Sports gamers unite! It’s time to vote in IGN’s Best Sports Video Game Showdown contest! We’ve created a seeded elimination tournament featuring the 32 greatest sports video games of all time across four highly competitive regions Did. arcade sports; racing/fighting; and wild cards.
Fan vote: March 29, 10:00am PT to April 13, 12:00am PT
Want a chance to win $100 at your favorite digital game store? Visit https://bestsportsgame.ign.com/ Predict which sports video game will win each bracket matchup between March 29th at 10:00am PT and April 13th at 12:00am PT. 10 of his entries will win his $100 gift card for select digital game stores.visit https://bestsportsgame.ign.com/ For more information on sweepstakes.
Related dates:
- Present application period: March 29, 10:00 AM PT – April 13, 12:00 AM PT
- Round 1 “Round of 32” Fan Vote: March 29, 10:00 AM PT to March 30, 10:00 AM PT
- Round 2 “Sweet 16” Fan Vote: March 31, 10:00 AM PT to April 1, 10:00 AM PT
- Round 3 “Elite 8” Fan Vote: April 5, 10:00 AM PT to April 6, 10:00 AM PT
- Round 4 “Final 4” Fan Vote: April 10, 10am PT to April 11, 10am PT
- Round 5 “Championship” Fan Vote: April 12 from 10am PT to April 13 at 10am PT
- WINNER ANNOUNCEMENT: April 15th at 11:59pm PT
Now in the area…
In Region 1, traditional sports titles will play against each other. These simulation-style games aim to replicate the real world game and tend to target hardcore sports fans.
Madden 2005 (2004)
Franchise Lifespan: 1988-Present
IGN Score: 9.5
IGN Review blurbs: “The defensive improvements alone are worth the price of admission.”
NFL 2K5 (2004)
Franchise life: 1999-2004
IGN Score: 9.3
IGN Review blurb: “This game matches Madden in every way and surpasses it in its feature set.”
FIFA Soccer 12 (2011)
Franchise Lifespan: 1993-Present
IGN Score: 9.5
The blurb from the IGN review reads: “The match is more authentic with a more realistic tempo.”
PES 2016 (2015)
Franchise Life: 1995-Present (as eFootball)
IGN Score: 9.5
IGN Review blurb: “Never before have I been so excited, surprised and delighted at a football game.”
NBA 2K14 (2013)
Franchise Lifespan: 1999-Present
IGN Score: 9.3
IGN Review blurbs: “A smooth-flowing professional basketball simulation.”
Tiger Woods PGA Tour 2004 (2003)
Franchise life: 1990-2015
IGN Score: 9.1
IGN review blurb: “One of the best multiplayer titles.”
MVP Baseball 2005 (2005)
Franchise Life: 1995-2002 (as Triple Play). 2003-2007
IGN Score: 9.2
IGN Review blurbs: “MVP 2005 offers the best baseball experience on the market today.”
MLB The Show ’21 (2021)
Franchise Lifespan: 2006-Present
IGN Score: 8.0
IGN Review blurbs: “The best baseball sim you can play on any platform.”
Region 2 consists of arcade-style games with a twist on real sports. They boast a pick-up-and-play style unlike their more traditional counterparts.
NBA Jam Tournament Edition (1995)
Franchise life: 1993-2011
IGN Score: 6.5
The IGN Review blurb reads: “The action is fast-paced and intense, and by limiting the court to four players, the ball moves around quite a bit. Perhaps the best thing about this title is the simplicity of the game design.” Just grab the ball and let it sink!”
golden tee golf (1989)
Franchise Lifespan: 1989-Present
IGN Score: N/A
NHL ’94 (1993)
Franchise Lifespan: 1991-Present
IGN Score: N/A
tecmo super bowl (1991)
Franchise life: 1987-2008
IGN Score: N/A
mario golf world tour (2014)
Franchise life: 1999-2021
IGN Score: 8.6
IGN Review blurb: “Mario Golf strikes an excellent balance of risk and reward.”
mario tennis ace (2018)
Franchise life: 2000-2018
IGN Score: 7.5
IGN Review blurbs: “Colorful and dazzling looking, smartly balanced for forward and backward play.”
