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NFL 98

Sega Genesis

Sega Genesis

NFL 98 is an NFL-licensed football game updated from Prime Time NFL Football, and one of the last NFL titles to be released on the Genesis. It features all 30 NFL teams and complete rosters for the 1997 season. Just like the previous title, there are season and exhibition modes, as well as team m...

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Developer
Spectacular Games

Released on
1997

Size
1–4 Players

Version
Sega Genesis

Requirements
Sega Genesis

Downloads
Sports

Publisher
Sega of America

ESRB Rating
E - Everyone

Cooperative
Yes

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Description

NFL 98 is an NFL-licensed football game updated from Prime Time NFL Football, and one of the last NFL titles to be released on the Genesis. It features all 30 NFL teams and complete rosters for the 1997 season. Just like the previous title, there are season and exhibition modes, as well as team management options and a comprehensive in-game manual detailing the various aspects of the game.

NFL 98

Overview & History

Released in late 1997 by Sega Sports as the twilight era of the Sega Genesis dawned, NFL 98 represented a swan song for 16-bit football. Developed when the Sega Saturn and PlayStation were already dominating the market, this title bypassed the 32-bit generation to deliver one final, highly polished gridiron experience to Genesis loyalists. It pushed the aging Motorola 68000 processor to its absolute limits by implementing updated 1997 season rosters, accurate player ratings, and refined sprite-scaling pseudo-3D perspective during punts and field goals. While it lacked a traditional story mode—relying instead on exhibition, playoffs, and full season campaigns—it captured the competitive spirit of late-90s football culture, featuring authentic team playbooks and the iconic voice of NFL broadcaster description prompts.

Gameplay Features & Mechanics

NFL 98 delivers fast-paced, arcade-leaning simulation mechanics that focus heavily on offensive execution and strategic play-calling. Players can select from comprehensive standard playbooks featuring West Coast offenses, run-and-shoot schemes, and blitz-heavy defensive packages. The game introduces tighter responsiveness in player movement compared to its predecessor, *NFL '97*, allowing ball-carriers to execute sharp jukes, sudden spins, and devastating stiff arms to evade open-field tackles. Defensively, timing is everything: users must manually switch to the nearest defender to attempt textbook open-field tackles, diving swats, or bone-crushing hits that risk drawing pass interference penalties. Special teams also feature a revamped kicking meter, requiring precise timing for accuracy and distance under pressure.

Keyboard Controls

Arrow Keys / D-Pad: Navigate menus / Move player on the field / Select plays
Action Keys: Pass to receiver (A/B/C mapped to specific routes) / Speed burst / Dive tackle
Enter: Start / Pause