Play Arch Rivals on nes Online

Arch Rivals hit the NES in 1989, a Midway release that brought arcade-style basketball brawling home. It arrived in an era packed with straightforward sports titles, but this one stood out by ditching any pretense of pure athletics. Instead of polished teamwork, it offered something rowdier, something built for laughs and cheap shots on a lazy afternoon.

You control one of two players on a team, moving up and down a single-screen court with the goal of outscoring your opponent. The real draw is the fighting; you can punch, shove, or trip the other players to steal the ball, turning every possession into a messy scramble. Matches are fast and silly, with the ball frequently knocked loose and players stumbling around after a solid hit. It feels less like a sport and more like a playground argument where someone finally brought a basketball.