There's a good chance you own one of the Backyard Sports games somewhere in your collection; the series was arguably at its peak on platforms like the Game Boy Advance, but there were multiple entries on the PS2 – and Backyard Soccer even launched on the PS1 all the way back in 2001.
In the rare instance you're not familiar with the series, though, it was a line of arcade sports games which featured a cast of reoccurring original characters, and sometimes paired them with "kid" versions of real-world superstars, such as Kevin Garnett or Tom Brady. There were multiple different editions, including Backyard Baseball, Backyard Basketball, Backyard Football, and Backyard Hockey.
Earlier this year, retired NFL center Jason Kelce revived public interest in the franchise by sharing his memories of the originals on his New Heights podcast. And now, the series is on the cusp of a multimedia comeback, which will include not only new games but also movies, animated television shows, comic books, and more.
"Backyard Sports is more than just a game, it's a cherished part of childhood for millions of people," series creator and Playground Productions CEO Lindsay Barnett said in a statement, as reported by Sports Illustrated. "I look at media as the largest classroom in the world. As such, our goal is to produce meaningful content that not only entertains but also educates and inspires. The return of Backyard Sports is the perfect embodiment of that goal."
The new games will capture the look and feel of the originals, so you can expect a Saturday morning cartoon-inspired art style, as glimpsed in the concept trailer embedded above. "We're taking great care to preserve the look and feel that made the original games so special while updating them with modern features and gameplay that today's audience expects," chief product officer Chris Waters added. "I can't wait for fans to see what we're building on the Playground."
A new official website, BackyardSports.com, looks like it's jumped right out of the 90s – with large, colorful icons and tons of interactive elements. Unfortunately, there's no word on exactly which sports will be launching first and when, although baseball is looking most likely. A 40-minute video based on the 1997 version of Backyard Baseball showcases the 30 non-licensed players included in the original game. Many of these would return for future iterations.
Do you have fond memories of the Backyard Sports series, and which entry was your personal favorite? Feel all nostalgic in the comments section below.
