Madden NFL 97
Madden NFL 97 — frequently asked questions
- What platforms is Madden NFL 97 on?
- Madden NFL 97 was released on Sega Saturn, PlayStation, Sega Mega Drive/Genesis, DOS, PC (Microsoft Windows), Super Nintendo Entertainment System, Game Boy.
- When did Madden NFL 97 release?
- Madden NFL 97 was first released on September 1, 1996.
About Madden NFL 97
Welcome to Madden NFL 97, the game that captures the excitement of a 30 yard touchdown pass, the strategy of a well executed scoring drive, and the atmosphere of a crisp autumn afternoon in the stadium. Madden NFL 97 delivers state of the art graphics and sound -- and with modem and network support, it's ready to put your competitive skills to the test.
Summary via IGDB.
Game details
- Platforms
- Sega Saturn, PlayStation, Sega Mega Drive/Genesis, DOS, PC (Microsoft Windows), Super Nintendo Entertainment System, Game Boy
- Developer
- EA Orlando
- Publisher
- EA Sports
- Game modes
- Single player, Multiplayer, Split screen
- Themes
- Non-fiction
- 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 | 1996 | $9 | $11 | $47 | Low |
Also released on: Sega Saturn · PlayStation · Sega Mega Drive/Genesis · DOS · PC (Microsoft Windows) · Super Nintendo Entertainment System · Game Boy. 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 | $14 | $40 | — |
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 month
- Complete: about once a week
- Sealed: about 3 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 $0.01 in Oct 2007, $5.00 five years ago, and $9.06 as of Oct 2026.
Show as table
| Month | Loose | Complete |
|---|---|---|
| Jan 2008 | $0.38 | — |
| Jan 2009 | $0.75 | — |
| Jan 2010 | $0.94 | — |
| Jan 2011 | $0.75 | — |
| Jan 2012 | $0.87 | — |
| Jan 2013 | $0.87 | — |
| Jan 2014 | $4.01 | $7.50 |
| Jan 2015 | $3.99 | $6.24 |
| Jan 2016 | $4.99 | $6.94 |
| Jan 2017 | $2.99 | $6.75 |
| Jan 2018 | $4.55 | $7.99 |
| Jan 2019 | $5.00 | $5.88 |
| Jan 2020 | $3.80 | $7.08 |
| Jan 2021 | $4.68 | $5.62 |
| Jan 2022 | $7.38 | $13.48 |
| Jan 2023 | $5.47 | $8.59 |
| Jan 2024 | $6.97 | $11.00 |
| Jan 2025 | $3.50 | $9.99 |
| Jan 2026 | $6.04 | $10.49 |
| Oct 2026 | $9.06 | $11.03 |
Monthly price estimates from PriceCharting's completed-sale records, sampled quarterly, through Oct 2026.
Release record
| Territory | Date | Barcode |
|---|---|---|
| North America | October 1996 | 014633076899 |
| Europe / PAL | 1996 | — |
- Region
- NA+EU
- Released
- 1996
- Authenticity
- Low
A polished late Genesis Madden with a battery save, and an easy, inexpensive buy among US carts.
Madden NFL 97 is EA Sports' American football game for 1996, and the Genesis version was developed by High Score Productions. It reached North America in October 1996 and Europe in 1996. Other versions of the game appeared on the PlayStation, Saturn and Super NES, so this page is about the Genesis cart.
GamePro called the Genesis version immensely enjoyable, with great action and stat-heavy strategy, and went so far as to suggest that football fans did not need a next-generation system.
What the press said at the time
“It packs the features, the gameplay, and the fun factor that make it a first-round draft choice for Genesis owners.”
Also on other platforms
PlayStation · MS-DOS · Sega Saturn · Windows · Super NES · Game Boy
- PlayStation. Critics hailed the PlayStation version as a strong comeback after the canceled PlayStation Madden NFL '96, citing outstanding gameplay, graphics and options.
- Sega Saturn. GamePro praised the Saturn version's gameplay, playbook, animations and full-motion video.
- Super NES. GamePro was much less pleased with the Super NES version, finding it inferior to Madden NFL '96 for its weak AI, slower gameplay and awkward graphics.
Before you buy
Among US carts it sits below the middle. The cartridge saves to a battery inside it, so test that a save holds; a replaced battery is a normal repair and not a sign of a fake. Sega Retro lists it as working with EA's 4 Way Play; EA's 4 Way Play and Sega's first Team Player do not run each other's games, while Sega's later Team Player runs both in its EXTRA mode. The European cart usually costs more than the US one, especially complete.
Madden NFL 97 screenshots
Watch on YouTube
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