Basketball Classics, a love letter to the “golden era” of sports games, is the latest game to release during the revival of iconic gaming publisher Acclaim.
Developed by the two-person team at indie developer Namo Gamo, Basketball Classics aims to deliver the classic, fast-paced arcade gameplay we grew up with.
“This has been a childhood dream of ours,” said Namo Gamo co-founder David Pilkington. “Now, almost a decade in the making, Basketball Classics will be available to new users on consoles worldwide. Thanks to Acclaim for making this dream a reality. We can’t wait to follow this up with Super Basketball Classics.”
If you think that Basketball Classics looks a lot like Tecmo Super Bowl, there’s a reason for that. Namo Gamo wanted to channel the spirit and energy of those old-school sports games. No microtransactions, no slow and cumbersome gameplay, just classic arcade-style hoops.
Yes, that last part 100% feels like a jab at modern sports games, particularly the NBA 2K franchise. What was once seen as the gold standard for sports games has become bogged down with frustrating microtransactions. It’s nice to see a breath of fresh air like Basketball Classics enter the arena.
Retro throwbacks like Basketball Classics is fueling Acclaim’s revival
2025 saw the revival of former video game publisher Acclaim, which had declared bankruptcy in 2003. The company had been known for publishing games like NBA Jam, Turok: Dinosaur Hunter, and helped publish Mortal Kombat. Suffice it to say, they were one of the bigger publishers in the industry in the ’90s.
Their revival has seen an increased focus on indie games, as first announced during the Play Acclaim Showcase. “The New Acclaim,” as they’ve called themselves in past press releases, focuses on staying true to the company’s roots without relying too heavily on nostalgia.
“We’re here to take the energy and chaos that made Acclaim unforgettable and channel it into something new,” said CEO Alex Josef last August. “The old screens are cracking, and what’s coming through is something exciting and different.”
“You can’t rewrite the past, but you can build upon it. This is about owning our story and moving it into a future that feels bold, energetic, and completely fresh.”
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