Top 10 Sports Video Games

10.) Nintendo World Cup Soccer/Superspike V’Ball (NES)

The soccer game is the reason this game is on the list. This game brought a smile to people’s faces. The players had a similar look to the villains in Double Dragon (another classic video game). You could slide-tackle opponents to the point where they wouldn’t get back up. The game brought comedy and athletics to sports video games, paving the way for games like Arch Rivals.

9.) NBA Showdown 94 (Genesis)

This was the first NBA game I owned and to this day I can not find a basketball game that has given me the same entertainment as this game by EA Sports.

8.) Fight Night Round 2 (PS2)

Any game from the Fight Night/Knockout Kings series could be in this slot. I chose FNR2, because it was the first one to have “the corner” so you can heal your fighter’s injuries yourself. Plus, this game showed the biggest change in graphics.

7.) Wii Sports (Wii)

The Wii phenomenon has gone global since its release in November 2006. The game came bundled with new Wii systems and attracted casual gamers and non-gamers alike. It has it 5 sports to choose from – tennis, baseball, golf, bowling and soccer. It is #7 on my list because of all the fun mini-games in the training section such as home run derby, putting practice, and heavy bag. My friends and I would spend countless days and hours playing this game to see who would break the highest score. Banking on the popularity of Wii Sports, Nintendo made similar games to this one like Wii Play and Big League Sports. Wii Sports Resort, the sequel to Wii Sports was released in 2009.

6.) Hardball 5 (PC)

This game had every feature imaginable – current (in 1996) and former rosters, classic stadiums, 3D and even Al Michaels announcing the game. The season mode was deep (all 162 games) and you could import and export teams to make it to your liking.

5.) Duck Hunt/World Class Track Meet (NES)

The original hunting game and track game that really gave a workout. This was included with my SMB with my NES. The pad used to run the track was an excellent invention and paved the way for games like DDR and Wii Fit. Bundling three games in one was one of the ground breaking ideas Nintendo has given us over the years.

4.) Mike Tyson’s Punchout (NES)

The most addicting and time consuming game I have ever played. It sometimes took hours to get to Tyson and then once you got to him, it took all night to beat the former champ. With boxer names like Bald Bull, Piston Honda, and Glass Joe, it’s entertaining for players of all ages. Even Will Smith wrote a song about Iron Mike during the 1980s. This is definitely one of the most popular NES games ever created, with a remake created for the Wii in 2009.

3.) Triple Play 96 (Genesis)

Probably the most competitive game I have played. Playing the AI was always a tough task. This was the first baseball I played where you could collide with another player, create players, unlock classic players. It also featured realistic stadiums, something franchises like RBI Baseball and Bases Loaded did not.

2.) NHL 94 (Genesis)

Other hockey games don’t compare to this classic. Brass Bonanza in mid-game… Enough said!

1.) Tecmo Super Bowl (NES)

This is by far the greatest sports video game all-time. TSB may not be realistic with some of the insane stats one can accumulate in a single season, but the hours of fun one can have alone or with a group of people is endless. It’s roughly 20 years later and TSB still has a tremendous cult following. With the advent of ROMs and emulators, TSB has been one of the most hacked games in video game history. From all 32 teams to current rosters, TSB has kept up to date, minus the two point conversions.