The Sega Saturn may have come in last during the 5th Generation console race in North America, but that hasn’t stopped the system from achieving a cult favorite status. With a slew of fan-favorite games, and new homebrew games and ports, there is still a ton to love about Sega’s black box!
While getting the Saturn itself isn’t much of an issue, finding original accessories and getting it hooked up to a modern display can be more tricky. Thankfully third-party companies have provided strong support for the Sega Saturn over the last few years. Long-time fans and newcomers alike have a host of new options when it comes to controller and video options.
Retro-Bit Official Sega Saturn Controller (Original Port)
- Brand
- Retro-Bit
- Platform
- Sega Saturn
- Connectivity
- Wired
- Cable Length
- 10 Feet
- Region Compatibility
- NTSC, NTSC-J, PAL
- Colors
- Black, Slate Gray
Retro-Bit's officially licensed Sega Saturn controller gives the system new input options when replacements are needed!
Checkbox: control the expandable behavior of the extra info- Official Sega Saturn Replacement Controller
- Sega Branding
- 10-foot Cord
- Excellent Feel
- Responsive
- Shoulder Buttons Feel Different From Original Pads
As part of a deal between Retro-Bit and Sega, new officially licensed Sega Saturn controllers are available to all Saturn fans! These controllers utilize Sega's original Model 2 controller molds and even feature the official Sega Branding making them an ideal replacement option for worn-down originals. As a bonus, the cable in use on the controller has been extended to 10 feet making them great for larger living or game rooms.
The controllers handle gameplay beautifully with no dropped inputs or misreads on the D-pad. Retro-Bit has continued to refine the controllers over the last few years to the point where they feel very identical to the original in most regards. Purists may notice the shoulder button’s micro switches are a bit different in feel, but they don’t affect gameplay in any way. The lower asking price also makes it easier to pick up a second for multiplayer game nights!
Retro-Bit Official Wireless Sega Saturn Controller
- Brand
- Retro-Bit
- Platform
- Sega Saturn, PC, Nintendo Switch, Mac, Linux
- Battery
- 12-15 Hours
- Connectivity
- Wireless
- Region Compatibility
- NTSC, NTSC-J, PAL
- Colors
- Black
Play the Sega Saturn without the hassle of a wire thanks to Reto-Bit's officially licensed Wireless Sega Saturn Controller!
Checkbox: control the expandable behavior of the extra info- Officially Licensed
- Sega Branding
- Wireless
- Low Latency
- Responsive Buttons
- Shoulder Buttons Feel Different From Original Saturn Pads
Retro-Bit’s deal with Sega has given Saturn fans yet another fantastic way to play the system and this time around it is wireless! The Wireless Sega Saturn controller from Retro-Bit retains the classic Sega Saturn Model 2 controller look and feel, but this time around features a 2.4 GHz wireless signal eliminating all cords from the equation. Models available today utilize Retro-Bit’s V2 builds ensuring lower latency and improved performance in games.
Living up to the hype, the V2 Wireless Saturn controllers have unnoticeable latency and are a treat to use with the Saturn Library. Battery life for the controller provides gamers with 8–16 hours of play before needing to be recharged. Unfortunately, they are prone to self-discharging so do be aware of that when leaving them idle for extended periods.
Brook Wingman SD Converter
- Brand
- Brook
- Platform
- Sega Saturn, Sega Dreamcast
- Connectivity
- Bluetooth
- Compatible Accessories
- Bluetooth Controllers
- Region Compatibility
- NTSC, NTSC-J, PAL
- Colors
- Black
Hook up modern Bluetooth controllers to the Sega Saturn and Sega Dreamcast effortlessly with the Brook Wingman SD Converter!
