The All-Time Greats and Flops in Sports Video Game History

The recent release of the Madden 26 has generated excitement and prompted a look back at the world of sports video games. The sports gaming landscape is varied, with some titles achieving iconic status, such as “Wii Sports,” “Madden NFL 2005,” “FIFA 13,” and “NFL Blitz,” which continue to be favorites among sports video gamers. However, there have also been disappointing games like “Rugby 15,” “WWE 2K20,” “RBI Baseball 17,” which all suffered from rushed development and lackluster execution. Our list highlights both the triumphs and failures in the history of sports video games, covering everything from classic hits to recent duds.

To identify the best and worst sports video games of all time, 24/7 Tempo consulted a range of sources, including video game websites like Game Rant and Steam for reviews and public opinion. We also looked at sports sites such as Bleacher Report and Sports Illustrated to get their perspective on the debate. If you love sports games as much as we do, we’re sure you’ll enjoy this list. (Want even more sports fun? Test your knowledge by answering these sports trivia questions.) 

• Sport: Various
• Year Released: 2006
• Platform: Nintendo Wii

Yes, "Wii Sports" may not be ideal for hardcore sports gamers who are looking for extreme realism and the technical aspects of many of the other games on this list. However, it's still a ton of fun, especially for casual gamers. There's a lot of variety here. You can choose to play boxing, golf, bowling, tennis, and baseball, and they're all very enjoyable. You even get to personalize your characters. Plus, you get to use motion controls, so it's like you're really there playing the real sport. The game is easy to find and very affordable in 2024.

• Sport: Basketball
• Year Released: 1998
• Platform: Nintendo 64, PlayStation

Although this game was developed by Konami, which was one of the giants in the video game industry, "NBA In The Zone 98" is a title they wish they could forget. While the game featured many of our favorite players of the time, the gameplay was blurry, so it was hard to see what was going on. Plus, the game had a very bad AI system, which allowed the computer to win every time, and that got frustrating over time. As time went on, new NBA games were released that left this title in the dust.

• Sport: Baseball
• Year Released: 2023
• Platform: PS4, PS5, Xbox, Nintendo Switch

Critics and gamers all agreed that "MLB The Show 23" was one of the best games of 2023 and one of the best sports games in general. This game continues to build on the excellent entries before it by presenting amazing graphics, gameplay, and action. Plus, this game is packed with various story modes. You can dive into the history of the Negro League and play as all of your favorite characters from history. It's not often that you can have a blast while learning more about the sport in the process. If you like baseball, try this game.

• Sport: Football
• Year Released: 2018
• Platform: PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Microsoft Windows

While it's not typical to see a Madden football game being considered bad, this is one of their worst in recent years. For starters, it still has the same formula as many of the previous entries, and there is not much new to show. On top of that, the game is loaded with bugs that have yet to be fixed to this day. There was also not much for solo players to do. There just wasn't enough flash in this game, especially when compared to many of its competitors. The game generally gets low reviews by gamers and critics alike.

• Sport: Football
• Year Released: 2004
• Platform: Xbox, PS2

Though it's not talked about much these days, many people consider "ESPN NFL 2K5" to be one of the best sports video games ever. In a time when EA Sports ruled the football genre, ESPN came out with a game that was like watching the real thing on TV. There are even "SportsCenter" cutscenes and commentary from real announcer Chris Berman. There are also mini-games and real-life player avatars that use actual player faces. The football itself was also fun to play with all the plays, calls, and actions you'd want in an NFL game.

• Sport: Rugby
• Year Released: 2014
• Platform: PS3, PS4, PlayStation Vita, Windows, Xbox 360 and Xbox One

Widely considered to be one of the worst sports video games, "Rugby 15" is very barebones even for players who enjoy rugby. The game is missing many of the components of the better sports games on this list. There's no player customization, career mode, or much variety in the gameplay. There's only one stadium in the entire game for all of the teams. This game was basically universally hated by gamers and critics alike. If you want to play a good rugby game, try something like "International Rugby Challenge" for the Mega Drive instead.

• Sport: Football
• Year Released: 2004
• Platform: GameCube, PS2, PS1, Xbox, Nintendo DS, Microsoft Windows, Game Boy Advance

This version of Madden was just as fun as its predecessors, but this time, they changed the game with the introduction of the Hit Stick. That was a feature that allowed the player to lay a major hit on an opposing player with a quick flick of the analog stick. This feature made it more exciting to play defense, which is something many games lack. The game also features incredible animations that were impressive even for 2005. There is also Storyline Central, where you can control everything in the stadium. It's a great game if you enjoy the franchise.

• Sport: Various
• Year Released: 2012
• Platform: Wii U

One of the worst sports video games ever made is "ESPN Sports Connection," which was a knockoff of "Wii Sports." Like that one, you can play a variety of games, including karting, football, soccer, golf, baseball, and tennis. It may sound exciting, but the problem is that the games are uninspired and simply not that fun. Plus, it's hard to play without experiencing multiple technical issues, and each game comes with long loading times that cut down on the fun. You might buy this game if you're looking to have a complete Wii U collection, but otherwise, skip it.

