NBA Playgrounds

With plenty of attitude and a decent take on 2v2 arcade basketball, NBA Playgrounds recaptures some of the old magic.

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"NBA Playgrounds" is an arcade-style basketball game with over-the-top slams and the ability to unlock legendary players. It features fast-paced 2-on-2 matches with a variety of courts and environments. The game utilizes a lottery system for acquiring new players, adding an element of chance to collecting your favorite players.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Reviews

63%

Audience ScoreBased on 396 reviews

gameplay26 positive mentions

music3 negative mentions

Fun and addictive gameplay reminiscent of NBA Jam and NBA Street.
No microtransactions; players are unlocked through gameplay.
Great for local co-op play with friends, providing a nostalgic arcade experience.

Repetitive gameplay and can become boring quickly, especially in single-player mode.
Online matchmaking is slow and often leads to unbalanced matches against overpowered AI.
Frustrating shot timing mechanics that can feel inconsistent and luck-based.

gameplay
81 mentions
32 % positive mentions
59 % neutral mentions
9 % negative mentions
The gameplay is a mixed bag, with many players finding it repetitive and frustrating due to inconsistent shooting mechanics and a lack of fluidity in controls. While some enjoy the fast-paced, arcade-style action reminiscent of NBA Jam, others criticize the game for its confusing mechanics and reliance on luck. Overall, it seems best enjoyed in multiplayer settings, but many recommend waiting for improvements or a more polished experience.
- “Gameplay is fun and fast-paced, leveling up to unlock packs is enjoyable and it's nice to not have to spend money to progress if you don't want to.”
- “Definitely a fun game, especially with it being a throwback to NBA Jam but with much better gameplay and a much higher degree of difficulty.”
- “Nba Playground is like a combination of both series, with fast-paced gameplay, arcade controls, and a wacky artistic style, which I find pleasing to the eye.”
- “The gameplay can get really repetitive, so unless you have a friend to constantly play with, I would just stay away and find a different type of game to play that is less repetitive.”
- “The mechanics are garbage.”
- “The shooting mechanics are not the most elaborate ones, so you gotta be patient.”
graphics
26 mentions
50 % positive mentions
38 % neutral mentions
12 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game have received generally positive feedback, with many players praising the modern, cartoonish art style and vibrant visuals that enhance the arcade-like experience. While some users noted issues with resolution and limited graphical options, the overall aesthetic and smooth performance, even at high resolutions, contribute to an enjoyable gameplay experience. The game's graphics are described as great, with standout animations and a unique visual flair that aligns well with its fun and zany atmosphere.
- “Things I do like: the graphics are great and modern for this generation in this kind of arcade-like experience.”
- “It's a pretty nice arcade basketball game with awesome graphics (supports 4K resolution).”
- “The graphics look great at 1440p, which is the resolution I game in.”
- “Even with blurred graphics (don't know why it's called 'high' resolution)”
- “- paris playground is somehow laggy and scatters at very high graphic (tried uninstalling but still the same - the only map to do that)”
- “- not many graphical options (resolution and a quality slider, that's it.)”
monetization
13 mentions
23 % positive mentions
54 % neutral mentions
23 % negative mentions
The game currently features no microtransactions, allowing players to unlock over 150 characters solely through gameplay, which many reviewers find satisfying and rewarding. While there are optional DLCs available, the absence of microtransactions is praised as it enhances the overall experience and encourages skill development. However, some users express concern that future updates may introduce microtransactions, potentially undermining the game's current model.
- “There are no microtransactions, and if there were, you would not have to buy them.”
- “There are over 150+ players for you to collect through player packs with no microtransactions. Yes, that means that you will have to actually play the game and gain some knowledge and skill in order to get some of the best players.”
- “One of my favorite things about this game is how satisfying it is to unlock your favorite character after an hour or so of leveling. I feel as though putting in any sort of microtransactions would solely kill that feeling altogether.”
- “Smells like cash grab to me, at least.”
- “Microtransactions incoming boys, the player cards are perfect for making this into a booster pack fest.”
