9 Best Basketball Arcade Games in 2024

In this article we’re reviewing which are the best basketball arcade games.

Many of us have fond memories of shooting hoops down at the local arcade, playing against the clock or with a friend. So why not invest in an indoor basketball arcade game for your home basement or play space. The whole family can join in!

But, if you don’t know all the terminology and what features are best, it’s not easy to find the right game for your needs. Don’t worry, we’re here to help! We have carefully reviewed dozens of models to select the 9 best arcade basketball games in 2024.

From single shot games for 1 player to a variety of dual shot games that are great for competitive family fun, there’s a game for players of every age and size. We have included one game that is specifically built for outdoor use too!

Our three top picks are listed below, followed by a quick comparison table of all 9 games. Then we’ll review each game in detail. Finally, our Buying Guide will show you what you need to look for to purchase the game best suited to your family and budget.

Ultimate Choice

Pop A Shot Home Dual Shot

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Best Value

Pop A Shot Dual Shot Sport

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Budget Choice

Saturnpower Shot
Creator

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9 Best Basketball Arcade Games in 2024 – Comparison Table

The top indoor basketball games below (and one for outdoors) are in roughly ascending order of price. After the comparison table we will review each game, in the same order, to make comparing them easier.

If you’re on a small screen, click on the green plus sign, or the little picture of each game, to see more features.

	Name	No. of Balls	No. of Games	Frame Thickness	Price	Size (W x D x H)
	Saturnpower Shot Creator	4	8	0.86"	$	43" x 80" x 80"
	ESPN EZ Fold 2 player	4	8	1.25"	$$	48" x 81" x 80.5"
	Pop A Shot Dual Shot Sport	4	10	1.5"	$$	46" x 81" x 81"
	Pop A Shot Home Single Shot	4	6	1.5"	$$	30" x 88" x 82"
	Rally Roar Shootout Arcade	7	8	1.5"	$$	51" x 91" x 90"
	Lifetime 90648 Double Shot Deluxe	6	12	1.5"	$$	52" x 90" x 84-90"
	A11N Sports Sharpshooter Dual Shot	8	8	1.5"	$$	47" x 74" x 83"
	Pop A Shot Home Dual Shot	7	16	1.5"	$$$	45" x 88" x 82-94"
	Pop A Shot Outdoor Dual Shot	7	16	1.5"	$$$	46" x 88" x 88"

Product Reviews – Best Arcade Basketball Games

These reviews are in the same order (price ascending) as the comparison table above.

1. Saturnpower Shot Creator Indoor Basketball Arcade Game

Budget Choice

• Type: Dual Shot
• No. of Games: 8
• Balls: 4
• Size (W x D x H) : 43″ x 80″ x 80″
• Features: Electronic Scoreboard, dual LED display, buzzer, ball pump

The Saturnpower Shot Creator is proof that you don’t have to spend a fortune to buy a dual shot basketball game. It is usually by far the cheapest here (check price at Amazon) but still lets two players battle head-to-head and features 8 different games and 4 mini basketballs.

An electronic scoreboard with dual LED display (batteries required) keeps track of who is winning and, to ensure fair play, the scoring sensors register 99% of shots correctly. Three audio options and a buzzer provide some arcade sounds for players to enjoy and the game folds up to save space when not in use.

These features are very similar to those found in games that cost two or three times the price but it does make savings in the quality of its construction. More expensive games are built from a 1.5″ steel frame but the Shot Creator makes do with just 0.86″ steel, although it is still powder coated for rust protection.

Similarly, the backboard is only 0.35″ thick, not 0.5″, and total width is a few inches less than more expensive games so players are more likely to bump into each other. We’d also like to see a couple more balls included as 4 is the bare minimum to keep the game flowing freely. But you can easily buy more balls – see our Buying Guide below for details.

There’s a lot to love about this game. It may not be quite as stable as more expensive models and probably won’t stand the test of time as well. But it has all the required features and is lighter and much cheaper. If you’re on a tight budget, or aren’t sure how much use the game will get, this is our Budget Choice.

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2. ESPN EZ Fold 2 Player Basketball Arcade Game

Polycarbonate backboard

• Type: Dual Shot
• No. of Games: 8
• Balls: 4
• Size (W x D x H) : 48″ x 81″ x 80.5″
• Features: Electronic Scoreboard, dual LED display, buzzer, ball pump

The ESPN EZ Fold 2 Player game is a popular entry in the low to middle end of the market. If you’re short of space it deserves a look as it folds up to a depth of just 29″ – the joint smallest of any game here. You don’t pay a premium for this space saving either – it’s still one of the cheapest games here (check price at Amazon).

