I don't think there will ever be a perfect wrestling video game, but if you had to ask me which wrestling game in the last 20 years has come close, WWE 2K24 would be at the top of my list.
It's not perfect, but in a day and age when so many games are trying to push the boundaries, Legend Bowl's simplistic visual approach and heavy intent on gameplay is a treat. Give Legend Bowl a chance, you won't be disappointed.
AEW Fight Forever is a winner, and I'm excited to see what THQ and Yuke's have up their sleeves in the coming months.
But what will ultimately set 2K23 apart from other wrestling games is its massive creation suite. Create-a-wrestlers this year look as good as some of the WWE Superstars. And I can't wait to see what the community has in store for us casual gamers this year. Adding the ability to download player-created arenas is the icing on the cake. It's not perfect, but WWE 2K23 is the best game since the 2K name started being used.
Since the first time I played Sunday Rivals, I knew it would be special. Watching it grow every step along the way has been fun, and I'd be lying if I said I wasn't excited to see what's next. A few years ago when I played the prototype, Sunday Rivals was easy enough for a casual sports fan to pick up and play while packing enough meat and potatoes to keep the hardcore football fans coming back again and again. Ryan Kamins' game is the perfect mix between Madden and NFL Blitz. Sunday Rivals is a hit, and if you're a fan of sports video games, particularly football, you need to check it out.
OlliOlli World is worth the $30 and so much more.
I understand why some may be perched on the fence like Tiny Hawk, and maybe you are better off waiting for the holiday sales and the physics to improve. But I'm easy to please, and Skatebird is exactly what I expected. Sure, there are some frustrating moments, but it's a creative representation of the sport I love. It's fun and quirky. And with a quick learning curve and by paying homage to one of the greats, I think most folks could enjoy this arcade skater.
Overall, The Ramp felt like a much more simplistic (very simplistic) version of OlliOlli. There is no story, but for the $6 price tag, it’s probably worth getting if you’re a skateboard fan or just looking for a new challenge. The Ramp pays homage to the art of vert-skateboarding by not being too difficult to learn. Sure, it is much closer to a toy than a game, and there’s plenty of room for new additions in the future. But what this single developer was able to accomplish is well worth the price of admission, and it should become a nice arcade alternative for skateboarders everywhere.
It may have taken over 30 years to come to fruition, but what the talented developers over at Retrosoft Studios were able to accomplish is everything I could have hoped for here. It's not perfect, but what RetroMania Wrestling was able to accomplish after a three decade hiatus has to be celebrated. Retrosoft Studios has slapped down the foundation for a wrestling arcade video game that should stand the test of time.
Handball 21 does a nice job of doing the little things and making a noob like myself feel like a lifelong fan.
I expect to see a couple more NFL text-based simulations pop up over the next couple years. But as far as I’m concerned, there’s only one game at the top of the mountain right now, and while you can make a case for some of the other games on the market, Draft Day Sports: Pro Football 2021 gets my vote.
We may be unsure about what the future holds for skateboarding video games, but I think I can say with the utmost confidence that Skater XL is here to stay.
It’s fun, immersive and best of all it’s a college football game in a market devoid of a real NCAA powerhouse. It won’t be the best football game you play this year, but it certainly won’t be the worst.
In the end, I think you will struggle to find a better representation of the sport of soccer.
No one can argue what type of player Doug Flutie was on the field. But his first attempt at a hall of fame football simulation came up a bit short. That's not to say the game couldn't compete with Madden and Axis down the line, but for now there are way too many issues to recommend this title to most audiences.
Overall, Axis Football 2019 is a healthy alternative to EA's latest installment of Madden. And although it doesn't have enough glitz and glamour to compete with sports gaming's bigger brother, it does enough good to keep players interested. And while new football games appear every year trying to compete with what Madden is doing, Axis Football remains its own unique representation of the sport. You probably won't stop playing EA's latest installment in favor of its younger brother, but there's plenty to like about the expanded gameplay and updated franchise mode to keep users coming back again and again.
When it comes to text-based sports video games, it’s hard to find one that can keep me coming back again and again. Pro Football 2020 does this and so much more.
Front Office Football 8 nails the little things. If not for the outdated interface, this would be an all-time classic in every sense.