Play Golden Axe Online

Golden Axe came out on the Sega Genesis in 1989, developed and published by Sega. It was one of those games that felt like a direct arcade translation, something the Genesis did well in its early years, offering a solid side-scrolling brawler you could play at home.

You choose from three characters: a barbarian with a broadsword, an amazon with a long blade, or a dwarf with a battle axe. Your goal is to fight through screen after screen of enemies to rescue the king and princess from the villain Death Adder. The combat is simple but satisfying, built around attacking, jumping, and using magic that drains collected potions. One of the best mechanics is stealing magic potions from little gnome-like thieves who scurry across the screen; another is the ability to ride creatures like fire-breathing dragons that you can knock enemy riders off of. The game moves at a brisk pace, and the difficulty feels fair, though it gets tough near the end. It feels like a straightforward, cooperative hack-and-slash that holds up because the action is immediate and fun.