The best sports games can teach any athlete or sports fan lessons on teamwork, competitiveness and having fun. While watching LeBron James dominate the court or seeing our favorite teams in action brings us joy, there’s nothing like the experience of being immersed in their world. Sports video games let us put on the jersey for a couple of hours to play as our favorite athletes, compete against our friends and top teams and even learn new moves.
From NBA 2K to Wii Sports to Just Dance, shop my top 10 picks for yourself or your favorite sports fanatic gamer. The best part? They start at just $16 (which, if you know anything about the price of video games, that’s a steal).
10 Video Games for Sports Fans
- Throwback Thursday: If you still have a Wii console but can’t find any of your old games, grab Wii Sports for fun game nights with the fam. This was my favorite game growing up (yes, I was a boxing champ and beat the bald guy several times), so much so that I practically played it every day. There are five sports to choose from, including baseball, bowling, boxing, golf and tennis — just $60!
- Claim Your Trophy: Become a basketball star in NBA 2K25. This is another personal favorite of mine, even though I’ve only managed to beat my sister in multiplayer mode a few times (I seriously need a new strategy). From athletes like WNBA champion A’ja Wilson to legends like LeBron James and Steph Curry, this PlayStation 4 game has it all — just $20!
- Ready, Set, Hut: Master your drills and tackle opponents in Madden NFL 26 for PlayStation 5. Featuring a team-building setting, players can build their own roster of football stars and design their own uniforms — just $70!
- Step Into the Ring: Dive into the world of professional wrestling in WWE 2K24. Recreate iconic WrestleMania moments, discover new match types, build a superstar roster of fighters or take on the role of general manager. For Playstation 5 — just $20!
- Dance the Night Away: Jam out to artists like Shakira, Dua Lipa and Ciara in Just Dance 2022. Players can go beginner mode or dive right into full-on sweat mode while listening to any of the 40 tracks, and you can even create custom playlists. For Nintendo Switch — just $34!
- Go Big or Go Home: Team up with your friends and fellow soccer players in a 5v5 rush match in EA Sports FC 25. This Xbox Series X game lets you select from players like Jude Bellingham and players from the top five women’s leagues. Choose a career as a manager or master dribbling, kicking and more — just $29!
- Soccer Superstar: If you’d rather have the 2024 version, snag this EA Sports FC 24 game for just $20. Make soccer history by choosing from over 19,000 players, 700 teams and 30 leagues. For PlayStation 5 — just $20!
- Shred Some Pipes: Play two games in one with the epic Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 1+2 Game. In this fully remastered PlayStation 4 version, you can skate all around the city, discover new moves and perform aerials, flips, grinds and more — just $26!
- Ice Hockey Champ: Calling all Hockey fanatics! Skate like a pro, defend your territory (aka your goal) and master your swinging and puck-hitting skills in NHL 22. Select your favorite players from the Toronto Maple Leafs, Washington Capitals, the New York Rangers and many more teams. For PlayStation 4 — just $16!
- Batter Up: You didn’t think we’d forget about the baseball players, did you? Take your baseball career to the Hall of Fame in MLB The Show 25 for Nintendo Switch. Craft a legacy by choosing your favorite teams and ball players and collect cool player cards in Diamond Dynasty 360: mode — just $40!
