Fields, competition and realistic thrills: the sports game recreates the passion of the stadium, from football to basketball. RomWize re-ranks the best games in the genre by its re-evaluated scores, each with its current score, its versions, their rarity and their collector value.
"PES 5 pushes the demands to the very top. Tough defending, refreshed animations and deeply technical feel. Drier than PES 6, yet revered by virtual football purists."
"Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 3 is still an arcade skate peak. Revert tricks, punchy career and unforgettable soundtrack. For many fans, the benchmark to this day."
"SSX Tricky pushes the arcade spirit to the very top. Wild characters, crazier tricks and a cult soundtrack with Run-D.M.C. Pure adrenaline on every run, timeless fun."
"Mario Tennis from Camelot, with exemplary handling and surprising depth. Sixteen characters, positional play and spin shots executed with delightful precision and a doubles mode worth its weight in gold. Tennis that can be festive and demanding at once, if you don't mind sweat behind Mario's moustache."
"Tony Hawk 4 featuring per-level open world mode and character missions. Innovation on the challenge system. Slightly below the third but very solid. The trick list and soundtrack are excellent. A must for franchise fans."
"Tony Hawk's Underground shakes up the saga with a hero who can step off the board. More narrative world and realistic street mood. A welcome reinvention."
"Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 2003 refines the cult formula. Freer tricks, expanded career and skater creator. A major step in the saga, savoured for new freedom."
"A sublime Pro Skater 2 sequel pushing skate madness even further. Precise controls, varied levels and an unforgettable soundtrack. An absolute sports peak."
"Wave Race 64 invents the jet-ski game with revolutionary wave physics. The swell literally lives under the floats, the Kawasaki riders each have their temperament and the eight waters offer remarkable variety. Still irresistible, and one of the prettiest Nintendo games on the platform."
"Peak of the SSX series, perfect arcade snowboard. Entire open mountain to explore, spectacular night races, legendary soundtrack. Deep but accessible trick system. The best snow sports game of its generation, full stop."
"PES 4 polishes ball touch and spatial reading even further. Football turns into a demanding, almost magical dance on the pad. For many fans, an absolute series peak."
"A Power Smash sequel further refining the formula, with more tournaments and sublime visuals. The tennis keeps its snap, clarity and total fun. Excellent from start to finish."
"NBA 2K13 is the annual basketball simulation by 2K Sports. Produced by Jay-Z, legendary soundtrack, gameplay at series peak. The reference basketball franchise on console, fluid gameplay and generous content."
"Tony Hawk's Pro Skater revolutionized skateboarding games with its chained tricks system and addictive 2-minute session gameplay. Iconic punk/rock soundtrack, iconic levels and exploration freedom. A foundational skateboarding masterpiece that defined an entire genre on PS1."
"WCW nWo Revenge polishes the AKI formula to its peak. Over forty wrestlers, a title-belt system and even more precise combat mechanics. One of the great wrestling simulations ever produced, deeper than the competition and lethally pleasant in the hand."
"SSX lays the groundwork for a freewheeling snowboarding series. Wild runs, airborne tricks and stylish heroes. The glide feels gleeful and still works wonders today."
"The definitive snowboarding sim on the N64. The carving feel was unusually credible for 1998, every rider has real personality, and the alpine courses strike a near-perfect balance between adrenaline runs and trick lines. Nintendo EAD at the top of its game."
"An NBA 2K sequel further refining gameplay and visuals. Animation grows fluid, franchise mode deepens and the NBA feel is total. A benchmark of virtual basketball."
