Dimensions for Game Cartridges

DRAFT (WORK IN PROGRESS ARTICLE - PLEASE DO NOT RELY ON THE INFORMATION BELOW UNTIL MARKED AS COMPLETED)

.

A game cartridge is a replaceable part designed to be connected to a home computer or a video gaming console. The purpose of this article is to catalogue the dimensions of cartridges used by popular retro consoles, in order to facilitate production of replacement cartridge shells or customized outer packaging.

First generation of consoles

Console	Height (mm)	Width (mm)	Thickness (mm)	Notes	Confirmed by	Image
Original Magnavox Odyssey "Game Cards"	61	98	?	At the bottom of the game card, the width of the PCB is 90.5mm, expanding to 98mm width at the top of the handle. The height of the PCB portion is 26mm, and 61mm in total (including the handle).	Brad Hartz (OdysseyNow)
Magnavox Odyssey Multicard	110	105	15	105mm wide and 15mm thick at widest/thickest point of the 3D printed handle. The PCB is 90mm wide.	TheRealOC
Magnavox Odyssey Series of Consoles	N/A	N/A	N/A	The Odyssey Series of dedicated consoles were limited to a fixed number of built-in games and were not equipped for additional games that are distributed via ROM cartridges, discs, downloads or other digital media.	TheRealOC
TV Tennis Electrotennis (Epoch)	N/A	N/A	N/A	The Electrotennis was a dedicated console (i.e. with game(s) built in), which was not equipped for additional games that are distributed via ROM cartridges, discs, downloads or other digital media.	TheRealOC
Atari Home Pong	N/A	N/A	N/A	Both models of Atari Home Pong (the C-100 and the C-140) were dedicated consoles, limited to a fixed number of built-in games and were not equipped for additional games that are distributed via ROM cartridges, discs, downloads or other digital media.	TheRealOC
Coleco Telstar Series	N/A	N/A	N/A	The Coleco Telstar Series of dedicated consoles were limited to a fixed number of built-in games and were not equipped for additional games that are distributed via ROM cartridges, discs, downloads or other digital media. The one exception was the Coleco Telsar Arcade console.	TheRealOC
Coleco Telstar Arcade cartridges	?	?	?	?	?
Nintendo Color TV - Game 6	N/A	N/A	N/A	The Nintendo Color TV-Game Series of consoles were all dedicated consoles with games built-in; they were not equipped for additional games that are distributed via ROM cartridges, discs, downloads or other digital media.	TheRealOC

Second generation of consoles

Console	Height (mm)	Width (mm)	Thickness (mm)	Notes	Confirmed by	Image
Atari 2600	87	81	19	?	Reddit User: gsx115
Sears Video Arcade II/Atari 2800	?	?	?	?	?	?
Magnavox Odyssey 2	127	80	21	?	Reddit User: gsx115
Philips Videopac G7000 (European release of Odyssey 2)	?	?	?	?	?	File:G7000.png
Mattel Intellivision	88	68	20	?	Reddit User: gsx115	File:Intellivision-Console-Set.jpg
Epoch Cassette Vision	?	?	?	?	?
Mattel Intellivision II	?	?	?	?	?
Coleco ColecoVision	87	81	19	?	Reddit User: gsx115
Atari 5200	112	104	20	?	Reddit User: gsx115
GCE/MB Vectrex	?	?	?	?	?

Third generation of consoles

Console	Height (mm)	Width (mm)	Thickness (mm)	Notes	Confirmed by	Image
Nintendo Entertainment System (US) *	133	119	16	All officially licensed NTSC-U and PAL region cartridges are the same dimensions. Early NES Game Paks are held together with 5 small, slotted screws.	Reddit User: gsx115
Nintendo Entertainment System (PAL) *	133	119	16	All officially licensed NTSC-U and PAL region cartridges are the same dimensions. Early NES Game Paks are held together with 5 small, slotted screws.	Reddit User: gsx115
Famicom *	108	71	17	?	Reddit User: gsx115
AV Famicom *	?	?	?	?	?	?
Famicom Disk System *	?	?	?	?	?	?
Twin Famicom *	?	?	?	?	?	?
Sega SG-1000 *	?	?	?	?	?
SG-1000 Multicart (Survivors MegaCart)	106	82	20	?	TheRealOC
Sega Mark III *	?	?	?	?	?	?
Sega Master System *	108	69	17	?	Reddit User: gsx115
Sega Master System (JP, MK-2000) *	?	?	?	?	?	?
Atari 7800	87	81	19	?	Reddit User: gsx115
Casio PV-1000 *	?	?	?	?	?	?
Epoch Super Cassette Vision *	?	?	?	?	?	?
Amstrad GX4000 *	?	?	?	?	?	?

