However, it attained significantly more success in Europe and Brazil. Though the Master System had newer, improved hardware, it failed to overturn Nintendo's significant market share advantage in Japan and North America. Its library is smaller and with fewer well-reviewed games than the NES, due in part to Nintendo licensing policies requiring platform exclusivity. The Master System was released in competition with the Nintendo Entertainment System (NES). The later Master System II redesign removed the card slot, turning it into a strictly cartridge-only system and is incompatible with the 3D glasses. Accessories for the consoles include a light gun and 3D glasses that work with a range of specially designed games. The original Master System models use both cartridges and a credit card-sized format known as Sega Cards.

A cost-reduced model known as the Master System II was released in 1990 in North America and Europe. A Japanese version of the Master System was also launched in 1987, which features a few enhancements over the export models (and by proxy the original Mark III): a built-in FM audio chip, a rapid-fire switch, and a dedicated port for the 3D glasses. The Master System launched in North America in 1986, followed by Europe in 1987, and Brazil in 1989. It was originally a remodeled export version of the Sega Mark III, the third iteration of the SG-1000 series of consoles, which was released in Japan in 1985 and featured enhanced graphical capabilities over its predecessors. The Sega Master System (SMS) is a third-generation 8-bit home video game console manufactured by Sega.

Sega emulator games