DragonDrive (4MB MegaDrive Flashcart with SRAM)

Build your own MegaDrive legend — one flash at a time.

Whether you're developing your first homebrew game, porting a classic, or diving into the world of MegaDrive hacks and reproductions, the DragonDrive flashcart gives you exactly the tools you need. Developed and produced in Germany by the DragonBox Shop, this is a serious piece of kit for serious retro creators.

Plug in and play — just like the real thing

Once you've flashed your ROM, the DragonDrive behaves exactly like an original cartridge. No loading screens, no fuss — just insert it into your MegaDrive or Genesis, flip the power switch, and you're in. The ROM can be reflashed as many times as you like, so you're free to iterate, test, and update your project whenever you need to.

Battery-backed SRAM with a clever twist

The DragonDrive supports 32KB of battery-backed SRAM, so your games can save progress, highscores, and game states — just like a commercial release. And here's the really neat part: thanks to a small capacitor on the PCB, you can replace the VARTA CR2032 battery without losing a single byte of saved data. That's a thoughtful touch you won't find everywhere.

Please note: this is a 4MB cartridge, which means you'll need to use a mapper to access the SRAM (bit 0 of register 0xa130f1 switches the top 2MB between ROM and SRAM, with SRAM at 8-bit odd addresses — the same approach Phantasy Star IV uses). The SGDK fully supports this setup, and projects like the Cave Story MD fan port work perfectly with the DragonDrive right out of the box.

Level shifters: the safer choice for your console

One of the key differences between the DragonDrive and the Krikzz FlashKit Cart MD is the use of proper level shifters instead of simple resistors. An article by db-electronics explains how 3.3V flash chips without level shifters can potentially stress your console's hardware over time. While no real-world damage from resistor-based carts has been widely documented, using level shifters is the more conservative — and arguably safer — approach. It does make the DragonDrive a little more expensive to produce, but we think your console is worth it.

Flashing the DragonDrive

To flash the PCB yourself, you'll need a Krikzz FlashKit Cart Programmer. Keep in mind that Krikzz's own software does not support the memory chip used on the DragonDrive — you'll need to use the dedicated flasher software instead. A Linux version is available via the notaz git repository, and a Windows version can be downloaded directly from this product page.

A quick note on batteries and shipping

If you choose the Warenpost shipping option, we're unfortunately unable to include the battery due to carrier regulations — you'll receive the PCB only. The good news is that the required CR2032 battery is a cheap, widely available standard cell, so picking one up locally or online is easy and inexpensive.

What's included and what else is available

This listing is for the PCB only. If you need a shell to house it, we sell empty cartridge shells separately. We also offer a complete all-in-one flash service if you'd rather receive a ready-to-play cartridge. Check out the rest of our store for everything you need to bring your MegaDrive project to life!