Play Arch Rivals Online

Arch Rivals landed on the Sega Genesis in 1992, a Midway game that brought a rowdy, arcade style of basketball to the console. It arrived during a period when sports games were starting to diversify, offering alternatives to the more straightforward simulations. This one stood out immediately for its particular brand of chaos.

You control a five man basketball team, but the goal isn't just to score. The core of the game is its physical, often absurd, combat. You can punch an opponent to steal the ball, a move that would draw an immediate foul in any real game. Players can even lose their shorts after a particularly hard hit, leaving them in their boxers for a few seconds. Matches unfold on a two player split screen, and the action is fast and frantic. The difficulty comes from the constant brawling as much as from the actual basketball plays. It feels like a playground argument that somehow got organized into a sport.