This is a list of ball games which are popular games or sports involving some type of ball or similar object. Ball sports are not sports in the true sense, but are instead considered to be games. These ball games can be grouped by the general objective of the game, sometimes indicating a common origin either of a game itself or of its basic idea:

• Bat-and-ball games, such as baseball and cricket.
• Racquet and ball games, such as tennis, squash and racquetball.
• Hand and ball-striking games, such as various handball codes, rebound handball and 4 square.
• Goal games, such as basketball and all forms of football or lacrosse.
• Net games, such as volleyball and sepak takraw.
• "Target" games, such as bowling and lotball.