Sega Master System

The Sega Master System — released in Japan as the Mark III — was Sega’s answer to the NES, featuring sharper graphics and a library that included Alex Kidd in Miracle World, Sonic the Hedgehog, Phantasy Star, and Golden Axe Warrior. While the NES dominated North America, the Master System found a devoted audience in Europe and Brazil. Provenance brings the full Master System and Mark III library to your iPhone, iPad, and Apple TV.

Provenance is free, open-source, and available directly from the App Store. No jailbreak required.

Supported File Formats

Master System cartridges used straightforward ROM formats. Provenance supports all common options:

• .sms — The standard Sega Master System ROM extension
• .bin — Generic binary format; many Master System and Mark III dumps use this extension
• .rom — Alternate ROM extension used by some archiving tools

Master System ROM files are small — typically under 512KB — making entire libraries easy to manage on a mobile device.

Features

Playing Master System games in Provenance gives you access to the full suite of emulator features:

• Save States — Save and resume anywhere; most Master System games used passwords rather than battery saves, making save states a major quality-of-life improvement
• Controller Support — Full MFi, Xbox, and PlayStation controller compatibility; the Master System’s simple two-button layout maps cleanly to any modern controller
• Shader Support — CRT scanline and phosphor filters to recreate the look of the original hardware on a period-correct television
• Cheat Codes — Code support for supported titles
• Fast Forward — Speed through slower segments or repetitive sequences
• On-Screen Controls — Customizable touch overlay for playing without a physical controller

iCloud Sync with Provenance Plus

Provenance Plus adds iCloud sync for your Master System save states and game library, keeping your Phantasy Star progress and Sonic high scores consistent across your iPhone, iPad, and Apple TV.

How to Get Started

1. Download Provenance from the App Store — it’s free.
2. Add your Master System ROM files to Provenance using iTunes File Sharing, the Files app, or a web server import.
3. Start playing — your game library appears automatically once files are imported.

For detailed setup instructions, visit the Provenance wiki.