Sports gaming, the father of modern trash talk, the ruin of friendships, the righter of all wrongs from championships past. I let out a great, relaxed sigh as I sit to write this article. For many of us, growing up, we played these games with starry eyes, dreaming of becoming the next big professional ball player. They taught us the values of teamwork and gave us our heroes. They also taught us that we weren’t very athletic and probably should stop playing tackle football with the big kids down the street in the Denny’s parking lot. Today, we play them to fulfill those fantasies long lost to us and attempt to instill the same dreams in our children so that they may succeed where we failed. Also, your cousin needs to occasionally be reminded why the Oakland Raiders suck eggs like Squidward. No matter what or how you play, I’ve compiled a short list of the best sports video games of all time. Time to put the hammer down!
-
Tecmo Bowl
Yeah, buddy. You already know. The one and only, the settler of arguments everywhere, it’s the mighty Tecmo Bowl. Back in the day, if you had a disagreement about politics, an argument who’s hair was more voluminous, or a messy divorce, you settled it with Tecmo Bowl. Like dibs, or shotgun, Tecmo Bowl results were final. Anyone that said otherwise, was an honor-less heathen. Ya’ll remember the gameplay, man, a handful of teams, a handful of plays, some ridiculous escapes. Yeah, the good stuff. I can still hear the “huthuthuthuthut” before the snap. It’s like a fine wine. Without a doubt, it’s the best football video game of all time, period, and it was made in Japan! If you got a problem we can settle it on the field, no Bo Jackson. You won’t, scrub.
-
NBA Jam
Unfortunately, I only played the Genesis version as a kid so I’m partial to that one. For some reason, I really enjoyed playing as the Toronto Raptors mascot. I think because I’d just watched Jurassic Park. Anyway, there’s no better basketball title to sit on a list of top sports games. Gameplay is two on two, a few characters represent each team and sometimes leave fans disappointed. Luckily, though, there is a pretty solid roster of secret characters and other cheats. It’s basically a “how not to play basketball” game. There’s plenty of fouling, goaltending, and plain physics breaking. God, is it fun, though. There’s nothing like having an announcer do all your trash talking for you while you destroy your little brother’s hopes and dreams with a megadunk. “He’s on FIRE!”
-
Punch-Out!! With Mike Tyson
This is a story of true victory, boys and girls, but that road is long. Join me as I weave a tale of the best boxer the world has ever known. This is an underdog story, one to surpass The Little Engine That Could, and Rudy. This is Punch-Out!! Featuring Mike Tyson. The player takes control of Little Mac and proceeds to enter the Pro circuit for the Video Boxing Association. The goal of the game is to defeat all opponents and earn the right to fight the legendary Mike Tyson. Little Mac can dodge, left or right jab, left or right body shot, or block in his path to glory and fame. Each foe he faces has a unique string of fighting moves and must be approached with the appropriate strategy. This game can actually be pretty difficult in places. The only solace you have is knowing that Mario is your referee and probably won’t let you die. Many an hour has been wasted to earn the dream fight, but it was all worth it, right? For Little Mac. 10/10 would stand shirtless in my living room listening to Eye of the Tiger again.
-
EA BIG Street Series
The Street series of games from EA BIG are some of the best sports games around, especially for that modern arcade feel. In most of these titles (basketball, football, soccer) you can play pick-up style games varying across the sport chosen, building rosters from actual pros across many time periods and creating your own player to customize and grow in skill. There’s nothing better than building a street ball team with Dr. J, Pistol Pete, and your created character. With a host of boss style matches and progressions style gameplay, these games are known for their showy art style and fast pace. Each of the greats come with their own stats and special moves, which is definitely amazing for hardcore sport fans. In addition, these games are fun for people who know nothing about sports. The controls are simple, the playbooks streamlined, and characters interesting. If you’re looking to spice up the daily Madden grind, play these classics.
-
SSX Tricky
The SSX snowboarding arcade experience is one of over-the-top tricks and characters, and sick tunes. With dozens of venues to pound the powder on, the gameplay keeps getting more and more interesting by the minute. Though less popular than traditional sports, SSX received a massive cult following of dedicated fans. Multiple installments would prove less successful, but ultimately still entertaining. If you’ve ever wondered what life would be like as an ultra-sexy diva that can breakdance in mid air on a snowboard, this game is for you. There are tons of modes to choose from: free play, time trials, races, and point wars there’s something to offer for everyone. Though, it may seem dated now, the raw pace and good fun that come along with this title help it stand the test of time as one of the best sports games around.
I hope you’ve enjoyed my list of top sports video games of all time and hope you have some good memories with these titles. What games would you have included in this list? What are some of the craziest bets you ever made with the boys over Tecmo Bowl? Share your thoughts below!
