Marble Madness is an isometric action game ported to the NES by Rare and published by Milton Bradley, based on Atari Games’ 1984 arcade original designed by Mark Cerny. Players guide a marble through six increasingly difficult isometric courses within a time limit, avoiding hazards, enemies, and drop-offs. The NES version adds two-player simultaneous racing.
How To Play Marble Madness
Control
Action
D-Pad
Roll the marble in any direction across the isometric course
A Button
Speed boost (roll faster)
Select
Choose control style (at the start menu)
Start
Start game / pause
About Marble Madness
Release date
Arcade (NA): December 1984 · NES (NA): March 1989 · NES (EU): 1989
Developer
Rare (NES port); original arcade by Atari Games
Publisher
Milton Bradley (NES, NA)
Platform
Nintendo Entertainment System (NES); originally Arcade, plus many other ports
Sheldon has spent over a decade immersed in retro gaming, from NES classics to arcade gems. He's deeply passionate about preserving gaming history and helping others rediscover these timeless titles. When he's not gaming, Shaun writes about the evolution of video games and their cultural impact.
