A fan-made Pokemon basketball game is giving players the chance to draft their favorite creatures, play full-court 5-on-5 matches and build a franchise across multiple seasons.
Poke Jam is a free browser game created by developer KungFuDOOM, who announced that the project went live on October 26 after being built in just over a week. The game currently includes Quick Play and Franchise modes, with online multiplayer planned for a future update.
The live roster includes 291 Pokemon, with every Pokemon from Generations 1 and 2 alongside selected favorites from later games. Players can browse each Pokemon’s overall rating, position, shooting, passing, defense, stamina, size and evolution path.
Poke Jam brings Pokemon to the basketball court
Poke Jam combines NBA 2K-style player ratings with the fast-paced action of NBA Jam. In Quick Play, players draft five Pokemon against a Gym Leader or member of the Elite Four before choosing a court and playing an arcade-style game.
Matches include a shot meter, turbo, dunks, alley-oops, steals, blocks and physical shoves. Pokemon also have special moves based on their types. Fire and Dragon types can instantly catch fire, while Psychic, Fairy and Steel types can guarantee their next shot. Ghost, Dark and Poison Pokemon can temporarily become immune to steals, blocks and shoves.
The game also uses Pokemon type matchups during physical interactions. A Normal-type Pokemon cannot shove a Ghost-type opponent, while super-effective attacks can knock opponents down for longer.
Players can access Poke Jam with a keyboard, gamepad or touchscreen. The game runs directly in a browser and does not require a download.
Franchise mode features seasons, badges and evolutions
The deeper Franchise mode allows players to draft 10 Pokemon, including five starters and five bench players, before entering a nine-week season against the eight Kanto Gym Leaders and the Elite Four.
Each week features a new opponent, with players able to play or simulate their games. The season ends with playoffs, awards and a championship game. Winning teams earn badges, while Pokemon gain experience, level up and evolve over time.
The mode also includes stamina management, injuries, trades, free agency and a rookie draft. Tired starters can be replaced by bench players, while hard falls and collisions can leave Pokemon injured for multiple weeks.
Evolution gives weaker early picks a chance to become stars. Charmander can eventually become Charizard, Magikarp can evolve into Gyarados and Larvitar can grow into Tyranitar during a franchise run.
There is also a Season Draft mode for players who would rather manage a team than play every possession. The game simulates an entire season, then gives the player a record, grade and Player of the Season.
Poke Jam is described as an unofficial, non-commercial fan project and is not affiliated with Nintendo, Game Freak or The Pokemon Company.
