While titles like Star Wars: Galaxy of Heroes are the main attraction for many gamers out there, sometimes dabbling in other genres is on the cards. For some, basketball-themed products appeal, especially given the plethora of top-notch basketball-themed games we’ve witnessed over the years. In fact, thanks to emulation software and retro-gaming sites, some of the classics are still sampled today.

Serving up epic end-to-end clashes and enabling players to pull off skills in the virtual environment, basketball games have generally always been in demand. Even for people who aren’t interested in the NBA, they’re tempting propositions. Likewise, for diehard fans who wear jerseys with pride, make fantasy picks, and indulge in DraftKings NBA playoffs betting, basketball games have always been enticing. However, not every basketball gamer out there has played every retro delight associated with this seriously fun gaming category.

So, with that in mind, below we highlight a strong selection of retro basketball games, some of which you can still explore today.

NBA Jam

A game you have to experience, NBA Jam is arguably the greatest basketball-themed release ever. While it might not be the most authentic experience of all time, NBA Jam’s fun aspect is unrivaled. Players can fly in the air while pulling off stunts, crazy drunks are executed, and taking on loved ones in multiplayer clashes is always a blast. A game that 90s players will fondly remember, NBA Jam, is an undoubted masterpiece.

NBA Live 95

In 1994, when NBA Live 95 was released, it represented a real breakthrough for realism in basketball-themed games. A highly anticipated title at the time, it delivered in all aspects, as players had actual teams to play with, world-famous stars to score with, and a more detailed variety of game modes to tackle, including a highly engaging full-season mode with twists and turns to navigate. As the start of one of the most iconic franchises in this amazing gaming genre, NBA Live 95 will never be forgotten by many.

NBA 2K11

Michael Jordan is widely regarded as the finest player the sport of basketball has ever seen. As such, games where he is front and center shone. While we’ve seen numerous installments from the NBA 2K series, the Bulls legend is heavily featured in NBA 2K11, making it a fantastic title to track down. Whether you want to recreate iconic moments from Michael Jordan’s legendary career or you want to take part in tense clashes against another gamer, NBA 2K11 has it all.

<iframe width=”560″ height=”315″ src=”https://www.youtube.com/embed/4qgigmUe-lw?si=v77yWKecPG75cBOo” title=”YouTube video player” frameborder=”0″ allow=”accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share” referrerpolicy=”strict-origin-when-cross-origin” allowfullscreen></iframe>

College Slam

Following the success of NBA Jam, numerous titles tried to replicate its formula but failed to make much of an impact. However, College Slam succeeded where others failed. Essentially containing the same weird and wonderful elements associated with NBA Jam, but with a college aspect, players could fly through the sky and nail crazy moves with NCAA teams instead of the NBA’s collection of world-famous franchises. A truly memorable release, College Slam was extremely entertaining to play.

Michael Jordan: Chaos in the Windy City

Given his star power, Michael Jordan even has a game with his name in the title. Michael Jordan: Chaos in the Windy City isn’t your usual basketball game, though, but it’s a brilliant title in more ways than one. While it didn’t contain the usual on-court action basketball gamers tend to crave, the fact that gamers can enjoy a platformer while playing as basketball royalty makes it a pleasurable release to sample. A combination of basketball action while players take down bosses and advance to the end of levels, Michael Jordan: Chaos in the Windy City is excellent.