🏀 SNES Cheat Guide

NBA Jam 1994 Cheats and Codes for SNES

Looking for NBA Jam 1994 cheats on Super Nintendo? You’re in the right place. The SNES version of NBA Jam has several hidden codes that give players special abilities, improve their gameplay and unlock secret characters.

These codes include power-up defense, super dunks, increased interceptions, unlimited turbo, fire mode, Juice Mode and a shot-percentage display. The game also contains a collection of hidden characters you can select by entering special initials at the player-name screen.

How to Enter Cheats in NBA Jam

Entering a cheat in NBA Jam is all about the right screen and the right timing. Get those two things right and most codes work on the first try.

Where to enter the codes

Most power-up codes are entered at the “Tonight’s Match-Up” screen — the screen that appears after you select the teams and before the game starts. The basic process is:

1. Choose your teams.
2. Wait for the “Tonight’s Match-Up” screen.
3. Enter the required button presses or D-pad movement.
4. Keep the final button combination held until tip-off when the code requires it.
5. Look for the power-up indicator or other confirmation before the game begins.

Secret-character codes are different: those are entered on the initials / name-entry screen, not at the match-up screen.

Tips for entering codes correctly

• Be quick. Some codes need fast, repeated presses. A slow sequence often fails.
• Keep holding. When a code says “hold until tip-off”, don’t release early — releasing cancels it.
• Keep the D-pad moving. The dunk and interception codes need constant D-pad rotation while you press.
• Count carefully. The tap count matters. If nothing happens, count out loud and try again.
• Watch for confirmation. A power-up indicator or sound tells you the code registered.

NBA Jam SNES Power-Up Cheats

Here are the main power-up codes reported for the SNES version. Press Copy on any code to save it.

Press any button x5 — hold the 5th until tip-off

Rotate D-pad + press any button x13 — hold button and keep rotating until tip-off

Press B x7 — then hold Up + Y + B until tip-off

Press any button repeatedly (5 or 6) — then hold Y + B + A until tip-off

Rotate D-pad + press any button x15 — hold the final button until tip-off

Quickly press any button x13 — then hold B + X until tip-off

Press any button x1 — then hold A + B until tip-off

NBA Jam Secret Characters

NBA Jam is also known for its hidden characters. On the SNES version, these are selected by entering special three-character initials and using the required button combination when you choose the final initial. A widely documented list includes 12 hidden characters.

How to unlock hidden players

1. Open the initials / name-entry screen.
2. Enter the first two initials normally.
3. Move the cursor to the third initial.
4. Hold the required buttons.
5. Select the final letter.
6. If the code works, the hidden character becomes available for selection.

For example, the code MJT is associated with Mark Turmell, while AIR is used for Air Dog. Press Copy beside any set of initials in the table below.

NBA Jam All Power-Ups Code

Instead of entering each power-up separately at the match-up screen, there is a single hidden sequence that unlocks several abilities at once. It is entered on the initials screen rather than the match-up screen, which is what makes it different from every other code on this page.

At the initials screen, enter:

S = Start + C
N = Start + B
K = Start + C

Some documentation then instructs the player to use the same Start + C combination during the tip-off announcement. This one sequence is associated with several power-ups at once, including turbo, defense, dunks, fire and other gameplay advantages — which is why it is often called the “all power-ups” code.

NBA Jam Cheat Code Troubleshooting

If you’ve entered a code correctly but nothing happens, don’t immediately assume the cheat is fake. These are the three things to check.

Code isn’t working

First, rule out the simple causes. Make sure you are on the right screen, that you are counting the presses correctly, and that you are not releasing a button that should stay held. Older NBA Jam documentation also contains multiple versions of some codes — different sources report different tap counts for certain power-ups — so a code that fails may just need the other documented variation.

Timing matters

Many codes must be completed before tip-off. If you finish the sequence too slowly, the window closes and nothing activates. The dunk and interception codes add another layer: they require D-pad movement while you press the button, so missing the rotation makes the sequence fail even when your button count is right.

Check your version

NBA Jam was released on SNES, Genesis, Game Boy, Sega CD and arcade hardware, and their controls and cheat inputs are not always identical. A code copied from a Genesis guide can look correct and still do nothing on a Super Nintendo. For reliable results, use codes specifically identified for the SNES release.

NBA Jam SNES Tips and Tricks

Cheat codes are fun, but you can also get more out of NBA Jam by understanding a few basic gameplay mechanics.

• Use turbo carefully. Turbo is useful for fast breaks, defense and getting into position. Even with a turbo cheat, learning when to accelerate makes your gameplay much more effective.
• Watch the opponent’s movement. NBA Jam is a fast two-on-two game. Instead of constantly chasing the ball, watch where the opponent is moving and prepare for passes or drives.
• Learn dunk timing. Dunks can change the momentum of a game quickly. Practice the timing of your jumps so you attack the basket without wasting the opportunity.
• Practice steals and interceptions. Defensive timing matters. Learning when to attempt a steal is more useful than repeatedly pressing the steal button.

Frequently Asked Questions

Final Thoughts

NBA Jam remains one of the most memorable arcade-style basketball games of the 16-bit era. Its hidden power-ups and secret characters give the SNES version plenty of extra content to discover.

If you’re playing the game today, start with the easier power-ups such as defense or turbo before trying the more difficult D-pad combinations. Once you get comfortable with the timing, the super-dunk and interception codes become much easier to perform.