NBA Streets Vol. 2 (2003)
Franchise life: 2001-2007
IGN Score: 9.4
IGN Review blurb: “Dunks, players, tricks, music, and the streets.”
NFL Blitz: League II (2008)
Franchise life: 2008-2012
IGN Score: 5.5
IGN Review blurb: “League II brings many of the same conventions as the first league, with moves in Clash and Unleashed available for positive yardage and superior play on defense.”
Region 3 features racing and fighting games. These eight boast intense action on the street and heavy fistfights in the ring.
Forza Horizon 5 (2021)
Franchise life: 2012-2021
IGN Score: 10
IGN review blurbs: “A deep and nuanced automotive paradise for car enthusiasts and car geeks.”
forza motorsport (2005)
Franchise Lifespan: 2005-Present
IGN Score: 9.2
IGN Review blurb: “Forza is a force to be reckoned with, surpassing GT4 in some respects and beating out all others in the simulation department.”
Gran Turismo 3: A Spec (2001)
Franchise Lifespan: 1997-Present
IGN Score: 9.8
IGN Review blurbs: “The best races, the best cars, and the highest quality automotive audio-visual feast available on any gaming system.”
F1 2010 (2010)
Franchise Lifespan: 2000-Present
IGN Score: 8.5
The IGN Review blurb reads: “Instinctively 600bhp through less than half a ton of steel, carbon fiber and rubber in a console you’ve never seen before.”
Need for speed: Hot pursuit (2010)
Franchise Lifespan: 2010- Present
IGN Score: 9.0
IGN Review blurb: “Fully embraces the spirit of adolescent madness and moves with it.”
UFC Undisputed 3 (2012)
Franchise life: 2009-2012
IGN Score: 9.0
IGN Review Blurb: “The amount of new content in UFC Undisputed 3 is staggering.”
Punch out! ! (2009)
Franchise life: 1984-2009
IGN Score: 8.8
IGN review blurb: “Little Mac comes out of retirement and offers Wii owners both familiarity and freshness.”
fight night round 4 (2009)
Franchise life: 2004-2011
IGN Score: 8.8
IGN Review blurb: “Champion is back to reclaim the title”
Region 4 is packed with games that go beyond simple categories. Adrenaline-pumping games, including extreme sports and management simulations.
mario kart 8 (2014)
Franchise Lifespan: 1992-Present
IGN Score: 9.3
IGN Review blurbs: “The best kart racing game Nintendo has made in a long time”.
Wii sports (2006)
Franchise Lifespan: 2006-Present
IGN Score: 8.4
IGN review blurb: “Probably most fun with you and a bunch of friends around the console.”
rocket league (2015)
Franchise Lifespan: 2015-Present
IGN Score: 8.0
IGN review blurb: “A rare example where the execution of a simple, silly idea is so powerful and compelling that it doesn’t need a lot of extra features.”
Football Manager ’23 (2022)
Franchise Lifespan: 2004-Present
IGN Score: N/A
tony hawk pro skater 2 (2000)
Franchise life: 1999-2020
IGN Score: 9.3
IGN review blurb: “One of the best games to grace this console and others.”
WWE No Mercy (2000)
Franchise life: 1999-2012
IGN Score: 9.0
IGN Review blurb: “A great game from top to bottom.”
skate 3 (2010)
Franchise life: 2007-2010
IGN Score: 8.0
IGN review blurb: “Still the most impressive virtual representation of skateboarding.”
SSX Tricky (2001)
Franchise life: 2000-2012
IGN Score: 9.0
IGN review blurb: “Tricky’s style of twisting reality for fun is the way video games should be.”
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