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What are the best sports games on PC? For the longest time, publishers were reluctant to bring their best-selling sports games to PC. Besides EA’s annual EA Sports FC release and Sports Interactive’s Football Manager series, the sports genre on PC has been pretty sparse up until recently. Nowadays, no matter what sport you’re into, you should find something to scratch that competitive itch.
There used to be a time when console versions of sports games used to be superior in terms of the player base, graphics, and more. Fortunately, crossplay has drastically changed everything for PC players, putting them on the same footing as their console brethren. The PC versions of sports games have much to offer, including support for high refresh rates and resolutions beyond 4K. Ever wanted a view of the entire pitch in a soccer game? That’s entirely possible on PC.
Here are the best sports games:
Top Spin 2K25
The Top Spin series marks it return with the 2K25 entry, giving players a chance to play tennis across a number of world-famous tournaments, including the US Open, the Australian Open, and Wimbledon. We’re coming to a point in Tennis where the best players for the past two decades are finally hanging up their rackets. Fortunately, Top Spin 2K25 allows you to pick from 24 legends of the game, including Roger Federer, Serena Williams, and Andre Agassi.
WWE 2K24
With the new match stipulations added to WWE 2K24, there’s something for everyone. Fans of fighting games will love throwing the opponent over the top rope in a Royal Rumble or executing their finisher before bundling their opponent into an emergency transportation vehicle in the new Ambulance match type.
However, it’s not just about brawling to the back or in the ring, as there are plenty of management games as well. MyGM mode, for example, pits you against up to three rivals to put on the best weekly tapings and premium live events while managing your roster’s health and morale, and interfering with the other GMs. While the focus, as our WWE 2K24 review mentions, is on celebrating 40 years of Wrestlemania and the MyRise campaigns, the updates to the previously available modes are noteworthy additions that alone are well worth the price tag.
Football Manager 24
One of the most in-depth sports experiences you can have, the Football Manager series puts you in the shoes of – you guessed it – a soccer manager, tasking you with recruiting, training, and compiling the best team you can. Our FM 24 review talks about this year’s entry and some excellent additions the devs have made. This includes a complete agent overhaul, the ability to import saves from older games in the series, and a greater degree of positional control.
If you’re a veteran of the series, we have the best FM 24 challenge saves for the most brutal of long-term projects. For those just starting, we have the best FM 24 teams to manage here, and if you’re a sucker for realism, we have how to import FM 24 kits and logos, so your teams look just like they should.
Super Mega Baseball 3
When it comes to baseball games on PC, it’s fair to say we don’t have many options. Thankfully, Metalhead Software’s exceptional baseball series provides an alternative to the licensed games available on console. The devs have focused on creating an accessible experience that is easy to pick up and play. Don’t let the cartoon aesthetic fool you – Super Mega Baseball 3 contains a lot of depth, both on and off the field.
You can focus entirely on the multiplayer aspect of the game, but there’s plenty of single-player content worth exploring. A new addition to the series is the Franchise mode, which spans several years this time around instead of being focused on a sole season. Build a strong team and watch them dominate the sport as you take them from humble beginnings to the grand heights baseball has to offer.
EA FC 25
The EA Sports FC (previously FIFA) series has been a staple of PC gaming since the ’90s. Though there have been some awkward years between engine upgrades, EA has generally stuck by its PC audience and EA FC 25 is the best version of that package – even if little has changed from last year’s game as Christian notes in our EA FC 25 review. The parity between PC and console versions means you won’t get a better match-day experience.
Set yourself a project with the single-player manager career, or take on the world with the ultra-popular Ultimate Game mode. Whatever you do, there isn’t a much better package to experience the beautiful game. If you do lace up your cleats and head out onto the pitch, check out the best EA FC 25 tactics codes to help get your team match-ready.
eFootball PES 2021
You can’t mention EA FC without bringing up the Pro Evo series or eFootball PES as it is known today. Pro Evolution Soccer has been around on PC for almost two decades now, and while it may not be as popular as the EA FC series, it certainly has its share of hardcore fans. eFootball PES 2021 is known for its realistic take on soccer, giving players considerably more control over each player compared to EA FC.
