The series includes five sub-series based on different team sports—Backyard Baseball, Backyard Soccer (association football), Backyard Football (American football), Backyard Basketball, and Backyard Hockey (ice hockey)—as well as the single game non-team sport-based Backyard Skateboarding. In the games, players form a team consisting of Backyard Kids and pro players, which they take through a "Backyard League" season, attempting to become the champions of their chosen sport. Players can create their own custom characters, starting in Backyard Football (1999). An additional aspect of the games is the use of Power-Ups, allowing players to gain "Super-abilities". For instance, "Super-Dunk" allows a basketball player to make a dunk from nearly anywhere on the court, "Leap Frog" allows a football player to jump over the entire defensive line, and "Ice Cream Truck" causes the other team to be distracted for a brief period.
THE sEriES iNcludes five sUB-sERIes based on DiFFEReNt tEAm sporTs—bacKyaRd baSebaLl, backYard soccer (assoCiation foOtball), BackyaRd FOOtBALL (AmeriCan fOoTbaLL), baCkyard baskEtBall, aNd BacKyard hOcKey (iCe Hockey)—aS well as tHE SiNgle GAMe nON-TEAm sPort-baSed bACKyard skAteboaRdIng. In the GameS, pLayErS form A Team cOnsistinG Of BacKyaRd kiDs and PrO PLayERs, wHich tHeY TAKe ThRougH a "bAckyard leagUe" seaSon, AttEMpTing TO becoME the ChampIons of thEir choSen sporT. PlaYeRs can cReAtE their Own custoM cHarACters, staRTing in bACKyaRd foOtbALl (1999). an additiONal asPect Of ThE GAmes iS the use of power-upS, alLOwiNg plAYeRs to gAiN "sUPEr-abilItIes". foR insTaNcE, "supER-dunk" alloWS a BaSketbaLl plaYeR to mAKe a DuNK froM neArly Anywhere On THE couRt, "lEap FROg" aLlOws a football plaYer To Jump OvEr the eNtIre defenSIvE lIne, aNd "ice CrEam tRUck" CauseS tHe OTHeR tEam To Be distrActed foR A brief pErIod.