
The Pirates of Dark Water walkthroughs & guides
Stuck, or want to go deeper? These trusted sites have full walkthroughs, completion times and more for The Pirates of Dark Water.
If you like The Pirates of Dark Water, the Matrix also picks…
Sonic the Hedgehog Classic
Sonic the Hedgehog 3 Classic
Aero the Acro-Bat Classic
Flink Deep cut
Sonic & Knuckles Classic
Crystal's Pony Tale 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.
The Pirates of Dark Water FAQ
When did The Pirates of Dark Water come out on the Genesis?
The Pirates of Dark Water was released for the Sega Genesis / Mega Drive in 1994.
Who made The Pirates of Dark Water?
It was developed by Iguana Entertainment and published by Sunsoft.
Is The Pirates of Dark Water multiplayer?
No. The Pirates of Dark Water is a single-player game.
How long does The Pirates of Dark Water take to play?
As a platformer, The Pirates of Dark Water typically falls into the "An evening or two" category: roughly 1–6 hours to see it through. Your time will vary with skill and how much you explore.
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.