Many gamers are familiar with Pong, which came out in 1972. However, few realize that in the very same year, a volleyball game simply titled Volleyball was also released for the Magnavox Odyssey. Bopping an item back and forth has always been a fun part of gaming, and even today, there are a slew of titles that offer the same volleying action. Sports fans may have already played the best tennis games and now want their fix of bumping, setting, and spiking.

Related

What Nintendo Switch Sports Gets Right About Volleyball

Nintendo Switch Sports' Volleyball is the best sport of the six, but the game is worth the price tag for its casual and competitive versatility.

There are plenty of notable volleyball video games, from retro favorites on the SNES to hidden gems on the PS2 and GameCube and more modern games on the Switch.

10 Kings of the Beach

Metascore: Not Available

• Platform: Nintendo Entertainment System, Commodore 64, Commodore 128, DOS, MS-DOS
• Released: 1988
• Developer: Electronic Arts, Konami
• Genre: Sports

It’s not always fair to criticize the gameplay on older systems. However, it’s difficult not to comment on the lack of movement and clunky controls in older volleyball games on the Atari, NES, SNES, and Game Gear.

With faster gameplay and mini tantrums after a point, Kings of the Beach is a retro game that still holds up today. Most gamers will opt for the downloadable version on the PC rather than the console version on the NES. Both versions offer the same overly tan, tank top-wearing characters and satisfying retro 8-bit sound effects during the volley.

9 Power Spike: Pro Beach Volleyball

Metascore: 48

• Platform: Microsoft Windows, PlayStation, Game Boy Color
• Released: October 27, 2000
• Developer: Carapace Game Development, Spark Creative
• Genre: Sports

Power Spike: Pro Beach Volleyball isn’t in the conversation for the absolute best volleyball game, reflected by its lackluster Metascore, but it still offers a fun time for fans of the sport and is worth picking up at a cheap price.

One of the main issues with the game is a phenomenon in real volleyball called a campfire, which is when a ball lands on the ground in the middle of two to five people. With Power Spike: Pro Beach Volleyball's narrow court and the camera pulled back behind the players, it can be difficult to tell where the ball is going to land, causing campfires to burn brightly when playing this game with two players on the same team. Despite this drawback, Power Spike: Pro Beach Volleyball is still a decent game and fun enough to earn a spot on this list.

8 Mario & Sonic at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games

Metascore: 60

• Platform: Wii U, Nintendo DS
• Released: February 18, 2016
• Developer: Sega Sports R&D, Arzest/Spike Chunsoft
• Genre: Sports, Party

Mario Party Superstars on the Switch has a volleyball mini-game, but back in 2016, this sports game on the Wii U was the first to have the beloved characters on the court. This time, Sonic and his best friends are also in on the action.

In the game, players can choose from 42 characters from both franchises. Each character has stats for speed, power, and technique, which make a difference when it comes to their skill level. Aside from beach volleyball, players can compete in many other events such as golf, swimming, boxing, and football to name a few.

3:29

Related

Best Tennis Games Of All Time, Ranked

Here are the greatest tennis games of all time, from true-to-life simulators to over-the-top Mario games.

7 Summer Heat Beach Volleyball

Metascore: 65

• Platform: PlayStation 2
• Released: June 30, 2003
• Developer: Acclaim Studios
• Genre: Sports

For another arcade-style beach volleyball game, players can check out Summer Heat Beach Volleyball. This PS2 exclusive is one big beach party with an upbeat soundtrack full of licensed songs.

Listen to “Fat Lip” by Sum 41 or “Get the Party Started” by Pink while volleying back and forth with up to four players. The characters are from different countries, and each has their own set of stats for power, control, and speed. To help with the realism, there is also a mid-game court change and a referee making calls on the sidelines.

6 Nintendo Switch Sports

Metascore: 72

Most volleyball games are played from the comfort of the couch. However, it’s nice to get up and get moving every now and then. Nintendo Switch Sports offers the latter, where players use the motion controls in the Joy-Cons to compete in six sports, including volleyball, offering an intense workout.

