Top 10 Sports Video Games
Best Selling Video Games
FIFA is by far the best-selling sports video game, with the franchise selling over 260 million copies worldwide as of 2022. The next best-selling sports video game franchise is Electronic Art’s Madden, which has sold well over 130 million copies since its first edition in 1990. With over 107 million copies sold, Pro Evolution Soccer is the third best-selling sports game, although the game has recently been rebranded to eFootball. The NBA 2K franchise has sold over 90 million copies, making it the fourth highest-selling video game series to date.
What Are the Most Popular Sports Video Games?
- FIFA
- Madden
- NBA 2K
- Gran Turismo
- MLB The Show
- WWE 2K
- NHL
- Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater
- UFC
- PGA Tour
| Image | Product | Details | |
|---|---|---|---|
 | FIFA 23 |
| See on Amazon |
 | Madden NFL 23 |
| See on Amazon |
 | NBA 2K23 |
| See on Amazon |
 | Gran Turismo 7 |
| See on Amazon |
 | MLB The Show |
| See on Amazon |
 | WWE 2K22 |
| See on Amazon |
 | NHL 23 |
| See on Amazon |
 | PGA Tour 2K23 |
| See on Amazon |
 | Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater |
| See on Amazon |
 | UFC |
| See on Amazon |
1. FIFA
The most popular sport worldwide also has the most popular sports video game franchise in the world. FIFA allows you to control and play as all your favorite teams, create your own player to play as, and make an ultimate team (play with current and past players on a fantasy team you make). The FIFA franchise has sold the most copies of any sports video game ever, with over 250 million copies. It is one of the many sports video games that is annually released. While some years may feel similar to others, there are fan favorites in the franchise like FIFA 10, which many players loved.
2. Madden
The Madden franchise is the most popular sports video game franchise in the United States, named after the Raiders’ Hall of Fame coach John Madden. It has been released annually since 1990 and has sold over 130 million copies in total. In Madden, you can play all 32 NFL teams along with a career mode and Ultimate Team (play with current and past players on a fantasy team you make). Madden is the only football game now, though it used to have rival football games like NFL 2K, NFL Street, and Tecmo Bowl. EA Sports eventually came to an exclusive deal with the NFL to become the only one with the rights to make a football game.
3. NBA 2K
The NBA 2K franchise is the most popular basketball video game franchise in the world. In total, they have sold 90 million copies of the game. Unlike Madden, NBA 2K doesn’t have an exclusive deal with the NBA, so there are also other basketball games featuring NBA players. Their biggest competitor is NBA Live, but they aren’t close to actually challenging 2K. 2K is popular for the ability to play as basketball teams past or present, but there is also a My Team mode where you can play with current and past players on a fantasy team you make. With the career mode, you can take the player you made and play against other players in the “neighborhood” in 2K.
4. Gran Turismo
There are quite a few different racing video game franchises out there, but by far the most successful is the Gran Turismo franchise. In total, the Gran Turismo franchise has sold over 80 million copies since 1997 and is the highest-selling franchise under the Playstation brand. The game is realistic and well-made, allowing you to race with all different types of vehicles. Most of the vehicles you can play with are licensed reproductions of real world automobiles. If you are a big car person or just want to play a racing game for fun, Gran Turismo is the game to get.
5. MLB The Show
MLB The Show is a highly popular baseball video game worldwide, and it releases titles annually. For a time, the MLB 2K series competed with it, but they stopped producing their series in 2013, making The Show the sole baseball simulation game available. The Show has multiple game modes: Diamond Dynasty (play with current and past players on a fantasy team you make), Franchise, Road to the Show (create your own player), and March to October. While The Show is only popular in the US, it is still a popular series with baseball fans.
6. WWE 2K
WWE 2K is the most popular wrestling video game in the world, having been released annually since 2000. In total, the franchise has sold over 60 million copies worldwide. Originally, the series was called WWE Smackdown and was one of the most popular games on Playstation. However, the series has started to become less popular over the years, even with its core fanbase still buying the game. The game has many modes like My Career, My Player, Universe, and Online matches vs. other players.
