Visual Genesis/Mega-Drive game creation software MD Engine releases today

Happy Labor Day, Sega fans. Now get to work and make us new Genesis/Mega-Drive games to play.

Who remembers MD Engine, the visual Genesis game creation toolkit being made by Two Black Cats, which was revealed last year? Now it’s finally come out. Originally only for Windows and Linux, the program has now expanded with Mac support, so the brightest new Genesis game visionaries have no shortage of options to start working on their new games. You can purchase a license for this program now on Steam or the Two Black Cats website.

There’s a lot of other new features under the hood that MD Engine didn’t have in its infancy last year. To hear more about it, go on ahead past the break and read more. It’s not like you have to do any coding to get there.

Here’s a quick refresher on what MD Engine is, straight from their own purchase page:

• Visual Scripting: Quickly prototype and refine gameplay using intuitive drag-and-drop events.
• Retro Graphics: Craft visually authentic 16-bit games effortlessly.
• Versatile Gameplay Creation: Easily build platformers, shooters, action RPGs, puzzle games, and more.
• Powerful Debugging: Real-time insights into palettes, variables, actor coordinates, and event logic.
• Beginner-Friendly, Expert-Ready: Accessible to newcomers yet robust enough for seasoned game developers.
• Export and Play on Original Hardware: Easily export your games, burn them to cartridges, and enjoy your creations on original retro hardware. The games have been tested so far on Sega Mega Drive 1 (JP NTCS), 2 (PAL), and Genesis 1-3 (NTCS) original models, as well as with Retron3 HD and MegaSG consoles!
• Web Export: Export your game to HTML5 and upload it to the internet for everyone to see!
• Steam Integration: Export for Windows with full support for Steam, including Steam Achievements to enhance your game’s reach and player engagement.

Since the program entered Closed Beta last year, a lot of new features had been added leading up to it’s final version 1.0 release. Before, MD Engine had no built-in sprite editor or music tracker, meaning you would’ve needed to rely on external programs for art and music production. Now, MD Engine has these built in. MD Engine now includes MiniPainter for creating sprite art and animations and MiniTracker for composing music, all right in the program. They’re still rather simple compared to dedicated pixel art editors and music trackers, but they can help you get started and you can still use art or music made with other programs.

There are also new tools to assist with developing separate PAL versions of your games, such as a sample template setting showcasing the speed difference in your game between 50hz and 60hz and a region timing correction tool to keep game speed consistent between 50hz and 60hz monitors and TVs.

MD Engine is now available to purchase on Steam or on the new Two Black Cats website for $19.99 USD. Until September 21st, 2026, a 15% off introductory sale has the program at $16.99 on Steam. Don’t forget to check out the Two Black Cats YouTube page for a few helpful tutorial videos to get started and the MD Engine website for extra documentation on how to get the most out of the program.

There are also three Genesis games made in MD Engine available on Steam right now: Inkventure, Square Brothers, and Prisonela MD. Check those out as well to see a glimpse at what’s possible in MD Engine, especially Prisonela MD, which is the only game among the three that’s absolutely free of charge.

So, do you think you have an idea for a new Genesis game and MD Engine might the program perfect for helping you bring it to life? Have you been looking forward to MD Engine since it was revealed last year? Fancy yourself the next Yuji Naka (except with a nicer attitude and no jailtime)? Let us know in the comments below. And, hey, maybe one day you’ll see your new Genesis game reported on right here on SegaBits?