Playing sports is always fun, but sometimes you don’t have the skill to compete.
Thankfully, video games are here to save the day. Just because we can’t cut it on the field doesn’t mean we can’t dominate virtually.
From Madden to the NHL, these are the best sports games of all time.
EA Sports College Football 25
The wait was well worth it.
EA Sports College Football is a triumphant return of everything we knew and loved from the old NCAA Football games.
134 teams, 134 stadiums, the wide-open playbooks college football is known for, and the ability to take a low-level school to a national powerhouse. It’s all here and better than before. Best of all, it’s just getting started.
NFL 2K5
Now that College Football is back, can we bring back the NFL 2K series?
NFL 2K5 combined ESPN licensing with an affordable $19.99 price tag to deliver an authentic NFL television experience on your PS2 or Xbox.
The game understood that at the end of the day, football games are supposed to be fun, and that’s what NFL 2K5 is: a seriously good football simulation experience that isn’t afraid to be as over-the-top as possible.
Madden NFL 2005
Madden is the only game in town today, which is unfortunate because the series arguably peaked when it faced stiff competition from NFL 2K5.
Madden NFL 2005 introduced the Hit Stick, allowing players to deliver devastating tackles while playing defense. Combined with reworked animations and an impressive soundtrack, it’s easy to see why this was the peak of Madden.
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NHL 94
There’s just something about hockey that makes it such an attractive sport for video games. It’s the non-stop action, the hits, and the skill shots.
All of these elements, combined with an excellent presentation for its era on the Sega Genesis and Super Nintendo, deliver NHL 94, the greatest hockey game ever made.
NBA Jam
Not every sports game needs to be an accurate representation of the real-life sport. Sometimes, you need to deliver a larger-than-life, over-the-top arcade style game.
Enter NBA Jam, featuring 2-on-2 basketball played in an arcade style. From crazy dunks, fast-paced gameplay, and iconic one-liners, NBA Jam remains one of the most popular sports arcade games even today.
It’s just a shame Michael Jordan never officially appeared in any of the NBA Jam games.
NFL Blitz
It’s impossible to talk about NBA Jam without bringing up its NFL counterpart, NFL Blitz.
NFL Blitz is an arcade style NFL game featuring fast-paced 7-on-7 gameplay. Forget 1st and 10; you need 30 yards for a first down. Oh, and there are no penalties, so expect defenders to absolutely light up your receivers while they’re running routes.
Don’t worry, though; there’s still ample room for big plays and deep passes.
Tecmo Bowl
While it’s not straight-up arcade football, Tecmo Bowl is a fast-paced version of the real deal.
The game is a huge improvement over other football games on the market at the time.
And yes, Bo Jackson is cheating.
Mike Tyson’s Punch-Out!!
An adaptation for the NES of the popular 1984 arcade Punch-Out!! games, Mike Tyson’s Punch-Out!! brings world heavyweight champion Mike Tyson to the formula.
Everything you remember from the Punch-Out!! games are still here, just more refined and polished. Its gameplay remains as addictive as ever, with the added twist of Tyson as the final boss.
Good luck beating him, by the way.
Backyard Baseball
1997’s Backyard Baseball may have been developed with children in mind, but its simple gameplay remains timeless today.
It may not have the same depth as traditional baseball simulation experiences like MVP Baseball or MLB The Show. Still, Backyardball taps into our nostalgia of playing baseball in, well, our backyards.
Long live Pablo Schanez, the greatest baseball player who ever lived.
Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 1+2 HD
It’s hard to pick between either of the first two Tony Hawk games, so why not go with their recent HD remaster?
Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 1+2 HD is the perfect way to play these games. Not just because of the updated visuals but because it controls better than ever before.
Plus, how can we not mention the soundtrack featuring the same classic songs you remember alongside new hits?
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