Zero Wing is a horizontally scrolling shooter developed by Toaplan and released in Japanese arcades by Namco in October 1989. Its signature Seizer Beam grabs enemies so they can be used as shields or thrown at other foes. According to Tatsuya Uemura, the project started as training for new recruits before Toaplan decided to sell it, and it ended up being the company's last side-scrolling shooter.
The Mega Drive version arrived in Japan on 31 May 1991 and in Europe in July 1991, published by Sega; North America only got a cartridge from Retro-Bit in 2020. Its new opening cutscene was translated in-house, and the line 'All your base are belong to us' was rediscovered in 1999 and turned into one of the internet's best-known memes. A PC Engine CD-ROM² version by Naxat Soft followed on 18 September 1992.
The Mega Drive game joined Nintendo Switch Online in 2022, and a PC release reached Steam and GOG in February 2023. The rights now belong to Tatsujin, founded in 2017 by former Toaplan member Masahiro Yuge.1
Names and releases
| Region | Title on the box | Platform | Date | Publisher | Src |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| NA | Zero WingDistributed by Williams Electronics | Arcade | April 1990 | Williams Electronics | 1 |
| NA | Zero WingFirst North American Mega Drive/Genesis release | Genesis | 2020 | Retro-Bit | 1 |
| JP | ゼロウィング | Arcade | October 1989 | Namco | 1 |
| JP | ゼロウィング | Genesis | May 31, 1991 | Toaplan | 1 |
| EU | Zero WingContains the 'All your base are belong to us' intro | Genesis | July 1991 | Sega | 1 |
| JP | ゼロウィングCD-ROM² | TurboGrafx-16 | Sep 18, 1992 | Naxat Soft | 1 |
| WW | Toaplan Arcade 1Evercade cartridge compilation | Other | December 2022 | — | 1 |
| WW | Zero WingNintendo Switch Online (Mega Drive version); English Wikipedia gives June 2022, its citation and Japanese Wikipedia give July 2022 | Switch | 2022 | Nintendo | 1 |
| WW | Zero WingSteam, by Bitwave Games and Toaplan; also Mac and Linux | Windows | Feb 14, 2023 | Clear River Games | 2 |
| JP | ゼロファイアーZero Fire compilation that includes the European version of Zero Wing | Other | Jul 20, 2023 | — | 3 |
Also known as: ゼロウィング JP3All your base are belong to us WW1
Box art by region
EU Zero Wing 
JP ゼロウィング
Box art © its publishers, shown to identify each release. Scans: libretro-thumbnails.
Version differences
-
TextMega Drive (EU)
The Mega Drive version added an opening cutscene. Toaplan staff translated it themselves, and the line 'All your base are belong to us', a garbled rendering of the Japanese 「君達の基地は、全てCATSがいただいた。」, became a famous internet meme around 2001–2002.3
-
ContentArcadePC Engine CD
The arcade and PC Engine versions open with a different intro showing a blue-windowed ZIG fighter instead of the Mega Drive cutscene.1
-
ContentPC Engine CD
The PC Engine CD-ROM² version adds an original stage and anime-style scenes and rewrites the story: CATS gives way to the organization Abigor, and the hero is named Masato Tachibana.3
Where to play legally today
-
Nintendo Switch Online Subscription
Zero Wing (SEGA Mega Drive - Nintendo Switch Online)
Mega Drive version
Checked: 2026-10-134nintendo.com
-
Steam Purchase
Reception
In November 1989 Game Machine ranked it Japan's fourth most successful table arcade unit. The Mega Drive version got 93% from Computer and Video Games, 91% from Mean Machines and 28/40 from Famitsu, which gave the PC Engine version 21/40. Complex ranked it 98th among the best Genesis games, and it is one of the most cited examples of poor localization.1
Sources
- 1en.wikipedia.org
- 2store.steampowered.com
- 3ja.wikipedia.org
- 4nintendolife.com
- 5store.steampowered.com
Checked: 2026-10-13Text reviewed: 2026-10-13
Spotted a mistake? Write to atlas@old-games.net.