The Best Sports Related Games Available in 2024
Elen StelmakhFew gaming genres can generate the same type of nostalgia and competition as sports games. Over the last twenty years, many of the top console-based sporting games have added new dimensions to their overall quality, with many becoming global stalwarts in their genre—from NFL Madden to FIFA.
Sports games don’t just cover console games, of course. Still, with billions of dollars at stake for the companies that can create genuinely innovative and engaging games - they’re a driving force behind the industry’s broader success. We’ll focus on some of these top titles and see which other miscellaneous sports games we believe make the cut for the best sports related games released so far this year.
Sports Betting & Fantasy Games
Betting on sports is such a vast sector, and as the internet continues to fuel growth, more companies are entering the race to offer their platform to millions of new customers joining the market every year. Given that there are hundreds of platforms and thousands of individual bets available, identifying how to locate the top sportsbooks can save a lot of time and additional stress.
That’s not to say that you’ll end up using a subpar provider, but if you seek out online comments via reviews and other tools, you can soon paint a picture of which sportsbooks are better than others. Reliable sportsbook reviews should be objective and fair and detail the provider's pros and cons. Once you locate a review of for example PointsBet Sportsbook, from a trusted source (WSN.com), that delves into specific betting markets or gives you the breakdown of markets you can find on your favorite sports, there are plenty of games and wagers to sink your teeth into.
Likewise, fantasy games offer a different market. Still, they have a strong correlation with the same sort of statistical breakdown and analysis that comes with sports betting, and it’s a cost-effective option to build your knowledge around your chosen sport. American football, soccer and even MMA all have comprehensive fantasy leagues where you can test your knowledge against people from all over the world to see if your knowledge matches up.
EA Sports FC 24
FIFA games are universally known, dominating the soccer gaming landscape for nearly 30 years. The game is still referred to as FIFA, so why did EA Sports take it upon themselves to perform a name change and a rebrand that nobody actually asked for? That is anyone’s guess.
EA Sports FC 24 is the latest annual installment of the game, and it’s a guaranteed money spinner for the Californian-based sports gaming titan. Although people have leveled some criticism at this game, nothing can match the catalog of verified leagues, players, and teams, not to mention the ferocious online competition that pits thousands of players from all over the world daily.
For its small faults and perhaps not the most blistering EA Sports game ever created, it has such an enormous market share, audience, and genuinely challenging online competition that it still remains one of the top sporting games you can find on the market in 2024.
However, while we’re on the subject of soccer, if you’re more into the tactics and strategic side of the game, you can always check out Football Manager, too, which appeals to those gamers who prefer the long-drawn-out strategy of a season instead of standard gameplay.
NFL Madden 24
Take everything we’ve just said about FIFA, or EA Sports FC 24, whatever it’s called, and apply it to Madden. Another EA Sports juggernaut, Madden, boasts the same type of connections with the major leagues and is so far ahead of its competition that nobody even bothers to check what’s in distant second place anymore.
This alone should speak volumes about how revered NFL Madden is as a sporting game dynasty. As the numbers for the NFL continue to keep it on its perch as America’s most popular sport, it’s only fitting that NFL Madden continues to command the same level of adulation and cement itself as one of the top sporting games of the year.
EA Sports UFC 5
Combat games have always been colossal - whether it’s Tekken, Mortal Kombat, or the original Street Fighter series, which first showcased the incredible potential of the gaming industry. Again, it’s another EA Sports game, and no, EA Sports does not sponsor us, they just so happen to be such a dominant name in the sports gaming field that they take up so many of the top spots.
At the turn of the century, combat sports games were related to boxing—actually, more than one company was in the business of making boxing games. Since the rise of the UFC, an organization that now towers over boxing, EA Sports has stopped making boxing games and has pivoted its focus to mixed martial arts (MMA)—and it’s been a wise move by backing a sport that is growing their audience rather than watching it shrink.
As UFC continues to grow, appealing to new audiences, and boxing continues to decline, engaging games like EA Sports UFC 5 have been able to tune into the thirst for combat sports that still exists among millions of gamers. This latest installment came out in October 2023 and was the first UFC game in three years, so it features all the modern top fighters and the highest-caliber graphics and has a cluster of strong reviews, too.
Honorable Mentions
We don’t want to go all in on EA Sports—even though a number of their games are considered landmark 2024 titles—but 2K also deserves mention for using a smaller budget and scope to still churn out games that appeal to sports gamers. MLB, NHL, and NBA 2K24 are three games that are notably different from EA Sports titles, and while they might not boast the same type of popularity, they still shift millions of units every year.
Gran Turismo 7 is the latest chapter in a game that has spanned many different consoles and generations. While this latest version has been out for two years, it received rave reviews upon its release and won a number of gaming awards. F1 23 is also worth checking out if you’re a motorsports fan.
Elen Stelmakh is a creative individual dedicated to advancing gaming culture through articles and visual design. As a full-time EGamersWorld author and designer for a gaming website, Elen not only creates content but also infuses it with energy and creativity.