Sega Genesis Mini 2 Release Date, Games, And Controllers - What We Know So Far

Originally released in 1988, the Sega Genesis — known as the Mega Drive outside of North America — marked a pivotal point in gaming history. The console served as a launching pad for many IPs that would eventually become legends, such as "Mortal Kombat" and "Sonic the Hedgehog." Though it never quite reached the success of the rival Nintendo NES, the Genesis and all of its versions gained a huge following and a massive collection of classic games that are still revered today.

To capitalize on this love and nostalgia for retro experiences, Sega released the Sega Genesis Mini in 2019, which is essentially an emulator console that can play a wide selection of the original Genesis offerings on identical software and hardware. Three years later, Sega will release a successor, the Sega Genesis Mini 2, which not only builds on the selection of classic Genesis games that can be enjoyed in their original format, but also give players a wider range of peripherals and more powerful hardware.

According to the information in a promotional video released by Sega, the Genesis Mini 2 will hit stores on October 27, 2022. Like its predecessor, the Sega Genesis Mini 2 will have the ability to play entries available on both the original Genesis and the Sega CD system. The console will be contain more upgraded hardware than the original Mini, have a more compact design, and store even more games.

Pre-orders for the Sega Genesis Mini 2 have already gone live. Currently, the retro console is listed at $103.80 on Amazon. When factoring in the $21.99 it costs to ship the system over from Japan, it will come in just shy of $126 total. This puts the Sega Genesis Mini 2 at a steeper price than the first version of the mini console, which was $79.99 at release (via TechSpot).

According to Sega's official website, 23 titles have been announced as compatible with the Sega Genesis Mini 2. The list consists of classics such as "Sonic CD" — arguably one of the best entries in the "Sonic" series — and "Virtua Racing," among others. In total, Sega promises to have over 50 games pre-loaded and available in its library, including a never-before released bonus title being made available to the public for the first time ever.

By comparison, the original Sega Genesis Mini had a library of 42 games, depending on what region you were in. Adding more options, as well as Sega CD titles, is a good move on behalf of Sega and serves consumers who wish to play Genesis titles as they were originally intended to be experienced.

Not only is the Sega Genesis Mini 2 offering a slew of beloved and classic games to make it a clear step up from its predecessor, it seems Sega has also taken the same approach when it comes to the accessories. While the standard Genesis controller came with a three-button layout in 1988, Sega later released a six-button controller to help with arcade-style offerings that, to this day, stands out among the best gamepads ever released according to Sega-16.

While the Sega Genesis Mini shipped with the standard three-button controller, the Genesis Mini 2 will contain a single six-button controller. Should players prefer the original three-button layout from the first Mini, that controller will also be supported. This gives the Genesis Mini 2 a huge advantage over its predecessor, as being compatible with extra peripherals — and many more titles — could very well make the console more worth it to any undecided buyer.