Whether you’re putting on the green against Tiger Woods or scoring a goal as Cristiano Ronaldo, sports video games tick all the boxes when it comes to world-class virtual entertainment. As a sports fan, it’s about as close as you can get to the action and the glory, so it’s no wonder this genre is one of the most sought-after and talked-about within the video gaming market.
Are you taking a break from online casino games and interested to know more about the best sports video games ever made, all deserving of a place on your growing list of must-plays? Then check out our round-up (in no particular order) of the eight best titles ever released, along with a quick look at some of the very first sports-themed video games that set the tone for all other titles to follow (including various esports games.)
The world’s first sports video games
Created in 1958 by William Higinbotham, Tennis for Two was one of the first video games ever made and was played on an oscilloscope. As simple as it was, the game opened the door for many future sport-focused video games, bringing us thousands of incredible titles. The first commercially successful sport-themed video game was called Pong, released as an arcade video game in 1972. It spawned countless variants and it wasn’t until the 1980s that new, successful video games revolving around sports were released and sparked the industry’s “golden age.”
Some of the most popular early titles included Intellivision World Series Baseball, Daley Thompson’s Decathlon and Dr. J and Larry Bird Go One on One.
How to choose a great sports-themed video game
Before you dive into our list of the best video games inspired by sports below, it’s a good idea to investigate what to look for when choosing a new game to play. So, what makes a sports video game a “must-play?” What makes it stand out from the rest? There are a few aspects to consider.
Firstly, you’ll probably want to scope out a title that allows you to play as, with, or against well-known, recognizable players and teams. This helps to bring the game to life and gives it a strong sense of familiarity. Secondly, you’ll want to choose a video game designed around a sport that you already enjoy watching or playing. That way, the “fun factor” is already built in! Finally, pay close attention to the graphics, soundtrack and unique features of each game, all of which can impact how enjoyable you’re likely to find it.
It’s also always a great idea to explore game reviews and to chat to other sports fans and gamers about the video games they’ve loved and would recommend. Of course, keep an eye open for sequels to your go-to video game titles. After all, if you enjoyed playing the original, it’s almost guaranteed you’ll enjoy its follow-up and the various upgrades that come with it.
Without further ado, here are some of our favorites that we’re sure will make a positive impression and lead to hours of gaming fun.
1. NBA Jam
Sport: Basketball
Platform: Multiple
Popularity Rating: 8/10
Gameplay Rating: 7/10
For those interested in a simulated or realistic basketball game, you’re not going to find it in NBA Jam. This basketball video game from publisher Midway definitely emphasizes fun over realism, but because it does, it ends up being a blast!
This great title may feature NBA heavyweights, but the gameplay is designed around the two-on-two format, not the five-on-five standard played in the NBA. Gamers will also immediately notice how over-the-top it is, with players flying through the air to perform slam dunks, fouls being completely acceptable and players becoming superpowered if they’re able to land three baskets in a row! It just shows that a sports-themed game doesn’t have to be completely faithful to the original sport to provide a fantastic experience!
NBA Jam would go on to spawn more than 10 sequels, a testament to how popular the franchise once was.
2. Punch-Out
Sport: Boxing
Platform: NES
Popularity Rating: 10/10
Gameplay Rating: 8.5/10
If you like to play slots online and other online casino games because of their simplicity, you can’t go wrong with Punch-Out (also known as Mike Tyson’s Punch-Out). This boxing game was published, developed and released by Nintendo in 1987 on the original Nintendo Entertainment System (NES,) after the success of its arcade predecessor.
While there have undoubtedly been many more advanced boxing games, both with regard to graphics and gameplay mechanics, what makes this 2D retro boxing title so appealing is how easy it is to pick up and play. Where other similar titles have tried all sorts of tricks with the controller to recreate the feel of throwing a punch, Punch-Out keeps it simple. Just time your attacks and defensive moves correctly with simple button presses and you’ll wear your opponent’s health down and knock them out before they do the same to you!
3. F1 2020
Sport: Formula One
Platform: Multiple
Popularity Rating: 7/10
Gameplay Rating: 8/10
Can’t get enough car or racing-themed online slot machines or motorsports betting? Then you’re probably a die-hard Formula One fan and you’ll know very well that it just doesn’t get better than F1 2020. This series of games has been developed by Codemasters and its latest official F1 title has wowed many fans who were already impressed by the level of quality offered by F1 2019.
