5. Mario Sports Mix - Wii

We can’t go deeply into this game’s history since we have its predecessor later in this listing, but having a sports videogame developed by Square Enix using Super Mario characters isn’t something that you see every day. Thankfully it isn’t only its background that’s interesting since Mario Sports Mix brings to the gaming table a very interesting option for those who are into the sports scene; with some great options like hockey, dodgeball, volleyball, basketball, and its own tournament-only sports mix, this is a great option for those looking for solid gameplay, a great soundtrack and just have a great time with the Wiimote and Nunchuck controllers which might be both a blessing and doom depending on what kind of gamer you are.

4. NBA 2k2 - Nintendo Gamecube

This NBA classic 2k entry is easily one of the most important of its generation since it was one of the few games to be released on every major platform at the time, including the Gamecube, Playstation 2, Xbox, and Sega’s Dreamcast. NBA 2k2 received great reviews from both critics and fans since it included a great range of players, including but not limited to the basketball legends Larry Bird, Michael Jordan, Magic Johnson, Bill Russell, and Wilt Chamberlain. It’s important to mention that the game had some differences between platforms, being the Dreamcast and Gamecube versions the ones that got the best reviews.

3. NBA Street Vol. 2 - Nintendo Gamecube

Nowadays, EA might not be the most loved or consumer-friendly developer/publisher out there; but we can’t deny that titles such as NBA Street Vol. 2 had left an important impact in the history of sports videogames. Frequently considered to be one of the highest-rated basketball games, it is a pleasure to mention that it was released during the peak of the Nintendo Gamecube, giving players a great option which offered a top-tier soundtrack with some beloved real-life artists (which one of them, Nelly, was actually included in the player rooster and released a song in the game before that kind of events were actually a thing).

2. Mario Hoops 3-on-3 - Nintendo DS and Wii U’s Virtual Console

Mario Hoops 3-on-3’s history (known in territories outside the Americas as Mario Slam Basketball and Mario Basket 3on3) is interesting, to say the least. It began development by Square Enix as a title with original characters until someone in Square came up with the idea of asking Nintendo permission to use the Super Mario characters; and geez we’re lucky that they agreed. Mario Hoops 3-on-3 in an incredibly fun and entertaining game even if you aren’t a sports fan. It has a cleverly funny soundtrack along with interesting characters from both the Mario universe AND Final Fantasy. Having Peach playing against a Final Fantasy’s Moogle is plain amazing; we can only hope for more crossovers alike in the near future as Nintendo and Square Enix keep working together. 

1. NBA 2k22 - Nintendo Switch

It doesn’t matter if there are mobile versions from the NBA 2k franchise available to download on our Android and iOS devices, I feel personally fascinated by the fact that (unlike EA’s laziness) 2k has taken the chance not only to port the latest NBA 2k entries, but to do it is a great way ever since we’re not talking about a highly downgraded version of the game but one that takes advantage of what the Nintendo Switch is capable for even if it’s not as powerful as the Playstation 5 or the Xbox Series S and X. If you’re a basketball fan and want to take a great basketball game with you anywhere you go, this is definitely the best option for you; we can only hope for the developers to keep publishing the game in the system as the system’s lifespan goes by and we get introduced to the successor of the Nintendo Switch.

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