Basketball Stars: arcade 1v1 hoops, explained
Basketball Stars is an arcade basketball game by MadPuffers. You play short 1v1 or 2v2 games against the computer or a friend on the same device, with steals, dunks and a supershot meter. It is one of the most played sports games on web game portals like Poki.
Modes
- Quick Match. Pick a player and jump into a game against the computer.
- Tournament. Win a run of matches against tougher opponents.
- Training. Practice shooting and timing with no pressure.
- 2 Player: 1v1. You and a friend face off on one keyboard.
- 2 Player: 2v2. Team up against two computer players, or split into rival teams.
How a game plays
Games are fast. You dribble, fake and shoot, and the release timing decides if it goes in. On defense you time steals and blocks. Making plays fills a meter, and when it is full you can fire a supershot that is very hard to miss.
In 2 player mode, the two players share the keyboard with separate keys for moving, stealing and the supershot. Check the in-game tutorial for the exact keys, since they can differ between versions.
Tips
- Save the supershot. Use it when the score is close, not the moment it fills.
- Steal after a dribble. Steals land best right as the other player moves.
- Drive, then shoot. Getting closer raises your odds more than a lucky long shot.
- Fake before you shoot. A fake makes the defender jump, which opens the shot.
More arcade basketball games
Both keep the games short and the controls simple, which is why they work well for two players side by side.
- Basketball Legends 2020. MadPuffers' 2020 sequel to Basketball Stars, with the same 1v1 and 2v2 games.
- NBA Jam (1993). Midway's arcade classic: 2v2, huge dunks, and players who catch fire.
Street basketball on Roam
Beach Hoops is a 1v1 street basketball game on Roam: one court, one rival, first to 11. Basketball Stars itself is played on web portals, not on Roam.
Play it on Roam
More on Roam
Make your own basketball game with Roam
Roam is a free iPhone app where you describe a game and play it. Put your friend in as the rival and change the rules by talking. Roam is rated 13+ on the App Store.
Try: "1v1 basketball on a rooftop at sunset, my brother is the rival, first to 11, dunks shake the camera, power shot meter"Roam ("Roam - Make Games" on the App Store) is an iPhone app where you play games and make your own by describing them or from a photo. It is free to download and play, and making games works without a subscription; optional Spark and Reality plans and credit packs add more creation. Android: pre-register on Google Play.
Questions people ask
Who made Basketball Stars?
MadPuffers made Basketball Stars.
Can two people play Basketball Stars?
Yes. It has 1v1 and 2v2 modes for two players on the same device.
What is the supershot in Basketball Stars?
A special shot you unlock by filling a meter during play. It is very likely to score.
Is there a Basketball Stars 2?
The follow-up is Basketball Legends 2020, also by MadPuffers.