If you're looking for a list of the best basketball games, our list is a slam dunk. With everything from realistic hoop shooting simulators to arcade-style experiences, we've got plenty of games for you to pick from, and some of them are even free to play. So, what are you waiting for? It's time to play ball.
For more ball sports, be sure to browse our picks for the best cricket games, baseball games, and football games. Or, if you prefer a slower-paced afternoon with a little less athleticism, check out our lists detailing the best golf games and fishing games.
Here are the best basketball games:
NBA 2K26 Arcade Edition
Portable platforms: iOS (Apple Arcade)
The latest NBA game, and one that you can access right away if you're an Apple Arcade subscriber. Not only does it provide what is probably the most realistic basketball experience on mobile, but it also gives you the chance to build your own basketball team while progressing through contests and carving out your own NBA career.
The game gives plenty of options for online play, but there's just as much to do if you prefer to play against CPU players. You'll likely spend a lot of time hunched over your players' stats, making tweaks here and there to ensure you've got them all in the best shape possible. It's fun, it's engaging, and it's worth a try.
NBA 2K26
Portable platforms: Nintendo Switch, Steam Deck, and Windows handhelds
NBA 2K26 is yet another installment in the iconic basketball series, with a bunch of new additions for another year of balling. Whether you want to create your all-time fantasy lineup in the MyTEAM mode and test them out online or try your luck taking your favorite team to the playoff finals, it's a must-play for the basketball obsessive with a penchant for realism.
Thanks to the ProPLAY engine, top-tier basketball has never felt so realistic, and you can really notice the performance improvements compared to previous NBA games. Not only that, but thanks to improvements to the MyPLAYER Builder mechanic, you can now create a more accurate in-game version of yourself, so you can feel what it might be like to play alongside the likes of Giannis Antetokounmpo and LeBron James.
NBA 2K Playgrounds 2
Portable platforms: Nintendo Switch and Windows handhelds
If you're looking for more of an arcade-style basketball experience, they don't come much better than NBA 2K Playgrounds 2. This pick takes the fun of the original game and turns it up to 11, and it's particularly fun if you've got someone to play alongside.
There's more than you might anticipate in this animated package, so don't find yourself thinking there isn't some serious competition waiting in the online lobbies or even in the game's surprisingly challenging solo mode. It's as fun as arcade basketball games get, offering a reprieve from intense and realistic simulated balling with some stylish 2-on-2 gameplay.
Desktop Basketball
Portable platforms: Nintendo Switch and Windows handhelds
Okay, think of a basketball court, make it super teeny tiny, shrink down the players too, and you've got Desktop Basketball. It's a game that proves that size doesn't matter; with tight controls, approachable gameplay, and a handful of charming minigames, it's easy to lose a few hours shooting hoops and taking names.
Out of all the 'Desktop' series sports games, Desktop Basketball suits the shrunk-down format the most. It might not be the most fluid, but if you find the official NBA titles a little overwhelming, you can enjoy a few games here without hours of practice first.
Basketball Arena
Portable platforms: iOS and Android
If two-on-two sounds a little too much like teamwork to you, go solo on the court with Basketball Arena. While it lacks the mechanical depth of some of the other entries in the series, it almost makes it easier to have fun, with little to no learning curve for new players.
It's also got basketballing monsters, and we can't begin to tell you how onboard we are with that. There are also a few nods to players from the history of the NBA and more than one Dennis Rodman lookalike in the impressive roster of characters.
NBA Infinite
Portable platforms: iOS and Android
For those in need of a realistic basketball sim with plenty of online game modes, NBA Infinite is the one. With multiple ways to play, including 1v1, 3v3, and 5v5 matches on full and half courts, famous NBA players to sign up to your squad, and fantastic mechanics, it's well worth a place on this list.
NBA Infinite emphasizes online play, and you can check out how you compete with the rest of the world thanks to some in-game leaderboards. Or, if you think of yourself as something of an excellent shot, you can take part in three-point throw competitions to prove your hooping ability. However you want to play, NBA Infinite has you covered.
Dunk Shot
Portable platforms: iOS and Android
Do you remember Doodle Jump? Dunk Shot is Doodle Jump with basketballs. It's fun, more fun than it should be, and you don't need to unlock the greatest players of all time to score some slam dunks.
If you find some of the more true-to-the-sport titles on this list a little intense but still want to shoot some hoops, this might be the one for you. It's free-to-play, too, so you don't have to spend a dollar to get out on the court.
NBA 2K
Portable platforms: iOS and Android
You rarely find the type of realism and quality of both graphics and gameplay in a mobile game when compared to console releases, but with NBA 2K Mobile, EA has hit the nail on the head.
Now in its sixth season, there's a whole lot of content to get through if you want to take your side all the way to the playoffs, and with it being free-to-play, you've no excuse not to be shooting hoops on the go. Plus, you can grab some freebies with our NBA 2k Mobile codes.
Basketball Club Story
Portable platforms: Nintendo Switch, Steam Deck, and Windows handhelds
Kairosoft makes some of the best management sims out there, so if you're a fan of basketball games, it's worth trying out the developer's foray into the world of balling. Sure, there's no dribbling or slam dunking for you to do, but you can put together a team of elite players like your name is Jerry Buss.
Basketball Club Story lets you tell your own tale, from starting a team of league minnows to becoming the biggest name in the game. You can sign deals with sponsors, level up your facilities, and most importantly, recruit and coach a new generation of top-tier players. If you'd rather be Phil Jackson than Michael Jordan, this might be the one for you.
Never Be Afraid Slam Dunk!
Portable platforms: Nintendo Switch
Okay, so this is one of the weirder picks on our list, but stick with us. Have you ever wanted to play basketball as a horse, score a slam dunk as a chicken, or make a three-pointer as a zebra? If you answered yes to all three questions, Never Be Afraid Slam Dunk! might be the game for you.
As you can probably guess from our description so far, this entry on our guide to the best basketball games leaves realism at the door. Still, there's a surprising amount of depth here, with articulate controls, cartoony graphics, and over 20 different bizarre ballers to unlock. Trust us, it's a lot of fun.
With that, you're up to date on all the best basketball games on Switch and mobile. If you're looking for something else to play while you're here, be sure to also check out our guides to the best mobile games and the best Switch games.