Golden Axe
Golden Axe is a 1989 beat 'em up developed by Sega, first as an arcade hit and then ported widely, including to the Genesis. Set in a sword-and-sorcery world, it lets players choose among a barbarian, a dwarf, and an amazon warrior to avenge fallen loved ones against the tyrant Death Adder.
Combat mixed melee strikes with powerful magic spells, fueled by potion vials stolen from little thieves who scurried through camps between stages. A signature feature was the ability to mount fire-breathing and tail-swiping creatures, turning the tide against crowds of enemies. Each hero commanded magic of differing strength, adding a light layer of character choice to the cooperative action.
The fantasy setting and two-player play made it an arcade favorite that helped popularize the genre. Golden Axe spawned sequels and appears across numerous Sega compilations and classic-game services, where its straightforward, satisfying hack-and-slash still entertains.
Play it today
Modern alternatives to Golden Axe, with the devices they run on and their price. Ordered editorially by how well each one stands in for the original, with community votes weighted in as they accumulate.
Prices, platform availability and Steam Deck compatibility can change at any time. Always check the store page before buying.
Wonder Boy: The Dragon's Trap Indie
€ 19,99A gorgeous indie remake of the classic Sega fantasy action series.
Wonder Boy: The Dragon's Trap runs on PC, Mac, Linux, PlayStation, Xbox, Switch. Not available on iPhone, iPad, Android phone, Android tablet. It is Steam Deck Verified.
Battle Axe Indie
€ 26,99A pixel-art top-down hack and slash made as an explicit tribute to the arcade fantasy games.
Battle Axe runs on PC, Mac, Linux, PlayStation, Xbox, Switch. Not available on iPhone, iPad, Android phone, Android tablet. It is Steam Deck Verified.
SEGA Genesis Classics
€ 29,99The official collection featuring Golden Axe and dozens of Genesis hits.
SEGA Genesis Classics runs on PC, Mac, Linux, PlayStation, Xbox, Switch. Not available on iPhone, iPad, Android phone, Android tablet. It is Steam Deck Verified.
Baldur's Gate: Dark Alliance
€ 29,99A fantasy hack-and-slash with cooperative dungeon crawling.
Baldur's Gate: Dark Alliance runs on PC, Mac, Linux, PlayStation, Xbox, Switch. Not available on iPhone, iPad, Android phone, Android tablet. It is Steam Deck Verified.
Dungeons & Dragons: Chronicles of Mystara
€ 14,99Two arcade D&D brawlers with four-player co-op, the fantasy beat 'em up at its peak.
Dungeons & Dragons: Chronicles of Mystara runs on PC. Not available on Mac, Linux, iPhone, iPad, Android phone, Android tablet, PlayStation, Xbox, Switch. It is Steam Deck Playable.
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