Lingxi Games launches Basketball Girl public beta on China App Store

Lingxi Games launched the official public beta for its anime basketball title Basketball Girl: Leap to the Peak on October 23, capturing the top spot on China’s App Store free games chart on its debut day, financial media reports showed. Developed by the Black Mamba Studio, the release pairs high school sports management with an official National Basketball Association licensing collaboration.

Climbing the App Store Charts and Securing NBA Licensing

By the morning of October 26, third-party tracking data placed the game at number eight on the iOS grossing chart for games in mainland China. The initial momentum stems from a cross-promotion strategy featuring NBA-themed avatar frames and all-star jerseys tied to sharing activities and launch tasks. Alongside the licensing partnership, Lingxi Games rolled out a promotion promising up to 200 draws through initial training plans, seven-day login rewards, and guaranteed SSR characters within the first 30 recruitment attempts.

Basketball Girl Focuses on Managing Player Growth

Rather than offering direct arcade-style control over dribbling and shooting like the NBA 2K franchise, Basketball Girl casts players as the head coach of the North Sky Hill Girls’ High School basketball team. The core gameplay focuses on managing player growth after a regional tournament defeat, guiding athletes through more than 300 randomized events across training schedules, daily routines, and team challenges. Players select one core player and four supporting members per training cycle, balancing physical conditioning, shooting accuracy, defensive drills, and tactical awareness across six core attributes.

Automated Simulations Divide Early Player Reactions

Match execution relies on automated simulations and manual tactical commands issued during offensive and defensive possessions, placing the strategic weight on roster composition and pre-match training routes rather than real-time twitch reflexes. Early player reactions on community platforms such as TapTap highlight a division between fans enjoying the character progression loops—frequently drawing comparisons to titles like Umamusume: Pretty Derby—and those desiring deeper artificial intelligence pathfinding during matches or more direct control over on-court actions. Resource management also shapes the experience, as standard recruitment tickets remain segregated from advanced and limited-edition banners like the “Mountain Star” wishing pool.

Expanding Lingxi Games Beyond Traditional Strategy Titles

While historical war titles rely heavily on seasonal multiplayer conflict and large-scale alliances, Basketball Girl leans into character affinity and iterative sports simulation.