NBA Jam is a 2-on-2 basketball game with a unique art style. In the game, the bodies take on a 3D look, while their heads take on a 2D look, which have realistic digitized likenesses.
The game retains its usual exaggerated nature of play - players jump many times their own height, making slam dunks that defy both human capabilities and the laws of physics. There are no fouls, free throws, or violations except defensive goaltending and shot clock violations. This means the player is able to freely shove or elbow his opponent out of the way. Additionally, the game has an "on fire" feature, where if one player makes three baskets in a row, he becomes "on fire" and has unlimited turbo, no goaltending, and increased shooting ability, until the other team scores (or the player has scored nine consecutive baskets while "on fire").
Some new features in NBA Jam include Campaign, which has 1-on-1 boss battles; Elimination, which includes up to four players and the player with the lowest number of points is the loser; 21, which is a 1-on-1 match where the first one to get 21 points is the winner; and Domination.
The game is filled with Easter eggs, special features and players activated by initials or button/joystick combinations. For example, players can enter special codes to unlock hidden players. Some characters can only be unlocked by completing certain challenges.