Top 10 Arcade-Style Sports Games

It’s understandable that as graphical power increases, appetite for more realistic sports games will follow. However, is it possible that we’ve pushed simulation too far? Throwing a virtual baseball shouldn’t be harder than throwing a real one, and I shouldn’t have to be an actual NFL quarterback to be competitive in the latest edition of Madden. I’m not making the case that these games shouldn’t exist, but I am making the case that a more realistic experience doesn’t equate to a more enjoyable one. Once upon a time, sports games were fast paced, action-packed, and easily accessible. These days, however, arcade style sports games have mostly been pushed into the darkest corners of mobile app stores, relegated to the outskirts of gaming culture. Games like Rocket League give me hope that someday the genre will reclaim its throne, but for now let’s take a look at the top 10 arcade style sports games that defined a largely forgotten era.

10. Backyard Baseball 2001 (2000)

Backyard Baseball is the second installment of the series released by Humongous Entertainment, and it’s a major upgrade from the first. It brings back all the original Backyard Kids, including the beloved Pablo Sanchez, but also introduces 31 kid versions of real major league players. This game has so much charm in the art and dialogue, but where it really shines for me is the gameplay. Baseball games are pretty hit or miss when it comes to fielding controls, but Backyard Baseball uses a simple point and click style mechanic that just works. It’s accessible and even more addicting, which is why it has to make this list.

9. Ready 2 Rumble Boxing Round 2 (2000)

When I got a PlayStation 2 for Christmas, my brother got a Sega Dreamcast. We were spoiled, I know. I’m very grateful, but this was one of the games that made me think I might have made the wrong choice. The first time Afro Thunder hit us with “I feel it in my bones,” my brother and I laughed so hard, we had to hold our sides from splitting open. This game has great, quotable characters and you can even unlock Michael Jackson. This game really holds up, but honestly deserves a reboot. “Somebody call tha doctah!”

8. Slugfest 2003 (2002)

There were a few baseball games that didn’t make the cut because I didn’t want a baseball heavy list, but I couldn’t leave this game out. This is exactly the type of high quality game you’d expect from the company that brought us classics like NBA Jam and NFL Blitz. It’s hard to capture all the nuance of an intricate game like baseball, and this game doesn’t try. A great arcade style game knows what parts of the game to embrace. From the break-neck pace, to physically beating a runner off the bag, Slugfest manages to give us baseball and everything we wish baseball was.

7. Mutant League Hockey (1994)

A great theme is nothing if you don’t get the sport right. The ridiculous on-ice animations and over the top team characters elevate an already incredibly solid hockey game. It’s easy to see why this is a cult classic. Mutant League was even supposed to get its own cartoon at one point. It’s slimy, it’s bloody, it’s violent and it’s perfect. That’s why it’s number 7 on our list.

6. NBA Street Vol 2 (2003)

This won’t be the last time we see an EA Big title on this list. The street series was great in early and mid 2000s. NBA Street Vol 2 is a 3-on-3 basketball game. It feels and presents similar to NBA Jam, only with ten more years of graphical capabilities under its belt. A big one for me is that this game features Michael Jordan who played for the Wizards in 2003, but is also featured 1985 and 1996 Jordan. NBA Street also features four unique game modes and an incredible soundtrack. This game is the ultimate no brainer, and I probably should have put it higher on this list.

5. NFL Street (2004)

NFL Street is another great game published under the EA Big label. I love this game because it’s simple, which is a common theme on this list. Similar to NBA Street 2, this game took what came before and really elevated the overall presentation. What really stands out with this game is the art direction. There’s so much synergy between the field locations, character models, music and even the game cover. There’s nothing not to love here.

4. NFL Blitz (1997)

Here we go. I first experienced NFL Blitz in the form of a standup arcade cabinet, and it blew me away. It’s probably the purest arcade sports game on the list. I really struggled with leaving Techmo Super Bowl off this list, but this is what Techmo would have been had it not been so technology constrained. Violence is always great for an arcade sports game, and Blitz sprinkles in just enough. The tackle animations are over the top, and dropping an elbow after the whistle never gets old. You can also unlock Raiden and Shinnok from Mortal Combat in the N64 version of the game. This game rules. Go play it.

3. Mike Tyson’s Punch-Out!! (1987)

The next few entries are not only great arcade style games, but are probably also featured on lots of greatest games of all time lists. Mike Tyson’s Punch Out!! is no exception. This game is hard, but it shouldn’t be easy to knock out Mike Tyson. I’ll admit. I never beat Mike. This game is a perfect example of taking a sport and not trying to make it realistic. The NES was too limited for a simulation boxing game, and MTPO very wisely found a way around it by making what is essentially a puzzle game with a boxing theme. Don’t get me wrong, there’s plenty of punching, but every boxer you face requires a different strategy to defeat. ”Everyone hath a plan ‘til they get punched in the mouth”

2. NBA JAM (1993)

WELCOME TO NBA JAM Jam jam.. We’re getting into the “what hasn’t already been said” area of the list. You know it. You love it. Two on two arcade style basketball. Everything in this game from the menu, to the music, to the announcer commentary, to the dunk animations is truly iconic. The “on fire” mechanic is such a fun little touch. I do wish this game had Michael Jordan, but due to a licensing issue, he is absent. Shaq is also a notable absence, although he did appear in the arcade cabinet version. The list of secret characters in this game go on and on too. You can unlock Bill Clinton, Al Gore, Fresh Prince, DJ Jazzy Jeff, The Beastie Boys, and Heavy D just to name a few. This is the greatest basketball game of all time.

1. Tony Hawks Pro Skater 1–3 (1999,2000,2001)

Is anyone surprised? The original Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater trilogy is too good to just pick one. In fact, this entire list could have been games exclusively from this series. I don’t really know what I could say about these games that you don’t already know. They’re iconic. They’re revolutionary. They’re perfect.