Gamereactor’s Gamer Guides: essential sports –

As we have done in these previous Gamereactor Gamer Guides, we look again here to highlight a few great and timeless sports titles that everyone should play at least once. The main catch this time is that, unlike most other genres, sports games tend to be annual releases, meaning it makes little sense to include FIFA 15 on this list, compared to its modern equivalents that the game is dated and much harder to find. Therefore, in this list we have focused on games that are classics, current or still easily accessible. Essentially, you will not find Madden, FIFA/EA Sports FC, NBA 2K, PGA Tour 2K, UFC, NHL, Football Manager, PES/eFootball, WWE 2K, and so on on this list.

We also stick exclusively to sports games here, so keep an eye out for our Essential Racing picks in the near future, where you’ll find Rocket League instead, so don’t worry!

Don’t miss: Essential Action, Essential Adventure, Essential Platform and Essential RPG, Essential Puzzle

5. Beating out

You can’t have a list of essential sports without mentioning one of the most iconic and infamous sports games of all time. Punch-Out, also known as Mike Tyson’s Punch-Out, is a beloved arcade classic that really exploded to grand proportions in 1987 after a few earlier installments as an arcade cabinet exclusive. Although the game is probably best known today for its inspired mini-games in titles like WarioWare, it is still widely accessible in its original form via collections and emulators.

4. EA Sports PGA tour

There’s not really much separating EA Sports PGA Tour and 2K’s alternative, and the reason EA’s option makes the cut is because it’s not an annual title. Last year’s great return to the world of simulated golf still rules as the current model and is one of the best ways to experience PGA golf digitally, thanks to the inclusion of all the Majors and numerous legendary courses from around the world.

3. Mario Strikers: Battle League soccer

In the same vein as the above, Mario Strikers: Battle League Football makes the list because not only is it the most recent and accessible entry in the series, but it’s also not an annual experience like the EA Sports FC titles. If you want simulated soccer, EA’s offerings are the better choice, but unlike Nintendo’s arcade approach, there comes a time every 12 months when you have to replace that game to keep enjoying it at its best. Mario Strikers remains a fantastic soccer offering and also a great way to entertain the whole family.

2. Skating 3

There is a world where Session: Skate Sim or even the upcoming Skate reboot takes this spot. For now, the best skateboarding video game on the market is still Skate 3. The 2010 title is still on sale and even playable on services like Game Pass and EA Play, offering the most complete skateboarding experience we’ve seen to date and all in a cooperative world that is one big playground. If you like shredding, this game is a necessity to play.

Honorable mention: Wii Sports

We couldn’t have a list of essential sports without mentioning Wii Sports, one of the best-selling games of all time. The reason why it didn’t make the actual numbered list is because Nintendo recently decided to launch sequels and then finally Nintendo Switch Sports, most of which are a shadow of the brilliance that Wii Sports captured when it originally launched as an initial debut companion to the Wii in 2006. If you haven’t played this game, you are probably among the minority, but if you can get your hands on a Wii and a copy of this game, you won’t regret finally giving it a try.

1. Riders Republic

When it comes to extreme sports, there are no better complete experiences than Ubisoft’s Riders Republic. Combining cycling, skiing, snowboarding, wingsuits and a plethora of other DLC sports, this is a game that lets you do tricks and just have fun in an open-world sports paradise in a fictional American state. There are currently fewer more diverse and comprehensive options available than this game, which is still so relatively fresh that you can also expect constant new updates and additional content. Riders Republic is for those who live and breathe extreme sports action.