Excitebike for Nintendo Entertainment System (NES)

Race through dirt tracks, soar over jumps, and dodge overheating engines in Excitebike for the Nintendo Entertainment System, one of the earliest and most iconic motocross racing games. Released as part of the NES launch lineup, Excitebike lets players compete solo or against the clock in time trials across increasingly challenging obstacle courses. With tight controls, momentum-based physics, and a unique overheating mechanic, mastering speed and timing is key. The game also features a Design Mode, allowing players to create and race on their own custom tracks—an early example of user-generated content on home consoles.

Key Features:

Classic Side-Scrolling Racing
Dash through obstacle-laden dirt tracks in fast-paced, horizontal motocross action.

Overheating Mechanic
Manage your engine temperature carefully—boosting too often causes your bike to overheat and stall.

Track Design Mode
Create custom race tracks using in-game pieces, then test your skills against your own creations.

Multiple Race Modes
Choose between solo time trials or racing against computer-controlled riders.

Responsive Controls
Balance your rider mid-air, adjust speed on the fly, and recover quickly from crashes.

Metadata:
Genre: Racing
Platform: Nintendo Entertainment System (NES)
Developer: Nintendo R&D1
Publisher: Nintendo
Release Dates:
Japan: November 30, 1984
North America: October 18, 1985
ESRB Rating: Not Rated (Predates ESRB)
Mode: Single-player