Play NBA Jam (rev 3.01 04/07/93) Online

NBA Jam came out in 1993 as an arcade game by Midway, and playing it through MAME now brings back that specific feeling of crowded arcades and sticky floors. It was a time when sports games were shedding their simulation-heavy skins, opting instead for pure, exaggerated fun that didn't take itself too seriously.

You control a team of two NBA players, running up and down a shortened court with the simple goal of outscoring your opponent. The signature mechanics are what make it unforgettable: you can shove players out of the way with a well-timed elbow, go on a "hot streak" where your shots almost always go in, and perform gravity-defying dunks from near the free-throw line. The pace is relentlessly fast, with the computer opponents quickly catching up if you build a lead. It feels like controlled chaos, a perfect mix of skill and absurdity that keeps you mashing the buttons for just one more game.