Fourth generation of consoles

Console	Height (mm)	Width (mm)	Thickness (mm)	Notes	Confirmed by	Image
Atari Lynx *	?	?	?	?	?	?
NEC TurboGrafx 16 *	53	84	2	?	Reddit User: gsx115
PC Engine *	?	?	?	?	?	?
NEC PC Engine CD *	?	?	?	?	?	?
NEC TurboGrafx-CD *	?	?	?	?	?	?
NEC SuperGrafx	?	?	?	?	?	?
NEC TurboExpress/PC Engine GT	?	?	?	?	?	?
NEC TurboDuo/PC Engine Duo	?	?	?	?	?	?
NEC Super CD-ROM2	?	?	?	?	?	?
NEC PC Engine LT	?	?	?	?	?	?
NEC PC Engine Duo-R/Duo-RX	?	?	?	?	?	?
Standard Sega Mega Drive Japanese Cartridges	67	93	17	The PCB's are always ~83mm since the receiver is around 85mm. Japanese carts have a rectangular footprint 93mm wide, 67mm tall, 17mm thick with rounded edges; the top and sides of the cart are also rounded, with the left side of the cart having an indentation (for locking the cart while the console is powered).	NagaTen
Standard PAL Sega Mega Drive Cartridges	67	95/108	17	Genesis and PAL Mega Drive carts share the same mold; their footprint goes from a rectangular 95mm wide shape and widens into 108mm with rounded sides, 67mm tall and 17mm thick, with chamfered edges. Only the sides of the cart are rounded, with the top being being flat, and there is no indentation since consoles outside Japan don't have a cart locking mechanism.	NagaTen
Standard NTSC Sega Genesis Cartridges	67	95/108	17	Genesis and PAL Mega Drive carts share the same mold; their footprint goes from a rectangular 95mm wide shape and widens into 108mm with rounded sides, 67mm tall and 17mm thick, with chamfered edges. Only the sides of the cart are rounded, with the top being being flat, and there is no indentation since consoles outside Japan don't have a cart locking mechanism.	NagaTen
Sega Genesis Acclaim Cartridges	67	95/108	17	Acclaim cartridges are similar to standard Genesis/PAL cartridges but with different text in the rear molding. The carts are also curved then flat on the sides unlike the SEGA-manufactured ones that are just curved.	Adam Koralik
Sega Genesis EA (Electronic Arts) Cartridges	88	95	17	Electronic Arts reverse-engineered the Genesis and produced their own (taller) carts, which were notable for the large indentation with a yellow plastic section with the EA logo molded onto it. Cartridges have flat edges at the bottom, a flat top and chamfered/slightly rounded sides.	NagaTen
Standard Sega 32x PAL Cartridge	111	72	16	Aside from text which is written into the mold, Genesis and PAL 32x carts share the same mold; the design is consistent across all regions. Unlike the Japanese Mega Drive there is no cartridge lock, but there are also no end labels.	Reddit User: gsx115
