The original PlayStation was released on Dec. 3, 1994. Since then, Sony has gone on to release multiple iconic consoles that have had some of the greatest video games of all time.
In that span, some of the most popular titles on any PlayStation system have been sports games.
Whether they’re accurate simulations with popular athletes or arcade titles with an emphasis on fun, multiple games have left their mark on players and video game history as a whole.
This photograph taken on August 4, 2022 shows the Sony home video game console PlayStation 1 belonging to the Charles Cros collection exposed at the Francois-Mitterrand National Library of France in Paris.
BERTRAND GUAY/AFP/Getty Images
In honor of Sony announcing the PlayStation 30th Anniversary Collection, let’s take a look at the sports video games that made a PlayStation console feel even more special.
10. Skate (PS3, 2007)
For the longest time, skateboarding video games were built on pressing buttons and trying to garner as many points as possible in a limited time. This changed with Skate.
Instead of pressing buttons for as many points as humanly possible, tricks were performed by flicking the analog sticks. Because of this, a simple 360 Shove It can feel as satisfying as a 1,000,000-point combo.
While Skate wasn’t a PlayStation exclusive, it was still a necessary title to own if you had a PS3.
9. WWE SmackDown! vs. Raw 2006 (PS2/PSP, 2005)
Since playing sports video games is already a version of sports entertainment, it seems appropriate that a WWE game make it onto this list. While many fans will point to WWE SmackDown! Here Comes the Pain is the best PlayStation-exclusive title, SmackDown! vs. Raw 2006 marks an important distinction in WWE video game history.
This game not only was the first full wrestling game on the PSP, but it also introduced the series to GM mode, one of the most surprisingly fun parts of any WWE video game. Additionally, this was the first time that the Create-An-Entrance mode was introduced.
8. Hot Shots Golf 3 (PS2, 2001)
Known as Everybody’s Golf in Japan, the Hot Shots Golf series added a cartoony charm to the sometimes pretentious sport of golf. But underneath the goofy characters was a surprisingly deep golf simulation that put Tiger Woods PGA Tour to shame.
This was perfected in Hot Shots Golf 3. While it didn’t have fun unlockable characters like Sweet Tooth from Twisted Metal or Ratchet from Ratchet & Clank, Hot Shots Golf 3 was the perfect balance between silliness and quality golf gameplay.
7. ESPN NFL 2K5 (PS2, 2004)
Believe it or not, there was once a time when there were football games other than Madden. And even though the ESPN NFL 2K series never sold as well as its better-advertised counterpart, it left it in the dust when it came to gameplay.
ESPN NFL 2K5 was the pinnacle of this, receiving universal acclaim and becoming one of the highest-rated American football games of all time. With better presentation and an innovative first-person mode, people still have hope that the franchise will somehow return. However, with Madden’s exclusivity deal with the NFL, that remains unlikely.
6. Burnout 3: Takedown (PS2, 2004, Exclusive in Japan)
Combining classic racing gameplay with the destructive nature of Twisted Metal, Burnout 3: Takedown separated itself from the pack of iconic racing franchises by making crashing an essential part of gameplay instead of something you wanted to avoid.
Players could use Takedowns to eliminate opponents and give them an edge in a race. Additionally, there were two modes built around destruction: Road Rage and Crash Mode, where you would try and cause as much destruction as possible.
5. SSX Tricky (PS2, 2001)
Some of the best sports games of the PS2 era came from EA Sports BIG. These were more arcade sports games that favored style and fun gameplay over accurate simulation.
While it wasn’t the first game published by the studio, SSX Tricky set the tone. With colorful visuals and an incredible soundtrack, SSX Tricky grabbed gamer’s attention and refused to let go, making it one of the best snowboarding games ever made.
4. Gran Turismo 3: A-Spec (PS2, 2001)
The best-selling series on PlayStation systems isn’t Final Fantasy, God of War, or Grand Theft Auto. Instead, that honor belongs to Gran Turismo, with over 90 million units sold.
While the series has continued to release titles until 2022, the best version came in 2001 on the PS2. With more of an emphasis on graphics and accurate controls, Gran Turismo 3: A-Spec marked a landmark shift in that generation of consoles and the sim racing genre altogether.
3. NBA Street Vol. 2 (PS2, 2003, Exclusive in Japan)
Also published under the EA Sports BIG label, NBA Street Vol. 2 took everything that worked in the first game and just made it better. Emphasizing style and flashy moves over fundamentals, just like any good game of 3-on-3 streetball.
It was also exciting to play with current NBA players as well as legends like Magic Johnson and Larry Bird. Additionally, you could face off against a team of Michael Jordans, one of the most challenging prospects in video game basketball history.
2. Rocket League (PS4, 2015)
Sometimes, the best ideas are the most simple. People like cars, people like soccer. Why not combine them? Add in crisp graphics and a fun trick system, and you have one of the most popular sports games ever made.
Easy to pick up and difficult to master, Rocket League combines the joys of racing and soccer into one incredible package. The game is simultaneously perfect for casual audiences and professional eSport athletes.
1. Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater (PS1, 1999)
Trying to decide the best Tony Hawk game is a difficult task, with multiple titles ranked as the best-reviewed games on whatever system they appear on.
In the end, the honor had to go to the original. While Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 2 and Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 3 perfected the formula and Tony Hawk’s Underground had a surprisingly compelling story, nothing can match the cultural impact left by the first game in the series.
If you want to experience the first two games with modern graphics and controls, Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 1+2 is a great choice.
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