The game features an electronic scoreboard (batteries required) but we’d prefer to see infrared scoring sensors, instead of paddle sensors, for greater accuracy. As with most cheap models, AC power is not an option – it uses batteries only.

The ESPN EZ Fold also makes some savings in the quality of its construction. Whereas more expensive games are built from a 1.5″ steel frame, it uses just 1.25″ thick steel tube. It does have a good locking system to keep the frame rigid though.

Unusually, the backboard is made of clear polycarbonate which gives a more authentic look than the MDF backboards of other models. However, the audio is a bit disappointing – we found a fair number of buyers who reported having issues with the sound cutting out or dying completely.

Like most games around this price, there are only 4 balls included which isn’t really enough to keep a multi-player game flowing smoothly. But you can easily buy more balls – see our Buying Guide below for details.

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3. Pop A Shot Dual Shot Sport

Best Value

• Type: Dual Shot
• No. of Games: 10
• Balls: 4
• Size (W x D x H) : 46″ x 81″ x 81″
• Features: Dual LED Scoreboard, 6 audio options, ball pump, AC or battery power

The Dual Shot Sport is made by Pop A Shot, the creators of the first electronic basketball game in arcades way back in 1981 so they know a thing or two about building them! But, despite their reputation and continued popularity, you don’t pay much of a premium for the extra features their games offer (check price at Amazon).

The first sign of high quality is that the electronic scoreboard with two-digit dual LED display can be powered by AC or batteries. AC is a great way to avoid losing the score as batteries often run out in the middle of a game (when they do, it always seems to be when you’re winning!)

Construction itself is solid with a 1.5″ thick powder coated steel frame for durability and the backboard is 0.5″ thick MDF so this game should last for years. There is excellent audio too with 6 options, including 3 choices of music, sound effects (crowd noise and basket “swishes”) and even an announcer who calls the game.

Another cool feature of the Sport is that it folds up from 81″ to a depth of just 29″ which is the joint smallest of any game here – handy to store it at the side of a room when not in use. It weighs 44 lbs so is not too heavy to move around.

Of course game-play is all important too. Enthusiasts can enjoy 10 different games, including classic head-to-head competitions, or you can play on your own just as happily. The control panel at the front is easy to program and has a handy ‘cheat sheet’ for quick reference.

The main signs that Pop A Shot have built this game down to a super competitive price are that the scoring sensors are paddles, not infrared, and only 4 balls are included. But you can easily buy 3 more official Pop A Shot balls to match the 7 balls found in much more expensive models.

The Dual Shot Sport is our top pick for Best Value For Money – you get some quality features from the leading brand at a great price. If your budget can stretch further, also consider its big brother, the Pop A Shot Home Dual Shot (review no. 8) which has many more premium features.

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4. Pop A Shot Home Single Shot

Best Home Basketball Arcade Game (Single Shot)

• Type: Single Shot
• No. of Games: 6
• Balls: 4
• Size (W x D x H) : 30″ x 88″ x 82″
• Features: Electronic Scoreboard, 6 audio options, ball pump, AC or battery power

The Pop A Shot Home Single Shot is another classic from the makers of the original indoor electronic basketball game. It has similar features to the Dual Shot Sport (review no. 3 above) but is obviously much narrower (30″ wide) because it is a single shot game for 1 player (check price at Amazon).

Like the Dual Shot Sport, this game has a large LED scoreboard that can be powered by AC or batteries. If you use AC there’s no risk of losing the score if batteries run out during play. But this scoreboard has 3 digits instead of 2, so you can count scores of 100 and more.

The construction is as solid as the Sport – a heavy duty 1.5″ thick powder coated steel frame provides stability and the 0.5″ MDF backboard should withstand a lot of abuse over the years. Audio is equally well catered for with 6 options, including 3 choices of music, sound effects (crowd noise and basket “swishes”) and an announcer who calls the game.

The Home Single Shot folds up from 88″ to a depth of 36″ which is smaller than some games here but, oddly, not as small as the Dual Shot Sport. It’s still easy enough to store it at the side of most rooms when not in use and it only weighs 42 lbs so is easier to move around.

