Sports games are very popular in the gaming market, with numerous options of titles for all tastes and disciplines. Among them, FIFA and eFootball are the franchises that stand out the most, not only for dealing with soccer but also for being renewed annually. However, these are not the only options for sports fans. NBA 2K22, Rocket League, and Riders Republic, for example, put players in intense and unusual competitions. Below, check out the list of Techidence with ten alternative sports games to enjoy on your computer, consoles, or even cell phones.
1. Rocket League
Rocket League turns the soccer matches into explosive clashes with cars. The idea is that players use their cars to hit a giant ball into the goal and score more points than their opponents. Although it has a single-player mode, the focus of the game is on multiplayer matches, especially in the competitive scenario. Thus, both professional and amateur players can participate in events and rise in rank.
Developed by Psyonix Studios, Rocket League is free since 2020 with crossplay support on Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4 (PS4), PlayStation 5 (PS5), Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, and PC (via Epic Games Store). In addition, the game also features a streamlined version for Android and iPhone (iOS).
2. Riders Republic
From the same developers as Steep, Riders Republic is a Ubisoft game that lets you play extreme outdoor sports including mountain biking, skiing, snowboarding, wingsuiting, and wingsuit jumping. This open-world game takes you on an adrenaline-filled journey through mountains and canyons across the US, where players compete in solo mode, Showdown arena, or in events for up to 50 players. The game is available on PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, and PC (via the Ubisoft Store and Epic Games Store). Subscribers to the Ubisoft+ streaming service also have access to the title.
3. Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 1+2
Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 1+2 is a great achievement by Activision in bringing the remastered version of the first two episodes of the nostalgic skateboarding franchise. In other words, the game keeps the skaters, tracks, and missions from the original versions, but with modernized graphics and mechanics, as well as adding more content. The player must complete flips, grabs, and other maneuvers to defeat other players in contests and accumulate points used to improve his or her skills.
Both games were originally released in the late 1990s for PSOne, Nintendo 64, Dreamcast, and Game Boy Advance. The remaster, meanwhile, arrived in 2020 for Nintendo Switch, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, and PC (via Epic Games Store).
4. Knockout City
Knockout City is a multiplayer game developed by Velan Studios that features a sort of futuristic version of burnout, or dodgeball, in a 3×3 format. The dynamic is similar to that of the real sport since the purpose is to dodge the opponent’s attacks and then knock them out. Here, however, competitors must combine the mechanics of jumping and dash with super-powerful throwing of special balls.
With support for cross-play and cross-save (progression transfer), Knockout City is free on the following platforms: Nintendo Switch, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, and PC (via Steam and Epic Games Store).
5. NBA 2K22
NBA 2K22 brings the excitement of the basketball courts to gaming, where you control stars like LeBron James, Kevin Durant, and Stephen Curry, as well as athletes from the women’s WNBA league. Players have access to the challenges that are already hallmarks of the annual series, most notably MyCareer – where you create your journey to stardom. In MyTeam mode, you can build your dream team of stars from different teams, just like in FIFA Ultimate Team.
Visual Concepts and 2K Games are making the game available for Nintendo Switch, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, and PC via Steam. The content is part of the Xbox Game Pass catalog.
6. Golf it!
Along the lines of Golf With Your Friends, Golf it! is a miniature golf game with a focus on the multiplayer experience. Up to eight friends test their aim and accuracy to see who can hit the 18 holes in the least amount of strokes. In all, there are six themed courses full of portals, tunnels, and trampolines, but the player can also create custom maps according to preference in the edit mode. It is worth noting that Golf it! is still in early access, offered by Perfuse Entertainment for Windows and macOS via Steam.
7. Mario Strikers: Battle League
In this competitive multiplayer game, Mario, Luigi, and more friends from the Mushroom Kingdom get together to practice Strike, a sport similar to soccer. In five-on-five matches, players can use any items and tricks to disarm their opponents, such as turtle hulls, banana peels, and bob bombs. The players also have at their disposal the “Superkicks”, special kicks with different strength, speed, or movement that will help them to score goals.
Mario Strikers: Battle League offers multiplayer for up to eight competitors on the same console and online play with up to two people per video game.
8. Roller Champions
Also developed by Ubisoft Montreal, Roller Champions is a sports game that mixes elements of Roller Derby skating and basketball. The matches are played online on oval tracks, where two teams of three members try to score by passing the ball through a hoop. The value of a hit increases with each lap completed by the team before the throw, and the team that scores five points first or the highest score when the timer runs out wins.
Roller Champions is available for free with cross-play and cross-progression for Nintendo Switch, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, and PC (via Ubisoft Store and Epic Games Store). The content is still free for Ubisoft+ members.
9. Madden NFL 22
Madden NFL 22 is the latest chapter in Electronic Arts (EA) American soccer franchise. In it, you can play intense matches in authentic stadiums, manage your career as an athlete, and even manage your club as a coach or manager. Despite not bringing many new features concerning previous editions, the title stands out for its realistic graphics and organic movements that emulate the behavior of athletes and teams in real life.
You can enjoy Madden NFL 22 on PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, and PC (via Steam and Origin). The game is also in the EA Play catalog, and the version for Android and iPhone (iOS) devices is free.
10. Pixel Cup Soccer 17
If you are a fan of International Superstar Soccer Deluxe, a SNES classic, this indie game will bring back good memories. Pixel Cup Soccer 17, from Batovi Games studio, guarantees a lot of fun in soccer matches with pixelated graphics that resemble games from the 16-bit era. The game features disputes against artificial intelligence or another player in local multiplayer and a cooperative mode. You can even compete with men’s and women’s teams to become world champions. Pixel Cup Soccer 17 is available on the iPhone App Store (iOS) and for computers (PC, Mac, and Linux) through Steam.
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