The Terminator Genesis box art

Sega Genesis / Mega Drive · Shoot 'em Up / Platformer

The Terminator

Deep cut

SystemSega Genesis / Mega Drive
Released1992
GenreShoot 'em Up, Platformer
DeveloperProbe Software
PublisherVirgin
Players1 player
CommitmentQuick session (Under an hour, or endless arcade fun)
SeriesTerminator
LegacyDeep cut · legacy score 5

Released for the Sega Genesis / Mega Drive in 1992, The Terminator is a shoot 'em up developed by Probe Software and published by Virgin. It blends shoot 'em up and platformer elements.

It landed about 3 years into the Genesis's life. Other notable Genesis releases from 1992 include Sonic the Hedgehog 2, Lemmings and Streets of Rage 2.

It is part of the Terminator series; on the Genesis you can also try Terminator 2: Judgment Day and Terminator 2. The series also appears on other systems with The Terminator (Master System) and Terminator 2: Judgment Day (NES). Probe Software also made Back to the Future Part III, Stargate and The Pagemaster for the Genesis.

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

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've played the Genesis hits and want something less obvious

Maybe skip it if…

  • you dislike high difficulty and screens full of bullets
  • you are looking for something to play with friends

What playing The Terminator is like

Shoot 'em ups (shmups) put you in a ship facing waves of enemies and bullets. Runs are short and intense, and the goal is to survive, collect power-ups and push your high score.

Tip for newcomers: Focus on your ship's small hitbox rather than the flood of bullets, and learn which power-ups suit each stage. Most shmups are designed to be replayed many times.

The Terminator gameplay screenshot on Genesis
In-game screenshot (Genesis)

The Terminator cheats & codes

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

Unlimited BombsFFFF20:0400
Unlimited HealthFF147C:001F
Infinite Health (Official Code)FF147D:001F
Have Machine Gun (Future)FFFE34:01
Infinite EnergyFF1475:1F
Infinite BombsFFFF20:09

See all The Terminator cheats

The Terminator walkthroughs & guides

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

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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.

The Terminator FAQ

When did The Terminator come out on the Genesis?

The Terminator was released for the Sega Genesis / Mega Drive in 1992.

Who made The Terminator?

It was developed by Probe Software and published by Virgin.

Is The Terminator multiplayer?

No. The Terminator is a single-player game.

How long does The Terminator take to play?

As a shoot 'em up, The Terminator 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 The Terminator 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