7. NHL
While the NHL isn’t the most popular sports video game franchise, it has still been released annually by EA sports since 1994. It is the only major hockey game ever released, and it has a solid fanbase. The NHL games are similar to that of Madden and FIFA in that they have the same type of game modes. You can play using Franchise Mode, Hockey Ultimate Team Mode, or just play games against friends as any of the current hockey teams.
8. PGA Tour
The last entry on this list happens to be a game that hasn’t had a new release in years. Yet because of its popularity in the early 2000s, it has sold the 9th most copies of all time at 25 million. The game first appeared in 1990 and originally had Tiger Woods' name added to it in 1999. It was released annually up until 2013 and then had a flop with Rory McIlroy’s PGA Tour in 2015. Since then, the game hasn’t had any new releases and EA has moved away from golf games. But the legacy of the game still remains, showing that a golf video game could be popular and fun. In 2020, 2K released a new PGA game (PGA Tour 2k21) which could lead to the game coming back into popularity.
9. Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater
If you were ranking the most popular sports video games of the early 2000s, Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater would be towards the top of the list. The series has released a total of 17 games since 1999 and has sold over 30 million copies. However, the game in recent years has waned in popularity and had its last game released in 2018. There are still many people who will play some of the old games, and they are the pinnacle of skateboarding video games available. You can get a combo of the first two series, available for the PS5. This game allows you to do crazy tricks and stunts that you could probably never do in real life.
10. UFC
EA Sports’ UFC franchise, first released in 2014, features a detailed career mode that teaches gamers the basics of the MMA sport from boxing to jiu jitsu, and allows them to progress through a UFC fighter’s journey to the top, all in the palms of their hands. Throughout career mode, unlockable perks are also earned. Notable additions to the popular series include streamlined controls and all-new online multiplayer game modes.
Honorable Mentions
Pro Evolution Soccer
FIFA is the most popular soccer game as well as the most popular sports video game in the world. However, because of soccer’s worldwide popularity and huge market, Pro Evolution Soccer (PES) has carved itself a solid following. In total, PES has sold over 107 million copies, making it the third most popular video game franchise in the world. PES has also been praised for its gameplay feeling more natural than recent FIFA releases. It also has multiple game modes, including Master League (manager mode), online gameplay, and a MyClub mode (similar to FIFA’s ultimate team).
Forza
The Forza franchise has produced some of the most popular racing video games in the world. Forza has two extremely popular series, Forza Motorsport and Forza Horizon, along with a spin-off mobile game titled Forza Street. Motorsport and Horizon games alternate release years, with the first Motorsport in 2005 and Horizon in 2012. The Forza franchise has been commended by critics for its graphics, performance, and real-life feel, which has been the downfall of other games of its kind in the past.
Ride
The Ride video game series has been one of the best motorcycle racing games of all time since its initial release in 2015 on PC. The franchise has since released three more games leading up to its most recent addition, Ride 4. It’s earned a title as the “Best Italian Video Game” and has been known for its extreme accessibility to newcomers. The series’ most notable features include dynamic weather, day/night cycles, and pitstops.
FAQ
What are the most popular sports video game consoles?
The most popular sports video game consoles are currently the Playstation 4, Playstation 5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X. These consoles highlight the most recent releases from Sony and Microsoft gaming. As new sports-oriented games continue to release, more fans continue to adopt newer consoles. In terms of sports video game history, the Nintendo Gamecube and Nintendo 64 have featured some of the longest-lasting games in terms of popularity, including Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater, Madden, and various Mario Sports titles.
What are the most popular sports mobile games?
The most popular sports mobile phone video games are currently FIFA Mobile, Madden NFL Mobile, Table Tennis Touch, NBA 2K Mobile, and NBA Live Mobile. These games are played on IOS and Android mobile devices. While not as popular as video games on consoles such as Playstation or Xbox, mobile game sales have steadily increased over the years. These games offer users the ability to play their favorite sports games on the go, without the need to purchase additional equipment outside of their phone.
What are the most popular sports computer games?
The most popular sports computer games are FIFA, Rocket League, Pro Evolution Soccer, and Don Bradman Cricket 17. Other popular sports computer games include Super Mega Baseball, Golf With Your Friends, Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater, and STEEP. Many of these games are offered on both console and PC, making them accessible to gamers who prefer a computer keyboard and mouse over handheld controllers.