The latest version of eFootball 2024 is fine for what it is, a free-to-play soccer game that relies on players spending money on packs of cards. PES fans routinely remind people on message boards and Reddit that eFootball PES 2021 is still available and is regularly being updated by the community. Remember, there’s nothing wrong with PES 2021, so if you want to play a very different soccer game to EA Sports FC 24, this is your best bet.
Madden NFL 24
It’s official: the Madden NFL series is back on PC, and it’s stronger than ever. NFL 24 is the same game as its current generation console counterparts (PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X), and there are graphical enhancements that the consoles don’t have access to, including unlocked frame rates, support for ultrawide resolutions, and more.
Sports games like this usually have a small audience, but NFL 24 supports crossplay, giving PC users access to a much bigger player base. There’s also plenty of single-player content to get through, including Superstar mode, which lets you create a rookie who is trying to make it to the big leagues. You’ve also got the option to create your own Franchise, taking on all of the burdens of owning an American Football team.
Golf With Your Friends
Golf With Your Friends is exactly what it sounds like – play with up to 11 friends as you make your way through themed mini-golf courses. Turn on power-ups to freeze your opponent’s ball, and lay down lanes of honey to stop players in their tracks. The game even comes with a built-in level editor for players who have a keen eye for golf courses.
Golf With Your Friends can be played simultaneously online or locally via the hot seat option, perfect with Steam’s Remote Play feature. The best part about this game is that the barrier to entry doesn’t exist – no real-life golf skills apply here; simply pick a direction, decide how hard to hit the ball, and pray for the best.
NBA 2K24
While the PC basketball community isn’t happy with NBA 2K24 because EA hasn’t ported over the PlayStation 5 or Xbox Series X version, it’s fair to say NBA 2K24 could be worse. Not only do you have the entire selection of modern teams available to play, 2K24 offers players several classic teams throughout NBA history to pick from.
Want to see how the 2024 Golden State Warriors stack up against the Chicago Bulls from ‘96? You can play matchups like this without having to spend any extra money. NBA2K24 is now out, along with the small trickle of NBA2K24 locker codes, and it looks to be a vast improvement.
Riders Republic
Riders Republic is the spiritual successor to Steep, the extreme sports game released back in 2016. There’s so much to do in Rider Republic’s massive open world, which stitches together seven national parks from the United States to create a huge map. Up to 64 players can compete against each other in wingsuit flying, skiing, snowboarding, and mountain biking to prove who the best rider is.
You don’t have to compete against other players to have a good time, but overtaking your friends as you slice through the terrain at extreme speeds is a deeply satisfying feeling. Check out our Riders Republic review to see our final verdict on Ubisoft’s sprawling open-world game.
Rocket League
Rocket League is one of the best soccer games of all time. Yes, it replaces a team of 11 players with three rocket-powered cars, potentially adorned with a stack of pancakes or a sombrero, and it’s still an excellent soccer game. The EA FC and PES communities constantly bicker amongst themselves about scripted gameplay and pay-to-win mechanics; you won’t hear any of that about Rocket League.
Psyonix has perfected the mechanics of Rocket League, allowing the game to be accessible to most people while maintaining an absurdly high skill ceiling. The esports scene for Rocket League shows just how much depth there is to a game about flying cars. Even better, Rocket League is one of the best free PC games and features cross-platform play on every platform. If you have the slightest interest in hitting a massive ball with a flying car, give Rocket League a try.
THPS 1 + 2
Vicarious Visions’ Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 1 + 2 remake takes everything you remember about these classic skateboard games and makes them modern. The Tony Hawk series evolved quickly when it first appeared in 1999, launching a sequel with larger levels and improved mechanics for eight consecutive years.
The original Tony Hawk games still hold up today, but the important mechanics introduced in the later games can make them difficult to go back to. This remake brings together the best aspects of the series and ties them in with the first two games to create a masterpiece. Whether you’re looking to shred with your mates locally or you want to see how you fare online, Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 1 + 2 features robust multiplayer options to suit every type of player.
Who said there weren’t any sports games on PC? Basketball, soccer, rocket-powered vehicular soccer… whatever you want, it’s on PC. We know some sports just aren’t available – apologies to any NHL fans out there, maybe one day, we’ll get an ice hockey game from EA. Want to know what’s coming out later this year? Check out our list of the best upcoming PC games to find out what games are heading your way.