What are the best sports games on PC? For the longest time, publishers were reluctant to bring their best-selling sports games to PC. Besides EA’s annual FIFA release and Sports Interactive’s Football Manager series, the sports genre on PC has been pretty sparse up until recently. Nowadays, no matter what sport you’re into, you should find something to scratch that competitive itch.
There used to be a time when console versions of sports games used to be superior in terms of the player base, graphics, and more. Fortunately, crossplay has drastically changed everything for PC players, putting them on the same footing as their console brethren. The PC versions of sports games have much to offer, including support for high refresh rates and resolutions beyond 4K. Ever wanted a view of the entire pitch in a football game? That’s entirely possible on PC.
Nowadays, you can find most sports games on PC with almost no compromises. Sure, you can’t get some games like UFC 4 and MLB The Show 21, but who needs those when you’ve got Street Fighter V and Super Mega Baseball 3? Here are some of our top picks for the best sports games on PC.
Here are the best sports games:
Football Manager 23
The Football Manager series is known for being one of the most in-depth and strategic sports games of all time. Football Manager 23 puts you in the shoes of the next Pep Guardiola as you manage your squad of irritable players while trying to deal with a tight transfer budget.
Football Manager contains databases filled with thousands of players, complete with detailed information about each individual’s playing style and potential. Whether you decide to take a non-league team up through the ranks to glory or you’d rather dominate with a Super League team, Football Manager 23 gives you the tools to become the greatest manager of all time. We’ve already put some time into the game to pick out the best Football Manager 2023 wonderkids and the best teams to manage for a challenge.
Super Mega Baseball 3
When it comes to baseball games on PC, it’s fair to say we don’t have many options. Thankfully, Metalhead Software’s excellent baseball series provides an alternative to the licensed games available on console. The devs have focused on creating an accessible experience that is easy to pick up and play. Don’t let the cartoon aesthetic fool you -Super Mega Baseball 3 contains a lot of depth both on and off the field.
You can focus entirely on the multiplayer aspect of the game, but there’s plenty of single-player content worth exploring. A new addition to the series is the Franchise mode, which spans several years this time around instead of being focused on a sole season. Build a strong team and watch them dominate the sport as you take them from humble beginnings to the grand heights baseball has to offer.
FIFA 23
The FIFA series has been a staple of PC gaming since the ’90s. Though there have been some awkward years between engine upgrades, EA has generally stuck by its PC audience and FIFA 23 is probably the best PC release in recent years, especially as it’s now using the same next-gen tech as its more supported console counterpart. You can read our FIFA 23 review for our complete thoughts.
FIFA has dominated the football scene ever since Ultimate Team was introduced to the masses with FIFA 11. The card game has completely changed sports games as players clamor around the latest additions to the game mode each week. Assembling your favorite players from the past and present is simply too tempting a prospect to ignore, so naturally, we’ve got a heap of guides to help you out, from the FIFA 23 Around the World SBC solution to the cheapest 85 rated players.
eFootball PES 2021
You can’t mention FIFA without bringing up the Pro Evo series or eFootball PES as it is known today. Pro Evolution Soccer has been around on PC for almost two decades now, and while it may not be as popular as the FIFA series, it certainly has its share of hardcore fans. eFootball PES 2021 is known for its realistic take on football, giving players considerably more control over each individual player compared to FIFA.
The latest version of eFootball 2022 is a bit of a mess… it’s probably best that we don’t talk about the new version. Remember, there’s nothing wrong with PES 2021, so if you want to play a very different football game to FIFA 22, this is your best bet.
Madden NFL 22
The NFL series has only recently made its way back to the PC space after a long hiatus. Madden NFL 22 is the only option when it comes to American Football games – there literally aren’t any other American Football games out there. Thankfully, Madden 22 is the same game as its console counterparts, so PC players don’t have to feel bad about missing out on anything.
