Excitebike NES box art

Nintendo Entertainment System · Racing

Excitebike

Certified classic

SystemNintendo Entertainment System
Released1985
GenreRacing
DeveloperNintendo
PublisherNintendo
Players1 player
CommitmentQuick session (Under an hour, or endless arcade fun)
SeriesExcite
ESRBE
LegacyCertified classic · legacy score 28

Released for the Nintendo Entertainment System in 1985, Excitebike is a racing game developed by Nintendo.

It belongs to the NES's earliest wave of games. Other notable NES releases from 1985 include Super Mario Bros., Ice Climber and Battle City. Among the 48 NES racing games in our database, it ranks #1 by legacy score.

It is part of the Excite series. Nintendo also made Super Mario Bros., Super Mario Bros. 3 and Super Mario Bros. 2 for the NES.

This is a solo experience: one player, no waiting on anyone else.

Pick it if…

  • you want to race and compete
  • you have time for a quick session (under an hour, or endless arcade fun)
  • you want to experience one of the NES's defining games

Maybe skip it if…

  • you want a story or exploration rather than laps
  • you are looking for something to play with friends

What playing Excitebike is like

Racing games range from realistic driving to kart racers with weapons and shortcuts. Races are short, making them great for quick sessions and split-screen rivalries.

Tip for newcomers: Learn each track's racing line and braking points; in kart racers, item strategy matters as much as driving.

Excitebike gameplay screenshot on NES
In-game screenshot (NES)

Excitebike cheats & codes

61 codes on file (Game Genie, Other codes). Here are a few Game Genie codes to start with:

Never OverheatSXXTYUVV
Recover Fast After CrashesYEXIKOYA
Reduced Enemy Bikes In Game BPEXIEZLA
Timer Runs At Half SpeedAAUSEYAO
Timer Runs At Quarter SpeedGAUSEYAP
When You Start A Race It Looks WeirdNNISZZ

See all Excitebike cheats

Excitebike walkthroughs & guides

Stuck, or want to go deeper? These trusted sites have full walkthroughs, completion times and more for Excitebike.

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Playing NES games today

NES games are short on paper but often famously tough, so expect to replay levels and learn patterns. Many first-party titles are available through Nintendo Switch Online, original cartridges remain easy to find, and you can play backups of games you own in an emulator such as Rec0m88.

Excitebike FAQ

When did Excitebike come out on the NES?

Excitebike was released for the Nintendo Entertainment System in 1985.

Who made Excitebike?

It was developed by Nintendo.

Is Excitebike multiplayer?

No. Excitebike is a single-player game.

How long does Excitebike take to play?

As a racing game, Excitebike typically falls into the "Quick session" category: under an hour, or endless arcade fun. Your time will vary with skill and how much you explore.

Read more about Excitebike on Wikipedia. Facts on this page are compiled from the open libretro database and Wikidata; "legacy score" reflects how widely a game is documented across Wikipedia's language editions. Spotted an error? Let us know.

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