The original title was released on Microsoft Windows on 10 November 2000, with a sequel entitled Cue Club 2 arriving on 4 July 2014, on the same platform.

A loss usually involves a reduction in reputation, making it more difficult to get matches in the future, forcing the player to challenge lower-ranked opponents.

After all of the 'boss' characters have been individually defeated and the Cue Club Tournament has been won, the game is officially completed and an end-game sequence is played.

Despite embracing a simple top-down view of the table, reviewers often cited the game's accurate physics engine, realistic graphics and high degree of playability as its key strengths.

[1][2] PC Gamer magazine were less impressed, scoring it at 60%, saying, "Despite its other graphical jiggling and poking, that fixed, flat view makes it feel like an 'Internet game'.

"[3] Cue Club 2 expands significantly upon the original game, and has received continual updates since launch, including an online multiplayer mode, the addition of a first-person camera with 3-dimensional (3D) tables and bars, a wide selection of larger table sizes, and an expanded range of achievements.

The game is set in a fictional club featuring a range of themed bars and theatre venues, and each is host to a selection of unique opponents of varying difficulty.

Upon starting the game for the first time the player is required to sign in by entering their name, after which they are given a membership card to access the Basement Bar.

The first is to complete the Bar Challenge, where the player chooses the game rules in each match and aims to progress through the stages by beating computer-controlled opponents one by one.

Since matches can potentially take a long time to complete, games may be saved at any point and resumed later using one of the numerous save-game slots.