Dunk Lords

About

Dunk Lords is a single player and multiplayer arcade sport game. It was developed by Story Fort LLC and was released on March 18, 2020. It received positive reviews from players.

"Dunk Lords" is a unique basketball game that combines elements of beat 'em ups with 2v2 matches. Players can choose from 20 distinct characters, each with special moves and abilities, and battle on varied courts filled with hazards. Enhance your abilities with game-changing equipment and perform high-flying dunks, reject shots, and earn bonuses from shot pads to gain the upper hand in this action-packed sports game.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Skip User Reviews

86%

Audience ScoreBased on 35 reviews

music10 positive mentions

gameplay3 negative mentions

The game features a fantastic soundtrack and vibrant, colorful art that enhances the overall experience.
Dunk Lords offers a fun and chaotic arcade basketball experience with a variety of characters, special abilities, and a unique item system that adds depth to gameplay.
The multiplayer aspect, especially local co-op, is highly enjoyable and reminiscent of classic games like NBA Jam, making it easy to pick up and play with friends.

The gameplay can feel overwhelming due to the chaotic nature of matches and the small court size, making it difficult to keep track of actions and utilize moves effectively.
There is a notable lack of online multiplayer support, which limits the game's replayability and social interaction options.
Some controls are reported to be unresponsive, and the overall gameplay lacks polish, leading to a frustrating experience for some players.

