Alex Kidd

Forgotten Games · 1986

Published 19 August 2026

Sega released Alex Kidd in Miracle World for the Sega Mark III on 1 November 1986. Alex travelled through colourful stages by running, jumping and punching enemies, with vehicles and purchased items changing the pace along the way. Even its boss encounters could turn into games of rock-paper-scissors rather than conventional fights.

Why It Mattered

The game gave Sega an early home-console mascot before Sonic arrived. Its mixture of platforming, vehicles, shops and strange boss contests gave Alex Kidd a personality of his own, strong enough for the original adventure to be preserved and revisited decades later.

Original Release

- The game was released for the Sega Mark III on 1 November 1986.
- Sega classifies it as a single-player action game.

Core Play

- Alex breaks blocks and defeats enemies with the game's punching technique.
- The movement and stage mechanics also include swimming.
- Money collected in stages buys items and vehicles, including a motorcycle and small helicopter.

Boss and Reissue Structure

- Boss encounters include rock-paper-scissors contests where a loss ends the game.
- The 2019 Sega Ages release includes an original mode and a separate assisted mode.

Associated With

Sega - creator or operator

Defining Feature

Side-scrolling action built around punching, vehicles and rock-paper-scissors boss contests

Status

Preserved - Original Sega Mark III game preserved through Sega's archive and a 2019 Sega Ages release

Primary Records

- **Sega Ages: Alex Kidd in Miracle World**
- **Masterpiece Album Vol. 4: Alex Kidd in Miracle World**

Image Sources

- **Alex Kidd in Miracle World — Alamy 2CBXP80**
- **Credit:** ArcadeImages / Alamy Stock Photo.
- **Capture date:** 4 June 2020.
- **Licence:** Purchased Alamy rights-managed licence for editorial use. Licence terms.

Rights Notice

The image is used under a purchased Alamy licence for editorial use. Forgotten Archive's licence does not grant permission for third-party reuse.

Rights holders may contact Forgotten Archive through the publishing account to request a credit correction or removal.