Best Basketball Video Games

You might be the kind of person who loves to kick back and unwind with a great sports game, and if that is the case, basketball games are never far. Mostly dominated by the various NBA titles, basketball games always provide the same great escape from reality that all sports games do.

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Whether you’re interested in hyper-realism or something a bit goofier, basketball games have covered the gamut. You can play as modern superstars or icons from decades past, but regardless of your choice, there’s never a bad time to drive down that court and take it to the rim with one of the sweetest dunks anyone’s ever seen.

10 NBA Jam

• Release Date: April, 1993
• Platforms: Arcade, Super NES, Sega Genesis, Game Gear, Game Boy, Sega CD, 32X, Atari Jaguar, Sega Saturn, PlayStation
• Developer: Midway

The classic NBA Jam from the era of the Super Nintendo might just be one of the greatest basketball games of all time. Featuring a two-on-two system of play, this simple game offers simple arcade action, making it infinitely replayable.

With simple-to-grasp controls, fast-paced action, and one of the best announcers in gaming, NBA Jam is a must-play game that basketball fans need to try. Even outside of that, those who don’t enjoy sports can enjoy NBA Jam thanks to how ridiculous the game can be.

9 International Basketball Manager 23

• Release Date: December 1, 2022
• Platforms: Steam
• Developer: UPLAY Basketball

While you might be the kind of person who prefers full control as you stride down the court, you might also be the kind of person who prefers the more difficult strategic aspects of sport. A great game that revolves all around managing in basketball is International Basketball Manager 23.

It’s genuinely shocking just how many options you’ll have as you manage your team to ultimate success. Some background knowledge in basketball is really going to help you out with this game, but if you have a passing interest and passion for strategy you’ll probably still love the game regardless.

8 Basketball Classics

• Release Date: December 18, 2019
• Platforms: Steam
• Developer: Namo Gamo

If you love basketball and want it to be blended with classic 8-bit gaming, you’ll enjoy Basketball Classics. It’s a simple game that manages to squeeze in a ton of fun twists that marry the classic era and modern era of gaming with ease.

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It’s also surprising just how much variation the game is able to provide in a game that you may be more than used to. There are hundreds of teams and thousands of players to experience while you play, making every moment even more fun than the last.

7 NBA Jam (Wii)

• Release Date:
  October 5, 2010

• Platforms:
  PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, Wii, iOS, Windows Phone, Android, Mac OS X

• Developer:
  EA Canada

The remake of the classic NBA Jam may not be as widely talked about, but that doesn’t mean that it doesn’t provide just as much fun. The facelifted graphics may not work for everyone, but the gameplay has remained just as simple and goofy.

If you want over-the-top dunks and plenty of ridiculous moments, it’s hard to go wrong with NBA Jam’s remake. Some people even prefer the even sillier style that this version of the game went for, but regardless, when it comes down to major differences, you’re going to have a good time with any version of NBA Jam

6 Regular Human Basketball

• Release Date:
  August 1, 2018

• Platforms:
  Steam

• Developer:
  Powerhoof

Far from the average basketball game, Regular Human Basketball provides a wholly unique experience for basketball fans. You won’t be dunking the ball like your favorite player, at least not in the traditional sense.

You have to take control of a massive mech, moving the different aspects of the machine in order to get the ball past and score on your enemies. It’s another hectic basketball game, but it is one that is a ton of fun to play with a few friends, making it one of the best co-op sports experiences out there.

5 NBA Street Vol 2

• Release Date:
  April 29, 2003

• Platforms:
  PlayStation 2, GameCube, Xbox

• Developer:
  NuFX, EA Canada

The various Street-branded sports games were a huge hit back in the day, making a number of them fondly remembered to this day. One of the best when it comes to basketball is none other than NBA Street Vol 2.

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It doesn’t get much better than a simple game of street basketball. With a great soundtrack, plenty of cool tricks, and a lot of teams to play on the court, it was always easy to lose hours in a title like NBA Street Vol 2 without realizing how long you’d truly been playing.

4 Kobe Bryant In NBA Courtside

• Release Date:
  April 27, 1998

• Platforms:
  Nintendo 64

• Developer:
  Left Field Productions

While Kobe Bryant In NBA Courtside is far from the most realistic basketball experience that you can have these days, at one point, this game set the standard. Being a major draw on the Nintendo 64 for basketball fans, this game is still seen as a classic sports title of the console.

The game was exactly what you’d expect from a basketball game, but in the early 3D era, it was shocking how much fun it was. With challenging AI, you needed to learn how to play instead of hoping that spamming buttons would get you through games.

3 NBA 2K22

• Release Date:
  September 10, 2021

• Platforms:
  Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Windows, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S

• Developer:
  Visual Concepts

The modern 2K line of NBA games has constantly strived for serious levels of realism over the years to mixed results, but NBA 2K22 seems to be one of the more loved versions of the yearly release.

More so than any of the other games on this list, you should know what you’re in for. The game strives to bring the most realistic take possible on basketball to home consoles. Taking control of your favorite team or playing against a few friends in a couple of games is surprisingly easy to do without any prior knowledge of the game, making it highly accessible.

2 Freestyle 2: Street Basketball

• Release Date:
  April 1, 2015

• Platforms:
  Steam

• Developer:
  JOYCITY

While most basketball games strive to offer you the classic sports experience, Freestyle 2: Street Basketball decided to go in a bit of a different direction. Being a free-to-play online game on Steam, you get to make your own character and take on players from around the world.

The controls for the game are incredibly tight for a free-to-play game that many people may have never heard of, and the unique visuals will keep you constantly interested in what’s going on. At the end of the day, it’s simple arcade basketball fun and that’s never a bad thing.

1 College Hoops 2K8

• Release Date:
  November 19, 2007

• Platforms:
  PlayStation 2, PlayStation 3, Xbox 360

• Developer:
  Visual Concepts

Some people may find it strange that a college basketball game can be considered one of the best basketball games out there, but just because the league is different doesn’t mean the action isn’t just as intense.

The game offered fun career mode options that provided a fun challenge for all those basketball fans with dreams of their own to play for a college team. The game has a lot of depth to it, and the simple yet thrilling action makes it a great one to keep going back to.

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