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Backyard Basketball '01

Return to the blacktop with your favorite Backyard athletes! The original Backyard Basketball 2001 is back and now enhanced to run on Steam. Dribble, shoot, and take that ball to the hoop!

Steam Page
Release
November 13, 2025
262 days ago
Steam Reviews
Very Positive152 reviews88.8%

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Game contextLatest: IGF Team
ContextThe evidence factors used to assess whether this game belongs on IndieGame.Fan.Status
Notes
Latest Contributor: IGF TeamEdit notes
Updated: Jul 14, 2026Developer scaleThe operating scale of the game's developer.
Updated: Jul 14, 2026Publisher scaleThe operating scale of the game's publisher.
A separate publisher is listed without a proven bounded regional or service-only role.
Search Google: Is Backyard Basketball '01 self-published or published by Playground Productions?Publisher statusHow the game's publishing relationship is classified.
Search Google: How is Backyard Basketball '01 and Playground Productions funded?FundingThe known source of funding behind the game.
Updated: Jul 14, 2026Creative controlWho appears to retain creative control of the game.
The game uses the Backyard Sports property; the extent of outside IP-holder creative control is not established.
Updated: Jul 14, 2026Release statusWhether and how the game has been released.
The title released with a separate publisher relationship.

Media

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About the Game

HOOP DREAMING

Slip on those high tops and hit the courts with the first basketball game in the award-winning Backyard Sports Franchise, Backyard Basketball ‘01, now enhanced to run on Steam. 

The Backyard athletes are teaming up with the kid version of hoops legend Lisa Leslie in Backyard Basketball ‘01! Customize your uniform, pick your fab five, and get ready for four quarters of hoops! Play single games or a whole season. Track stats in Season play and create custom players to watch their skills improve over time!

HOOPS FOR EVERYONE

Ball like it’s 2001!

  • 30 Iconic Kid Athletes

  • 9 Unique Basketball Courts

  • Comical Power-ups

  • Hilarious Bloopers

  • Lively commentary from Sunny Day and Barry Dejay

THE GOAT

Backyard Basketball featured arguably the most iconic video game athlete of the 90s or any era - Pablo Sanchez. Play with the legend himself or choose your favorites and relive what made Backyard Basketball 2001 an award-winning classic. 

Game Modes include:

  • Pick-up Game: Instant play! The computer chooses a random team for you and itself and the game starts immediately.

  • Season Play: Pick your team name, uniform colors, and players to compete in the Backyard Basketball League. Manage the team through a basketball season for your chance to win the Championship!

We’re talking about practice! Hone those basketball skills while getting a feel for every court in practice mode! Then, it’s game time! Play a Pick-up Game or a Full Season with your favorite players.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

At our core, we are fans first – not just of video games, but of the Backyard Sports franchise. Fans have asked for accessible and legal ways to play their original Backyard titles for years, and we are excited to deliver.

Without having access to the source code, there are hard limitations on the experience we can create. As an example, we can’t use the original 32bit code to support modern macOS, as even with an incredibly clever wrapper, macOS can’t execute the binaries.

Backyard Basketball ‘01 runs well, looks better than ever, is stacked with Steam achievements to test your mettle, and creates a new installation for digital preservation within the Backyard Sports catalog that allows the next generation of fans to fall in love with the game.