Most Popular Sports Video Games of 2024

Source: Unsplash

2024 has been a blockbuster year in the world of sports. In football, Spain broke English hearts in Berlin to win UEFA Euro 2024 through Mikel Oyarzabal's late winner while Lionel Messi helped Argentina claim a second straight Copa America crown. In the Olympics, they were provided with plenty of moments of greatness as well as the occasional meme, with Australia's break-dancing supremo and Turkey's veteran gunslinger immediately springing to mind.

Naturally, then, it's only right for these iconic moments to be immortalized forever within the virtual world. Sports video games have long been one of the most popular genres, and in the year 2024, things have been no different. Here are the most popular games from the genre throughout this year.

EA Sports College Football 25

EA Sports' take on the College Football world used to be one of the highlights of the sports gaming landscape in yesteryear. The franchise was disbanded back in 2013 due to a legal dispute surrounding the use of college players who weren't compensated for their troubles, much to the dismay of football fans all over the Land of the Free. But this year, the game made its triumphant return, taking over gaming marketplaces and social media feeds the world over.

The game was released back in July and it received rave reviews both from gamers and from reputable publications, with Game Informer scoring the game at 8.5/10. The Road To Glory is the one that has resonated the most with fans, allowing players to take unheralded colleges from the doldrums right to the very top and attempt to knock off the likes of the Georgia Bulldogs and Alabama Crimson Tide. Plenty of regular social media users have documented their progress on popular platforms such as Instagram and TikTok, making for riveting viewing and allowing one to follow their journeys.

The newest version of the game features Donovan Edwards, Quinn Ewers, and Travis Hunter on the cover, reflecting the talent and potential of the next generation of football stars. EA Sports College Football 25 is lauded for its immersive gameplay that captures the spirit of college football, complete with authentic stadiums, team traditions, and intense rivalries.

Pulse factor takes the realism to the next level, with gamers having to head to the cauldrons of Texas A&M and Penn State and having their game plans thrown out of the window due to the intimidating atmospheres that they face.

Top Spin 2K25

Since 2018, the Tennis World Tour has been considered the best tennis game for PS4, but there hasn't been much to choose from. Only AO Tennis and the Tokyo 2020 Olympics game have provided any competition whatsoever. However, that all changed this year as 2K Sports resurrected the old Top Spin franchise, releasing Top Spin 2K25 back in April. The game serves as a grand return to tennis gaming, with Roger Federer and Serena Williams gracing the cover.

The game captures the elegance and intensity of tennis, featuring a roster of current stars like Carlos Alcaraz and Iga Świątek. The talented young Spaniard is the star of the show in real life, forcefully taking his place at the summit of the sport by knocking off Serbian icon Novak Djokovic in back-to-back Wimbledon finals. Top Spin's gameplay mechanics are designed to replicate the precision and agility required on the tennis court, ensuring that Alcaraz is as difficult to beat in the game as he is in real life.

WWE 2K24

Unlike Top Spin, 2K came in for plenty of criticism when they took over as the producers for WWE's annual video game. However, the releases in recent years have gotten better and better, culminating with WWE 2K24, which is arguably the best of the bunch.

The game brings the thrilling spectacle of professional wrestling to gamers with enhanced realism and engaging gameplay. This edition features reigning Undisputed WWE Champion Cody Rhodes, Rhea Ripley, and Bianca Belair as cover stars, embodying the new era taking shape within the wrestling world.

The game is centred around 40 years of WrestleMania, which provides most of the content of the game. The WrestleMania Showcase mode allows gamers to play out iconic matches, stories and feuds from four decades spent on the Grandest Stage of Them All. But throughout those 40 years, there has been perhaps no more dominant superstar than the Tribal Chief Roman Reigns.

The Head of the Table was rated a mighty 99 overall on WWE 2K23, and he has clung to that rating this year. Beating Reigns on the hardest difficulty is almost impossible and if gamers want to Finish The Story just like the aforementioned Rhodes did this year, it will be no easy feat. The American Nightmare finally ascended his throne by ending Roman's reign of terror with the Undisputed WWE Universal Championship at 1,316 days with his victory at WrestleMania 40. Can you follow in his footsteps and finish your own story?