Play NBA Jam online

On UsuArcade, NBA Jam puts up to four players on the same court online: everyone on their own phone or PC, in real time. NBA Jam was the loudest cabinet in the arcade. Four players crammed shoulder to shoulder at the controls, the announcer yelling every dunk and a crowd behind them going nuts like it was Game 7. Forget the rulebook: shove people, jump through the roof and hit three in a row to set the ball on fire.

History

Midway released it in 1993, with Mark Turmell as lead designer and digitized real NBA players. It was a monster hit in American arcades and one of the defining coin-op phenomena of the 90s.

The announcer's calls, like 'Boomshakalaka' and 'He's on fire!', crossed over into pop culture, and the game spawned updates and sequels for years.

How to play

Each team has two players on the floor. One button passes or steals, another shoots or blocks, and a turbo button lets you sprint faster and jump higher, though it runs out and needs to recharge.

There are no personal fouls, so go ahead and shove the other guy to take the ball. Dunks come from charging the rim with turbo and shooting. Hit three straight buckets and you're on fire: better shooting, unlimited turbo and a flaming ball until the other team scores.

Fun facts

• Games are four very short quarters, built so every quarter you dropped lasted just long enough.
• 'He's on fire!' is probably the most famous line in the game.
• The original cabinet supported up to four players at once, two per team.

In the arcade

Just like the arcade, only from your own couch: sit down at the NBA Jam cabinet, invite your friends once they're in the lobby and hit the same court as teammates or head-to-head. Nothing to install: it runs in your browser on phone or PC, gamepad supported, and every game starts with INSERT COIN, free.

Your friend can even jump in after you've already started. Anyone else in the lobby can drop in as a spectator and watch live while chatting, and your scores go up on the arcade's high score board.

FAQ