Basketball Classics

About

"Basketball Classics" is a 5 on 5 pro basketball game that brings the nostalgia of 8-bit sports games to the present. It features side-scrolling, arcade-style action with simplified 3-button gameplay and seamless play calling. With over 175 teams and 1000+ players with individualized attributes, players can unlock secret teams and legends in the story mode. The game is free of microtransactions and is a love letter to the golden era of sports games.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Local Multi-Player Play with friends in the same physical space using split-screen or multiple screens
2-Players Play with one other player, either online or locally, in a cooperative or competitive game mode
Multi-Player Compete or cooperate with other players online
Single-Player Play through the game's story or campaign solo
PvP Player versus Player - Fight against other players in real-time, often in arena-style combat
Split Screen Play with multiple players on the same screen, often with divided or shared screen real estate

95%

Audience ScoreBased on 262 reviews

gameplay28 positive mentions

The game captures the nostalgic feel of classic basketball games with simple controls and fun mechanics, making it easy to pick up and play.
The pixel art and soundtrack are well-crafted, enhancing the retro experience and providing a charming atmosphere.
The developers are responsive and actively listen to player feedback, showing commitment to improving the game and adding new features.

Gameplay can feel simplistic and repetitive, with some mechanics lacking depth, such as the dunking system and play calling.
The AI can be inconsistent in difficulty, making it either too easy or frustratingly hard, which may detract from the overall experience.
There are limitations in team customization and player names, which can hinder the immersion for players looking for a more personalized experience.

gameplay
80 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
35%
60%
5%
The gameplay is characterized by its fast-paced, dynamic action and simple controls, making it easy to pick up yet challenging to master. While it incorporates nostalgic mechanics reminiscent of classic NES and SNES games, some players feel certain aspects, like dunking mechanics, could use refinement. Overall, the game offers a fun and engaging basketball experience, though it may benefit from additional depth and polish as it develops.
- “Gameplay is fun - easy to pick up but tough to master.”
- “This is a fun little basketball game with just enough deep gameplay to make it easy to pick up but hard to master.”
- “The gameplay is simple but has lots of depth, and each team has their strengths and weaknesses exactly like their real-life counterparts.”
- “Unfortunately, a few of the mechanics leave something to be desired.”
- “But after you've learned how the dunking mechanics work, it gets tiresome pretty quickly.”
- “What I found lacking was the gameplay.”
graphics
24 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
54%
13%
The graphics of the game are a blend of retro aesthetics, primarily 8-bit style, which many players appreciate for its nostalgic appeal. While some users express a desire for more modern visuals or a 16-bit style, the overall consensus is that the visuals, including on-court action and cutscenes, are well-executed and contribute positively to the game's charm. The art style and UI elements, particularly player portraits, are also highlighted as strong points.
- “The visuals, both on court and in cutscenes, between scenes, etc. are really amazing.”
- “Graphics nail the retro style perfectly.”
- “I love the retro feel to the game - the music, the graphics.”
- “Way too fast... at least if you base your game on the gameplay, with zero graphics level, make it realistic.”
- “Forget about the ultra shaped graphics or the ultra Dolby sound.”
- “I won't dive too much into graphics because what you see is what you get.”
story
24 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
42%
46%
13%
The game's story mode has received positive feedback for its engaging narrative and the ability to assemble dream teams, allowing players to face off against legendary basketball players from two generations. Reviewers appreciate the fun, old-school feel of the story mode, which includes unlockable teams and a plot twist that adds excitement. While some players desire more challenges and unlockable items, the overall experience in story mode is described as enjoyable and immersive.
- “Fantastic game - loved the career mode and story.”
- “Very fun and old school story mode where you face off against two generations of the greatest basketball players and teams, picking up star players for your own squad along the way.”
- “There's an insane plot twist after the first five games.”
- “Content-wise, you have a story mode to unlock more teams which will keep you busy for a few hours.”
- “One or two more things I mentioned earlier: I would love to have more story mode challenges and some type of different unlockable item.”
- “Some of the features I was happy about were season mode having season-long player statistics, the story mode and unlockable teams, but I hope that more challenges come out as the game gets updated.”
music
20 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
35%
15%
The music in the game is widely praised for its nostalgic and catchy soundtrack, featuring retro sounds that enhance the overall experience. Players appreciate the dynamic nature of the music, which changes throughout the game, and the incorporation of cheesy half-time shows. While some feel the soundtrack could benefit from more variety, many consider it one of the best aspects of the game, with memorable themes that evoke a strong sense of nostalgia.
- “I love the selection of classic teams, the soundtrack (and how it changes depending on the half you are in), and the overall feel.”
- “The soundtrack is amazing with catchy songs (especially the menu theme) using retro sounds; this game really takes you back to the roots of gaming.”
- “It has one of the best soundtracks ever created.”
- “The music feels repetitive and lacks variety, making it hard to stay engaged during long play sessions.”
- “While the soundtrack has some good tracks, many of them feel out of place and don't match the game's atmosphere.”
- “The music is often drowned out by sound effects, making it difficult to appreciate the soundtrack fully.”
atmosphere
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The atmosphere of the game is consistently praised for its stellar vibes, effectively capturing a captivating and immersive aesthetic that enhances the overall experience.
- “The vibes and atmosphere are stellar.”
- “It does a great job of capturing that look and atmosphere.”
replayability
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game offers a diverse selection of teams that enhances its replayability, making it enjoyable for players to share with friends and family. However, the addition of a create-a-team feature could further improve this aspect.
- “There is a very deep stable of teams to play with, which adds some replayability, but it would be great to see a create-a-team feature in the future.”
- “It has replayability and it is fun enough that I want to show my friends, and my kids think it is interesting.”
humor
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players find the humor in the game's competitive nature, often leading to lively and laughter-filled sessions with friends. The anticipation of online multiplayer is expected to amplify this fun and chaotic experience even further.
- “This game's competitive nature is what really makes it fun; I find myself constantly hooking up two controllers to my computer and playing against my friends, yelling at the screen and laughing. When online multiplayer is added, the competitive aspect will only become more crazy and awesome.”
stability
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game demonstrates excellent stability, particularly on the Steam Deck, where users report smooth performance without issues.
- “Runs great on the Steam Deck!”
monetization
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
50%
The monetization in this sports title is refreshingly minimal, focusing on providing a straightforward arcade experience without heavy reliance on microtransactions or gambling mechanics, making it appealing for players seeking quick and casual gameplay.
- “If you're tired of sports titles focusing more on microtransactions and casinos, and you just want to drop in for some quick arcade-style basketball, then check this one out.”
- “If you're tired of sports titles focusing more on microtransactions and casinos rather than gameplay, then you might want to reconsider this one.”