5 Great Sports-Themed Games
Sports fans define themselves by their love of sports. But what happens when nothing is going on, or it’s the off-season?
Looking up sports betting odds for the Nicaraguan soccer league may be off the table, which is why eSports betting has become so popular. Betting on eSports is a great way to spend your time, but you might also be looking for new sports-themed games to play yourself.
Here are five great sports-themed games in 2022 to start playing, whether you’re a gaming fanatic or searching for a new hobby.
Madden NFL
The release of a new Madden game in time for the new season is always a time for excitement. While the formula has never really changed, and some argue neither have any of the features, Madden NFL sells millions of copies yearly. In fact, as of 2021, more than 130 million Madden NFL copies have been sold globally.
The offline play is only the beginning of your journey to the Super Bowl. Trying out the game on different difficulty settings with your favorite team is a great way to prepare for the real meat of the game: online play.
Online play is as exciting as it is frustrating. Test your skills against the best the world has to offer. There are even tournaments you can enter with real-world prizes. The top Madden players compete annually to be the best in the world, with the winners receiving cash prizes and even tickets to the following year’s Super Bowl.
Madden is a mainstay of the sports gaming genre, so it is essential to have this as part of your collection.
Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 1 + 2
Nothing hits quite like nostalgia. Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater was the essence of the early 2000s. It was the time when professional skateboarding had reached its peak and was pioneered by the likes of Jackass on MTV.
Time has passed, and professional skateboarding has fallen out of the limelight, as has Tony Hawk, widely considered the greatest pro skater to have lived.
The series’ pinnacle was the original two incarnations of Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater. Rather than grabbing your old copy and loading it on a PlayStation One emulator, why not get the remake?
Vicarious Visions have recreated both classic games. It has aimed to improve the gameplay and graphics to bring them up to modern standards while retaining the nostalgia that made it such a loved game.
Changes are small to increase the fluidity of the gameplay, while you can now load up online multiplayer to test your skills against the rest. If you’re one for some sports-themed nostalgia, the remake of Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater is the way to go.
Football Manager 2022
Many people remember growing up with Championship Manager or Football Manager. The premise of this addictive simulation is simple. You’re a football manager at your chosen club, and you need to win trophies, manage top players, and juggle the numbers.
Football Manager 2022 is the soccer game that continues to capture a generation. You can make it as in-depth or as easy as you choose. Hardcore players will manage everything from negotiating transfers to managing day-to-day training and interacting with the media, whereas more casual players may hand these duties to their staff.
It’s the most accurate sports simulation game you will ever encounter, with countless international leagues and all the latest players thrown into the fray.
Football Manager 2022 is easily the most addictive game there is.
FIFA
The FIFA franchise is the world’s leading sporting gaming franchise. Held under the banner of world football and developed by EA (until 2023), FIFA 2022 is as frustrating as it is entertaining.
Like many other sports games, you’ll only find limited mileage from playing the offline version. You can chart the course of your character or take control of your favorite soccer team in a bid to become the champions.
However, the enjoyment comes primarily from online play. You can compete in miniature leagues, invite your friends to play, or attempt to increase your rating to qualify for the official eSports scene.
Even if you don’t especially love soccer, FIFA is still a game with a gentle learning curve that anyone can pick up and enjoy to their heart’s content.
Rocket League
Sometimes the most straightforward ideas are the ones that have the most significant impact. Rocket League initially appeared in 2015 and was most memorable for being made available for free on PS Plus. Unlike many competitive games, Rocket League continues to enjoy a massive following even today. You’ll never have trouble getting an online game in just a few seconds.
If you’ve never played Rocket League before, the easiest way to think of it is soccer with cars. You can play in teams of up to four, and your goal is to outscore your opponent. Whether you prefer an all-out trailblazing offense or an overly defensive mindset, Rocket League allows you to do it.
The greatest strength within the Rocket League environment is how easy it is to get started. There’s a button to drive, boost, and jump. The rest of the controls allow you to perform meta-skills like floating jumps, flips, and more.
The fact that Rocket League remains so popular even today tells you all you need to know about the addictive formula of this sports-themed game. With new cars, maps, variations, and even celebrations constantly being rolled out, there’s always something to draw older players back into the fold.
Conclusion
The sports genre is one of the world’s most popular categories. It has been praised for constantly appealing to veteran gamers and casuals alike. Whatever your sport of choice, why not try something new?
There’s a constant parade of new games entering the market annually. What’s the sports game you’re most looking forward to in 2022?
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