California Games - for NES

California Games is a sunny multi event sports game that reached the Nintendo Entertainment System in 1989, converted by Rare and published by Milton Bradley. Instead of stadium sports it hands you six pastimes from the California coast and asks you to risk everything for a high score, because, as the box puts it, wimps wipe out. The attitude is the attraction: California Games is loose, funny and full of spectacular failure, and it still feels different from anything else in the sports corner of the library.

You start by picking a sponsor, then take on the events: surfing, BMX bike racing, roller skating, the half pipe and more, each with its own scoring and its own ways to come unstuck. Every event rewards boldness, since the biggest tricks and the fastest lines also carry the best chance of a wipeout. Trophies are handed out for single events and for the overall competition, and California Games has room for up to eight players taking their turns, which makes it a very good cartridge to have running in a room full of people.

Players still love California Games for its mood. The music, the colors and the sheer cheek of it capture a particular moment perfectly, and the events are simple enough that anyone can take a turn and short enough that nobody waits long. Beating a friend's score on the half pipe has not stopped being satisfying. California Games is also easy to recommend to a collector: an early conversion by Rare, an unusual Milton Bradley release for the system, and a party game that still earns its place next to the console.

• Genre: Sports Compilation
• Players: 1-8
• Region: NTSC
• Release Year: 1989
• Developer: Rare

Cartridge Only: No Box or Manual
Please note that this listing is for the game cartridge only. The original box, instruction manual, and any other accessories are not included with this purchase unless explicitly stated in the listing. What you receive is exactly what you need to play: the cartridge itself, tested and confirmed working.

Condition & Authenticity
This game has been tested and is fully functional. We do not authenticate or certify originality, and listings are intended for players and everyday collectors rather than professional grading or authentication purposes.

Images & Regional Differences
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