Play Golden Axe III Online

Golden Axe III came out for the Sega Genesis in 1993, developed by Sega. It was part of that wave of side-scrolling beat 'em ups that felt like a staple of the 16-bit era, a straightforward sequel that didn't try to reinvent the wheel.

You choose from one of four new characters, like the agile panther-man Chronos or the powerful giant Braoude, and set out to defeat the evil Damud Hellstrike. The game plays out screen by screen; you slash through waves of enemies, collect magic potions from little thieves, and unleash screen-clearing special attacks that drain your magic meter. A notable addition lets you occasionally pick between branching paths, offering a small sense of choice in your journey. The pacing is brisk, though the difficulty can feel uneven, with some enemy placements being more frustrating than challenging. It feels like a solid, if slightly unpolished, continuation of the series' simple, satisfying combat loop.