The

Sega CD The Sega CD, released as the in most regions outside North America and Brazil, is a CD-ROM accessory for the Sega Genesis produced by Sega as part of the fourth generation of video game consoles. It was released on December 12, 1991, in Japan ...

, originally released as the in most regions outside of North America and Brazil, is an add-on device for the

Sega Genesis The Sega Genesis, known as the outside North America, is a 16-bit Fourth generation of video game consoles, fourth generation home video game console developed and sold by Sega. It was Sega's third console and the successor to the Master Syst ...

video game console A video game console is an electronic device that outputs a video signal or image to display a video game that can be played with a game controller. These may be home consoles, which are generally placed in a permanent location connected to ...

, designed and produced by

Sega is a Japanese multinational video game and entertainment company headquartered in Shinagawa, Tokyo. Its international branches, Sega of America and Sega Europe, are headquartered in Irvine, California and London, respectively. Its division ...

. It was released in Japan in 1991, North America in 1992 and in

PAL Phase Alternating Line (PAL) is a colour encoding system for analogue television. It was one of three major analogue colour television standards, the others being NTSC and SECAM. In most countries it was broadcast at 625 lines, 50 fields (25 ...

regions in 1993. The device adds a

CD-ROM A CD-ROM (, compact disc read-only memory) is a type of read-only memory consisting of a pre-pressed optical compact disc that contains data. Computers can read—but not write or erase—CD-ROMs. Some CDs, called enhanced CDs, hold both com ...

drive to the console, allowing the user to play CD-based games and providing additional hardware functionality. It can also play audio CDs and

CD+G CD+G (also known as CD-G, CD+Graphics and TV-Graphics) is an extension of the compact disc standard that can present low-resolution graphics alongside the audio data on the disc when played on a compatible device. CD+G discs are often used for ...

discs. While the add-on did contain a faster

central processing unit A central processing unit (CPU), also called a central processor, main processor or just processor, is the electronic circuitry that executes instructions comprising a computer program. The CPU performs basic arithmetic, logic, controlling, a ...

than the Genesis, as well as some enhanced graphics capabilities, the main focus of the device was to expand the size of games. Known for several games such as ''

Sonic CD is a 1993 platform game for the Sega CD developed and published by Sega. The story follows Sonic the Hedgehog as he attempts to save an extraterrestrial body, Little Planet, from Doctor Robotnik. Like other ''Sonic'' games, Sonic runs and ...

'' and for the controversy of violent video games including '' Night Trap'', the Sega CD sold 2.24 million units worldwide. It was officially discontinued in 1996. Among the titles released for the Sega CD were a number of FMV games, including '' Sewer Shark'' and ''

Fahrenheit The Fahrenheit scale () is a temperature scale based on one proposed in 1724 by the physicist Daniel Gabriel Fahrenheit (1686–1736). It uses the degree Fahrenheit (symbol: °F) as the unit. Several accounts of how he originally defined hi ...

''. Well-known titles include the critically acclaimed ''Sonic CD'' and '' Lunar: Eternal Blue'', as well as the controversial ''Night Trap'', which resulted in Congressional hearings on video game violence. The Sega CD also received enhanced ports of games from the Genesis, including ''

Batman Returns ''Batman Returns'' is a 1992 American superhero film directed by Tim Burton and written by Daniel Waters. Based on the DC Comics character Batman, it is the sequel to ''Batman'' (1989) and the second installment in the 1989–1997 ''Batman ...

'' and '' Ecco the Dolphin''. Included in this library are six games which, while receiving individual Sega CD releases, also received separate versions that utilized both the Sega CD and

Sega 32X The 32X is an add-on for the Sega Genesis video game console. Codenamed "Project Mars", it was designed to expand the power of the Genesis and serve as a transitional console into the 32-bit era until the release of the Sega Saturn. The 32X us ...

add-ons. In particular, ''Sonic CD'' has been noted for its excellent graphics and new

time travel Time travel is the concept of movement between certain points in time, analogous to movement between different points in space by an object or a person, typically with the use of a hypothetical device known as a time machine. Time travel is a ...

elements without changing the traditional ''Sonic'' formula. However, given the large amount of FMV games and Genesis ports, the Sega CD's game library has been criticized for its lack of depth. Full motion video quality was poor on the Sega CD due to poor video compression software and the system's limited color palette, and the concept never caught on with the public. Likewise, most Genesis ports for the Sega CD added in additional full motion video sequences, extra levels, and enhanced audio, but were otherwise the same game as the Genesis release. The video in these sequences have also been criticized, with the quality being considered comparable to an old VHS tape. The following list contains all of the games released on the Sega CD. Of these games, there are six titles (marked with a ^† in the title for the game) that were also released in formats that used a combination of the Sega CD and the Sega 32X. All release years given are for the earliest release of the games, which have been sold in several regions around the world, including Japan, North America, and Europe. A total of titles are listed. 57 were released only in Japan, 39 were released only in North America, and 5 were released only in Europe.

Games

Non-game software

References

{{Video game lists by platform *

Games

Non-game software

See also

References