The 2020 version of the game provides players with great new features. These are a 10-year career mode, a “My Team” mode, which allows you to build your own team from scratch, and a split-screen option, which was sadly lacking in F1 2019. As expected, the graphics and sound have also been taken up a notch, providing players with an even more realistic experience. The only way players can get more “real” than what this title has to offer is by getting into the seat of a race car themselves!
4. Tiger Woods PGA Tour 2004
Sport: Golf
Platform: Multiple
Popularity Rating: 6.5/10
Gameplay Rating: 8/10
Tiger Woods’ professional career may have been going through a bit of a slump in recent years, but in the early 2000s, this golfing prodigy was riding high. If you were a fan at the time, you also got to enjoy the best golf video-game experience in the form of Tiger Woods PGA Tour 2004. Developed and published by Electronic Arts, this is another game more focused on fun than realism.
One of the main features that helps elevate it above its competitors is that it was the first game to introduce a custom golfer. The game offers a massive variety of options to create your own avatar, which was unheard of for other golf games at the time. It also captures an incredible element of fun with victory dances, which are also customizable.
This title takes a step away from the tone of traditional golf games by including artists such as DMX, Automatic Black and The Revolution Smile on the soundtrack. If it wasn’t clear before, DMX’s hit, Party Up, reminds you that this is a golf game that doesn’t take itself too seriously.
5. UFC Undisputed 3
Sport: MMA
Platform: PlayStation 3/Xbox 360
Popularity Rating: 8/10
Gameplay Rating: 8.5/10
The third title in the official UFC Undisputed series was released to much acclaim by fans in 2012, but despite its positive reception, the license was sold to EA, bringing an end to this iconic series of mixed martial arts games. Although the company that sold the license, THQ, closed, fans have this great MMA game to play and enjoy for good (if they still own a working PlayStation 3 or Xbox 360, that is.)
This series focused on accuracy and the final game brought a number of welcome features into the mix, including two-controller systems (to appeal to more casual players as well as hardcore simulation fans), a new stamina system, leg-kick TKOs (technical knockouts), new ground positions and even new venues for players to fight in.
6. Madden NFL 2010
Sport: NFL
Platform: Multiple
Popularity Rating: 6.5/10
Gameplay Rating: 7.5/10
The Madden series of games is home to almost 40 NFL games, so it wasn’t easy picking the best of the bunch. Where Madden NFL 2010 stands out for us among all the other titles is the massive leap forward it took in terms of graphics and animation – thanks to its move onto the latest PlayStation and Xbox consoles, as well as the introduction of animation technology. The stand-out features include:
- Team appearance customization
- Extra camera angles to create an even more realistic broadcast experience
- A fumble mini-game
- More realistic momentum system
- Slower game speed to enhance the realistic atmosphere.
This incredible attention to detail may seem standard in many of today’s Madden games, but it helped elevate this game at the time it was released.
7. FIFA 10
Sport: Soccer
Platform: Multiple
Popularity Rating: 10/10
Gameplay Rating: 9/10
You can’t have a list of sports games without mentioning FIFA. Much like Madden, this soccer video game franchise has existed for decades, with 29 titles released under the FIFA brand! Unlike NFL games, however, there are many more competitors for the best soccer title, including two other powerhouse franchises, Pro Evolution Soccer and Football Manager, making this choice an incredibly tough one.
In the end, we settled on this particular FIFA title for a number of reasons. These include:
- A completely revamped Manager Mode
- The Virtual Pro feature, which allows you to create your own custom footballer
- Faster, smoother gameplay
- Completely free movement, compared to the old eight-direction dribbling system
- Increased physicality between players on the field, with greater interactions between characters, depending on their size.
Again, while some of these features may seem standard today, they helped make FIFA 10 an excellent soccer experience, which is probably why it’s the highest-review-scoring FIFA game on Metacritic, at 91%.
8. Wii Sports
Sport: Tennis
Platform: Nintendo Wii
Popularity Rating: 7.5/10
Gameplay Rating: 7.5/10
The Nintendo Wii took the world by storm due to its innovative game controller, relatively low cost and inclusion of its most undeniably popular game, Wii Sports. Wii Sports may feature many different sports games, including baseball, bowling and golf, but it was one specific mini-game that captured our attention: Wii Tennis.
Wii Tennis was a part of the Wii Sports experience that got people who didn’t even play video games interested in gaming, primarily thanks to the system’s groundbreaking (at the time) controller, which could be held like a TV remote and swung around, just like a tennis racquet! Yes, the game controlled the movement of your on-screen character so that you only had to focus on the swing, but the fact that it tracked your motions reasonably accurately and helped you work up a bit of a sweat took this experience from what would have been mediocre to something truly special.
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