Golden Axe (video game)

Golden Axe
Golden Axe
	Japanese arcade flyer
Developer	Team Shinobi
Publisher	Sega
Designer	Makoto Uchida
Series	Golden Axe
Platform	Arcade Mega Drive/Genesis, Master System, PC Engine CD-ROM², Amiga, Amstrad CPC, Atari ST, Commodore 64, IBM PC, ZX Spectrum, WonderSwan Color;
Release	27 January 1989 Arcade JP: 27 January 1989; NA/EU: May 1989; Mega Drive/Genesis JP: 23 December 1989; NA: January 1990; EU: November 1990; Master System NA: 1 March 1990; EU: 1990; CD-ROM² JP: 10 March 1990; Home computers UK: November 1990; WonderSwan Color JP: 28 February 2002; ;
Genre	Beat 'em up
Modes	Single-player, multiplayer
Arcade system	Sega System 16B

Golden Axe is a 1989 beat 'em up video game developed and published by Sega for arcades on the Sega System 16B hardware. Players control one of three warriors who must free the fantasy land of Yuria from the tyrannical rule of Death Adder, who wields the titular Golden Axe. The lead designer was Makoto Uchida, who was also responsible for the creation of Sega's earlier Altered Beast (1988).

Golden Axe was well received at the time of release, and was later ported to several home systems, including Sega's own Mega Drive/Genesis and Master System. The game's success spawned a franchise with several sequels and spin-offs, beginning with Golden Axe II in 1991.