The Complete Guide to Basketball Game Types and Variations

There’s sports, then there’s their sub-variations. You can make a mini game out of anything. You can make relay races and Tug of War out of football. You can do something like Jailbreak in baseball. And, in basketball, there’s plenty of games to play outside of the traditional 5-on-5.

Traditional Basketball Game Types

What makes these games so great isn’t just the change of pace they’ll bring. It’s the fact that they can really help your actual game and skillset. Each game we’ll go over has a fun twist to it, while also having aspects that work on skills like your concentration, shooting, defense, and more. 

5-on-5 Basketball

When you watch basketball on TV, you’re more than likely to see a game played 5-on-5. It wasn’t always like that, though, as the game created by James Naismith in 1891 had nine players on each side. Basketball’s now-default playing style was played for the first time in 1896 between the University of Chicago and the University of Iowa. Neither team was given a substitute. Try to imagine playing a 48-minute, high-intensity basketball game without a break. Yikes! 

Through dozens of rule and roster changes, 5-on-5 basketball is the game’s standard. The time in which each game is played might vary, but the flow is the same. Each team has five players with an available bench to substitute for a teams’ starters. Traditionally, your starting five would include a point guard, shooting guard, small forward, power forward, and a center. Each position holds their own strengths and weaknesses on both ends of the floor, but with the evolution in things like the modern-day NBA, some lineups look a bit different. Some teams might play with a “small ball” lineup, opting for a look built around speed, outside shooting, and playmaking. This might replace a traditional looking lineup with a tall center and forwards that pack the paint and are stout defensively, with more guards that might not be as efficient defensively against bigger opponents, but can score more effectively than a teams’ forwards and centers. 

3x3 Basketball

3-on-3 basketball, also commonly referenced as 3x3, has been played casually and recreationally for a while. In backyards, in driveways, in gym classes—anywhere. In terms of playing, it can be compared to 5-on-5, but 3x3 is played in a half-court setting. This brand of basketball, according to an IOC-commissioned study referenced by FIBA, is “already today the number one urban team sport in the world.” On the Olympic stage, 3-on-3 was added in June 2017 and debuted in Tokyo 2020.

When it comes to differences between 3x3 vs. 5-on-5, one of the biggest ones besides playing half court is the scoring. In full-court basketball, a shot inside the three-point arc counts as two points, while a shot outside of that arc counts as three. In most 3x3 professional competitions, a shot inside the arc counts as one point, while a shot made outside is two. In other professional leagues, they might have other scoring options like a four-point shot, as well as traditional 5-on-5 scoring formats. 

Another difference with 3x3 basketball is what people will play to. Recreationally, this is almost always up to whatever the majority of players agree on. Sometimes, a day at the park will consist of games played to 21. Other days, it might be 14. It’s whatever you and your fellow players agree on. FIBA games go to 21 points while playing in a 10-minute game. If the game goes to overtime with no team reaching 21 points in the given 10-minute timeframe, the game will go to overtime, with the first team scoring two points in the OT period winning.  

1-on-1 Basketball

You want to really challenge yourself and put all you’ve learned to the test? Go 1-on-1 with someone. Here, it’s just you vs. them, putting you in a situation where the only ways you can score and defend is, well, by you and nobody else. Typically, you’ll play to a score relevant to what you’d see in 3-on-3—with the point system being two for a shot made outside the arc and one point for a shot made inside. When fouled, there aren’t any free throws. Instead, whoever was fouled will retain possession. A 1-on-1 game is usually played to 11 or 14, with winner taking ball. This means that if you score, you’ll get the ball right back for another offensive possession. 

Popular Basketball Variations

There’s more that you can do besides playing in a full-court or half-court game setting. If you’re looking for a fun spin on basketball to play in gym class, the driveway, or the park, here’s a few that’ll give you a nice change of pace. 

HORSE

Horse is an absolute classic, this basketball game tangles creativity with skillset and allows you to play with however many players you’d like. To play, pick a player to begin the game. That player will get the opportunity to pick any kind of shot they’d like. It can be a floater, a reverse layup, a free throw—anything. They’ll get one chance to make it. If they make it, everyone else following will have a chance to replicate it once. If a player makes the replicated shot, they’re “safe.” If they miss, they’re penalized with a letter out of the word “horse.” Once a player has been penalized for all five letters, they’re out. You continue to play the game until there’s one player standing. A reminder here: If you’re the first player to shoot a shot to begin the game and you miss, there’s no penalty. Instead, the next player will have a chance to create their own shot that the group has to replicate if it goes in. Once a shot goes in and the group takes their rounds, the player who created the shot gets the ball back with a chance to make a new one. If they miss, the next player will get to create a shot. 

