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Madden NFL 97
NFL：Madden 97
Madden NFL 97, developed by Electronic Arts and released in 1996, is a football simulation for Sega Genesis. Players control NFL teams through full seasons or individual games, calling plays from both offensive and defensive playbooks. The game features 4-player local multiplayer, allowing multiple players to compete in matches or seasons. Gameplay emphasizes strategic play selection, with distinct formations and plays available for different situations. The Genesis version includes franchise mode for managing a team across multiple seasons, adjusting rosters and strategies. Controls use the controller's buttons and D-pad to navigate menus, select plays, and direct player movement during matches. The title offers authentic NFL team rosters from 1996, with each squad featuring different strengths. Audio commentary and crowd noise enhance the broadcast-style presentation.
- Developer
- Electronic Arts
- Platform
- Mega Drive
- Genre
- Sports
- Players
- 4P
- Rating
- 4.4 / 5 (749)
- Last updated
Madden NFL 97 Controls — Mega Drive Keyboard Keys
Default keyboard bindings for Madden NFL 97 on our in-browser Mega Drive emulator. Plug in a USB or Bluetooth gamepad to auto-detect mappings, or rebind any key from the emulator settings menu.
| Keyboard | Console button | Typical use |
|---|---|---|
| ↑ | D-Pad Up | Move up |
| ↓ | D-Pad Down | Move down |
| ← | D-Pad Left | Move left |
| → | D-Pad Right | Move right |
| X | A | Primary action (jump / confirm) |
| Z | B | Secondary action (attack / cancel) |
| S | C | Tertiary action |
| A | X | Quaternary action |
| Q | Y | Fifth button |
| W | Z | Sixth button |
| Enter | Start | Start / Pause |
These bindings cover the 6-button Mega Drive controller. Most older titles only use buttons A/B/C; the extra X/Y/Z buttons matter for Street Fighter II and other 6-button fighters.
Rebind any key from the EmulatorJS in-game settings menu (gear icon → Controls). A connected gamepad auto-maps to the same buttons.
Madden NFL 97 Longplay & Gameplay Videos
Watch a full playthrough of Madden NFL 97 on Mega Drive before you dive in — recommended for getting a feel for the game's pacing, story beats, and difficulty curve.
Watch longplay on YouTube
"Madden NFL 97" Mega Drive longplay
Madden NFL 97 Cheat Codes
13 community-curated cheats for Madden NFL 97. Tick any to activate them automatically when you click "Play with cheats" — or copy a code into your own emulator.
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Infinite Points
FFBE60:0063 -
Max Speed
FFBE66:0063 -
Max Scrambling
FFBE64:0063 -
Max Pass Accuracy
FFBE68:0063 -
Max Pass Range
FFBE6A:0063 -
Max Break Tackles
FFBE6C:0063 -
Bypass Salary Cap
FFEE97:0020HDST-EA8W -
Master Code
RE2V-860A -
Press B on Title Screen for Build Date, Checksum Viewer, and Sound Test
FFEE9A:5656
Show 1 more cheats Show fewer
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Cannot Be Tackled
HD5A-GTF2+AX5A-GVF4+GD5A-HSZ6+AM5A-GA78
External references
Frequently Asked Questions
Who developed Madden NFL 97?
Madden NFL 97 was developed by Electronic Arts, available to play in your browser on RetroGameSpace.
How many players does Madden NFL 97 support?
Madden NFL 97 supports up to 4 players, ideal for couch co-op or competitive sessions on the Mega Drive.
What type of game is Madden NFL 97?
Madden NFL 97 is a Sports game for the Mega Drive, playable instantly in your browser — no downloads, no installs.
How can I play Madden NFL 97 for free?
Open this page and click "Play Now" — Madden NFL 97 runs free in your browser via WebAssembly emulation. No account, no payment, no installer.
Do I need to download anything to play Madden NFL 97 in the browser?
No. Madden NFL 97 streams from a public archive into a browser-side Mega Drive emulator. Nothing is installed on your computer.
Can I save my progress in Madden NFL 97?
Yes. Save states are stored in your browser (IndexedDB) per game, and you can also use any in-game save the original Mega Drive cartridge supported.
Does Madden NFL 97 work on mobile devices?
Yes — the Mega Drive emulator runs on iOS Safari and Android Chrome. Touch controls overlay the game; landscape mode is recommended.
Is it legal to play Madden NFL 97 this way?
RetroGameSpace is a transient caching reverse-proxy and does not host first-party copies of Madden NFL 97. Game files are fetched on demand from publicly-accessible archives. You are responsible for compliance with your local laws and the bring-your-own-ROM principle.
