The original PlayStation was launched on December 3, 1994. Since then, Sony has released several iconic consoles featuring some of the greatest video games of all time.
During that time period, some of the most popular titles on the PlayStation system were sports games.
Whether it’s accurate simulations of popular athletes or fun-focused arcade titles, many games have influenced players and the history of video games throughout.
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In celebration of Sony’s announcement of the PlayStation 30th Anniversary Collection, we take a look at the sports video games that made the PlayStation console even more special.
10. Skate (PS3, 2007)
For a long time, skateboarding video games were about pressing buttons and scoring as many points as possible in a limited amount of time. This has changed With skates.
Instead of pressing a button to score as many points as possible, you performed tricks by flicking the analog stick, which made even a simple 360 Shove It feel just as satisfying as a 1,000,000-point combo.
While Skate wasn’t a PlayStation exclusive, it was a must-own title if you had a PS3.
9. WWE SmackDown! vs. Raw 2006 (PS2/PSP, 2005)
It seems fitting that a WWE game would be on this list, as playing sports video games is already a form of sports entertainment. While many fans point to WWE SmackDown! Here Comes the Pain as the best PlayStation exclusive title, SmackDown! vs. Raw 2006 holds a significant mark in WWE video game history.
Not only was this game the first full wrestling game on the PSP, it also introduced GM Mode to the series, one of the more surprisingly fun elements of any WWE video game, plus it was the first to feature Create-An-Entrance mode.
8. Hot Shots Golf 3 (PS2, 2001)
Known in Japan as “Minna no Golf,” the Hot Shots Golf series brought a cartoonish charm to the sometimes-snobbish sport of golf, but beneath the goofy characters was a surprisingly deep golf simulation that even surpassed Tiger Woods’ PGA Tour.
This was perfectly achieved in Hot Shots Golf 3. While it didn’t have any fun unlockable characters like Sweet Tooth from Twisted Metal or Ratchet from Ratchet & Clank, Hot Shots Golf 3 managed to strike the perfect balance between silliness and quality golf gameplay.
7. ESPN NFL 2K5 (PS2, 2004)
Believe it or not, there used to be a football game other than Madden. The ESPN NFL 2K series may not have sold as much as its more heavily promoted sibling, but it far surpassed it in terms of gameplay.
ESPN NFL 2K5 was its pinnacle, receiving universal acclaim and becoming one of the best-rated American football games of all time. People are still hopeful that the series might return in some form with better presentation and an innovative first-person mode, but that remains unlikely due to Madden’s exclusivity deal with the NFL.
6. Burnout 3: Takedown (PS2, 2004, Japan exclusive)
Combining classic racing gameplay with the destructive nature of Twisted Metal, Burnout 3: Takedown sets itself apart from other iconic racing franchises by making crashes a vital part of gameplay rather than something you want to avoid.
Players can use takedowns to eliminate opponents and gain an advantage in races, plus there are two modes built around destruction: Road Rage and Crash mode, where you aim to 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 arcade sports games that emphasized style and fun gameplay over accurate simulation.
Although SSX Tricky wasn’t the studio’s first published game, it set the tone. With colorful visuals and a great soundtrack, SSX Tricky caught and stuck with gamers, becoming one of the best snowboarding games of all time.
4. Gran Turismo 3: A-Spec (PS2, 2001)
The best-selling series on the PlayStation system isn’t Final Fantasy, God of War or Grand Theft Auto. That honor goes to Gran Turismo, which has sold over 90 million copies.
Though the series continues to release titles up until 2022, the best version came out on the PS2 back in 2001. With its focus on graphics and precise control, Gran Turismo 3: A-Spec marked a groundbreaking change for that generation of consoles and the sim racing genre as a whole.
3. NBA Street Vol. 2 (PS2, 2003, Japan exclusive)
NBA Street Vol. 2, released by the EA Sports BIG label, takes everything that worked well with its predecessor and makes it even better. Like any good game of 3v3 streetball, it values style and flashiness over the fundamentals.
I had the pleasure of playing alongside current NBA players as well as legends like Magic Johnson and Larry Bird, and even got to play against the team of Michael Jordan, one of the most formidable video game basketball prospects of all time.
2. Rocket League (PS4, 2015)
Sometimes the simplest ideas are the best ideas. People love cars, and people love soccer. Why not combine them? Add crisp graphics and a fun trick system, and you have one of the most popular sports games of all time.
Easy to pick up, hard to master, Rocket League combines the fun of racing and soccer into one great package, perfect for casual spectators and professional eSport athletes alike.
1. Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater (PS1, 1999)
Deciding on the best Tony Hawk game is a difficult task, as there are multiple titles that rank as the highest-rated games no matter what system they appeared on.
In the end, that honor went to the original: Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 2 and Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 3 perfected the formula, and Tony Hawk’s Underground told a surprisingly compelling story, but nothing can come close to matching the cultural impact that the first game in the series left behind.
If you want to experience the first two games with modern graphics and controls, Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 1+2 is the game for you.
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