Sentences written about this title, gathered by type from the Japanese and English Wikipedia articles (as of 2026-8-30).
Electronic Arts had expected the Genesis version to sell around 75,000 units, but instead the title sold roughly 400,000 units.
Computer and Video Games reviewed the Mega Drive version John Madden American Football and gave it a 95% score, praising the realism and the sound.
Sega Power gave it a 92% score.
Much of the development team was made up of former Cinemaware developers who previously had worked on TV Sports: Football, a football game released the same year of the previous John Madden Football release, which, according to IGN, "stole some of EA's thunder"
An Atari ST version was announced and then later on cancelled with ST Review reporting, "Although great things were expected of the Atari version of John Madden's American Football, EA has decided to abandon its development."
Loosely based on the 1988 video game of the same title, it was the first entry in what eventually became the yearly Madden NFL series on home consoles, initially released for the Sega Genesis in 1990.
An Atari ST version was announced and then later on cancelled with ST Review reporting, "Although great things were expected of the Atari version of John Madden's American Football, EA has decided to abandon its development."
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