It’s great getting home from work and being able to settle into a mammoth gaming session, but not all games are created equal. The sports gaming market is absolutely huge, which means that there are a whole lot of games that are truly excellent. However, it also means there are a whole lot of games that just don’t live up to the hype. Unless you’ve got a lot of time to spare and plenty of cash to burn, you don’t want to be paying for new releases that don’t quite cut the mustard. With that in mind, we’ve created this guide to the most realistic sports video games out there. So, if you enjoy great graphics, detailed stats, and escaping the real world in order to join another one that seems just as real, then we’ve got you covered with these titles.
NBA 2K22
First up is a relatively new release, NBA 2K22. Basketball fans will adore this game from 2K games. It’s the second title in the series and has versions to suit both PlayStation 4 and 5, as well as Xbox One up to Xbox Series X, so whichever console you have, you’re catered for. 2K is sensible to do that with this game. It gives it a little more longevity, and with credentials this impressive, it’s likely to be around for a while. Gameplay is smooth and intuitive, there are no fiddly button combinations to learn, and it’s as close to playing in real life as you can get with a controller. The fatigue feature serves up an extra dose of realism, emulating how it feels both to get progressively more tired as you head through a match and also to suffer stamina losses through overplaying throughout a season. It’s often the details that separate the super realistic games from the less so, bringing us ever closer to a totally immersive experience.
Starters Orders 7
This game certainly isn’t one for those looking for swanky graphics, but in terms of depth of information, it’s hard to match. There is an extensive form for every single horse in the game, even the automated ones. There is also breeding history to match, giving this an element of realism that’s both impressive and mind-boggling. The training and owning modes tend to be the most popular, allowing you to work out the running preferences of each horse, entering them into races accordingly, and keeping everybody in the yard happy at the same time. Whilst this is undoubtedly a fun way to play, there’s a lot to learn in the ‘punting’ game as well. This style of gaming elevates form-studying to almost an art form. Those who have spent any time sifting through odds and bonuses on SBO will be well aware of the detail it’s necessary to go into in order to find a winner. Just like SBO, there is information on everything about a horse’s last performance, from where it was placed to the ground conditions, to which jockey was on board, and what weight they were carrying. Look further in, and you can find out about the sire and dam, the splits it ran each race in, as well as any gear it was wearing. This level of detail is akin to Football Manager, and whilst the production values aren’t as high, there’s nothing in the ‘horse gaming’ market that comes close to rivaling it.
Football Manager 2023
Speaking of Football Manager, the 2023 version is out, and fans of the series will be unsurprised to know that it doesn’t disappoint. This game has certainly got a formula now, and it’s known for sticking to it. Though some criticize this, we at GameGavel think the adage ‘if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it’ encapsulates the situation perfectly. There’s so much work that has gone into the Football Manager series, including hours and hours of watching lower-league football, that it seems crazy to throw it all away. Not only are you playing the game, but you’re also learning about the sport in the real world. Whilst many games try to relate their stats to the real world, almost none manage to do it with such pinpoint accuracy. If you’re afraid of stats and spreadsheets, then this game is not going to be for you. However, if you thrive on order, have hours of time to dedicate to gaming, and want a football managing experience that’s as close to real life as possible, then you need to own this game.