Sports games and simulations are hugely popular on both PC and consoles, with several million gamers playing them daily worldwide. The sports genre allows gamers to put themselves in the shoes of their favorite player or in charge of their favorite team and attempt to guide them to the glory that their physical team may not be able to manage in real life.
The following three sports games are available on all consoles, with the majority available on PC thanks to the fantastic Xbox Live Game Pass or by using an emulator. Be sure to check all five out if you are a fan of sports games and simulations.
MLB The Show 21
We should applaud San Diego Studios for the amazon job they did with MLB The Show 21. Last year’s game was superb, but this edition is a masterpiece and one that is tremendous fun for even non-baseball fans. MLB The Show 21 is packed full of features and game modes that it is impressive they managed to fit it all into one game. All that is missing is the ability to place wagers on MLB teams via sports betting Canada sites!
San Diego Studios created a game that appeals to hardened MLB fans and those who just love playing any sports game. Take charge of an MLB franchise and guide them to the World Series, or create your own player and take them from rookie to an MLB All-Star. You can even play a fantasy baseball mode where you form your very own roster by collecting baseball cards!
Football Manager 21
Football Manager 21 is the game for you if you are a soccer enthusiast. Sports Interactive has produced a yearly soccer management title every year for more than two decades. It started life as Championship Manager before switching its name to Football Manager.
Almost every team in the world is present and correct, each with an entire squad of players with their own plethora of statistics. Take charge of a national side, become the manager of a European giant, or guide a minnow to the big time. The unlimited choice is yours. However, be aware that you need a beast of a PC to run Football Manager 21 with a dozen or so leagues in play because the game is very processor-heavy.
NHL 21
EA Sports has you covered if you love nothing more than to take to the ice rink. Ice hockey, and the NHL in particular, is hugely popular, and that is partly down to the NHL series of games. EA Sports created a hockey game that is the perfect blend between arcade action and raw simulation, allowing even the most amateur of hockey players to take to the ice and slapshot their way to victory.
Like most of the sports games on this list, you can jump straight in and just play a game or two against friends or computer-controlled opponents, or you can embark on a season-long campaign and attempt to become world champions.
The Be a Pro mode is excellent if you ever harbored dreams of making it big in the NHL. You create a brand new player from scratch who has limited skills across various skill traits. Improve those skills by playing games, participating in training, and even choosing your own dialogue when speaking to your coach and the media. It is an immersive and rewarding experience.
Honorable Mentions
No list of top sports games would be complete without mentioning the FIFA and NBA 2K series.
EA Sports’ FIFA 21 is a must-play for soccer fans. Being an EA title means there are a wealth of different modes at your fingers tips, from playing as an individual player, right up to a full-on management mode. However, the management mode is lacking if you compare it to Football Manager. Then again, any other management sim falls short of that particular game.
2K Sports has the market covered when it comes to basketball; it stole EA Sports’ crown many moons again. Nobody makes a basketball game quite like 2K Games. The latest installment, NBA 2K21, is an incredible basketball game, but it does have a steep learning curve due to the sheer number of controls for each player. However, master those controls, and you will sweep past opponents with your silky skills before slam-dunking the winning score in the dying seconds of the NBA Finals.