Play Mario Basketball - 3 On 3 (J) Online

Mario Basketball - 3 On 3 came out for the Nintendo DS in 2006, developed by Square Enix. It was one of those quirky sports spinoffs that felt right at home on the DS, using the touch screen in ways that made it stand out from other handheld basketball games at the time.

You control a team of three Mario characters, dribbling and shooting by sliding or tapping the stylus on the lower screen. The main goal is to outscore your opponent, but things get wild with special moves and court hazards like banana peels or item boxes that can turn the game around instantly. Matches are fast and a little chaotic, with the difficulty spiking noticeably in later cups. It feels like a mix of arcade basketball and Mario Party, especially when you’re trying to pull off a trick shot while dodging a red shell.