Item: Backyard Football '99
Rating: 88
Author: Dinsun

Our Expert Score

88/100

Backyard Football ‘99 is an absolute blast of arcade gridiron action. It captures the essence of 5-on-5 football perfectly—fast, high-scoring, and full of character. Seeing tiny versions of NFL greats like John Elway and Dan Marino huddling up with kids like Ernie Steele is a gimmick that never gets old. The 'wacky' plays in the playbook are the highlight, turning a standard football match into a strategic game of power-up management.

The controls are surprisingly responsive on mobile, allowing for precise passing and jukes. The inclusion of weather effects (like rain making the field muddy and slippery) adds a nice layer of unpredictability to the matches. It’s not as simulation-heavy as Madden, but it’s ten times more fun for a casual session. If you want a football game that prioritizes fun, humor, and 'big hits' over realistic stat tracking, this 99 classic is the way to go.

Dinsun reviewed on: Fri Feb 27 2026

The Game

Available on: iPhone, iPad

6740349855

$4.99 🏆4+★4.2 123 reviews

Author : Playground Productions LLC

Pubish Date : Tue Sep 02 2025

Last Update Date : Thu Jan 22 2026

Support Languages : English

Genres :

Version 1.4.37Thu Jan 22 2026

- Add push notifications
Requires iOS 16.6 or later. Compatible with iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch.
HUDDLE UP FOR BACKYARD FOOTBALL
Backyard Football 1999 is now enhanced to run on modern systems. Whether you're picking Jerry Rice or Barry Sanders for your dream team, rushing with Pete Wheeler, scoring touchdowns with Pablo Sanchez, or enjoying the witty banter of hosts Sunny Day and Chuck Downfield, simple controls let anyone pick up and play football!
GAME MODES
Single Game: With 5 backyard fields and unique weather condition settings, players can pick their team, design their team logos, and play a pick-up game!
Season Mode: Players can draft seven players from the 30 iconic Backyard Sports characters and a collection of legendary pros including Barry Sanders, Jerry Rice, John Elway, Dan Marino, Randall Cunningham, Drew Bledsoe and Steve Young to compete against 15 other teams in the Backyard Football League. Each team plays a 14-game season. By the end of the regular season, the 4 division champions and 4 wild card teams enter the Backyard Football League Playoffs to compete for the Super Colossal Cereal Bowl!
EARN CLASSIC POWER UPS
Earn power-ups by completing passes on offense and sacking the opposing QB on defense.
Offensive
• Hocus Pocus – A pass play which results in a receiver teleporting down field.
• Sonic Boom – A run play which causes an earthquake to knock over the opposing team.
• Leap Frog – A run play which causes your running back to leap down field.
• Super Punt – A very powerful punt!
Defensive
• Cough Drop – A play that causes the opponent to fumble when tackled.
• Chameleon – A trick play that results in your team wearing the other team's colors for ultimate confusion.
• Spring Loaded – A play that causes your player to leap over the line of scrimmage to sack the QB.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
At our core, we are fans first – not just of video games, but of the Backyard Sports franchise. Fans have asked for accessible and legal ways to play their original Backyard titles for years, and we are excited to deliver.
Without having access to the source code, there are hard limitations on the experience we can create. However, Backyard Football ‘99 runs well, looks better than ever, and creates a new installation for digital preservation within the Backyard Sports catalog that allows the next generation of fans to fall in love with the game.

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Ratings & Reviews

4.2 out of 5 with 123 Counts

★★★★★

Age Rating 4+

Backyard Football ‘99 combines the fun of youth football with a professional edge. Featuring pro players like Steve Young and Jerry Rice as kids, alongside the classic neighborhood crew, you can run wacky plays like 'The Sonic Boom' or 'The Earthquake.' Customise your jersey, pick your playbooks, and dominate the league.