Best Sports Games With High Replay Value

Sports games are sometimes stuck in a tricky predicament in the gaming world.

They're often some of the most replayable games you can ever experience, but they also tend to become outdated after a year, not necessarily due to new features or gameplay additions, but roster updates.

Of course, there are ways around this with more modern games, as well as the ability to look past things when you've found something truly magical, like Tony Hawk, for example.

With that in mind, let's review some of the most replayable sports games available today, because let's face it: there's gotta be something better out there than this year's version of Madden.

10 Madden NFL 2004

Be a Playmaker

Let's actually start with the Madden franchise, which has undoubtedly seen better days. It didn't used to be like that, though.

While a true contender for the throne was looming next year, Madden 2004 still reigned supreme, and it was for one reason: Michael Vick. Sports games hadn't seen someone as powerful since Bo Jackson, and there’s just something about playing as Vick that remains fun today.

Behind the scenes, Owner Mode added some much-needed depth to the series, giving us a host of things to do off the field.

9 ESPN NFL 2K5

As strong as Madden would be again in 2005, this was the year it would lose out as the best football game to rival 2K Sports.

NFL 2K5 had it all: the presentation, the style, the $19.99 price tag, and the gameplay to back it all up. While 20 years later we can see the cracks in the foundation, there's something fluid and immersive about NFL 2K5’s gameplay that helps it remain fun today.

Add in the fact that it arguably has a more robust suite of features compared to today's sports games, and that's the icing on the cake.

8 NHL '94

It's In the Game

A decade prior to NFL 2K5, features weren't necessarily a selling point for a sports game. The idea of ownership mode, acting as a GM, and getting SportsCenter highlights was a twinkle in a developer’s eye.

Instead, we had to “settle” for fast and addictive gameplay, and that's what you get with NHL '94. It truly is lightning in a bottle.

Everything just works so exceptionally well, requiring a surprising amount of strategy to get the puck to the back of the net. Growing up, I always preferred to skate behind the net and shoot a wrap-around, but as I get older, I've fallen in love with the one-timer off a pass. There's a reason why EA has brought it back several times over the years, most recently with NHL '94: Rewind.

7 Tecmo Super Bowl

Bo Knows

Let's get one thing out of the way from the start: Tecmo Super Bowl is one of the best retro football games you can play.

It's simple, sure, but the arcade-style gameplay has a lot of surprising depth to it. It's accessible yet still challenging and is a great way to spend a weekend with friends or by yourself once football season is over.

Having said that, there's one reason why Tecmo Super Bowl remains iconic today: Bo Jackson. He was the unstoppable force. He was the immovable object. He was faster than everyone else on the field, and there was nothing you could do about it. Don't worry, we still tried.

6 NBA Jam

Is it the Shoes?!

Without fail, one of the first games I always look for in the arcade is NBA Jam.

Growing up, I was lucky enough to have the Sega Genesis version, but there's just something about playing the game in arcades that feels more natural.

If you're looking for a realistic version of basketball, you'll have to look elsewhere. If you want an over-the-top arcade-style 2v2 game, however, you've come to the right place.

5 Rocket League

Unlike Any Other Game of Soccer You've Played Before

Speaking of over the top, is there any other way to describe Rocket League?

For those that don't know, here's how it works: you're playing a game of soccer while controlling rocket-powered cars and trying to push a giant metal ball into a net. Oh, and there's a touch of physics manipulation you can do in an indoor, enclosed arena to pull off some larger-than-life stunts.

The biggest selling point I can give Rocket League is when I discovered my wife pulling all-nighters for a week straight after she first picked it up. She spent so much time playing ranked matches, and honestly, I don't blame her one bit.

4 Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 1 + 2

Superman

I could write an entire thesis on the beauty of the first two Tony Hawk games. 75% of that would be all about the soundtrack.

First, let's get the obvious out of the way: the original Tony Hawk games are the greatest example of pickup-and-play gameplay that's both accessible and deep we'll ever see. You can beat high scores and complete your objectives in the blink of an eye without having to go through hours of training.

What keeps you coming back, beyond the actual gameplay, is that soundtrack. The HD remake that is Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 1 + 2 nails a balance of excellent songs from that era and modern gems that felt like they belonged on the original soundtrack.

3 Mario Kart World

It's Still Good, I Promise

Believe it or not, there may be a game that's even more accessible than Tony Hawk.

Mario Kart is the game everyone knows how to play. It's the game where everyone has a chance to win, thanks to the great equalizer of its rubber banding and item utilization.

Is it frustrating to lead a race from start to finish only to get hit with a blue shell at the very end? Absolutely. Do we keep coming back for more because we can't get enough Mario Kart in our lives? You bet. Now with Knockout Tour in Mario Kart World, there's a new wrinkle in the formula, and one I have very much enjoyed playing since the Switch 2 was released.

2 Wii Sports

Our Wiimotes Are Collecting Dust Today

It's the game that everybody owned in the mid-2000s. I owned it because I was a big fan of the Nintendo Wii and, unsurprisingly, it was a big hit at my parties.

My parents owned a Nintendo Wii because motion controls had mainstream appeal and, surprisingly, it was a big hit at their parties.

Wii Sports is truly a once-in-a-lifetime game that caters to all ages, all audiences, and all demographics around a common interest: playing virtual bowling or tennis together.

The Ultimate Simulation Experience

Do you know what’s more fun than actively participating in a sports game? How about managing a sports team instead?

That’s the concept of Football Manager, and I can understand why some scoff at the idea. Here’s the thing, though. Consider how popular Fantasy Sports are now; imagine that there’s essentially a video game dedicated solely to it.

We’ve seen aspects of Football Manager creep into more traditional sports games, but there’s something about Football Manager itself that still has the depth and features that keep us coming back for more, even if the game doesn't love us as we love it recently. Plus, it’s the one game that can literally get you a job in sports!