Standard Sega 32x NTSC-U Cartridge	111	72	16	Aside from text which is written into the mold, Genesis and PAL 32x carts share the same mold; the design is consistent across all regions. Unlike the Japanese Mega Drive there is no cartridge lock, but there are also no end labels.	Reddit User: gsx115
Sega Mega Drive Codemasters Cartridge	75	98/65	17	Codemasters cartridge (without controller ports) are 98mm wide at the bottom, tapering away to 65mm at the top. These carts have flat edges, a flat top and rounded sides.	NagaTen
Sega Mega Drive Codemasters "J-Cart" Cartridge (with controller ports)	75	98/65	17	J-Carts are exactly the same as standard Codemasters cartridges, but with two front-facing 9-pin controller ports labelled "Control 3" and "Control 4".	NagaTen
Sega Genesis Codemasters "J-Cart" Cartridge (with controller ports)	75	98/65	17	J-Carts are exactly the same as standard Codemasters cartridges, but with two front-facing 9-pin controller ports labelled "Control 3" and "Control 4". Genesis version is identical to PAL version.	Adam Koralik
Sega Genesis Sonic and Knuckles cartridge	82 (incl. the cover)	95/116	17/22	"Sonic 3" and "Sonic & Knuckles" were originally conceived as a single game, however ROM size constraints meant that the game had to be split into two separate parts. The "Sonic & Knuckles" cart is an identical shape to a Standard PAL MegaDrive/NTSC Genesis cartridge at the bottom (with a "cut" on the left side of the cart for compatibility with the Japanese cart-locking mechanism). However, the top of the cart has a swiveling cover called a "Lock-On Adapter", which allows the player to connect another cartridge on top. The footprint of the cartridge goes from a 95mm wide shape and widens into 116mm at the top, while the thickness goes from 17mm to 22mm.	NagaTen
Mega Key region converter cartridge	67	95/108	17	This is an unofficial region bypass cartridge that uses dip switches to convert cartridges from any region (USA/Japan/Brazil/PAL+SECAM) to work with a Sega Genesis/MegaDrive console from any region. As with standard cartridges, the Mega Key footprint goes from a rectangular 95mm wide shape and widens into 108mm The cartridge being converted would sit on top of an adapter which is 87mm wide and 9mm thick. The Mega Key cart itself is 67mm tall, but 127mm with a regular cart on top. Despite the grey area around the concept of the cart, this was actually officially distributed in Portugal, by Ecofilmes (see Wikipedia @ shorturl.at/sDEFJ)	NagaTen
Sega Game Gear *	68	66	10	?	Reddit User: gsx115
Nintendo Game Boy	65.5	57	7.5	?	Reddit User: gsx115
Nintendo Game Boy Pocket	?	?	?	?	?	?
Super Nintendo (US)	85	134	20	?	?
Super Famicom *	?	?	?	?	?	?
Super Nintendo (PAL) *	?	?	?	?	?	?
SNK Neo Geo AES *	?	?	?	?	?	?
SNK Neo Geo CD	?	?	?	?	?
Pioneer LaserActive	?	?	?	?	?	?

