When it comes to realistically-rendered basketball games on mobile, few titles come close to the realism offered by World Basketball King. The game has not done away with the simple 'swipe upwards to shoot controls', but instead cranked the physics to a new degree. It’s almost like you’re playing the physical arcade basketball shooter, but with a mobile phone in hand.

Basketball scoring matches are a 1-on-1 affair. You’ll always be pitted against another player. Like what you’d expect of these ball shooting sprees, score as high as you can before the time ends. Each match costs Gold. Winning against another virtual baller doubles the currency you’ve used to play, and losing a match means you end the game empty-handed. You can never have too much Gold in this game. You’d be starting out with little of it, so you’ll most likely stay on the lowest entry fee matches for some time until you can get enough to enter the bigger ticket bouts. Gold also unlocks new Challenges and mini-games, so consider committing a fraction of your stash to get more out of this app.

Gameplay is set like your everyday arcade ball machine. You get 4 balls that you’ll grab and shoot to the hoop with. This isn’t like other titles where the basketball appears and is ready to make arcs. Balls must be picked up and you need a precise swipe to pop them through the rim. Expect added challenges when you reach the second half of your game timer. The ring will move around, making shots slightly more challenging.

There’s another currency you might want to pay attention to: Diamonds. You can earn these by playing certain games, watching ads, or through in-app purchases. There are special upgrades only possible with Diamonds. You get more basketballs, more post-match Gold rewards, and a larger hoop to crank up your scoring in matches.

In conclusion, World Basketball King delivers a new dynamic to a tried and tested mobile basketball format.