Since the Nintendo Entertainment System (NES) days, badminton PC games have come a long way. It’s possible to enjoy a game of badminton as a standalone PC installation via your internet browser or even in the realm of VR.
There are free-to-play options and those with a more arcade feel. Of course, if you want an ultra-realistic badminton experience, you can opt for a VR experience!
7 Best badminton games on PC:
- All-In-One Sports VR
- Badminton Kings VR
- Space Badminton VR
- Stick Figure Badminton 3
- Badminton Warrior
- High Clear VR
- Power Badminton
1. All-In-One Sports VR
All-In-One Sports VR has ultra-realistic badminton gameplay where the angle at which you hit the shuttlecock and the amount of force you apply will affect the trajectory. The creators of this game are APPNORI Inc., and it’s available through App Lab and Steam.
Players get to customize their avatars before jumping into a badminton match. You use both your hands to play, using your left hand to throw the ball in the air when you serve and your right hand to swing your racket.
The game has a singleplayer mode where you can choose the difficulty of your AI opponent, or you can jump into multiplayer and dominate your friends! The graphics and playing surface are immersive, and the game plays at a stable frame rate of around 60 frames per second.
Pros
- Provides a realistic experience
- Appealing graphics
- Stable frame rate
- Multiple games in one
Cons
- Has a steep learning curve
- Requires a VR headset
2. Badminton Kings VR
Badminton Kings VR is another badminton PC game that focuses on delivering an authentic experience. The creators and publishers of the game are APPNORI Inc., and it’s available on Steam.
You can expect realistic physics and smooth and fluid movements that can make you forget you’re on a virtual court.
The UI is user-friendly, with straightforward and easy-to-learn controls, allowing even new players to jump and have fun from the moment they start.
You can expect some advanced AI opponents, but fortunately, the developers divided them into five difficulties. As such, new players don’t need to feel overwhelmed and can enjoy the game at their own pace, while advanced players can push their skills to the limit.
The game uses basic badminton rules, meaning you won’t have any issues mastering your virtual court if you’re familiar with badminton.
It’s also optimized to work with the Vive racket and tracker, so if you’re at home and have a set, it will enhance your gameplay experience further.
Pros
- Authentic badminton experience
- Realistic graphics
- Easy to learn
- Beginner friendly
Cons
- Requires a VR headset
3. Space Badminton VR
Space Badminton VR allows players to face off against a skilled AI opponent in outer space. This game is not realistic despite being a VR title; instead, it leans more toward an arcade game. Shashitha Kularatna developed and published the game, and it’s available on Steam.
Since the game occurs in space, gravity affects the ball’s trajectory, which will often travel much higher than in traditional games. However, for this reason, the developer also included a mechanic akin to a jet booster pack to launch you high into the air to reach the ball.
The game allows you to play against a single AI opponent, and you can set its difficulty to beginner or professional. The AI is also pretty advanced, predicting your shots and performing its own jumping-power shots to gain the advantage.
Pros
- Fun gameplay with gravity
- Interesting graphics
- Good space immersion
- Easy to learn
Cons
- Requires a VR headset
- A little bit of content
- Not realistic badminton experience
4. Stick Figure Badminton 3
Stick Figure Badminton 3 is a casual approach to badminton where players choose between several stick figures with unique strengths and weaknesses. The developers of the game are Effing Games, and it’s available for free via your browser at crazygames.
The game has a singleplayer mode where you face off against AI opponents, or you can choose to play multiplayer on the same keyboard. You play the game using a WASD key layout and spacebar to swing your racket.
There’s no real depth to the game, and you can expect to play more challenging opponents as you advance through the ranks. However, it’s great fun and will test your ability to predict shots accurately.
Pros
- Simple, fun gameplay
- Easy to learn
- Playable anywhere with an internet connection
Cons
- Not a lot of depth
- Few customization options
5. Badminton Warrior
Badminton Warrior is unlike other badminton PC games in that it plays more like a 2D sidescrolling platformer adventure game. The developer and publisher are Milpitians, and it’s available on Steam.
Throughout your playthrough, you’ll encounter enemies that attack you with projectile-style attacks, and you’ll need to time their attacks and hit it back at them to defeat them.
At times you’ll have two or three enemies simultaneously, so you need to have your timing down properly while hitting the projectiles back at the correct angle. You can also expect to fight bosses at the end of every level.
The game is third-person, and you can jump to hit projectiles or dodge enemies’ attacks. Overall, the game is straightforward and doesn’t take itself seriously to provide a casual 2D badminton experience.
Pros
- Straightforward to pickup
- Demo version available
- Challenging difficulty
- Pleasant cartoon-like graphics
Cons
- Basic gameplay
- Few customization options
6. High Clear VR
High Clear VR aims to provide an authentic badminton experience inseparable from a real court. The developer and publisher are FiveStarGames, and the game is available on Steam.
The game represents accurate shots, and the ball’s trajectory will remain true according to your hit angle and power behind your shot.
If you play for a while and need a break, there are several mini-games to enjoy. For instance, you can hone your accuracy by whacking bees back into their hives or test your reaction by hitting a flying football to hit moving targets.
The game follows the standard badminton ruleset, so getting into the action doesn’t take long.
Pros
- Realistic badminton gameplay
- A lot of content
- Beginner friendly
- Immersive graphics
Cons
- Requires a VR headset
- Few customization options
- May be a problem if you quickly get motion sickness
7. Power Badminton
Power Badminton is a sidescrolling game accessible via your internet browser. Its developer is MarketJS, and it is playable for free on crazygames, gameflare, and poki.
Players face off against AI opponents that become progressively more challenging. Pick a 2D character, and jump straight into a match. You can move your character from side to side to adjust for the incoming shuttlecock from the opponent.
You can choose to play Training Mode or hop into Match mode. Players also get a power boost feature usable during the match if they need a little extra boost to guarantee their win.
Pros
- Enough interaction to remain fun for long
- Easily accessible via your internet browser
- Beginner friendly
Cons
- Requires a VR headset
- Few customization options
- More arcade feel than realistic
Our Top Picks
Badminton Kings VR offers a hyper-realistic badminton feel that’s hard to beat if you want something as close to the real thing. Your shots feel accurate, and the audience and graphics make the game immersive.
Badminton Warrior is an excellent pick if you’re leaning toward an arcade feel with power shots but still want to have fun.
Power Badminton is ideal for skipping preparation and price tags and jumping straight into a competitive badminton experience.