Play NBA Live 98 Online
Dribbling past defenders with MJ actually feels responsive, and those pixelated Shaq dunks still hit hard—plays like a proper b-ball sim, not just a button-masher.
NBA Live 98 came out for the Super Nintendo Entertainment System in 1997, a time when the console was nearing the end of its life. Published by EA Sports, it was one of the later basketball titles to hit the SNES, arriving well into the era of more powerful systems. It felt like a holdover, a final attempt to deliver a full sports experience on aging hardware.
You control all five players on your chosen NBA team, working to outscore the opponent within four quarters. The game relies on straightforward controls for passing, shooting, and stealing, with a notable emphasis on turbo-driven fast breaks and aggressive defense. Signature mechanics include calling for picks to create space and executing alley-oops, which require precise timing. The pacing is quick, almost frantic at times, especially on fast transitions, and the difficulty can spike noticeably against tougher teams. It feels like a genuine, if slightly dated, simulation of basketball, where smart plays matter more than random button pressing.
Download NBA Live 98 ROM
You can download this ROM to play NBA Live 98 offline using an Super Nintendo (SNES) emulator (Top Emulators).
*This ROM is provided for backup and educational purposes only.
