Sports games are always going to be in a class of their own. They combine two huge things for people. Gaming and sports. They can tap into your competitive spirit, and unlike some games, it gives you the opportunity to flex your knowledge about the sport too. You don’t need to know your Donovan Mitchell from your Sterling Brown – but it might help. Having some background knowledge in real-life sports can help you put together a better strategy.
There are some undeniably considerable names in the sports games arena, and it is set to grow even more in the next few years.
Here is a quick rundown of a couple of the best sports games around right now.
N.H.L. 20
Okay so it is no FIFA or Madden, but that doesn’t mean the game isn’t brilliant. Some people think that N.H.L. 20 is the ugly sister of the others, but it holds it’s own. The game has most of what you’d expect in an A.A.A. game and has a heap of QoL improvements too.
They borrowed the abilities that we see in Madden N.F.L. 20 and have been converted into Superstar Signature Shots – which are pretty cool. It allows players to make specific signature moves from their favourite team members.
There is a new mode where you can earn rewards by defeating squads that are put together by N.H.L. players and other professional athletes too.
Madden N.F.L. 20
Okay, so there probably wouldn’t be a game list complete without this on there. And there is a good reason for it. Not only is gameplay spectacular, but it is based on America’s most popular sport. There is a range of game-changing features that will have you hooked pretty quickly too.
The QB1 story mode will allow you to create your own quarterback and tear it up in the College Football Playoff before getting drafted. There will be a range of career impacting decisions you’ll need to make too.
There is also a range of Ultimate Team Missions, and there are over 50 players who have been given the new Superstar X-Factor Zone abilities. This just gives you even more opportunity to break the competition apart.
U.F.C. 3
Comes in swinging with 5,000 new fighting animations powered by the incredibly powerful R.P.M. technology from EA SPORTS. The matches are going to feel fluid and almost realistic. That is ideally what you want to see in any combat game, but in U.F.C. It is a must. In U.F.C. 3 you can build your own fighter and compete as usual.
G.O.A.T. is a great mode. This allows you to craft your own U.F.C. story. You will create your own original fighter and set off on your adventure to dominate the sport.
But it isn’t just about the fighting, because you will learn how to gain fans, the art of building hype in the lead up to career-changing matches and getting those big contracts too.
F1 2019
This is a racing and sport management sim that lets you get behind the scenes of Formula 1. You will be up against some of the best racers in the sport, and it is worth noting that the has all of the official teams, drivers and has the 21 circuits from the 2019 season too. With some F2 racers to boot.
There is a new career most that will let you build your reputation and compete with rivals. This game isn’t just about the racing it becomes immersive, and the improved lighting and cars bring it even closer to a real simulation game.
Session
If you are dreaming of the kick-flip days of Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater or even Skate, then Session can quench that thirst. Crea-ture Studios are having a go at resurrecting the skateboarding scene, and they don’t do a bad job. It has a strong 90s vibe too.
Session is deeply focused on the technical skills of skateboarding rather than just the arcade-feel gameplay. The control scheme and physics can make the tricks more challenging than you might be used to. However, when you finally land one and don’t have any real-world broken bones for your efforts, it’s pretty satisfying. It would be best if you counted on the learning curve being pretty steep, though.
Mario Tennis Aces
Move over Venus, there is a new tennis pro in town. Anything Mario themed just feels great to play, the graphics are well rounded, and they are pretty easy to pick up and put down. This is the kind of game that and gamer, any age ould be happy playing for any number of hours too. The controls are easy to learn, and there is a range of mechanics that you’ll need to get to grips with – but nothing too strenuous.
You’ll find that much like real tennis there are singles and doubles. You can choose A.I. or play with someone. There is also a really fun Adventure mode addition which will see you completing missions and fighting bosses. It’s fun, it’s easy and one for the family.
Mutant Football League
Pretty much exactly what it sounds like. You might remember this title from the Sega Genesis – well this the soul of the game reincarnated. While it is inspired by American football, it’s much more violent – in fact to over the top levels. Which is what makes it so much fun. There are orcs, zombies, werewolves, and even aliens for you to choose from.
The modifiers are what makes this special. While you will recognise the American football style, it takes the rules and throws them out the window at high-speed. They’re known as Dirty Tricks, and the game-breaking perks give players a range of funny perks. For example, you can knock out the other team with bombs, you can bribe the ref, and you can chainsaw your enemies into teeny tiny pieces. You can play without that mode, but you probably wouldn’t want to. The heart of a sports game, with the guts of an orc.
Super Mega Baseball 2
These games are already well regarded for giving us a beautiful tuned sim experience. The physics alone make it worth playing for baseball fans too. It has a decent range of customization options too, and there are a few ‘difficult’ settings too if you like a challenge.
And while the visuals are cartoon-like, and you might be tempted to dismiss it in favour of M.L.B The Show 19, give it a try, and you’ll soon fall in love with the responsiveness. Catching, pitching and hitting all feel really well thought out and you need to put some brain power into getting it right.
PES2020
If you want to experience authenticity, then you know you are in safe hands with P.E.S. They have almost criminal levels of details and authenticity. So this delivers and even more polished than players are used to. The gameplay changes feel more realistic, and they are a range of player errors too.
It isn’t hard to lone Konami’s high-performance 3D scanning tech, but you can feel the quality and the benefit that PES2020 has had from it. The stadiums and players are almost identical to their real-world counterparts. The most beautiful thing? The fluidity that they have given the animations and the faster responses to controls.
When it comes to sports games, there is a game for every type of gamer out there. From the real feel management of your team to crushing a werewolf on the pitch. Here are just a few worth your time.
