Basketball gaming: Top 10 best basketball video games ever

It’s likely that the amount of basketball video games being played has suddenly increased as well, as the NBA Finals are currently in progress. Since basketball video games have been around since the early Atari days of the 1970s, they have only become better with every generation that goes by.

NBA 2K, NCAA Basketball, and a number of other extremely sophisticated and well-liked video games have supplanted franchises like NBA Jam and NBA Live from the 1990s. Here is the list of Top 10 Best Basketball Video Games Ever:

• NBA Showtime

NBA Showtime, which was published by Midway in 1999, stood out from other basketball games thanks to a number of special features. Because the game is based on the pregame show that aired on NBC, it has an air of nostalgia. It was the first television show to use 3D visuals. When a player hits three consecutive shots, they are declared “on fire,” which gives them unlimited shooting freedom from almost anywhere. In addition to team rosters, the game features a large cast of hidden playable characters, including some of the most well-known monsters from Universal Pictures, such as the Mummy and Frankenstein’s monster.

• NBA Jam

NBA Jam is special because players can slam dunk by jumping higher than is permitted by science, defying the rules of physics. There are no fouls or free throws in addition to the fact that the game is two on two basketball. NFL Street and NBA Jam are two of the greatest underappreciated sports gaming brands. They are comparable to each other.

• Barkley Shut Up and Jam!

Charles Barkley’s inclusion in the game was only one of its many awesome features. The game was placed on an outside court, and the user could choose to play as Barkley or as imaginary characters. The gameplay of the game was quite similar to that of NBA Jam. Barkley Shut Up and Jam! was a fast-paced, looser game that differed from many other basketball games due to its reduced rules and fouls.

• NBA Live 03

Here, the key term is “competitive.” That was the primary objective of the creators, and the game most definitely succeeded in being realistic. For instance, the players’ quick reflexes were similar to those of NBA players in real life. The controls are more responsive than ever, and the A.I. is wiser. Shaq had the highest overall rating in NBA 2K23 at 98, surpassing all other players.

• College Hoops 2K8

Due to licensing concerns, this is the final instalment in the College Hoops series. The game is unique just because of that. Because there are more than 300 Division 1 teams in the game, the new “2k share” function allows players to share rosters. A player can become a coach in College Hoops and take their alma mater, favourite school, or an underperforming institution and lead them to a championship, much as in the NCAA Football series. In the end, participants find the game so compelling because of March Madness.

• NBA Live 04

Although it was the first to feature the Charlotte Bobcats, it was the final EA game to feature Michael Jordan. The option to spend points gained via gaming to upgrade teams and purchase merchandise from the NBA Store was one of the game’s main draws. When the NBA players are playing, fans may see them sporting sneakers and jerseys.

• NBA 2K16

This is undoubtedly accurate, given that the game’s primary objective was to heighten realism, which it accomplished in a variety of ways. NBA players, for example, now get more realistic-looking tattoos thanks to body scanning. The presentation included a lot of Spike Lee, which gave the game a new and thrilling vibe. The MyGM and MyLeague saw the largest improvements. Compared to earlier versions, it offered players more authority to negotiate NBA contracts and move teams. NBA 2K16 is among the greatest 2K games thanks to these upgrades.

• NBA Live 05

The NBA All-Star Weekend is the most alluring of these events. This simulates the actual weekend in February of each season, which features the Rookie vs. Sophomore Game and the 3-point Shootout. When mastered, the Slam Dunk Contest may be quite addictive. Initially, it can be difficult to master. Basketball’s most glamorous part is highlighted by the player’s ability to showcase their inventiveness with tip-ins and dunks thanks to the new Freestyle Air feature.

• NBA Street Vol. 2

The 3-on-3 basketball in NBA Street Vol. 2 simulates a game of hoops with pals after school. It is one of the numerous sports video games that have been discontinued but should be brought back. Trick manoeuvres, dunks, and a point system that can be used to purchase players and courts are among the gameplay features added to the game.

• NBA 2K11

Classic NBA clubs are included and utilised in the Jordan Challenge game in addition to the Association and MyPlayer modes. This mode, which centres on Michael Jordan, is the game’s high point. The player can relive some of Jordan’s most iconic moments from his career in one part of the mode. An additional feature of the mode bears similarities to MyPlayer, except that the player assumes control of Air Jordan personally. The best thing is that Jordan may be added to the player’s preferred squad, and as he advances, so does his look.