- “One of my favorite things about this game is how satisfying it is to unlock your favorite character after an hour or so of leveling and I feel as though putting in any sort of microtransactions would solely kill that feeling altogether.”
humor
11 mentions
100 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is widely praised, with players highlighting the funny commentary, amusing character designs, and entertaining gameplay reminiscent of NBA Jam. The cheeky remarks from the commentator, along with the humorous animations and player caricatures, contribute to an overall lighthearted and enjoyable experience. Many players find it to be a fun and casual game, making it a standout in terms of comedic elements.
- “The player caricatures are hilarious.”
- “I have yet to try the campaign but so far the graphics and style are neat, gameplay is fast and feels like NBA Jam with its crazy stunts and funny commentators.”
- “The game is very funny.”
music
6 mentions
33 % positive mentions
17 % neutral mentions
50 % negative mentions
The music in the game has received mixed reviews; while some players appreciate the fitting art style and find the soundtrack enjoyable despite its limited variety, others criticize it for being repetitive and overly loud, with some describing it as lacking quality. Overall, the soundtrack may grow on players over time, but it has notable shortcomings.
- “The soundtrack and art style of this game are phenomenal, and they only add to the game's zaniness and laid-back attitude.”
- “The art style and soundtrack are very fitting.”
- “The announcers get repetitive and the soundtrack has very few songs.”
- “The music is also lame.”
- “Cannot save music level and it's loud.”
stability
5 mentions
0 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
100 % negative mentions
The game's stability at launch was severely criticized, with numerous bugs affecting gameplay, including unplayable multiplayer, frequent freezes in the Tokyo level, and issues with the AI and shot meter. Players reported significant lag in menus and persistent glitches when interacting with the Steam overlay, making the overall experience frustratingly unstable.
- “When the game came out, it was as buggy as it gets; the multiplayer was literally unplayable.”
- “The AI is buggy, the shot meter isn't timed correctly, and the stamina bar bugs out.”
- “Tokyo level freezes happen every 2-3 seconds; it's not really playable.”
replayability
5 mentions
40 % positive mentions
20 % neutral mentions
40 % negative mentions
Overall, the game offers decent replayability due to tight controls and the ability to improve characters and unlock new abilities. However, some users feel it may not match the replay value of its inspirations, suggesting it relies on smartphone RPG mechanics to maintain interest in both single-player and online modes.
- “Tight controls and a lot of replayability.”
- “Pretty good replay value too as you can improve every character in the game over time and acquire better dunks, etc.”
- “Yeah, I guess so, but I doubt it'll have the replay value of the game it's trying to emulate.”
- “It's practically a smartphone RPG gimmick to keep the replay value high for single player and add some level balancing for the online mode.”
optimization
3 mentions
33 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
67 % negative mentions
The game's optimization has received mixed feedback; while it generally runs without significant frame drops, players have reported frequent crashes on PC. The issues seem to stem more from the game's design choices rather than outright bugs or poor performance.
- “It's not due to bugs or poor performance; it's due to the fact that they took two amazing games of their time (NBA Jam & NBA Street), tried to mash them together, and it just didn't work.”
- “Performance issues.”
story
2 mentions
0 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
100 % negative mentions
The story aspect of the game appears to be a low priority for some players, who are more interested in casual gameplay and social interaction. There is also a desire for a player-created story mode to enhance engagement.
- “I could care less about the story or the AI games; I just wanted to mess around with a friend.”
- “I'd also like to see some form of player creator with a story mode.”
grinding
1 mentions
0 % positive mentions
-200 % neutral mentions
300 % negative mentions
Players express frustration with the grinding aspect of the game, feeling that it forces them to invest excessive time to unlock content, including players they have already purchased. This has led to dissatisfaction with the balance between gameplay and monetization.
- “I feel like I'm just grinding to unlock players I've already paid for.”
- “The grinding in this game is tedious and feels like a chore rather than fun.”
- “It takes way too long to progress, making the grinding experience frustrating.”