The sports genre of gaming has received a lot of stick lately. EA's FIFA and Madden games have continued to frustrate players with their emphasis on pay-to-win Ultimate Team modes, while 2K Sports have failed to impress with their latest NBA and WWE releases. Consequently, the perception of sports gaming has been freefalling in recent years, which is deterring new players from giving the genre a try.
This general perception is unfortunate, as the sports genre can provide some of the most enjoyable entertainment in gaming, particularly with friends. Thankfully, there are a handful of casual sports games that work as perfect gateways for getting new players into the genre.
7 Mario Kart Series
The Mario Kart series has been a staple of the casual sports genre since the first game, Super Mario Kart, was released all the way back in August 1992. The series initially turned heads with its novel concept, though it's been the consistent quality of each game that has made the Mario Kart series so highly regarded.
The most recent main series entry in the franchise, Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, is the best way to play the franchise today, as it's hard not to crack a smile when racing around the wonderfully designed tracks while stopping opponents in their tracks with bananas, turtle shells, and more.
6 Super Mega Baseball 3
Super Mega Baseball 3 is a good example of how great un-licensed sports games can be. Metalhead Software's game can't hold a candle to the presentation quality of MLB The Show, but the gameplay, which is what truly matters, is top-tier entertainment.
Super Mega Baseball 3 removes much of the realism that MLB The Show provides and offers a more simple and streamlined experience that clearly favors fun above all else.
5 Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 1 + 2
Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 1 + 2 was always going to be a success, as it took two of the most critically acclaimed sports games of all time and remastered them with a beautiful fresh coat of paint.
Players certainly don't need to be skateboarding fans to enjoy Pro Skater 1 + 2, as although the extreme sport is front and center of the game, the quintessential gameplay can be enjoyed by anyone, and the fleshed-out levels are just as enjoyable to ride around today as they were in the late 90s and early 2000s.
4 Rocket League
Rocket League puts players in rocket-powered cars and throws them into an arena for a game of soccer. This idea sounds like great fun on paper, though there was an aura of doubt around Rocket League prior to its release, as many people thought that the game would be little more than a gimmick.
Thankfully, Rocket League didn't disappoint, as Psyonix developed a fantastic sports game that is easy and fun for new players to pick up and play, but also has a ton of depth and complexity to its gameplay that has helped make Rocket League a leading Esport.
3 Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games Series
Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games is the second Mario sports game to appear on this list, and there easily could have been more with Mario Golf, Mario Tennis, and many other Mario sports titles providing hours of fun.
However, Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games gets the nod ahead of these franchises for its diversity. The wide range of sports available in each game offers fantastic variety to the gameplay and ensures that new players will be able to find at least one or two sports that they enjoy.
2 Punch-Out!!
Going back in time to 1987, Mike Tyson's Punch-Out!! has by far the most simple gameplay on this list, though it's still just as addictive today as it was in the late 80s. Mike Tyson's Punch-Out!! starts off easy with Glass Joe, who must be one of the most frequently defeated opponents in gaming history at this point, before increasing in difficulty from fight to fight. This difficulty peaks with the final fight against Mike Tyson, who remains one of the hardest final bosses in history.
Mike Tyson's Punch-Out!! may not look too flashy today, though its simple gameplay combined with an excellent difficulty curve ensures that it's still a fantastic gateway into the sports genre.
1 Wii Sports
Wii Sports is today recognized as one of the best launch titles of all time, which almost no one would have predicted back in 2006 when people were expecting the Wii to be an underwhelming gimmick like the PlayStation 2's EyeToy, which had released just a few years prior. Granted, Wii Sports doesn't come close to the quality of launch titles like Halo: Combat Evolved or Super Mario 64, though it was the perfect advert for the Nintendo Wii's motion controls and spearheaded its eye-watering sales figures.
Like Mike Tyson's Punch-Out, the gameplay in Wii Sports is very simplistic, though it's still a blast to play today. Wii Sports is a fantastic place to start with the sports genre, as it exemplifies how fun the games can be.