The original Midway NBA Jam, the 90s peak of arcade basketball. Wild dunks, hyped atmosphere, brilliant local multiplayer, an essential party game.
Your verdict
Category
Sports4 players3+
Description
NBA teams compete in this Japanese NBA Jam Acclaim Mega Drive port. Published by Acclaim, released in the United States in July 1994. 2v2 arcade basketball with NBA stars, enthusiastic commentary, fire dunks and frantic gameplay adapted for the Japanese market.
NBA Jam review
4/5
Art direction
★★★★★
"Striking"
3/5
Music
★★★★★
"Memorable"
1/5
Story
★★★★★
"Anecdotal"
Gameplay
"Masterful"
Boiled down to turbocharged two-on-two matches, basketball here becomes pure spectacle: flaming dunks, half-court shots and cult commentary fly by at breakneck speed. It's instantly playable and arcade to the core. This contagious madness remains a peak of multiplayer sports gaming, still unbeatable for laughs on a games night.
Fun
"From the very first seconds"
"He's on fire!" booms out, the ball ignites and a dunk crosses half the court: everything here aims for spectacle and belly laughs. The pleasure springs from gleefully owned nonsense, the snappy two-on-two and the hilarious commentary punctuating the action. You return to humiliate a buddy at the buzzer, for the contagious energy, and because this basketball parody stays a peak of togetherness.
The initial USA/EU pressing of NBA Jam is the Midway/Acclaim launch edition before Rev 1.
Better with friends
The absolute benchmark of two-on-two arcade basketball, whose oversized dunks and the famous "he's on fire!" have become legend. The spectacular competition is doubled by joyful co-op when you form a well-drilled duo against the opposition. Immediate, readable and loaded with secrets, it triggers shouts, trash talk and an irresistible need to fire up one last game.
Is NBA Jam still worth playing in 2026?
An arcade basketball by Midway, NBA Jam revolutionises video game sport with its explosive two on two formula, spectacular dunks and the famous He's on fire that marks three consecutive baskets. The digitised art direction of real NBA players, frantic pace and versus mode for up to four players make this title an absolute classic of arcade basketball. For anyone fond of original arcade sports or wishing to rediscover a cult myth, an absolutely essential recommendation today still on Mega Drive without the slightest hesitation.
