Metaball

About

Metaball is a free-to-play, crossplay-enabled online sports game that offers both single-player and multiplayer modes, including co-op and PvP. As a Rider, compete in the Metaball League, using your hoverboard and chain to dunk, shoot, block, and steal the ball. After each match, earn MVP points and Metanium, which can be used to unlock rewards and progress in the Metapass.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

66%

Audience ScoreBased on 135 reviews

gameplay5 positive mentions

monetization3 negative mentions

Metaball offers a unique and innovative take on basketball gameplay, combining elements of creativity and skill that make it enjoyable for both beginners and advanced players.
The game has a vibrant community and is fun to play, especially with friends, providing a competitive atmosphere that enhances the overall experience.
Despite some initial clunkiness, players find the mechanics rewarding as they master the game, with many expressing excitement for its potential growth and future updates.

The game suffers from slow and unresponsive mechanics, making it feel clunky and frustrating at times, which detracts from the overall enjoyment.
Many matches are populated with bots, leading to a lack of human competition and diminishing the excitement of gameplay.
There are significant issues with AI performance and matchmaking, often resulting in unbalanced games that can be discouraging for new players.

gameplay
12 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
42%
33%
25%
The gameplay is characterized by unique mechanics that are accessible for beginners yet challenging to master, offering a high skill ceiling. While some players appreciate the fun and innovative aspects, others find the pace slow and certain mechanics, like shooting, awkward. Overall, it presents a mix of enjoyment and frustration, with comparisons drawn to other games like NBA Street and Swing Dunk.
- “The core mechanics are unlike any other game I have played, but still easy to pick up for beginners and hard to master.”
- “This game is pretty good, with a lot of mechanics involved, and I'm sure the skill ceiling can be pretty high.”
- “Gameplay is fun and unique, a cool alternative to Rocket League.”
- “Gameplay is a little weird and not that fun. I feel like if they just made a normal ball game like NBA Street on PS2, this basketball game would be amazing.”
- “To be honest, it's just a copy of Swing Dunk with better graphics. I played it, and since I'm used to Swing Dunk mechanics, it was not fun. I had a hard time running it because of my potato PC. It's mindless fun if you want this game, but Swing Dunk is better.”
- “The shooting mechanic is also very weird and doesn't feel like it belongs in a game.”
graphics
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
100%
The graphics have been noted as an improvement over previous titles, but overall, players feel the game lacks originality and fun, often comparing it unfavorably to its predecessor, Swing Dunk. Some users also experienced performance issues on lower-end PCs, which detracted from their enjoyment.
- “The graphics are stunning and really bring the game to life.”
- “The visual design is impressive, making every scene a joy to explore.”
- “The attention to detail in the graphics enhances the overall gaming experience.”
- “The new step back is bad, the graphics are weird and it takes 1 hour to do just the tutorial!”
- “To be honest, it's just a copy of Swing Dunk with better graphics. I played it, and since I'm used to Swing Dunk mechanics, it was not fun. I had a hard time running it because of my potato PC. Mindless fun if you want this game, but Swing Dunk is better.”
- “The only 'improvement' was the graphics and layups are easier, I guess.”
monetization
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
300%
The monetization of the game is largely unobtrusive, with minimal advertising present, which many reviewers find to be a positive aspect.
- “Barely any advertising for this game, and the reviews currently are justified.”
- “The monetization model feels exploitative, pushing players to spend money to enjoy the game fully.”
- “It's frustrating that essential features are locked behind paywalls, making it hard to progress without spending.”
story
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The story is enhanced by completing beginner quests, which help players unlock perks and improve gameplay, making the experience feel smoother and more enjoyable.
optimization
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
300%
The optimization of the game has received negative feedback, with users expressing significant dissatisfaction regarding its performance.
- “The optimization in this game is terrible.”
- “I can't believe how poorly optimized this game is; it runs like a slideshow.”
- “The lack of optimization makes it almost unplayable on lower-end systems.”