72 in 1

One cartridge, seventy-two games. The 72-in-1 is a classic early-90s NES multicart — a single collection packing dozens of retro titles behind one menu — and you can play it right here in your browser, free and with no download. Browse the list, pick a game, and jump straight into the action. Hit the Play button to load the menu, and read on for what's inside, how the controls work, and tips for getting the most out of it.

What Is the 72-in-1?

The 72-in-1 is a multicart — a single cartridge that bundles many games together — made by Supervision in the early 1990s. Around 1 MB in size, it contains 72 selectable entries: roughly 53 original games plus 19 modified or remixed versions of them (the real game names are typically shown in brackets on the menu).

Multicarts like this were hugely popular in the cartridge era as an affordable way to get a whole library in one place. Instead of swapping carts, you'd boot up, scroll a menu, and pick whatever you felt like playing — arcade-style action, puzzlers, shooters, and platformers all in a single collection.

How It Works

The 72-in-1 opens to a selection menu listing all the included games, usually numbered. You navigate the list, highlight the title you want, and launch it. When you're done — or when a game ends — you can return to the menu and pick another. It's a pick-up-and-play sampler: great for short sessions, quick nostalgia hits, and discovering titles you might not have tried otherwise.

Because the collection mixes original games with modified variants, you'll sometimes find altered versions of familiar titles — different starting conditions, tweaked difficulty, or remixed graphics — listed alongside the originals. That blend is part of the multicart's charm: it's not just a library, it's a grab bag where a familiar game might surprise you with a fresh twist.

Carts like the 72-in-1 were especially common as unlicensed compilations, sold as an inexpensive way to pack a huge amount of play into a single purchase. For collectors and retro fans today, they're a fascinating snapshot of how games were bundled and shared in that era — a single menu standing in for a whole shelf of cartridges.

How to Play

Getting started is instant. Press the Play button on this page and the 72-in-1 menu loads directly in your browser — free, with nothing to install. Then:

1. Wait for the game-select menu to appear.
2. Use the D-pad to move up and down the list of titles.
3. Press Start (or the confirm button) to launch the highlighted game.
4. Play using the standard NES controls for that game.
5. Reset or return to the menu to pick another title when you're ready.

The 72-in-1 plays great on both desktop and mobile. On a computer you use the keyboard (and any USB or Bluetooth gamepad you connect is detected automatically and maps to the NES layout), while on phones and tablets you get a custom on-screen gamepad styled just like a real NES controller — so browsing the menu and playing each game feels right wherever you are.

Controls

Here's what each control does, mapped to your keyboard. Exact in-game controls vary by title, but the menu and standard NES buttons are below:

Most games in the collection use the D-pad plus the A and B buttons. A connected gamepad uses the same button assignments.

Tips for Getting the Most Out of It

• Explore the whole list. With 72 entries, there's a good mix of genres — scroll through and sample a few you don't recognize.
• Note the bracketed names. The menu often shows the real title of each game in brackets, which helps you find a specific favorite.
• Try the modified versions. The remixed entries can offer a fresh twist on games you already know.
• Use it for short sessions. A multicart is perfect when you want quick arcade-style fun without committing to one long game.
• Return to the menu anytime. If a game isn't grabbing you, jump back and pick another — that's the whole point of the collection.

Why Play It in Your Browser?

The 72-in-1 is a slice of cartridge-era history — a whole library of retro fun in a single package. Running it right here means no cartridge hunting and no console setup: just press Play and start browsing. Because it's the genuine NES multicart, you get the original selection menu and the full lineup of games exactly as the collection shipped.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the 72-in-1 free to play here? Yes. Press Play and the full NES multicart loads in your browser — no cost, no account, no download.

What is a multicart? A multicart is a single cartridge that contains many games at once, accessed through an on-screen selection menu. The 72-in-1 bundles 72 entries together.

Are all 72 games unique? Not quite — the collection includes around 53 original games plus 19 modified or remixed versions of them, so some entries are variants of others.

How do I switch between games? Return to the selection menu (or reset) and choose a different title from the list.

Can I play it on my phone? Absolutely. It plays great on mobile thanks to a custom on-screen gamepad modeled on the classic NES controller, and just as well on desktop with the keyboard or a connected gamepad.

Ready to dig into the collection? Press Play and pick your first game.