Excitebike

Excitebike is one of the first great racing games on the NES. Your motocross rider races over big jumps, mud and ramps against the clock or against other riders. The turbo makes you faster but heats the engine, and if the temperature bar fills, your bike stops to cool down. Land with both wheels at the same time to keep your speed. It is Nintendo’s 1984 game, and it plays right here in your browser with no download.

How to play

1. Press Play under the title picture. Selection A is a race against the clock, Selection B adds other riders, and Design lets you build a track. Move with Select (V) and press Start (Enter).
2. Hold X to accelerate. Hold Z for the turbo, and watch the temperature bar.
3. Change lane with up and down. Ride over the arrows on the track to cool the engine down.
4. In the air, press left to lift the front wheel and right to push it down, so you land flat.
5. Finish third or better in the qualifying race to go on to the championship race.

Controls

Computer: arrow keys move, Z is the turbo, X accelerates, V is Select, Enter is Start and pauses. Move the mouse over the game to show the bar with pause, restart, sound, save state, load state and full screen buttons.

Phone and tablet: the NES pad appears under the game: the cross, B (is the turbo), A (accelerates) and Start.

A USB or Bluetooth gamepad also works.

Cheats

Press the magic wand button next to the full screen button above the game. A small panel opens over the game, and the game waits until you close it.

• Engine never overheats: use the turbo as long as you like.
• No crashes: you stay on the bike even after a bad landing.

Reloading the page turns the cheats off again.

About Excitebike

Nintendo released Excitebike for the Famicom in Japan in 1984 and for the NES in North America in 1985, when the system came out. Design mode let players build their own tracks long before track editors were common. The game came back as Excitebike 64 on the Nintendo 64 and in many Nintendo collections.

Frequently asked questions

Is Excitebike free to play here?

Yes. You can play it free in your browser on Yes This Game, with no download and no sign-up.

How do you stop the engine overheating in Excitebike?

Use the turbo in short bursts and ride over the arrow marks on the track: they cool the engine. The cheat keeps the engine cool all the time.

Can I play it on my phone?

Yes. On a phone or tablet an on-screen pad appears under the game.

Can I save my progress?

Yes. The bar under the game has save state and load state buttons that keep the game in your browser on this device.