Checkbox: control the expandable behavior of the extra info- Connect Any Bluetooth Controller To The Saturn
- Also Compatible With The Sega Dreamcast
- Easy Pairing
- Low Latency
- Bulky
While great dedicated Sega Saturn controller options exist, some players are just looking for a way to consolidate the number of controllers on hand to a select few options. With the Brook Wingman SD Converter players can use modern Bluetooth-equipped controllers to play classic Sega Saturn titles. Funny enough, the Brook adapter also lets Retro-Bit’s Bluetooth version of the Sega Saturn controller pair to the system as well.
During gameplay, the Wingman SD Adapter features minimal latency ensuring each game can be played to its fullest. Connecting various controllers to it is a breeze making it an ideal solution for controller minimalists. Best yet, the adapter is compatible with the Sega Dreamcast providing owners of both Sega systems an easy way to play!
Pound HDMI Adapter For Sega Saturn
- Brand
- Pound
- System Compatibility
- Sega Saturn
- Externally Powered
- Yes
Give the Sega Saturn a new lease on life with an HDMI Adapter from Pound. Easily hook up the system to modern displays and enjoy 720P video output.
Checkbox: control the expandable behavior of the extra info- Easy To Connect The Saturn To Modern Displays
- Pulls From The RGB Output Line
- 720P Output
- Can Suffer From Input Lag
Hooking up a Sega Saturn to a modern display is more complicated than expected. Many modern TVs fail to feature composite video input and the ones that do suck at producing the Saturn’s 240P output. With the HDMI Adapter from Pound, Saturn fans can enjoy playing the system in 720P output on a modern display with ease.
Pound uses the system's RGB output providing the best image clarity possible and outputs it in a proper 4:3 aspect ratio. Input lag caused by the scaling comes in at an acceptable level ensuring most players will have an unnoticeable experience. The overall quality of the adapter is decent but hardcore Saturn fans will want to invest in options like a RetroTink for the best possible experience.
WHERE TO PLAY
Extend the capabilities of the Sega Saturn with additional RAM and storage space using the Action Replay 4M Plus!
- Platforms
- Sega Saturn
- Easy To Use
- Automatic RAM Size Detection For Needed Games
- Built-In Back Up Save Memory
- Built-In Action Replay
- Bypass Region Locking
- Not Always Reliable In The Saturn's Cartridge Slot
The Sega Saturn is a unique system featuring disc-based games as well as cartridge-based accessories. During the system's original run the cartridge slot was home to RAM expansions, save backup carts, and even an internet modem. Cheat devices were also heavily employed by third parties like Datel. Today you can get a single cart to handle every function desired, except for that internet modem sadly.
With the Action Replay 4M Plus, Saturn fans get access to both 1 MB and 4 MB expansion RAM options needed by select titles, internal backup memory for game saves, and an action replay to apply cheats to their titles. Even better, the card unlocks the system's regional lockdown allowing full use of import titles! Japanese Saturn games are far more cost-effective than the North American variants making them the ideal way to collect for the system.
WHERE TO PLAY
Replace broken Sega Saturn game cases without ruining another game!
- Platforms
- Sega Saturn, Sega CD
- New Cases For Damaged Saturn Games
- No Longer Gutting Other Saturn Games For Cases
- Pricey
- Missing Authentic CD Brandings
The jewel cases used for the Sega Saturn in North America were nothing short of abysmal. They break easily in many ways from the hinges to the center outright cracking from use. Because of this, many Saturn fans for years have harvested cases from less popular titles to replace the broken ones.
Thankfully, Limited Run Games spearheaded a new replacement option for Saturn Jewel Cases so players no longer have to cannibalize the existing supply. The cases are a nearly 1:1 replica of the originals only missing copyrighted branding for CD Audio. The price isn’t the cheapest but well worth it to keep other Saturn games intact.
FAQ
Was the Sega Saturn more powerful than the PlayStation 1?
The Sega Saturn draws pixels fast and has more computational power than the PlayStation 1.
What was the most sold Sega Saturn game?
The most sold Sega Saturn game was Madden NFL 97, followed by Night Intro Dreams, Virtua Fighter 2, and Daytona USA.