Madden NFL 96
Madden NFL 96 — frequently asked questions
- What platforms is Madden NFL 96 on?
- Madden NFL 96 was released on Super Nintendo Entertainment System, Sega Mega Drive/Genesis, PC (Microsoft Windows), Game Boy, Sega Game Gear, DOS, PlayStation.
- When did Madden NFL 96 release?
- Madden NFL 96 was first released on December 31, 1995.
About Madden NFL 96
Madden NFL 96 is one of the earlier games in the long lasting franchise. It is the first to include a create-a-player feature that had the player preform mini games similar to real NFL drills. With 28 NFL teams and many more secret historic teams, Real NFL players, and the iconic NFL on Fox music theme, Madden 96 offered an authentic experience for fans of the sport.
Summary via IGDB.
Game details
- Platforms
- Super Nintendo Entertainment System, Sega Mega Drive/Genesis, PC (Microsoft Windows), Game Boy, Sega Game Gear, DOS, PlayStation
- Developer
- Electronic Arts
- Publisher
- Electronic Arts
- Game modes
- Single player, Multiplayer
- Series
- Madden
Details via IGDB.
Reception
Every version compared
Prices, contemporary reception and the studio credited for each release
| Platform | Year | Loose | Complete | Sealed | Fake risk |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sega Genesis | 1995 | $6 | $10 | $33 | Low |
Also released on: Super Nintendo Entertainment System · Sega Mega Drive/Genesis · PC (Microsoft Windows) · Game Boy · Sega Game Gear · DOS · PlayStation. We haven’t priced or authenticated those versions yet.
Collector value & authenticity
Sega Genesis · PriceCharting sold data · Verified 2026-10-29
Other releases and variants
| Release | Loose | Complete | Sealed |
|---|---|---|---|
| European (PAL) release | $6 | $20 | — |
What it needs to play
- Some modesSave battery (inside the cartridge) — saves to memory kept alive by a battery inside the cartridge; if that battery has died, saves are lost (MAME cartridge records).
How often it sells
- Loose: about once a week
- Complete: about once a week
- Sealed: about 5 times a year
Sales frequency from PriceCharting's completed-sale records, as of 2026-10-29.
Price over time
- Loose
- Complete
A loose copy sold for about $0.80 in Apr 2012, $5.79 five years ago, and $5.92 as of Oct 2026.
Show as table
| Month | Loose | Complete |
|---|---|---|
| Jan 2013 | — | — |
| Jan 2014 | — | — |
| Jan 2015 | — | — |
| Jan 2016 | — | — |
| Jan 2017 | $3.07 | $4.99 |
| Jan 2018 | $3.42 | $6.72 |
| Jan 2019 | $3.09 | $7.95 |
| Jan 2020 | $4.00 | $7.99 |
| Jan 2021 | $4.73 | $6.25 |
| Jan 2022 | $4.36 | $12.06 |
| Jan 2023 | $4.02 | $7.94 |
| Jan 2024 | $4.52 | $8.86 |
| Jan 2025 | $4.49 | $6.42 |
| Jan 2026 | $5.91 | $8.99 |
| Oct 2026 | $5.92 | $10.44 |
Monthly price estimates from PriceCharting's completed-sale records, sampled quarterly, through Oct 2026.
Release record
| Territory | Date | Barcode |
|---|---|---|
| North America | 10 November 1995 | 014633074932 |
| Europe / PAL | 1995 | — |
- Region
- NA+EU
- Released
- 1995
- Authenticity
- Low
A well-regarded 16-bit Madden that costs next to nothing.
Madden NFL '96 was developed by High Score Productions and published by EA Sports, arriving in North America on 10 November 1995 and in Europe in 1995. Its code was based on the 3DO game John Madden Football instead of the earlier Genesis Madden games.
Electronic Gaming Monthly's two sports reviewers praised the Genesis version, saying EA had listened to players, and singled out the hard AI and the new speed bursts.
What the press said at the time
“Madden 96 is murder! There are no sure-fire pass plays anymore, and the A.I. defense is a relentless ball hawk.”
How the Sega Genesis version differs
Compared with earlier Madden games, the AI was boosted: it can hurry in two-minute drills, spike the ball and cover receivers more efficiently, and critics praised it most.
Also on other platforms
Super NES · Game Boy · Game Gear · MS-DOS · PlayStation
- PlayStation. A PlayStation version, built on the code of the 3DO John Madden Football, was delayed and ultimately canceled for failing EA's quality standards.
- Game Boy. The handheld versions lacked NFL licensing, so the NFL was removed from the title and they were released as Madden 96.
- MS-DOS. A DOS version was released in 1996 as Madden NFL Football: Limited Edition.
Before you buy
Among US carts it sits well below the middle. The European cart costs about the same as the US one loose and usually about twice as much complete. The cartridge saves to a battery inside it, so check that a save holds; a replaced battery is a normal repair, not a sign of a fake. Sega Retro lists it as working with EA's 4 Way Play and with XBAND.
Madden NFL 96 screenshots
Watch on YouTube
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