Knockout

Knockout is basketball game you’ll find in your gym class, Knockout is fast paced, putting you against everyone. There's not a specific number of players you’ll need, but it might be better to have more for this one (6+). For this, you’ll have everyone line up in a straight line beginning at the free throw line. The first two players in line will each have a basketball (we’ll call them Player A and Player B). Player A will shoot the ball, then Player B will shoot immediately after. If Player B makes a shot before Player A, Player A is eliminated. If Player A makes it first, they’ll pass the ball to the next player in line. If that player makes it before Player B, Player B is eliminated. So, if you make it before the player that begins in front of you, they’re eliminated. The game ends when there’s one left standing. 

Around the World

Think of Around the World as a mix of HORSE and Knockout. Here, there’s nine predetermined spots for which you’ll shoot the ball from. You’ll shoot from both low blocks, both short corners, both wings, both elbows, and the free throw line. The goal here is to, well, make it around the world, AKA go through each set station. The first player to do so wins. Once you determine the order in which your players will go, Player A will start at one of the low blocks.

When a player makes their shot, they will move on to the next spot. If they miss, they’ll have two options: You can “take a chance” and shoot from the spot again, but if you miss, you must start from the beginning when it’s your turn again. Or, you can forego the “take a chance” option and start at where you missed your shot when your next round comes. 

Here’s a scenario: Let’s say there’s three players. Player A makes three shots, uses a “take a chance” and misses. Player B then begins their turn from the first shot and ends up making all nine before Player C even gets a chance to go. It’s unfortunate for Player C, but in this case, the game’s over since Player B went Around the World. 

Twenty-One

This game is all about strategy. In 21, you’ll need at least two players, all in a half-court setting. Scoring is one point for a shot made within the arc, and two points for a shot made outside of it. Free throws are worth a point, and the game is played to, you guessed it, 21. The trick? If you go over 21 points, your total gets reset to 11, so be sure to keep track of yourself and think strategically. Start by selecting someone to take the ball first. That player will then attempt to score in any way they’d like. You’ll have someone defending them, looking to make a stop. If the offensive player scores, they then head to the free throw line and shoot until they miss. The only way you can get a change of possession is by grabbing a rebound off a miss, and you must “clear” the ball when you grab a defensive rebound, meaning you bring it back beyond the three-point line to start your possession. 

Here’s a scenario: Player A is on offense and Player B is defending. Player A makes a layup, giving them a point. They then make four free throws, giving them five total points. On the fifth attempt, they miss, and Player B gets the rebound. Player B must clear the ball, and Player A is now on defense.

Here’s where strategies can kick in, especially if you’re playing with more than two people. Some players may opt to play “soft” on defense, meaning they’re more willing to try and let the offensive player have a chance to score, banking on them missing, thus being in a better position for a defensive rebound and a change of possession. Other times, you might get multiple people playing defense on the person with the ball, really trying to give them little to no room to make a shot and cause a turnover. 

What These Basketball Games Focus On

Here’s a quick look at what each of these game types focus on in terms of court recommendations, scoring types, objectives, player requirements, and who/what they’re ideal for.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What gear do I need for different basketball games? 

A: Ideally, you’ll have a pair of basketball shoes, sweat-wicking clothes, and a ball that’s specifically made for where you’re playing (indoor or outdoor). Your shoes should have great traction, soft cushioning, and both arch and ankle support. Sweat-wicking clothes are important so that you’re keeping cool and comfortable when the competition gets hot. And, the basketball you use is vital to your experience. Indoor and outdoor basketballs are usually made of different materials, as outdoor ones must be durable enough to take the constant pounding on the concrete and indoor ones come premium for the best authentic experience. 

Q: What are the best shoes for outdoor or street basketball? 

A: When looking for a shoe primarily used for outdoor play, try and find something that has plenty of traction to fight back on tough court surfaces and breathable uppers that can keep your feet cool under the hot sun on a blacktop.  

Q: What basketball games can I play with just two people? 

A: Out of the games listed above, you can play HORSE, Around the World, and obviously 1-on-1 with two players only. A game of HORSE or Around the World might not last as long as one with more players, and you can attempt to give a game of 21 a try with just to players. At this point, it’s practically a game of 1-on-1 with the addition of free throws, but it could still be a fun little twist.