music
23 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
43%
44%
13%
The music in the game, composed by Laura Shigihara, is widely praised for its vibrant and nostalgic blend of hip-hop, jazz, and 16-bit era tunes, enhancing the overall atmosphere and gameplay experience. Reviewers highlight the soundtrack as a standout feature, with memorable tracks that perfectly complement the game's varied stages and an epic credits song that serves as a rewarding conclusion. While some noted that certain gameplay elements temporarily obscure the music, the overall consensus is that the soundtrack is a fantastic achievement that elevates the game significantly.
- “I love the soundtrack to this game.”
- “The soundtrack by Laura Shigihara (developer/composer of Rakuen, composer for Plants vs. Zombies/many others) is a huge highlight.”
- “The blend of hip hop, jazz, and 16-bit era tunes accompanying the courts keeps you grooving along, each song being melodically rich and memorable, perfectly accompanying the feel of each of the varied stages.”
- “Finally, the dunk slowdown cuts out the music temporarily, which made some of the awesome tracks harder to hear fluidly, particularly the lobster miniboss theme.”
- “Oh, and that soundtrack?”
- “Listening to the soundtrack later, and then watching someone else play, I was able to more fully appreciate how each song perfectly fit the theme of the stage.”
story
19 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
16%
68%
16%
The story mode is described as entertaining and engaging, featuring a lighthearted narrative filled with absurd scenarios that enhance the gameplay experience. Players appreciate the variety of challenges and character backstories, making it a rewarding single-player and co-op experience. Overall, the story mode is seen as a significant highlight, offering both nostalgia and depth, with many players eager to explore its multiplayer aspects.
- “The story mode teaches you that every problem in life -- including buying your deeply indebted friends' freedom from gun-wielding aliens -- can be solved on the court.”
- “I felt so much nostalgia and joy playing through the story mode - which even as a single player experience is worth the price of admission!”
- “The story itself is just the right amount of ridiculous fighting-game improbable shenanigans that all the characters take for granted, ranging from alien pirates to the supernatural plane.”
- “While playing the game, you can easily tell that this was a labor of love - the gameplay mechanics feel 'just right', the pacing of the gameplay is perfect, the game is quite challenging but never cheap, and the story mode is varied enough with twists and turns that make it a very engaging experience.”
- “The story mode has a bunch of different victory scenarios for the games and gives a good amount of backstory to the characters and world.”
gameplay
12 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
17%
58%
25%
The gameplay of Dunk Lords has received mixed reviews, with some praising its nostalgic arcade feel and engaging mechanics reminiscent of NBA Jam, while others criticize it for being unpolished, chaotic, and poorly balanced. Players appreciate the entertaining story mode and character-specific abilities, but many find the controls unresponsive and the overall experience messy, detracting from the fun. Overall, the game is seen as a labor of love that offers a unique twist on basketball, but it struggles with execution.
- “There is a story mode, which has been entertaining and helped me get a feel for the mechanics.”
- “While playing the game, you can easily tell that this was a labor of love - the gameplay mechanics feel 'just right', the pacing of the gameplay is perfect, the game is quite challenging but never cheap, and the story mode is varied enough with twists and turns that make it a very engaging experience.”
- “Well, what a disappointment. I'm someone who really likes to search through the Steam catalog during a sale looking for underrated indie games that are cheap and fun. Dunk Lords, from a quick look at the images and videos on the store page, seemed like a simple basketball indie game. With its cartoony and colorful visuals, I expected a fine sport game that would be fun and easy to get into. The sad thing is that this game just feels off. The controls are unresponsive and messy, the gameplay lacks polish, and it feels way faster than it has any right to be, making every match a confusing mess that's hard to focus on. The maps are too small for the chaotic gameplay, and as soon as everyone gets their upgrades and special moves, it feels like a very unbalanced cluster where every character can hit the ball multiple times without being stopped. Even the moves responsible for taking the ball back from an opponent or blocking their launch feel useless and unresponsive. It all comes down to a rush to see who can 'dunk' faster, making it feel like a half-assed indie basketball game. I didn't expect it to be a top-notch sports game, but I just wanted it to be fun, and it isn't. It feels poorly designed, unbalanced, and messy, so I can't recommend it at all.”
- “Dunk Lords is pretty clearly inspired by NBA Jam, but with a ton of additional layers and mechanics like character-specific abilities and game-changing gear. It lacks polish, but it's such a cool little arcade basketball game that it's hard not to recommend it to anyone who feels nostalgic for NBA Jam.”
- “In a time when basketball is not on TV, Dunk Lords not only fills the gap but provides quick, quirky gameplay that makes you wish the NBA was just 2v2 and filled with buff strawberries.”
graphics
5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
40%
60%
The graphics of the game are described as colorful and cartoony, fitting the intended aesthetic, but they are marred by poor gameplay mechanics and unresponsive controls. While some players appreciate the vibrant visuals and overall artistic design, others find the chaotic gameplay and small maps detract from the experience, leading to frustration rather than enjoyment. Overall, the graphics are seen as a highlight, but they do not compensate for the game's lack of polish and balance.
- “The aesthetic of the game is fantastic and perfect for the type of game it wants to be.”
- “The artwork, gameplay, and music come together perfectly to create a fantastic world that kept me hooked.”
- “I kind of wish there was a way to turn off the background animations and/or a lot of the graphical effects so you can see and focus on the players.”
- “The controls are unresponsive and messy, the gameplay lacks a lot of polish and it feels way faster than it has any right to be, so every match becomes a confusing mess that is hard to keep focused on.”
- “It just feels poorly designed, unbalanced, and messy, so I can't recommend it at all.”
humor
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Dunk Lords is celebrated for its frenetic and fluid gameplay, infused with humor that pays homage to the 90s gaming era. The game features over-the-top effects and silly one-liners, creating a nostalgic yet polished experience that resonates with both old-school and contemporary audiences.
- “Dunk Lords is frenetic, fluid, and funny!”
- “It's a total love letter to the golden era of 90's gaming and culture - the music, the gameplay, the over-the-top hilarious and zany effects, the aggro silly one-liners - everything together brings back the entire old school blissful feel of that era while also feeling contemporary in its polish and quality.”
atmosphere
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
300%
The atmosphere of the game is significantly enhanced by a fantastic soundtrack, which contributes to an immersive and engaging experience.
- “A fantastic soundtrack that adds so much atmosphere to a great game.”
- “The immersive environment truly pulls you into the world, making every moment feel alive.”
- “The haunting visuals and sound design create an atmosphere that is both captivating and unsettling.”
replayability
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
300%
The game offers high replayability, particularly in its multiplayer mode, while the story mode provides a satisfying experience that players enjoy revisiting.
- “The story mode was a joyful experience from start to finish, and the multiplayer offers incredible replayability.”
- “Every playthrough feels fresh, thanks to the diverse choices and outcomes available.”
- “The game encourages multiple runs with its branching paths and unlockable content.”