The Pirates of Dark Water
Sega Genesis · 1994
About this game
The watery world of Mer is threatened by the deadly Dark Water.
Prince Ren and his companions must find the Treasures of Rule to control the Dark Water and return Mer to its former glory.
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Always hot on their heels is the evil pirate-lord Bloth who wants to find the treasures to rule over Mer.
Based on a cartoon series by the same name, The Pirates of Dark Water is a side scrolling fighting game similar to Final Fight or Streets of Rage .
The player chooses a character, from among Prince Ren and his two companions Tula and Ioz, who differ in strength and agility, but who use the same basic attacks.
There are two attack buttons, one for fast attacks and combinations and one for a single heavy attack.
Other controls include: blocking attacks, grabbing and throwing opponents, dash attacks while running, and a special attack that hits multiple enemies consuming life energy at the same time.
Most levels also require you to avoid obstacles like chasms, falling rocks or spikes that shoot out of the ground.
About Sega Genesis
Known as the Mega Drive outside North America, the Sega Genesis (1988/1989) was Sega's most successful console and Sonic the Hedgehog's original home, fueling the "console wars" era against Nintendo's SNES. Genesis cartridge collecting is well-established: common sports and platformer titles are affordable, while sports-license and later-era games with smaller print runs can carry a meaningful premium.
Gamevaro tracks The Pirates of Dark Water for Sega Genesis with separate market values for loose, complete-in-box (CIB) and factory-sealed copies, sourced from real eBay sales. Prices also vary by region — PAL, NTSC-U and NTSC-J releases of the same game often sell for different amounts due to print run sizes and regional collector demand.
Adding The Pirates of Dark Water to a Gamevaro collection takes seconds — search by title or scan the box barcode, and the app fills in cover art, release details and current pricing automatically. This GEN release dates back to 1994.
Price history
Market values by condition
PAL
NTSC-U
Recent sales
| Date | Type | Region | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-07-14 | Item only | PAL | €67.66 |
| 2026-07-14 | Item only | NTSC-U | €67.78 |
| 2026-07-12 | New (sealed) | PAL | €1188.98 |
| 2026-07-12 | Complete in Box | PAL | €475.49 |
| 2026-07-12 | Item only | PAL | €71.09 |
| 2026-07-12 | Complete in Box | NTSC-U | €118.11 |
| 2026-07-12 | Box Only | PAL | €191.83 |
| 2026-07-12 | Item only | NTSC-U | €52.49 |
| 2026-07-12 | Graded New | NTSC-U | €1184.46 |
| 2026-07-12 | Box Only | NTSC-U | €37.27 |
| 2026-07-12 | Manual Only | NTSC-U | €45.25 |
| 2026-07-12 | New (sealed) | NTSC-U | €448.77 |
| 2026-07-12 | Manual Only | PAL | €119.90 |
| 2026-07-12 | Graded New | PAL | €1307.87 |
| 2026-07-10 | Item only | PAL | €70.82 |
| 2026-07-10 | New (sealed) | PAL | €1198.08 |
| 2026-07-10 | Manual Only | PAL | €118.78 |
| 2026-07-10 | Box Only | PAL | €190.05 |
| 2026-07-10 | Complete in Box | NTSC-U | €122.42 |
| 2026-07-10 | Box Only | NTSC-U | €37.25 |
| 2026-07-10 | Graded New | PAL | €1317.88 |
| 2026-07-10 | Complete in Box | PAL | €479.37 |
| 2026-07-10 | Item only | NTSC-U | €51.51 |
| 2026-07-10 | New (sealed) | NTSC-U | €448.99 |
| 2026-07-10 | Graded New | NTSC-U | €1182.52 |
| 2026-07-10 | Manual Only | NTSC-U | €45.23 |
| 2026-06-18 | Manual Only | PAL | €116.09 |
| 2026-06-18 | New (sealed) | PAL | €1171.30 |
| 2026-06-18 | Complete in Box | NTSC-U | €125.64 |
| 2026-06-18 | Box Only | PAL | €185.75 |
Market insights
Rarity & condition
The Pirates of Dark Water has a steady sales history on the tracked marketplaces, meaning enough copies circulate to establish a reliable market price.
Complete-in-box (CIB) copies typically command a premium over loose cartridges/discs because the original box and manual are more fragile and get discarded or damaged over time — fewer complete sets survive.
Frequently asked questions
How much is The Pirates of Dark Water worth?
The Pirates of Dark Water for Sega Genesis is currently worth €67.66 loose, €475.49 complete in box, and €1188.98 factory sealed. Prices are based on real sales and update regularly on Gamevaro.
Is The Pirates of Dark Water rare?
The Pirates of Dark Water has a steady sales history on the tracked marketplaces, meaning it trades hands regularly and isn't considered particularly rare.
What's the difference between loose, CIB and sealed for The Pirates of Dark Water?
Loose means cartridge or disc only, CIB (complete in box) includes the original box and manual, and sealed means factory-sealed and never opened. For The Pirates of Dark Water, loose is €67.66 and CIB is €475.49 — CIB commands a premium because original boxes and manuals are fragile and often don't survive.
Is The Pirates of Dark Water worth more in PAL or NTSC?
The PAL version of The Pirates of Dark Water is currently worth €67.66 loose, versus €67.78 for NTSC-U. Regional price differences usually come down to print run size and regional collector demand.
Ratings & Reviews
Also on other platforms
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