Basketball Stars
New
- Genre Sports games
- Players 1–2
- Session 5 min
- Price Free
- Updated
Basketball Stars plays on a single indoor court seen from the side, both hoops visible at once, with a crowd of cartoon fans behind the barrier and a scoreboard and countdown clock across the top. The players are tiny bodies under enormous heads, caricatures of well-known professionals, and that look sets the tone: this is a scrappy, fast arcade game, not a simulation.
Before tip-off you choose how to play. One player against one, two against two, or a team of two against a computer-controlled pair, and on the team screen you flip through squads with the purple arrows, each showing two players and their special perks such as a mega dunk or extra defence. Two people can share one keyboard: the first uses W, A, S, D with X and K, the second the arrow keys with their own buttons.
On the court the inputs are few but layered. Run with the direction keys and double tap to dash past a defender. Holding the shoot button raises the ball, and letting go at the top of the motion, after roughly a second, is what drops a clean three; release early and it clangs off the rim. Tap down instead and you pump fake, which is the main way to beat a defender who jumps too eagerly. Without the ball, the same buttons steal and block. A special meter fills during play and unlocks a super shot when it is full.
A round lasts about a minute, short enough that a lost game is immediately followed by a rematch. The computer is no pushover in two-on-two, but beating a friend sitting next to you is where this game is at its best. Pause, music and a help screen sit in the top right corner, and the help screen repeats the key layout for both players if someone forgets which button blocks.
| W A S D (P1) / Arrow keys (P2) | Run and jump |
|---|---|
| Double tap left or right | Dash |
| X or L (P1) / X (P2), hold and release | Shoot, or steal without the ball |
| S (P1) / Down arrow (P2) | Pump fake, or block on defence |
| K or Z (P1) / K (P2) | Super shot when the meter is full |
How to play Basketball Stars
- Choose 1 vs 1, 2 vs 2 or 2 vs computer on the mode panel.
- Pick a team for each side with the arrows and press Play.
- Grab the ball at tip-off and move toward the opponent's basket.
- Hold shoot and release at the top of the jump for an accurate shot.
- On defence, time steals and blocks rather than pressing them constantly.
- Have the higher score when the clock reaches zero.
Tips
- Pump fake first against a defender standing close; shoot as soon as they land.
- A dash right after a steal usually leaves you alone under the basket.
- Save the super shot for the last seconds, when one basket decides the match.
Questions about Basketball Stars
Can two people play on one computer?
Yes. Player one uses W, A, S, D and nearby keys, player two the arrow keys, in head-to-head or team modes.
How do I make three-pointers?
Hold the shoot key and release when your player reaches the peak of the jump, after roughly a second.
What is the pump fake for?
It fakes a shot so the defender jumps; once they land you have a free look at the basket.
How long is a match?
About a minute on the clock, so matches are quick and rematches instant.
Does it work on a phone?
It is built around keyboard controls, so a computer is the intended way to play.
Is it an official league game?
No. It is an arcade game by an independent studio that uses cartoon versions of real players.