Fifth generation of consoles

Console	Height (mm)	Width (mm)	Thickness (mm)	Notes	Confirmed by	Image
Commodore Amiga CD32	N/A	N/A	N/A	Console uses disc-based physical media	TheRealOC
Panasonic 3DO	N/A	N/A	N/A	Console uses disc-based physical media	TheRealOC
Atari Jaguar *	?	?	?	?	?	?
Atari Jaguar CD *	N/A	N/A	N/A	Console uses disc-based physical media	TheRealOC
Bandai Playdia *	N/A	N/A	N/A	Console uses disc-based physical media	TheRealOC
Sega Saturn	?	?	?	?	?	?
Sony PlayStation	N/A	N/A	N/A	Console uses disc-based physical media	TheRealOC
Sony PSone	N/A	N/A	N/A	Console uses disc-based physical media	TheRealOC
NEC PC-FX	?	?	?	?	?	?
Casio Loopy	?	?	?	?	?	?
Apple Pippin	?	?	?	?	?	?
Nintendo 64	75	116	18	?	Reddit User: gsx115
Virtual Boy	68	75	7	?	Reddit User: gsx115	?
Nintendo Game Boy Color	65.5	57	9	?	Reddit User: gsx115	?

Sixth generation of consoles

Console	Height (mm)	Width (mm)	Thickness (mm)	Notes	Confirmed by	Image
Game Boy Advance	60	35	9	?	Reddit User: gsx115	?
Game Boy Advance SP	?	?	?	?	?	?
Game Boy Micro	?	?	?	?	?	?
Sega Dreamcast	N/A	N/A	N/A	Console uses disc-based physical media	TheRealOC
Sony PlayStation 2 (original)	N/A	N/A	N/A	Console uses disc-based physical media	TheRealOC
Sony PlayStation 2 (slim, SCPH-7xxxx)	N/A	N/A	N/A	Console uses disc-based physical media	TheRealOC
Sony PlayStation 2 (slim, SCPH-9000x)	N/A	N/A	N/A	Console uses disc-based physical media	TheRealOC
VM Labs Nuon	N/A	N/A	N/A	Console uses disc-based physical media	TheRealOC
Microsoft Xbox	N/A	N/A	N/A	Console uses disc-based physical media	TheRealOC
Nintendo GameCube	N/A	N/A	N/A	The main media used by the Gamecube are "Gamecube Game Discs". However, the console can also play Game Boy, Game Boy Color, and Game Boy Advance cartridges, via the Game Boy Player accessory. For more information about those cartridges, see the entries for those devices on this page.	TheRealOC

Seventh generation of consoles

Console	Height (mm)	Width (mm)	Thickness (mm)	Notes	Confirmed by	Image
Nintendo DS	35	33	3.8	?	Reddit User: gsx115
Nintendo DS Lite	35	33	3.8	?	Reddit User: gsx115
Nintendo DSi series	35	33	3.8	?	Reddit User: gsx115
Sony PSP (except N1000/Go)	N/A	N/A	N/A	Console uses disc-based physical media	Glitchgod
Sony PSP-N1000 series (Go)	N/A	N/A	N/A	Console does not use physical media	Glitchgod
Nintendo Wii	N/A	N/A	N/A	Console uses disc-based physical media	Glitchgod
Mattel HyperScan	?	?	?	?	?	?
Microsoft Xbox 360	N/A	N/A	N/A	Console uses disc-based physical media	TheRealOC
Microsoft Xbox 360 S	N/A	N/A	N/A	Console uses disc-based physical media	TheRealOC		?
Microsoft Xbox 360 E	N/A	N/A	N/A	Console uses disc-based physical media	TheRealOC
Sony PlayStation 3	N/A	N/A	N/A	Console uses disc-based physical media	TheRealOC

Eighth generation of consoles

Console	Height (mm)	Width (mm)	Thickness (mm)	Notes	Confirmed by	Image
Nintendo 3DS/2DS Series incl. New	35	33	3.8	?	Reddit User: gsx115
Sony PS Vita	30	22	?	?	Reddit User: gsx115
Sony PS Vita TV	N/A	N/A	N/A	Console does not use physical media	Glitchgod
Nintendo Wii U	N/A	N/A	N/A	Console uses disc-based physical media	TheRealOC
Sony PlayStation 4 (original)	N/A	N/A	N/A	Console uses disc-based physical media	TheRealOC
Sony PlayStation 4 (slim)	N/A	N/A	N/A	Console uses disc-based physical media	TheRealOC
Sony PlayStation 4 Pro	N/A	N/A	N/A	Console uses disc-based physical media	TheRealOC
Microsoft Xbox One	N/A	N/A	N/A	Console uses disc-based physical media	TheRealOC
Microsoft Xbox One S	N/A	N/A	N/A	Console uses disc-based physical media	TheRealOC
Microsoft Xbox One X	N/A	N/A	N/A	Console uses disc-based physical media	TheRealOC
Nintendo Switch Game Cards	?	?	?	?	?

Ninth generation of consoles

Console	Height (mm)	Width (mm)	Thickness (mm)	Notes	Confirmed by	Image
Sony PlayStation 5	N/A	N/A	N/A	Console uses disc-based physical media	TheRealOC
Sony PlayStation 5 Digital Edition	N/A	N/A	N/A	Console does not use physical media	TheRealOC		?
Microsoft Xbox Series S	N/A	N/A	N/A	Console does not use physical media	TheRealOC
Microsoft Xbox Series X	N/A	N/A	N/A	Console uses disc-based physical media	TheRealOC

References

• "Dimensions for Game Cartridges".