Last Updated on 25 April, 2024
Anyone who’s ever played one will know that sports games have a special excitement all of their own.
Admittedly, no one’s trying to ambush and kill you while you play, and no flesh-eating zombies are on your trail. But the excitement of the competition more than makes up for that. Better still, you don’t just watch your sporting heroes in action, you can actually be them in some games.
Plus, you’ll get the chance to do something beyond your reach in real life like compete in the World Series or score the winning touchdown in the Super Bowl.
So, for all you armchair champions out there, here are six of the very best sporting video games that have been released for 2024.
EA Sports FC 24
While some people were imagining that when the much-loved FIFA was transformed into FC 24 by EA Sports it might lose some of its polish and magic. Luckily, they couldn’t be more wrong. FC 24 includes many improvements and developments. One of these has been the huge expansion of the number of players and teams – an extra 19,000 playing in 700 more teams in 30 different leagues. It’s also strengthened links with the real world of football by making treble winners Manchester City the number one team – just like they often are in the sports betting markets.
Madden NFL 24
There has been some criticism in the past that the leading NFL game doesn’t really progress much from edition to edition. But that doesn’t matter so much when a game is this good. The on-pitch action is always exciting. Particular highlights include the Ultimate Team element as well as the Skill Trainer that can work miracles in making you a far better all-round player of the game. An even more intense experience is waiting for you in Superstar Showdown when you can participate in 3 v 3 or 6 v 6 contests within the arena.
NBA 2K 24
Of all of the basketball games out there, NBA 2K 24 is the one that most realistically recreates the on-court experience. It looks, sound and feels like the real thing and a lot of this has to do with the innovative ProPlay feature. This takes actual NBA footage and uses sophisticated AI to translate it into game animations. So, the action is smoother than ever before, making for an even more satisfying gaming experience. Not only does this make players like the game version of LeBron James look more like the real thing than ever, players off the ball put up a more effective defence than ever before.
NHL 24
If you’re looking for another game that accurately reflects the real thing, it’s time to strap on your skates and head for the ice. NHL 24 is fast moving, and you’ll do well to spend some time perfecting your body-checking skills to bring your opponents into line. Other features like the sustained pressure system mean that you have to be at the top of your game while the goalie fatigue feature can create some much-needed openings for you.
There’s also the equivalent of Madden’s 3 v 3 mode. In this case it’s just called Threes – and it makes for the perfect way for a rookie player to develop their skills.
MLB The Show 24
Arguably, the two greatest elements of MLB The Show 24 are its accuracy in following the real world of baseball and its respect for the game’s history. The first is demonstrated by the fact that it includes some of the new rules introduced into MLB this season including larger bases and different pickoff regulations. In terms of the sport’s history this is represented both by the second edition of the storytelling feature about The Negro Leagues as well as the chance to re-enact key moments from the career of the Yankees’ shortstop Derek Jeter, along with commentary from the player himself.
WWE 2K24
There’s a general consensus amongst wrestling fans that with each new edition of WWE 2k, the game just goes on getting and better. As a sport, wrestling is all about the personalities and styles of the fighters and here they are very accurately represented. In fact, pretty much every other aspect of the game is superb including the ability to throw objects like microphones and chairs at your opponent in the ring. Talk about copying reality! The online multiplayer mode also makes tag matches much more fun as well as making for some real chaos in the ring.
Conclusion
So, with plenty more games on the way later in 2024 including the much-anticipated EA Sports College Football 25, this really is shaping up to be a classic year for sports games – and there’s been no better time to get into them.
