For the longest time, EA Sports dominated the world of sports video games. They mostly did this with their Madden NFL series, which has been running for decades. It's still wildly popular but the franchise has hit a snag. Many gamers feel it has become stagnant with no competition in recent years.
With the king knocked off of its throne, two other series have stepped up. Sony's MLB The Show and 2K Sports' NBA 2K. Both have become the unquestioned leaders of their respective sports. They are plenty of reasons for each franchise's success but only one can be the best.
10 2K: Classic Teams
This may seem like an odd thing to consider when trying to figure out the superior franchise but it makes a huge difference. NBA 2K recently added the WNBA to the series, though it wasn't considered for this list because MLB The Show doesn't have a female equivalent to compare it to.
However, MLB The Show could add legendary teams, yet they don't. The NBA 2K franchise is constantly adding new teams, from classic squads of yesteryear to all-time teams for each franchise to all-decade teams. The ability to play as legends is a huge selling point for some gamers.
9 The Show: Diamond Dynasty
To be fair, MLB The Show does offer up the chance to play as iconic players like Ken Griffey Jr., Mike Piazza, and more. However, it's a bit more difficult than simply choosing a team and going at it. To do so, you must enter the Diamond Dynasty mode.
The mode sees the gamer collecting cards of these players that can then be used in a fantasy baseball mode. You get to create your own jerseys and customize other aspects of the team. You'll be able to eventually create a dream lineup. It blends the fun of the game with the pastime of collecting baseball cards.
8 2K: MyCareer
Pretty much every sports game these days offers a mode like this. MyCareer allows you to create your own player and take him through an NBA career. What helps set NBA 2K's version apart is that they go in-depth in terms of developing a storyline for the mode.
The franchise has had real NBA players lend their voices to it. They've also brought in established actors like Michael B. Jordan and Idris Elba to add to the realism. The only major issue is that some fans have complained about the AI logic of your teammates.
7 The Show: Road To The Show
Of course, if NBA 2K has a career mode, then so does MLB The Show. Theirs dates back over a decade and while it has seen some improvements, it hasn't changed a ton. However, the idea of "if it ain't broke, don't fix it" applies here. The mode is beloved by players.
Although it could do with some tweaks, keeping the core of it is important. The individual nature of baseball makes it ideal. You bat, field, and run while only controlling your player. Plus, it is incredibly satisfying to rise up through the ranks of the minor league levels.
6 2K: Presentation
You flat out cannot beat the presentation of the NBA 2K series. The closest MLB The Show can come to it is that they have an MLB Network broadcasting option. Meanwhile, NBA 2K offers up a fun pre-game show with the likes of Ernie Johnson and Shaquille O'Neal.
They also happen to boast the best commentary in any sports game. It always flows smoothly, relates to the action at hand, and feels like you're watching a real basketball game. To top it all off, the game looks incredible. NBA 2K has the best graphics in sports games.
5 The Show: Longevity
One of the main reasons why Madden was on top for so long is that they've been around forever. That franchise began way back in 1988. MLB The Show hasn't been around that long but they did debut in 1997 with MLB '98 on the PlayStation.
Granted, it wasn't until 2006 that "The Show" became part of the title but the franchise was still around. When you've been a series for over two decades, you've built up a loyal fanbase. There are players who will swear by the series each year because they've grown to love it.
4 2K: MyLeague
Other than career modes, having a good franchise mode is a key component of a sports game. Madden revolutionized it for a while when they introduced owner mode and allowed gamers more control than ever before. MLB The Show has a solid one but nobody touches NBA 2K.
Their main franchise mode is called MyLeague. This can be customized into something special. You can run it like a traditional franchise but you do so much more. MyLeague lets you control everything about the NBA if you want, from who makes trades to rule changes to fully customizing every team. It's incredibly in-depth.
3 The Show: Realistic Gameplay
This is not at all a shot at NBA 2K. They easily have the best gameplay that fans have ever seen in a basketball video game. That being said, there are some problems in terms of AI logic and it can be hard to make it truly feel like what is seen on television.
MLB The Show delivers the most realistic gameplay possible. Baseball just moves at a slower pace, which makes it easier to deliver a game that feels realistic. They also nail all of the little things that help make the sport so special in the first place.
2 2K: Dominated Competition
When the NBA 2K franchise debuted at the start of the millennium, there was an existing champion of the sport. EA Sports' NBA Live series was on top for as long as most fans could remember. Over the years, NBA 2K started to take over in terms of both sales and quality.
By the time 2010 hit, NBA Live was basically gone. They renamed the series NBA Elite but it was panned and shelved until 2013. Still, when it returned, it was not in the class of NBA 2K. No other sports franchise has ever dominated the competition like this. Even Madden only became the sole game in football due to a contract when the NFL 2K series was catching up to them.
1 The Show: So Good It's Going Multi-Platform
At first glance, this one might not seem like a big deal. The NBA 2K series has always been available on all major gaming platforms. However, it gets more interesting for MLB The Show when you consider that it is made by Sony. That's why it has always been a PlayStation exclusive.
Recently, it was announced that MLB The Show was going to be arriving on platforms for Microsoft and Nintendo. That's pretty unheard of. While some may view the deal as Sony losing an exclusive, others see it as a case where more gamers than ever can enjoy the best. This was only possible because of how great MLB The Show is.