Marble Madness NES box art

Nintendo Entertainment System · Platformer / Racing

Marble Madness

SystemNintendo Entertainment System
Released1989 (originally 1984)
GenrePlatformer, Racing, Action
DeveloperMilton Bradley Co.
PublisherAtari
Players1–2 players
CommitmentAn evening or two (Roughly 1–6 hours to see it through)
LegacyWell-known · legacy score 7

Released for the Nintendo Entertainment System in 1989, Marble Madness is a platformer developed by Milton Bradley Co. and published by Atari. This NES release is a port or adaptation of a game that first appeared in 1984. It blends platformer, racing and action elements.

It landed about 4 years into the NES's life. Other notable NES releases from 1989 include Mother, Castlevania III: Dracula's Curse and DuckTales.

Milton Bradley Co. also made Battleship for the NES.

Marble Madness supports up to 2 players, whether that means taking turns or going head-to-head.

Pick it if…

  • you want to run, jump and explore
  • you have time for an evening or two (roughly 1–6 hours to see it through)
  • you have a friend to play against

Maybe skip it if…

  • you get frustrated by precise jumps and limited lives

What playing Marble Madness is like

Platformers are all about movement: running, jumping and timing your way across levels full of gaps, enemies and secrets. The best ones feel great to control within seconds and then slowly teach you to master every leap.

Tip for newcomers: Retro platformers often have limited lives and few checkpoints. Learn one level at a time, look for hidden 1-ups, and don't be shy about using a save feature when it is available.

Marble Madness gameplay screenshot on NES
In-game screenshot (NES)

Marble Madness cheats & codes

16 codes on file (Game Genie, Emulator memory codes). Here are a few Game Genie codes to start with:

Extra 20 Seconds To Complete Beginner RaceGOOZPLAA
Extra 40 Seconds To Complete Beginner RaceAXOZPLAE
Bonus Time Not AddedGXEXTLEL
Infinite TimeOXVXLZVS
Play Game In Black And White ModeOXOYEGSX YOOYOGZE

See all Marble Madness cheats

Marble Madness walkthroughs & guides

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

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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.

Marble Madness FAQ

When did Marble Madness come out on the NES?

Marble Madness was released for the Nintendo Entertainment System in 1989; the original game dates back to 1984.

Who made Marble Madness?

It was developed by Milton Bradley Co. and published by Atari.

Is Marble Madness multiplayer?

Yes. Marble Madness supports up to 2 players.

How long does Marble Madness take to play?

As a platformer, Marble Madness typically falls into the "An evening or two" category: roughly 1–6 hours to see it through. Your time will vary with skill and how much you explore.

Read more about Marble Madness 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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