Sports video games have been around since before the first consoles hit the shelves or arcades flung open their doors. You’d have to go back to 1958 to find the first-ever sports game. While Tennis for Two might have been basic, it set the tone for the first wave of sports-related video games, in an age where ball-and-paddle titles dominated. It wouldn’t be until the 1980s and the height of the arcade era that sports video games would come into their own. Before the decade was out, the likes of baseball, American football and wrestling had all been recreated in video game form.
While these arcade games might trigger a twinge of nostalgia today, they’re unlikely to make anyone’s top ten list. The sporting world has inspired thousands of video games over the past few decades, with many franchises spawning titles that are regularly heralded as some of the greatest games ever created. But which titles stand head and shoulders above the rest? Read on for our pick of the five best sports video games of all time.
5. FIFA 15
EA’s FIFA series has always done well critically and commercially. However, it was FIFA 15 that cemented this franchise as an all-time great. Despite the first game in the series debuting in 1993, it wouldn’t be until 2014 that EA managed to secure Premier League licensing. This savvy manoeuvre meant that EA was finally free to recreate every European football ground in virtual form. Combined with significant upgrades to graphics and gameplay, it's no surprise that this game remains a favourite with fans.
In 2023, the franchise underwent a rebrand, with new games released under the EA Sports FC banner. Were you one of the many gamers who thought EA Sports FC 24 failed to match the highs of previous releases? The good news is that you don’t have to look far to find great football games. Soccer Striker can be found at many top online slot platforms and is recognised as one of the best soccer titles available nowadays.
4. Tiger Woods PGA Tour 04
PGA Tour was a successful enough franchise for EA Sports during the 1990s. However, it wasn’t until 1998 that the long-running series stepped out of the shadow of other golfing games when EA enlisted Tiger Woods. For 15 years, Woods would remain the face of the franchise, with Tiger Woods PGA Tour 04 often considered the best of the bunch. While the gameplay itself wasn’t a world apart from its predecessors, the 2004 edition did feature some innovative upgrades. Along with the addition of new courses, players could now recreate themselves in virtual form with the nifty ‘Game Face’ feature.
3. Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 2
Tony Hawk’s star status might have waned in recent years, but he was big news back in the late 1990s. While the first entry into the franchise was universally acclaimed, it would be Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 2 that earned a spot in the annals of sports video game history. Maintaining the same great gameplay as the first game, this standout sequel introduced personalisation in a big way. Players could now create their own skater avatar or edit level layouts, while the inclusion of hidden content added some serious replay potential.
2. NBA Jam
Released in 1993, NBA Jam is the oldest game in this shortlist. Developed by the same company responsible for Mortal Kombat, this basketball game looks a little rudimentary by today’s standards. Rather than controlling a full roster, players are put in charge of just two NBA stars from every team. This made for some creative gameplay, which has since become the stuff of gaming legend.
1. Madden NFL 2005
While there’s little audience for American football outside of the United States, there’s a healthy appetite for the sport in video game circles. Another gaming favourite from EA Sports, the Madden NFL franchise has been around since 1988, although back then, the series was known as John Madden Football. One of the longest-running sports video game franchises of all time, Madden NFL really found its feet with this 2004 release.
Graphics received a serious upgrade, with animations unlike anything ever seen before. The game also embraced the potential of the analog joystick, with the ingenious Hit Stick feature becoming a staple of the series. Furthermore, an absorbing storyline mode airlifted in many gameplay features that you’d usually only find in a simulation-style title. To this day, it remains EA’s crowning achievement.
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