Golden Axe III

The Golden Axe saga reaches its conclusion with the deepest combat in the series. Golden Axe III is Sega's 1993 Genesis finale — adding new heroes, branching paths, blocks, and team attacks to the classic hack-and-slash formula. Originally a Japan-and-Sega-Channel rarity, the finale is here to play at no cost, with nothing to install and none of the collector's premium a real copy commands. Pick your warrior, hit the Play button, and lift the Prince of Darkness's curse. Here's your guide.

What Is Golden Axe III?

Golden Axe III is a side-scrolling hack-and-slash released by Sega in 1993 for the Sega Genesis / Mega Drive. It's the final installment of the console Golden Axe trilogy and the most mechanically expanded — adding new moves, branching routes, and cooperative team magic. (The cartridge originally launched in Japan, with the North American release coming via the Sega Channel service, which makes it the rarest of the three.)

The story raises the fantasy stakes: Damud Hellbringer, the Prince of Darkness, has seized the Golden Axe and cursed the land's warriors. One hero is freed from the curse and sets out to release the others, defeat the villain, and return the axe.

Characters

Golden Axe III introduces new heroes alongside familiar archetypes:

• Kain Grinder — a swordsman in the mold of Ax Battler (called Ax Battler in the Sega Channel localization).
• Sahra Burn — a swordswoman resembling Tyris Flare; can double jump and wall jump.
• Chronos "Evil" Rait — a humanoid black panther warrior, agile with double and wall jumps.
• Proud Cragger — a giant with brute strength and a devastating air-slam throw.

Gilius Thunderhead from the earlier games appears in cutscenes but isn't playable. Two players can team up for cooperative attacks and shared magic, and each hero carries a unique super move — Proud's brutal air-slam, Chronos's lunging leap, and screen-crossing projectiles for the swordfighters — so picking a character is as much about playstyle as appearance.

What's New in Golden Axe III

This finale gives the heroes by far their biggest moveset:

• Branching paths — junction points let you choose your route to the final boss, adding replay value.
• Expanded moves — blocking, sweep attacks, projectile attacks, and an updated grappling system.
• Character-unique abilities — Proud's air-slam, plus double and wall jumps for Chronos and Sahra.
• Team attacks and combined magic — co-op players can launch human-slingshot moves and combined spells.
• Returning gnomes and rescues — the potion-carrying gnomes are back, and freeing trapped prisoners earns extra lives.

How to Play

Getting started is instant. Press the Play button on this page and Golden Axe III begins at the title screen, with the character select following once you press Start. Then:

1. Choose your warrior — Kain, Sahra, Chronos, or Proud.
2. Pick your path at junction points to shape your route.
3. Use the expanded moveset — block, sweep, grapple, and combo.
4. Kick gnomes for magic potions and free prisoners for extra lives.
5. Cast magic and team attacks, then defeat Damud Hellbringer to reclaim the axe.

Play it from a keyboard or from a touchscreen. A USB or Bluetooth controller is recognised the moment you connect one, with its buttons already sitting in Genesis order. This entry leans on the controller harder than its predecessors: blocking is a two-button press, and Chronos and Sahra add double and wall jumps on top of the usual moves.

Controls

Grab enemies by walking into them, and use double/wall jumps with Chronos and Sahra. A connected gamepad uses the same assignments, including the two-button block, which you will be holding often enough that a pad is noticeably more comfortable than a keyboard.

Tips for New Players

• Use blocking. New to GA3, blocking lets you absorb hits and counter — a big edge against the tougher enemies.
• Explore the branching paths. Different routes change the stages you face, so replay to see them all and find the good ending.
• Pick Proud for power, Chronos for mobility. Proud's air-slam wrecks bosses; Chronos and Sahra's double/wall jumps dodge danger.
• Free the prisoners. Rescuing trapped captives earns extra lives — well worth the detour.
• Avoid burning continues. Reaching the final boss without using your last continue is the key to the good ending.

Why Play It in Your Browser?

Golden Axe III is the hardest of the trilogy to find on original hardware, which makes playing it right here especially appealing — no cartridge hunting, no Sega Channel, no console setup. Just press Play and you're in. Because it's the genuine Genesis build, you get the branching paths, the expanded moveset, and the team magic exactly as they shipped in 1993.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Golden Axe III free to play here? Yes. Press Play and the complete Genesis cartridge loads in your browser, branching routes and all — no cost, no account, no download, and no hunting for a copy of the hardest-to-find game in the trilogy.

When did Golden Axe III come out? It launched in 1993 on the Sega Genesis / Mega Drive — as a cartridge in Japan and via the Sega Channel in North America. The version here is the Genesis release.

Why is Golden Axe III considered rare? Its North American release was a Sega Channel exclusive rather than a standard cartridge, so it was far harder to own than the first two games.

Can I play it on my phone? Absolutely. The on-screen gamepad is modeled on the classic Genesis controller, though Golden Axe III's block and special share a two-button press that takes a little practice to hit cleanly on glass.

Who are the playable characters? Kain Grinder, Sahra Burn, Chronos "Evil" Rait, and Proud Cragger — each with unique moves and magic.

Choose your warrior and lift the curse — press Play to begin.