There may be ‘only’ 6 games to play but of course the extra ‘missing’ games would be for two players – there’s no need for those here 😉 Likewise, although you ‘only’ get 4 balls, that is easily enough for continuous play by 1 player. But if you ever needed replacements you can buy extra official Pop A Shot balls – see our Buying Guide below for details.

If you only have enough space for a 30″ wide game, or no friends (just kidding), then this is the Best Single Shot game for you! But if you do have more space, we’d recommend the Dual Shot Sport instead – it’s a similar price but folds up even smaller and gives the option of two players if you need it.

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5. Rally Roar Classic Shootout Basketball Arcade Game

• Type: Dual Shot
• No. of Games: 8
• Balls: 7
• Size (W x D x H) : 51″ x 91″ x 90″
• Features: Electronic Scoreboard, dual LED display, buzzer, ball pump

The Rally Roar Classic is a step up in size compared to the previous games above. It is taller and wider so there’s less chance of bumping into your opponent and more angles to shoot hoops from. Even better, it doesn’t cost much more than the dual shot games above (check price at Amazon).

The construction is certainly solid enough – the rust resistant steel frame is 1.5″ thick for durability and the double-sided laminated backboard is 0.5″ thick so this game should cope with a lot of shooting over the years. The ball return is made from cloth with double stitched seams for additional strength too.

As the Rally Roar is larger than most games it does weigh 50 lbs but it’s still not too heavy to move around – you’ll definitely need two people though. It also folds up from 91″ to a depth of 38″ which makes it easier to store at the side of a room when you have finished playing.

The electronic scoreboard with dual LED display is powered by batteries only – we’d prefer an AC option at this price but it’s not a huge issue. However, the audio is a bit of a let down. There’s a buzzer and basic sounds but nothing like the array of lifelike arcade quality sounds you get with the Pop A Shot games.

Two players can enjoy 8 different games, or you can play on your own. To keep the ball rolling, as it were, it’s nice to see that 7 balls are included – this is a great number for 2 players.

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6. Lifetime 90648 Double Shot Deluxe

Most Adjustable in Height

• Type: Dual Shot
• No. of Games: 12
• Balls: 6
• Size (W x D x H) : 52″ x 90″ x 84-90″
• Features: Height adjustable (back and front), dual LED display, AC or battery power, ball pump

The Lifetime 90648 Double Shot Deluxe is another very wide and tall indoor dual shot game, like the Rally Roar Classic above. But this game has the added benefit of being height adjustable (84″ to 90″) to better suit the heights of your ceiling or the players, whether kids or adults (check price at Amazon).

Lifetime arcade games are made by a Utah company founded in 1986 to manufacture basketball systems. They won the ‘Best Value’ award in our review of outdoor portable basketball hoops recently so we expected this game to be well constructed and we weren’t disappointed. The frame is exceptionally solid – powder coated steel poles are 1.5″ or 1.75″ thick and the 0.5″ MDF backboard should stand up to countless shots.

However, this ruggedness makes it by far the heaviest game here – at 85 lbs it’s not really portable once assembled. Despite its large size, the Lifetime 90648 does fold up from 90″ to a depth of 41″ but that’s still a few inches deeper than most rivals. If you’re short of space this is probably not the right game for you.

The Lifetime’s electronic scoreboard can be powered by AC or batteries for your convenience. Another sign of quality is that the scoring sensors are infrared, not cheaper paddle sensors. Arcade fans will love the 12 games offered, including games for single, two or multi players so there is plenty to enjoy with family and friends or you can shoot hoops on your own and try to beat your top score.

As well as the adjustable backboard height, a unique feature of this game is that you can also change the height of the front lower bar (choice of 35″, 31.5″ or 28″ high). This really helps kids of different ages, or adults, to reach down and pick up balls more easily, at a height that best suits them.

This double shot game has some fun audio effects and a volume control which is useful if you grow tired of the sounds. 6 balls are included which is enough for two players but you can buy more if you need replacements – see our Buying Guide below for details. It would be our pick for best dual shot basketball arcade game except for the lack of portability.

Tip: for a full side by side comparison of this game vs Pop A Shot’s Home Dual Shot (review no. 8 below), see our detailed comparison of both games.

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7. A11N Sports Sharpshooter Dual Shot Basketball Arcade Game

• Type: Dual Shot
• No. of Games: 8
• Balls: 8
• Size (W x D x H) : 47″ x 74″ x 83″
• Features: Electronic Scoreboard, dual LED display, sound effects, ball pump

The A11N Sports Sharpshooter is usually in a similar price range to the games from Rally Roar and Lifetime above. But it is a lot smaller so may be a better choice for small rooms. It also folds up from 74″ to a depth of 38″ to save space (check price at Amazon).

