The original NFL Blitz, Midway's arcade-style American football. Seven on seven, late hits past the whistle, superhuman jumps and a shrieking soundtrack. A joyful murder of simulation, perfect for evenings with friends and lethally effective for decompressing after a serious Madden.
Your verdict
Category
Sports4 players12+
Description
Midway's arcade American football game with penalty-free rules and brutal post-whistle tackles. Published by Midway, released in 1998 in Europe and North America. Licensed NFL teams, 7-on-7 action, extravagant hits, no penalties, and up to 4-player multiplayer.
NFL Blitz review
4/5
Art direction
★★★★★
"Striking"
3/5
Music
★★★★★
"Memorable"
1/5
Story
★★★★★
"Anecdotal"
NFL Blitz stylizes American football to arcade extremes: exaggerated player proportions, superhuman tackles and flashy Midway staging. The art direction favors action readability and spectacular energy, far from any simulation. A nervy, fun art direction, a hallmark of late-1990s Midway arcade sports.
Gameplay
"Excellent"
Fun
"From the very first seconds"
American football stripped of its weighty rules: seven on seven, devastating tackles after the whistle and superhuman plays. Everything is fast, everything hits, and scoring a spectacular touchdown delivers an instant jolt. Arcade excess takes over from simulation, for an explosive, hilarious blow-off, ideal with several players.
Complete: box, manual and disc/cart very clean. Lightly handled.
Q1 damagedQ6 completeQ10 new
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Collector interest
Midway's original NFL Blitz, arcade American football out September 1998 on the American market. Its over-the-top humor and party multiplayer earn it a loyal following, yet the title remains very common secondhand. The price climb concentrates on sealed copies, a rare commodity for a sports game sold in bulk at the time, the loose game being a play piece more than a collectible.
Is NFL Blitz still worth playing in 2026?
The gridiron counterpart to NBA Jam from Midway, NFL Blitz trims American football to seven on seven and frees the game from most penalties, allowing late tackles and hyped up action. The extreme speed, the improbable aerial chains and the wild atmosphere sweep away any simulation pretence in favour of pure chaos and group fun. The tech has aged but the clarity holds. For a fan of Midway's arcade streak or someone curious about no rules football, the title keeps an infectious energy and an immediate stress relief.