• Sport: Soccer
• Year Released: 2012
• Platform: PlayStation Vita, Xbox 360

If you have any interest in playing soccer games, then go for "FIFA 13." There's a lot to enjoy here, from the very expansive story mode to the individual games, and it never seems to get old. This game brought things to another level with a very expansive roster that basically lets you pick any player from that year, and the players on screen are very accurate to the real-life players. It was as close to watching a real soccer game on screen as you can get. Best of all, the game played smoothly with very little slowdown and very few bugs, so it was hours of fun.

• Sport: Wrestling
• Year Released: 2019
• Platform: Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 4, and Xbox One

Widely considered to be one of the worst sports video games, "WWE 2K20" is a buggy mess that's hard to play, even with upgrades. The issue with many newer games is that they're released with issues, and the developers try to fix them later on. However, in this case, it was just too much for gamers to handle. The release of this game was widely considered to be one of the worst in history. The game is loaded with bugs that make it almost unplayable. It's just not fun to struggle with the game for even five minutes.

• Sport: Basketball
• Year Released: 1993
• Platform: SNES, Sega Genesis, Game Boy, Sega CD, PS1, PS2, Nintendo 64, Xbox

In addition to being one of the best sports video games, "NBA Jam" might also be the most famous sports game of all time. You can ask people over the age of 30 who don't watch sports to name a sports game, and they may blurt this one out. The game was revolutionary for its time as it showed real-life players going head-to-head in non-stop action. This game is full of over-the-top animations, and it's especially exciting when you make three shots in a row and become "on fire." It's a game that never gets old.

• Sport: Football
• Year Released: 2006
• Platform: PS2, Xbox and Windows

This game is like a full version of the Franchise mode in the Madden games. You play as the head coach, and you manage your team from start to finish and hope to make your way to the Super Bowl. It may sound fun to someone who likes the idea of being a manager. However, for the casual player, it's not so fun. While you get to make play calls during the football games, you're stuck on the sideline and you don't get to see the players run those plays, so it can get boring quickly.

• Sport: Boxing
• Year Released: 1987
• Platform: Nintendo Entertainment System, Wii, Wii U, Nintendo 3DS

In addition to being one of the best sports games, many people will argue that this is one of the best games on the entire Nintendo Entertainment System. In it, you play as a boxer who goes against many colorful characters, including Iron Mike Tyson himself. The game is great fun because every opponent is different, and so you must experiment by trying to find the best way to beat each of them. It's not an easy game, but if you are able to get to the end and beat Mike Tyson, then you will have instant bragging rights.

• Sport: Skateboarding
• Year Released: 2015
• Platform: PS4, Xbox One, PS3, Xbox 360

While Tony Hawk has produced some awesome games, this one is considered to be one of the worst sports video games, period. This is another case where the game was released to the public unfinished and with bugs galore. There were also frame-rate issues that made the game almost unplayable. Even when you are able to make it work, the levels are uninspired and bland, so you may get bored quickly. The graphics are also a bit different and more cartoonish, which won't be for everyone.

• Sport: Skateboarding
• Year Released: 2000
• Platform: PS1, Game Boy Color, Dreamcast, Game Boy Advance, Nintendo 64

Whether or not you consider skateboarding to be a sport, there's no doubting the excellence of most of the Tony Hawk games, and number two was the pinnacle of them all. This game introduced many new concepts, including the ability to build a skater and edit and design your own skate park. The game has incredible replayability with fun goals, like finding the letters S-K-A-T-E in each area and locating the hidden tapes scattered throughout. Many people also idolize the soundtrack, which had many punk and rock hits from the early 2000s.

• Sport: Basketball
• Year Released: 2013
• Platform: PS4, Xbox One

After a hiatus for the series, people were excited about "NBA Live 14," but it ended up being one of the worst sports video games. Though not as bad as some others on this list, the game wasn't as polished as it should have been. Additionally, though it had some nice touches due to its ESPN license, the game just wasn't well designed. Many of the mechanics were wonky and the player animations were weird and unappealing. If you want to play a good basketball game, choose some of the others on this list.

• Sport: Football
• Year Released: 1987
• Platform: Nintendo Entertainment System

Whether or not you're a fan of retro video games, there's no denying that "Tecmo Bowl" is one of the most important sports video games of all time. It laid the foundation for all of the sports games that we know today by allowing you to play as real-life players, choose plays, and run around the field like we can in new football games today. You can choose from 28 real NFL teams, which was really amazing at the time. It's fun to try it for a few minutes if you have the original cartridge.

• Sport: Baseball
• Year Released: 2017
• Platform: Nintendo Switch, PS4, Xbox

One of the worst sports video games in the baseball genre, "RBI Baseball 17" simply didn't meet expectations. Die-hard players thought the game was too simple, and the arcadey feel wasn't doing it any favors. The game also had poor fielding mechanics, and the gameplay wasn't as fluid as it should have been. Gamers just didn't think the title was worth the money and it was obvious that it needed more tweaking before release.

• Sport: Football
• Year Released: 1997
• Platform: PS1, Nintendo 64, Game Boy Color

"NFL Blitz" is one of the great sports games for players who love arcade action. In fact, this was a game that was first playable in local arcades, so it was very exciting when there were ports that could be played at home. The game had a lot of realism, and it actually got some flack for being too violent, but kids of the decade loved it. (Do you have fond memories of this game? If so, there's a lot more to love. Check out this list of the video games from the 90s that people should be playing.)