Sega's original mascot holds up as a charming and solid platformer. The rock-paper-scissors boss fights are either adorable or maddening depending on your mood - but that is part of the charm.
Your verdict
Category
Platformer1 player3+
Description
Iconic action platformer featuring Alex Kidd exploring Radaxian to battle Janken the Great. Published by Sega, released in North America in 1986. Alex Kidd in side-scrolling view punching enemies with his magic fists, bosses to beat at rock-paper-scissors and varied levels. The iconic Master System mascot game.
Alex Kidd in Miracle World review
4/5
Art direction
★★★★★
"Striking"
4/5
Music
★★★★★
"Excellent"
2/5
Story
★★★★★
"Classic"
The hero is recognisable by a single detail: hands out of all proportion to the body, a choice that makes his punch legible even on a small sprite. The world crossed strings together mountain, sea, town and castle with no explanatory transition, and the items purchasable in shops are drawn separately, large, as in a catalogue.
A single skipping theme accompanies almost the whole journey, built on a major scale and a figure of a few notes that imprints from the first screen. The only breaks come from the underwater phases, slower, and from the hand-game duel, where the music stops entirely to let the moment of decision weigh.
Gameplay
"Excellent"
Fun
"From the very first minutes"
Addictiveness
"Engaging"
Difficulty
"Easy"
Lifespan
"Average"
Technical info
💾0,08 MB📅01/09/1986
Published by Sega
Alex Kidd in Miracle World (Master System) price, value & rarity
A North American pressing of Alex Kidd in Miracle World, the founding platformer where Sega's mascot explores Radaxian to defeat Janken the Great, a game long built into the console. Its desirability rests on its status as the Master System's emblematic title, the very face of the machine before Sonic, and a sought original pressing. Collectors prize this edition for its central role in the console's identity.
Is Alex Kidd in Miracle World still worth playing in 2026?
Sega's mascot before Sonic, Alex Kidd in Miracle World is an emblematic Master System platformer, long built into the console's memory. The hero explores Radaxian by jumping, smashing blocks with his fists and facing Janken the Great at rock paper scissors. The blend of platforming, exploration, shopping and vehicle phases stays surprisingly varied. The difficulty is firm but the charm fully works. For a retro platforming fan or someone curious about Sega history, the title keeps an intact freshness and personality.
