NBA Playgrounds Critic Reviews

NBA Playgrounds is a really fun and quirky title. The lack of online play at launch is a big omission and although the game lacks replayability, the arcade aesthetics, easy to use controls and whirlwind gameplay make this game extremely enjoyable in short bursts. I found the game better on handheld rather than playing off a TV, due to its ‘on the move’ vibe, and in that respect, it's undoubtedly a nice game to just unwind with and enjoy for what it is.

NBA Playgrounds has some rough spots, but one cannot deny that it is a fun arcade-style basketball game. Local multiplayer is a joy, and the single-player modes are entertaining enough to warrant a playthrough. If the online is able to recreate the fun of local multiplayer, then NBA Playgrounds will be tough to pass on.

NBA Playgrounds may not revolutionize arcade basketball, but it’s a welcome newcomer. If Saber Interactive tightens its gameplay shortcomings and introduces more ways to play, the game could have a healthy run as an alternative for those who don't want the heavy investment of a sports sim.

NBA Playgrounds isn't the new NBA Jam, but is fun and solid with friends.

It's great to have a basketball arcade game back in the public domain, but it falls short of the successful heights of NBA Jam.

NBA Playgrounds is a fun addition to the arcade basketball genre, especially on the Nintendo Switch. The game isn't without some flaws though. The AI is unfair and the shooting mechanics are very tough to master. Releasing the game without its online mode is also a strange choice. That being said, the game offers more than enough to allow fans of NBA Jam and NBA Street to have a good time. Let's just hope that Saber will soon fix the game's issues.

NBA Playgrounds gets so much of the setup right, often reawakening the spirit of the NBA Jam series, but it fumbles some of the finer details with needless complications and lacklustre AI. As a solo experience there are much better ways to spend your money, but when it comes to multiplayer NBA Playgrounds is so very nearly shooting nothing but net.

NBA Playgrounds is a game that is instantly playable - but the more you chip away at it, the more you're disappointed by the lack of content at release. It can be fantastic to pick up and play when you’re with a group of friends, but the lack of online multiplayer at launch means you’ll find yourself enjoying Playgrounds less and less very quickly.

All in all, NBA Playgrounds was a pleasant surprise. Post release support will make or break how the game continues to be and if players stick around with it. I’ve already recommended the game to some friends for some arcade style sports fun. At this point it’s tough to recommend the Switch version over the other consoles, based on what I mentioned previously, but IF all my issues were corrected, it could be the definitive version. Playing at home or taking it on the go while hanging out and tipping back a few “sodas” is what this genre is all about.

This is a fun game, but the lack of content and an imprecise control leaves us with mixed feelings. Still, if the team keeps working on it they can make it the great game it could be.

The entire experience is one that’s reminiscent of NBA Jam, but never provides the same levels of joy you’re after.

The smattering of flaws aside, NBA Playgrounds manages to be a fun multiplayer street hoops experience that is at least partially successful in recapturing the charm of NBA Jam. Player decks and lottery pick meter are subtle but effective elements to help give the game a bit of its own character.

While I had fun with the single-player, NBA Playgrounds is mostly a mess otherwise. The basic gameplay requires specific timing that is never well articulated. Load times on the Switch version are nearly indefensibly long. For those hoping for some kind of modern-day NBA Jam-like experience from Playgrounds, look elsewhere. This is just a convoluted footnote in the modern arcade sports landscape.

If there’s never another arcade-style hoops title for Switch, then Playgrounds certainly meets my bare-minimum needs. It could have been so much more though, and as such I’m hoping Saber Interactive comes back with a fleshed-out second attempt (maybe another sport?) sometime down the road. In the meantime, Playgrounds delivers the outrageous exhibitions you’re looking for - just don’t expect it to provide much else.

NBA Playgrounds plays well to the strengths of the Nintendo Switch, providing a fun multiplayer basketball game, with authentic players and commentary. Difficulty spikes in solo play are too steep to ignore, though, and the current absence of online play greatly diminishes long-term viability. A great game is here, but not yet at the surface.

NBA Playgrounds does not stand out more than any other basketball game before it, and I think it’ll be remembered as such.

NBA Playgrounds fails to satisfy the aspirations of those looking for a fun arcade-style basketball game. While its local multiplayer is fun, the flaws and shortcomings of the single player mode and the (for the time being) lack of an online mode make the game's full potential extremely limited. There are too many obstacles and unexplainable problems standing in the way of making this an enjoyable effort.

If you were hoping for the second coming of NBA Jam, or at least something you and your friends can enjoy, you won't it find here.

NBA Playgrounds is a half-baked arcade basketball game that's lacking in content and features. Only the die-hard fans need apply.

The Nintendo Switch version of NBA Playgrounds is probably the most inferior. While an entertaining romp with fun mechanics, a lack of content and fundamental patches keep this from being a slam dunk.