The construction is as solid as rivals with a rust resistant powder coated steel frame 1.5″ thick for durability, MDF backboard and heavy-duty nylon ball return ramp. As it is quite a small game, it weighs a reasonable 49 lbs so is still light enough for two people to move around.

Note that the electronic scoreboard with dual LED display is powered by AC only. At this price we’d have liked to see batteries as a power option. That would avoid a long trailing power cord (trip hazard) if there is no AC power nearby but it won’t be a huge issue for most rooms.

The A11N comes with a good variety of 8 games in single and two player modes. There are a generous 8 balls included so you won’t need to buy more. Sounds effects and a buzzer maintain the feel of being in an arcade but you can turn the sounds off if they get a bit too much.

It’s a game well worth considering for its relatively small size, portability and great looks. But in this highly competitive price range we prefer the Lifetime 90648, if we had enough space, because it has a battery option and you can adjust the height at front and back too.

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8. Pop A Shot Home Dual Shot

Best Indoor Basketball Arcade Game

• Type: Dual Shot
• No. of Games: 16
• Balls: 7
• Size (W x D x H) : 45″ x 88″ x 82-94″
• Features: Height adjustable (back), dual LED display, AC or battery power, ball pump

The Home Dual Shot is the jewel in the crown of Pop A Shot’s games for the home and incorporates all they have learned since inventing the first arcade basketball game in 1981. As you’d expect from this flagship model, it has a variety of luxury features and a price tag to match (check price at Amazon).

One improvement over cheaper Pop A Shot basketball games is that the electronic scoreboard is larger, for easier viewing. It also has a three-digit dual LED display so you can keep scores above 100, a long wished for feature. As it can be powered by AC or batteries, it is also suitable for any room.

The Home Dual Shot is the only game here to incorporate wheels on the back of the frame for easy maneuvering. It weighs a sturdy 58 lbs so this is a very useful addition to make moving it around a room easy. It also folds up from 88″ to a depth of just 37″, freeing up more space after use.

Construction is suitably heavy duty – like other games by Pop A Shot the powder coated steel frame is 1.5″ thick for durability. The MDF backboard is 0.5″ thick and the ball ramp is heavy-duty nylon so the game should resist a good battering over time. The backboard height is adjustable too with a choice of 82″, 88″ or 94″ so you can match it to the height of your ceiling or the players.

Audio is also well catered for – there are 6 options, including 3 choices of music, sound effects (crowd noise and basket “swishes”) and even an announcer who calls the game. As for gameplay, you get 16 different games, more than any game here, and a generous 7 balls. The front control panel is easy to program and has a ‘cheat sheet’ for quick reference.

We love the Home Dual Shot and it wins our Ultimate Choice award as the best indoor basketball game – it oozes quality and doesn’t really have any weaknesses. Yes, it costs the most, but if you’re looking for a ‘forever’ indoor basketball game then this is well worth considering.

Tip: for a full side by side comparison of this game vs Pop A Shot’s cheaper Sport version (review no. 3), see our detailed comparison of both games.

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9. Pop A Shot Outdoor (or Indoor) Dual Shot

Best Basketball Arcade Game (Outdoor version)

• Type: Dual Shot (Outdoor)
• No. of Games: 16
• Balls: 7
• Size (W x D x H) : 46″ x 88″ x 88″
• Features: Outdoor or indoor use, dual LED display, battery power, ball pump

The Outdoor Dual Shot is the only basketball arcade game in our reviews that can be used safely outdoors (or indoors). It is based on the Home Dual Shot (review no. 8 above) but made with weather resistant materials for outdoor use. Despite this versatility, it usually doesn’t cost any more than the indoor version (check price at Amazon).

As it is so similar to the indoor Home Dual Shot version above, we’ll only cover the differences between both models. The most obvious is that the backboard is made of plexiglass (because MDF would swell or rot outdoors). Both the infrared optical scoring sensors and large three-digit scoreboard are fully encased, so they will work even if they get wet.

The heavy-duty nylon ball ramp gets a UV coating to protect it from fading in the sun while the 1.5″ thick steel frame is weather proofed for extra resistance to wet conditions. Finally, there is obviously no AC option to power the scoreboard – it uses batteries only to be safe outdoors.