There have been some criticisms of the Madden series over the past few years regarding complacency due to the lack of competition. Madden 22 is far from the best game in the series; like with any sports team, fans have to take the rough with the smooth. And while Madden 23 is on Steam, the PC release is even shakier than 22, so you may want to wait for some improvements.
Golf With Your Friends
Golf With Your Friends is exactly what it sounds like – play with up to 11 friends as you make your way through themed mini-golf courses. Turn on power-ups to freeze your opponent’s ball, and lay down lanes of honey to stop players in their tracks. The game even comes with a built-in level editor for players who have a keen eye for golf courses.
Golf With Your Friends can be played simultaneously online or locally via the hot seat option, perfect with Steam’s Remote Play feature. The best part about this game is that the barrier to entry doesn’t exist – no real-life golf skills apply here; simply pick a direction, decide how hard to hit the ball, and pray for the best.
NBA 2K22
If you’re primarily playing offline, NBA 2K22 is an excellent game with a lengthy MyCareer story mode for solo players to delve into. Not only do you have the entire selection of modern teams available to play, 2K22 offers players several classic teams throughout NBA history to pick from. Want to see how the 2021 Golden State Warriors stack up against the Chicago Bulls from ‘96? You can play matchups like this without having to spend any extra money.
NBA 2K22 is the definitive basketball game on PC, and it’s also the only basketball series available right now. Almost every version of NBA 2K is filled with cheaters that the developers are struggling to squash; unfortunately, this makes online matches more frustrating than enjoyable.
NBA2K24 is now out, along with the small trickle of NBA2K24 locker codes, and it looks to be a vast improvement, but it’s early days yet. If you’re content with the slightly older rosters of 2K22, you’re still getting a great game out of it, even though it’s not the newest version.
Riders Republic
Riders Republic is the spiritual successor to Steep, the extreme sports game released back in 2016. There’s so much to do in Rider Republic’s massive open world, which stitches together seven national parks from the United States to create a huge map. Up to 64 players can compete against each other in wingsuit flying, skiing, snowboarding, and mountain biking to prove who the best rider is.
You don’t have to compete against other players to have a good time, but overtaking your friends as you slice through the terrain at extreme speeds is a deeply satisfying feeling. Check out our Riders Republic review to see our final verdict on Ubisoft’s sprawling open-world game.
Rocket League
Rocket League is one of the best football games of all time. Yes, it replaces a team of 11 players with three rocket-powered cars, potentially adorned with a stack of pancakes or a sombrero, and it’s still an excellent football game. The FIFA and PES communities constantly bicker amongst themselves about scripted gameplay and pay-to-win mechanics; you won’t hear any of that about Rocket League.
Psyonix has perfected the mechanics of Rocket League, allowing the game to be accessible to most people while maintaining an absurdly high skill ceiling. The esports scene for Rocket League shows just how much depth there is to a game about flying cars. Even better, Rocket League is one of the best free PC games and features cross-platform play on every platform. If you have the slightest interest in hitting a massive ball with a flying car, give Rocket League a try.
THPS 1 + 2
Vicarious Visions’ Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 1 + 2 remake takes everything you remember about these classic skateboard games and makes them modern. The Tony Hawk series evolved quickly when it first appeared in 1999, launching a sequel with larger levels and improved mechanics for eight consecutive years.
The original Tony Hawk games still hold up today, but the important mechanics introduced in the later games can make them difficult to go back to. This remake brings together the best aspects of the series and ties them in with the first two games to create a masterpiece. Whether you’re looking to shred with your mates locally or you want to see how you fare online, Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 1 + 2 features robust multiplayer options to suit every type of player.
Who said there weren’t any sports games on PC? Basketball, football, rocket-powered vehicular football… whatever you want, it’s on PC. We know there are some sports that just aren’t available – apologies to any NHL fans out there, maybe one day, we’ll get an ice hockey game from EA. Want to know what’s coming out later this year? Check out our list of the best upcoming PC games to find out what games are heading your way.
