Hoop Land, the latest from pixel sports game devs Koality Games, opens up beta for testers

Indie developer Koality Games, developers of the Prizefighters series and Ice League Hockey, have announced their next project: a basketball arcade game titled Hoop Land. Koality Games have always had some unique sports games coming out, never full-on simulation titles but instead some arcadey and fun variants of them, and Hoop Land looks to continue that trend.

The best way to get a quick grasp of what to expect from Hoop Land is by thinking of it as something like the NBA games, but with an arcadey and less serious makeover. It’s similar in the fact that it takes place from a semi-side semi-top down view of the court, and it is basketball at its core, but Hoop Land does away with the realism of the teams and all that in exchange for some honest casual fun.

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Graphically speaking alone, it’s clear what vibe Hoop Land is going for. It’s got a pixelated 2D style with some lovely retro sounds backing the score, and it makes for a game that reminds of the old NES sports games like Tecmo Bowl or something similar.

Now, while the gameplay is just basketball, it’s likely that Koality Games has a few tricks up their sleeves, as their other sports games have never been so simple. There are usually many different game modes that freshen up the experience alongside some really good incentives to keep playing, be it with unlocks or progression systems.

Regardless, if you want a less serious take on a sports sim and something you can casually digest without trying your hardest, you should absolutely keep your eyes on this one.

In fact, if you’d like to get a headstart and try it out, you can currently download the beta on Google Play or hit up the Apple Testflight for an early look at what Hoop Land will be like!