The only other difference, compared to the indoor version, is that this Pop A Shot basketball game has no backboard height adjustment – the height is fixed at 88″ because there is no need to allow for different heights of room.

It wins our award for best basketball arcade game if you need an outdoor model. It can be used indoors too so may be a good option for a garage where you can play inside during cold weather but wheel it out and enjoy the sun in the summer.

If you’ll never use it outdoors then the Home Dual Shot is a better choice – for the AC option and the adjustable height backboard.

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Buying Guide – What You Need To Look For

Some of the most important things to think about if you want to buy the best electronic basketball arcade game include:

Balls

The mini basketballs used in all these games are 7″ diameter (size 3) rubber balls – they are smaller than standard basketballs which are about 9.5″ diameter. For a dual shot game, 6 to 8 balls is ideal as that allows for more players and/or less time waiting for balls to return between shooting successive hoops.

Premium dual shot games come with 6 to 8 balls but cheaper games often only have 4 which isn’t really enough for hectic dual play. It is also a real pain if just one of them goes flat…

But you can easily buy a few extra balls for your game, such as this three-pack of Pop A Shot balls. They can be used with any brand of game as they all have the same sized rubber balls.

But, for durability, we prefer these official branded balls by the inventor of the original arcade game.

Construction Material

These games take a lot of abuse over the years so you should look for one made from the best materials that your budget will allow for:

Frame – the best frames are made of powder coated steel (to avoid rust and chipping). The thicker the steel, the stronger it will be – 1.5″ thickness is most common on medium and premium games.

Bear in mind that thicker steel is heavier which may be an issue if you want to regularly dismantle the game for storage or move it around.

Backboard – usually made from MDF (Medium Density Fiberboard) as that is a good, cheap material to resist impact, shock and heat – the thicker the MDF the less likely it will be to crack over time. 0.5″ thickness is a good thickness to aim for.

Side netting and Ball Ramp – the best material is nylon as it is strong, durable and has some elasticity.

Design

The main things to consider are:

• Will you regularly fold up the game to create additional room space? If so, look for a game that folds up into the least depth. A lighter weight steel frame will make life easier but may sacrifice stability and durability
• Can you adjust the height of the backboard? On premium models, look for push buttons and multiple holes along the height of the frame, with braces for extra rigidity once the preferred height has been set
• Does the backboard have a mechanism to ensure that it is doesn’t vibrate when there is movement against the rest of the frame? If not, you’ll need to make sure the backboard is not placed against a wall
• How easy is it to assemble? Most games will take up to 1 to 2 hours to build – an extra pair of hands to help you is well, very handy…

Scoring Systems

Electronic scoreboards use LCD screens to display the score and sensors to count successful shots. There are 2 main types of sensor – paddles vs infrared.

Infrared sensors “see” the shot through the backboard so are not subject to direct hits by the ball. But paddles are plastic arms that extend beneath the rim so they are more likely to get damaged over time by repeated balls landing on them.

Although both types can have a 98% (or higher) accuracy rate, infrared sensors are preferable – they are less likely to break and are more consistent than paddles.

Game Options

In our indoor basketball games reviews, all the models come with between 6 and 16 different game options. Check to see whether the games that you enjoy are included – there’s no point paying a higher premium for more games if you aren’t going to use or enjoy them. See our review of all the different Pop A Shot Game Modes.

If you like sound effects while you shoot hoops, pick a game that provides a variety of realistic arcade audio options while you play. All the games have at least some basic sounds but the Pop A Shot models are easily the best choice for high quality sound effects.

Hoops / Baskets

When buying basketball arcade games that may be used by young kids and adults (or older kids), look for one that has the ability to raise or lower the height of the backboard so that you can easily adjust it to suit shorter or taller players.

If you only want to practice shooting on your own then a single shot game (with a single hoop) would suffice. However, a dual shot game with two hoops is far more versatile – you can still play on your own but can also challenge a friend and enjoy multi-player games if the need arises.

Although games for actual arcades may have 3 or 4 hoops, the best indoor basketball games for home use only have 1 or 2 – any more than that and the game becomes an impractical size for most homes and not at all portable.

Size

Unless you have room indoors with enough space that you can leave the game permanently in place, the smaller depth it has when folded up the better. Before purchasing, carefully consider the constructed size.

Possibly the most common first reaction after assembling an arcade basketball game is “I didn’t realize it would be this big!” Make sure you have a room that is tall enough and with enough floor space not just to accommodate the game but also to leave enough space around it for the free movement of the players.