Sports games are now a massive part of the gaming industry, as fans look to enjoy their favorite sports by taking control of the players and teams they support.
This means there’s a massive number of games based on all the most popular sports worldwide, but which are the best titles to play just now?
NHL 23 – Ice Hockey
Hockey fans have enjoyed this franchise from EA Sports since 1991, with annual updates bringing in new features and making it more exciting each year. The latest version was released in 2022 as the 32nd version of the game, available on various devices such as the PlayStation 4 and 5, the Xbox One, and the Xbox Series X/S.
A couple of interesting new features add to the variety, with the Zegras and the Last Chance Puck Movement added to the gameplay. Other changes include adding a custom league option with the Original Six teams from the start of the NHL.
This game review points out that it looks gorgeous, with the ice looking like natural ice for the first time in the franchise and the players incredibly detailed. They also highlight the extra details, like the desperation plays that can cause havoc when the puck gets near the net.
NBA 2K23 – Basketball
The NBA franchise is another long-running series from Visual Concepts, this time focusing on the pro basketball league. The NBA 2K23 title is the 24th in the series, which began in 1999 and is available across the Nintendo Switch. Windows, PlayStation 4, and others. If you love watching players like LeBron James and the soon-to-retire Carmelo Anthony, this game lets you play as them.
Long-term fans will be pleased to see the Jordan Challenge return for the first time since the NBA 2K11 version. This takes you to the 1980s, where your first challenge is to win a game featuring the legendary Michael Jordan. Other changes include updating the MyNBA mode that lets you start your playing career in any one of several different league seasons, with the presentation cleverly mimicking the year you choose.
In terms of reviews, fun and balanced gameplay is described as the most significant positive in this review, with the stamina system helping to ensure that the game is at the right difficulty level.
The mindfulness in the different modes is praised, but there are some complaints about the design of the historical players and the relatively few different body types used.
FIFA 23 – Soccer
The iconic soccer franchise is in its final version before substantial changes come along, with the official FIFA tag getting lost this year as EA Sports brought out a non-authorized version and FIFA looks for a partner to produce a licensed game. While the Nintendo Switch version had poor reviews, other versions were well-received.
This is the 30th game in the FIFA series and features Kylian Mbappé on the cover with Sam Kerr. Officially the top-selling sports game franchise in history, FIFA has long established a system of play that fans love, with the 2023 version adding the likes of HyperMotion2 and Technical Dribbling on particular formats.
The global popularity of soccer means that this sport is also the theme of several spots like Joe Fortune, where players look to win a cash prize by matching symbols across the reels.
Titles include Zombie FC and World Cup, while Gridiron Glory and Cricket Legends cover other sports. With jackpot games and other themed pokies, it’s easy to see why many sports fans are keen to try them.
WWE 2K23 – Wrestling
Wrestling is another hugely popular sport that fans can play, with the WWE 2K23 game released earlier this year as the 23rd in the franchise developed by Visual Concepts and published by 2K. Like the rest of the games we’ve looked at here, it can be played on several types of consoles and has a variety of modes to keep the gameplay interesting.
John Cena is the cover star, and the first thing you need to know is that the gameplay is a cross between a wrestling simulation and an arcade game. The WarGames and Royal Rumble are among the highlights, allowing up to eight players to participate in online multiplayer battles.
You can also use the career mode to create a wrestler that you try to take to the top of the sport. Meanwhile, Cena is the star of the Showcase element that takes you through some of the most memorable moments in his career.
As with the other franchises we’ve looked at, numerous minor changes are made to each new version to keep it fresh.
All these top games give you an excellent way to try your favorite sport. With more fans than ever wanting to play online and live their sporting dreams, expect to see these franchises continue while new games are launched too.
