Competitive games—the real-world type, not the esports type—have been with humankind nearly since the beginning. They've served as entertainment, much-need distraction from the daily grind, and a spark for social change. As technology's advanced, sports have expanded from playgrounds and stadiums to television and video games.
The PC may not be the first place to go when you're in the mood to play a sports game. After all, the platform lacks the popular MLB The Show titles and NHL games of any sort. The platform does have the FIFA, Madden NFL, and NBA 2K games, but we haven't included their latest versions here because they're either buggy or ho-hum affairs. Still, there are plenty of quality sports-based PC games, particularly if you don't care about realism or league licenses. These are our favorites.
Baseball Stars 2
Decades after its Neo Geo arcade debut, SNK's classic baseball title remains one of the best arcade-style sports games ever made—even without a Major League Baseball license.
Baseball Stars 2 captures the sports' essence via two leagues, 18 larger-than-life fictional teams, simple controls, oodles of charming animations, and incredible cut scenes that highlight tense moments, such as a play at the plate or a batter punching a pitcher in the face after being on the receiving end of a beanball.
Fire Pro Wrestling World
Fire Pro Wrestling World began life as a promising Steam Early Access title. Upon its official release, Spike Chunsoft's "sports" game morphed into one of the most addictive wrasslin' games to grace any platform.
An excellent return to form after the disappointing, avatar-based, Xbox 360-exclusive Fire Pro Wrestling, World has all of the elements that comprise a great Fire Pro game: robust creation tools, a ridiculously deep move set, MMA rules, cage fighting, gimmick matches, and tight controls and match pacing. Online play, Steam Workshop integration for uploading and downloading content, and optional New Japan Pro Wrestling DLC makes Fire Pro Wrestling World the best in its series.
Please note that this review score reflects Fire Pro Wrestling World as it appeared in Steam Early Access. An updated review is coming soon.
Football Manager 2020
SEGA's Football Manager series is an enigma to many outside observers, but its seemingly niche appeal has grown into a borderline obsession for a large, passionate fan base. This soccer simulation is an insanely detailed, text-heavy simulation of the world's most popular sport, wherein you take on the role of club manager overseeing player transfers, on-field tactics, staff instructions, and everything in between in a bid to lead your club to glory.
Football Manager 2020 builds upon the 2018 version we reviewed by including graphics improvements, new backroom staff roles, an an updated match engine. If you want to participate in the beautiful game, but lack Ronaldo-like skills, Football Manager is the next best thing to playing for your favorite squad.
Mutant Football League
Football is a bad sport. Yes, it's beloved by millions, but the concussions that result from giants hurling themselves at each other are an undeniable problem. The sport is much more enjoyable in video game form, especially arcade-style football, which lets you perform superhuman feats without hideous injuries or annoying flags.
Digital Dream Entertainment's Mutant Football League literally plays by that rule set by pitting skeletons, robots, orcs, aliens, and mutated humans against each other in not-so-friendly gridiron contests featuring landmines and cheat plays. Mutant Football League is definitely worth playing, and not because it's the rare American football PC game that isn't Madden NFL; it's legitimately good, despite some annoying dirty trick plays.
Out of the Park Baseball 2021
Unlike the other baseball games mentioned here, the Out of the Park series focuses on deep simulation rather than button-pressing action. The 2021 edition, like the 2016 version we reviewed, is a numbers-driven, hardcore management game that carries the official Major League Baseball, Major League Baseball Players Association, and Minor League Baseball licenses.
Fresh to Out of the Park 2021 is a ballpark construction tool, 2020 MLB rules, revamped player cards, in-season tournaments, new statistics, and much more. As a result, you can enjoy the sport's on-field and front office elements like never before.
Rocket League
The Psyonix-developed Rocket League is a prime example of a video game that wants you do to one thing and one thing only: have pure, uncut fun. This oddball sports title blends RC racing's charms with soccer's heated, team-based competition, and adds plenty of over-the-top spectacle (big goals, wild saves) to keep every match interesting.
Rocket League is just as fun during your first hour as it is during your twentieth; there are very few multiplayer games that utilize addictive simplicity as effectively. It even supports cross-platform play with console players, so you can always find a match.
Super Mega Baseball 3
Super Mega Baseball 3, with its focus on near-superhuman athletes and their copious stats, is, in essence, an interactive baseball card. Metalhead Software's latest title is a snapshot of what makes the sport an internationally beloved game, as it inserts you into a world where dingers go deep, showboats flex their super-sized biceps, and pitcher-batter matchups are tense games of cat and mouse.
This third entry brings with it new on-field improvements, player traits, front office happenings, and gameplay modes for both default and custom ball clubs that push the series deeper into simulation territory. The new Pennant Race mode delivers cross-platform play with console ballplayers, too.
Despite light frame rate issues and other minor complaints, Super Mega Baseball 3 is the best title in the series to date and an outstanding PC game.