| R.C. Pro-Am | |
|---|---|
 North American NES cover art | |
| Developer(s) | Rare |
| Publisher(s) | Nintendo (NES) Tradewest (Genesis) |
| Designer(s) | Tim Stamper Chris Stamper |
| Programmer(s) | Paul Proctor (NES) Steve Patrick (Genesis) |
| Composer(s) | David Wise |
| Platform(s) | Nintendo Entertainment System, Arcade, Sega Genesis |
| Release | |
| Genre(s) | Racing, vehicular combat |
| Mode(s) | Single-player |
| Arcade system | PlayChoice-10 |
R.C. Pro-Am is a racing game developed by Rare and published by Nintendo for the Nintendo Entertainment System. It was released in North America in February 1988, and then in Europe on April 15. Presented in an overhead isometric perspective, a single player races a radio-controlled car around a series of tracks in vehicular combat. Each track qualifies its top three racers for the next track. Collectible power-up items improve performance, hazards include rain puddles and oil slicks, and missiles and bombs can temporarily disable opponents. Originally titled Pro Am Racing, it was ported to the Sega Genesis in 1992 as Championship Pro-Am, an enhanced remake with enhanced graphics and additional features. R.C. Pro-Am spawned two sequels: Super R.C. Pro-Am in 1991, and R.C. Pro-Am II in 1992.
As one of Rare's first successful NES games, R.C. Pro-Am was well-received for its visuals, sound, gameplay, and enjoyability. Its overhead perspective distinguishes it from earlier first-person racing games. It inspired subsequent games such as Super Off Road, Rock n' Roll Racing, and the Mario Kart series. It has appeared in many "top games of all time" lists and is regarded as one of the best of the NES library. It was re-released in Rare's 2015 Rare Replay compilation for the Xbox One, and on the Nintendo Switch Online service on February 21, 2024.