Two to four players can hop online or on the same system to play at arcade-style speed. The game boasts crystal clear graphics and easy trackability with circular light indicators on the court. Think of it as Wii Sports for a new generation.

5 Dead or Alive: Xtreme Beach Volleyball

Metascore: 73

There are many fun games in the Dead or Alive series including fighting games, gambling simulators, and three volleyball spin-offs. Dead or Alive: Xtreme Beach Volleyball, released in 2003, was the first of these spin-offs.

Players compete in volleyball doubles on Zack Island. Choose from eight playable female characters, and select a difficult rating for the computers as unwilling, usual, or confident. With an upbeat soundtrack and gratuitous bathing suits, Dead or Alive: Xtreme Beach Volleyball isn’t necessarily a game for hardcore Olympians. However, it’s still regarded as one of the best volleyball games of all time.

Related

Every Dead Or Alive Game, Ranked

Team Ninja's Dead or Alive has been around since 1996, and some of the fighting franchise's entries are better than others.

4 Beach Spikers

Metascore: 76

• Platform: GameCube
• Released: 2001
• Developer: Sega AM2
• Genre: Sports

Some volleyball games are hard to follow, especially older titles on the NES and Atari. Players won’t have that trouble with Beach Spikers, released only on the GameCube in 2001.

Each character is marked by a floating triangle and a large matching circle on the court, so it’s easy to see their positioning. There are also customizable players, nine stages with real sponsors, and the ability to serve and spike at max power. Pro tip: Choose “easy” for the rally setting, or the ball gets out of control the longer it goes back and forth. Overall, Beach Spikers is a hidden gem on the GameCube that’s worth playing.

3 Outlaw Volleyball

Metascore: 77

• Platform: PlayStation 2, Xbox
• Released: July 9, 2003
• Developer: Hypnotix
• Genre: Sports

Not everyone is an elite player. Outlaw Volleyball is the title to seek to keep the game casual, trashy, and full of fist fights. There’s also a spin-off subtitled Red Hot where players compete in the fiery pits of the underworld.

Both versions of the game are defined by cringy dialogue and commentary, characters in skimpy outfits, mullets, tattoos, and gloating via dancing. One to four players can compete in a regular match or opt for Hot Potato, where the ball is a ticking bomb that explodes upon impact. There is also the Casino Round, where the longer the rally, the higher the payout. These unique game modes are what set Outlaw apart from other volleyball games.

2 The Spike

Steam Rating: 84% Very Positive

• Platform: Steam
• Released: June 5, 2020
• Developer: SUNCYAN studio
• Genre: Sports

In real volleyball, two or six players are on the court at one time, and each match is played up to 25 points. The Spike mixes up the formula. There are three players on each side, and the rally scoring only goes up to five points.

Despite its disregard for the rules of volleyball, The Spike is a blast on the PC and generally has positive reviews. The game has the vintage aesthetic of older titles like Hyper V-Ball on the SNES or Malibu Bikini Volleyball on the Atari, but with modern controls, it’s significantly more playable.

1 Volleyball Unbound

Steam Rating: 93% Very Positive

• Platform: Steam
• Released: December 16, 2016
• Developer: Great Boolean
• Genre: Sports

For a volleyball game with modern graphics, many players are turning to Volleyball Unbound on Steam. Compete on the beach in various locations with two players on each side of the court.

On the Steam community page, Unbound is described as “a realistic beach volleyball video game.” Up to 16 people can play in Hot Seat Mode, but there is also a 4-season Career Mode for anyone ready for a marathon. Volleyball Unbound is a sports game with impressive graphics, but its real appeal is in how authent to real volleyball it is.

More

7 Best indie Sports Games, Ranked

As the AAA sports game market continues to stagnate, these indie sports games have stepped in to offer something new and exciting to the genre.