Dimensions for Game Cartridges

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

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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.

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First generation of consoles

Console	Height (mm)	Width (mm)	Thickness (mm)	Notes	Confirmed by	Images
Original Magnavox Odyssey "Game Cards"	60	100	5.5	At the bottom of the game card, the width of the PCB is 90.5mm, expanding to just under 100mm width at the top of the handle. The height of the PCB portion is 26mm, and approx. 60mm in total (including the handle). The thickness of 5.5mm is at the thickest point (the handle). Note that the black molding is not exact between different cards so some deviation from these measurements can be expected.	Zach Horton & 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	?	?	?	This could arguably be said to be the first "true" cartridge for a home gaming console. Whereas the earlier Magnavox Odyssey game cards merely turned on or off certain electronics inside the console (like a set of switches or jumpers), the Telstar Arcade cartridge actually contained small 512-word programs in ROM. The cartridge has a unique triangular shape which connects on the top of the Telstar Arcade console.	?
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	Images
Atari 2600	87	81	19	?	Reddit User: gsx115
Sears Video Arcade II/Atari 2800	?	?	?	?	?	?	?
Magnavox Odyssey 2 cartridge	127	80	21	The cartridges are in chunky plastic casings with a handle to make removal easier, and in Europe they were typically boxed in hard plastic cases with a combined manual and inlay providing cover art.	Reddit User: gsx115
Philips Videopac G7000 cartridge (European release of the Magnavox Odyssey 2)	127	80	21	The cartridges for the PAL and NTSC versions of the console (Magnavox Odyssey 2 and Videopac G7000 respectively) are the same size and shape; anecdotally the Videopac carts have a more crisp casting (and possibly molding). The American Odyssey 2 cards have a more rounded-ness to the straight edge. It's possible the mould for the Odyssey 2 cards was made by taking a mould of one of the Videopac carts in much the same way we see similar sculpts degradation in other bootleg cards and toys.	Avon Fox (www.the-liberator.net)
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	Images
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) *
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 *	69	108	16	?	Bomb Bloke
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	Images
Atari Lynx *	?	?	?	?	?	?	?
NEC TurboGrafx-16 HuCard/TurboChip *	53	84	2	?	ApolloBoy
Standard PC Engine HuCard *	53	84	2	Most PC Engine HuCards are physically identical to their TG-16 counterparts but have a different pinout	Reddit User: gsx115
NEC PC Engine SuperGrafx HuCard	53	84	2	Same as the PC Engine but the label is flipped around as HuCards are loaded into the rear of the console	ApolloBoy
System Card (v1.0) for the NEC PC Engine CD *	N/A	N/A	N/A	The PC Engine CD add-on uses disc-based physical media, however a special HuCard called the "PC Engine CD System Card (v1.0)" is required to provide the unit's OS. The 3.0 system card and Arcade Card Pro add additional RAM in addition to the OS.	ApolloBoy
System Card (v2.0) for the NEC TurboGrafx-CD	N/A	N/A	N/A	The TurboGrafx-CD add-on uses disc-based physical media, however a special Turbochip card called the "TurboGrafx CD System Card" (version 2.0) is required to provide the unit's OS as well as additional RAM.	ApolloBoy / Cyrus Martin
System Card (v2.0) for the NEC TurboGrafx-CD
Super System Card (v3.0) for the NEC TurboGrafx-CD	N/A	N/A	N/A	When NEC started using the Super CD format, they released an upgraded version 3.0 Super System Card. This also is meant to be plugged into the American TurboGrax-16, allowing the TurboGrax-CD unit to play the 2MB upgraded Super CD games, as well as the the regular TurboGrafx-CD games. Note: The Super System (v3.0) is pre-built into the TurboDuo consoles, so the separate card is not required by these systems to play 1.0, 2.0 or 3.0 CD games.	ApolloBoy / Cyrus Martin
Super System Card (v3.0) for the NEC TurboGrafx-CD
Street Fighter 2 Hucard for the PC Engine	?	?	?	Street Fighter II for the PC Engine system, was produced on a 20Mbits cartridge, making it the largest HuCard game ever created. It was also physically larger than standard Hucards, and continuing to similar arcade ports for the PC Engine created the impetus for creating the Arcade System Card.	Cyrus Martin
