Best Forgotten Basketball Games

Over the decades, there have been myriad excellent basketball games, with NBA 2K really cornering the market for players wanting to shoot some virtual hoops in recent times. Other recent series like NBA Live and NBA Street are still fondly remembered, and there are plenty of unlicensed or college basketball titles living on in the minds of players.

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Naturally, many great games have been lost to time, either due to their controls and visuals being outdated, their hardware disappearing off the market, or they may have been overshadowed by bigger contemporary releases. Of course, some dedicated fans will remember these basketball simulations, but to the wider gaming public, they have largely been forgotten and deserve more recognition.

10 AND 1 Streetball

A Low-Key Classic

Despite negative contemporary reviews, AND 1 Streetball is more fondly regarded nowadays by those who remember it. An officially licensed entry by the now defunct ‘AND 1 Mixtape Tour,’ a traveling streetball competition, and starring real members of the roster, the game features an in-depth story mode.

Living in the shadow of similar titles like NBA Ballers and NBA Street, it was never really given a chance. Despite the acclaim of the AND 1 TV series on ESPN, this game faded into obscurity. Perhaps this occurred due to not having the NBA's name recognition, combined with the high levels of complexity to play the game well, but it’s brimming with creativity, even allowing players to design their own tricks.

9 Mario Hoops 3-On-3

Final Fantasy And Mario Crossover With Basketball

Also known as Mario Slam Basketball, Mario Hoops 3-on-3 is one of the many Mario spin-off titles, this time also featuring some Final Fantasy characters. Gameplay follows traditional basketball rules pretty closely but with that expected Mario twist of power-ups, coin collecting, and powerful special shots that give extra points.

Starting with ten base characters, eleven more are unlockable through both the Tourney Mode and Exhibition Mode. Like AND 1 Streetball, this entry was not too popular with critics at the time, as they found the stylus controls frustrating, but Mario Hoops 3-on-3 is more favorably viewed by a dedicated fanbase these days, and it deserves a sequel or a remake.

8 Barkley, Shut Up And Jam: Gaiden

Basketball Based JRPG

Presented as a sequel to Barkley Shut up and Jam! And Space Jam, Barkley, Shut Up and Jam: Gaiden is a JRPG with basketball themes and starring former players. Set in a post-cyberpocalyptic New York in the year 2053 and playing as the titular Charles Barkley, basketball has been outlawed in society, and players are hunted down to be killed.

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Featuring Michael Jordan as the Round Mound of Rebound’s main foe, this bizarre game is both comedy gold and satisfying to play. The B.A.B.B.Y. Combat system is reminiscent of Super Mario RPG, and 1993 NBA MVP Barkley can perform a “Chaos Dunk” so powerful that it can kill nearby crowds. Players must use this power wisely to rescue and redeem the good name of basketball.

7 Kobe Bryant In NBA Courtside

Recognizing Greatness Early

• Platform: Nintendo 64
• Released: 1998
• Developer: Left Field Productions
• Genre: Sports

At just the age of 19 and in his second NBA season, the now sadly departed Kobe Bryant already had his name put to a game with Kobe Bryant in NBA Courtside. Team rosters were accurate for the 1997-98 NBA season but were missing Michael Jordan and Latrell Sprewell, though players could edit the appearance and abilities of in-game avatars.

The motion captured graphics were largely praised, and many proclaimed it to be the best basketball game on the Nintendo 64 at the time. Gameplay had a more mixed reception, since the controls could be tricky at first, and the A.I. Opponents were quite a difficult proposition.

6 NBA Hangtime

Frantic Arcade Action

Another game living in the shadow of the much-heralded NBA Jam series, NBA Hangtime is similar in gameplay and presentation. The action is arcade-style with exaggerated jumps and player appearance, among other unrealistic features like players being literally on fire when they perform certain actions.

There is an option to create one’s own player who can be upgraded by winning games. All 29 NBA teams from the time are present, each with a roster of five players, and beating them all unlocks secret characters. There are also codes that can be input, just as in Mortal Kombat 3, impacting gameplay and appearance.

5 Basketball Nightmare

Spooky Sporting Spectacle

• Platform: Master System
• Released: 1989
• Developer: Sega
• Genre: Sports

A more ghoulish themed take on the sport is Basketball Nightmare, featuring many creatures from Japanese mythology, like kappas and yama-uba. Curiously, this Master System exclusive was never released in Japan, despite the Japanese inspiration, nor was it released in North America.

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In the game’s story, these supernatural sporting events are in the dreams of the hometown team’s captain, with players working their way through these nightmarish games until they face the Samurais in the final match. Alternatively, in Versus Mode, players can challenge a friend using one of eight teams based on real life countries, rather than the supernatural creeps.

4 Double Dribble

The Most Realistic Basketball Game At That Time

• Platform: Arcade, Amiga, Commodore 64, Famicom, Game Boy, iOS, NES, Wii
• Released: 1986
• Developer: Konami
• Genre: Sports

Konami’s second attempt at a basketball game, Double Dribble, was highly acclaimed at the time of its release. Responsible for so many innovations, such as cinematic slam dunks and an emphasis on presentation, it had the feel of a television broadcast.

Released on many platforms with some slight differences, the gameplay and presentation are largely consistent, and there are four teams to choose from, such as the Boston Frogs. Despite the many innovations and the influence of Double Dribble, it has largely been forgotten, perhaps due to a lack of NBA licensing, and other celebrated basketball games that followed and overshadowed it.

3 Looney Tunes B-Ball

A Space Jam Prequel?

• Platform: SNES
• Released: 1995
• Developer: Sculptured Software
• Genre: Sports

Released a year prior to the hit film 'Space Jam,' Looney Tunes B-Ball is a fun two-on-two basketball game with similar gameplay to NBA Jam. Starring eight popular Looney Tunes characters, there is all the expected wackiness that fans of the cartoons would love, such as cream pies to throw at opponents.

A SNES exclusive, many reviewers at the time felt that it appealed to all ages, and especially to fans of basketball or the famous cartoon characters. The “Wacky Meter” allows players to choose the level of craziness on display, and input codes even give players the option to cause more mayhem, like sudden earthquakes or invisible players.

2 Arch Rivals

A Tag Team Match With Some Basketball

• Platform: Arcade, Game Gear, Genesis/Mega Drive, NES
• Released: 1989
• Developer: Midway
• Genre: Sports

Considered by many to be a precursor to NBA Jam, and perhaps nowadays overshadowed by it, Arch Rivals was very popular in its time. A highly violent take on the two-on-two variant of the sport, players can punch opponents to steal the ball and are even encouraged to do so.

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Much like Double Dribble, the presentation makes the game feel like a television broadcast, with broadcasters chiming in with analysis in between periods and a half-time show. Players must also be cautious of hazards, such as trash on the court, which may cause the ball carrier to fall. There are eight playable characters to choose from and several non-licensed generic teams.

1 All-Pro Basketball

A Pioneer Of The Genre

• Platform: NES
• Released: 1989
• Developer: Aicom
• Genre: Sports

The NES exclusive All-Pro Basketball is another entry that was highly praised in its time, but it may be off-putting to players with modern sensibilities. The top-down end-to-end perspective, where the camera transitions whenever the ball is carried into opposition territory, is a bit clunky by today’s standards, but it allows for more focus on the action around the basket, both offensively and defensively.

Featuring eight teams, such as the Boston Redcoats and San Francisco Bayriders, players could engage in exhibition matches against the computer or a human player, and there is a league competition too. One of the pioneering components is managing player stamina, as in-game players become tired and must be manually put on the bench to rest.

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