Sega Genesis no-code creator MD Engine is out now on Steam

Indie studio Two Black Cats released MD Engine today, a visual scripting tool that exports playable Sega Genesis ROMs without requiring any code. The software is available on Steam and the developer's direct storefront for $19.99. It was first previewed late last year. The developer celebrated the launch with a quick update on Bluesky.

No assembly required

Building games for the Motorola 68000 CPU usually means wrestling with C or assembly language, and while the Sega Genesis is a notoriously fast system, programming for its architecture requires deep technical knowledge. MD Engine skips that bottleneck entirely. It uses a drag-and-drop event system to handle game logic. Creators can build platformers, shooters, and action RPGs visually.

The software includes a built-in debugger that monitors palettes, global variables, and actor coordinates in real time. You can watch the game logic execute and catch errors before you ever compile a ROM. This helps developers prototype mechanics quickly without getting bogged down in syntax errors. The interface draws heavy inspiration from GB Studio, which did the same thing for the Game Boy a few years ago. The tool isn't locked to a single perspective, so the event system is flexible enough to handle top-down puzzle games and side-scrolling platformers in a single workspace.

From PC to cartridge

The engine exports standard binary files. Two Black Cats tested the output on authentic Sega Mega Drive and Genesis hardware across all three major model revisions. The ROMs also run perfectly on FPGA systems like the Analogue Mega S.G. And emulation boxes like the Retron3 HD. You'll probably want to test on an emulator first, but the final product is a real console game.

You don't have to target physical hardware. If you want to reach a modern audience, the engine exports to HTML5 for web browsers. It also compiles native Windows executables with full Steamworks integration, meaning you can add Steam achievements to a game built on 16-bit logic. The DRM is relatively light for a modern development tool. The standard license allows installation on three machines at once. It also supports up to 90 days of offline usage after validation, so you aren't tethered to an internet connection just to work on your project.

The studio behind the tool

Two Black Cats is already deeply familiar with 16-bit development. The studio previously created retro titles like Square Brothers, Inkventure, and Prisonela MD. They built this engine to democratize the hardware they already work with, opening up Sega's 1988 console to a much wider pool of creators.

I hope the release of this results in a lot of new great Sega Genesis games! The homebrew scene is already thriving, but removing the programming barrier changes the math entirely. We will probably see a massive influx of weird, experimental cartridge games over the next year.