Arcade System Card (Duo Version) for NEC TurboDuo/PC Engine Duo, NEC PC Engine Duo-R/Duo-RX and NEC Super CD-ROM2	?	?	?	To achieve high-quality ports of arcade fighting games, more RAM was needed and so NEC created a system card capable of providing it. This was called the “Arcade System Card”. There were two different versions – the Duo version and the Pro version (which was designed in case the user didn’t have a Duo).	Cyrus Martin
Arcade System Card (Pro Version)	?	?	?	To achieve high-quality ports of arcade fighting games, more RAM was needed and so NEC created a system card capable of providing it. This was called the “Arcade System Card”. There were two different versions – the Duo version and the Pro version (which was designed in case the user didn’t have a Duo).	Cyrus Martin
NEC TurboExpress/PC Engine GT	53	84	2	The NEC TurboExpress/PC Engine GT are not unique consoles with their own dedicated games library. Rather they are miniaturized versions of the existing TurboGrafx-16 and PC Engine consoles, and uses the same TurboChips and HuCards respectively.	RifeXD (YouTube)
NEC TurboDuo/PC Engine Duo	53	84	2	The TurboDuo integrates the capabilities of the TurboGrafx-16 and the TurboGrafx-CD) into a single, redesigned unit. The PC Engine Duo does the same for the Japanese PC Engine and the Super CD-ROM2. However, neither the TurboDuo nor PC Engine Duo any additional hardware on the TurboChip/HuCard side - standard TurboChips/HuCards are used in the US and Japanese versions, respectively.	ApolloBoy
NEC Super CD-ROM2	N/A	N/A	N/A	Console uses disc-based physical media	ApolloBoy
NEC PC Engine LT	53	84	2	Similarly to the PC Engine GT, the PC Engine LT uses the same HuCards as a standard Japanese PC Engine home console (the LT was released exclusively in Japan, and does not support American TurboChips). The LT did not receive any of its own unique HuCard titles.	ApolloBoy
NEC PC Engine Duo-R/Duo-RX	53	84	2	The Duo-R and Duo-RX are Japan-only cost reduced models of the PC Engine Duo. Again, they both use standard HuCards.	Zaxour
Standard Sega Mega Drive Japanese Cartridges	67	93	17	The PCBs are always ~83 mm since the receiver is around 85 mm. Japanese carts have a rectangular footprint 93 mm wide, 67 mm tall, 17 mm 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 95 mm wide shape and widens into 108 mm with rounded sides, 67 mm tall and 17 mm 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
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, 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
Standard Sega 32X NTSC-J Cartridge
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". Genesis version is identical to PAL version.	NagaTen, Adam Koralik
Sega Genesis Codemasters "J-Cart" Cartridge (with controller ports)
Sega Genesis/Mega Drive 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 was used for all regions, and is an identical shape to a standard PAL Mega Drive/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/Mega Drive console from any region. As with standard cartridges, the Mega Key footprint goes from a rectangular 95 mm wide shape and widens into 108 mm. The cartridge being converted would sit on top of an adapter which is 87 mm wide and 9 mm thick. The Mega Key cart itself is 67 mm tall, but 127 mm 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
Standard NTSC-U Super Nintendo Cartridges	85	134	20	?	?	?
Super Famicom *	86	127	20	PAL and Japanese cartridge casings are identical, with the exception of the base from which the PCB protrudes.	Bomb Bloke
Super Nintendo (PAL) *							?
SNK Neo Geo AES *	?	?	?	?	?	?	?
SNK Neo Geo CD	N/A	N/A	N/A	Console uses disc-based physical media	?
Pioneer LaserActive	?	?	?	?	?

Fifth generation of consoles

Console	Height (mm)	Width (mm)	Thickness (mm)	Notes	Confirmed by	Images
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	N/A	N/A	N/A	Console uses disc-based physical media	?
Nintendo 64	75	116	18	?	Reddit User: gsx115
Virtual Boy	68.36	75.8	6.61	The Virtual Boy was never released in PAL regions; the NTSC-U and NTSC-J cartridges are identical, with the only different carts being the HyperFlash32, HyperBoy, and Flash Boy. The cartridge is 73.74 mm tall when including the dust cap.	Virtual Girl (Candi's Classic Game Shrine)
Nintendo Game Boy Color	65.5	57	9	?	Reddit User: gsx115		File:Nintendo-Game-Boy-Color-FL.jpg

Sixth generation of consoles

Console	Height (mm)	Width (mm)	Thickness (mm)	Notes	Confirmed by	Images
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	Images
Nintendo DS	35	33	3.8	?	Reddit User: gsx115
Nintendo DS Lite
Nintendo DSi series
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	Images
Nintendo 3DS/2DS Series incl. New	35	33	3.8	?	Reddit User: gsx115	?
Sony PS Vita	30	22	2	?	Reddit User: gsx115
Sony PS Vita TV
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	Images
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".