Sports-related video games have always been among the most popular game genres and gained the attention of players from all over the world.
In fact, a recent study shows that the number of video games worldwide is steadily increasing year after year. This is true for almost every genre, including sports games.
But why has the popularity of sports games increased recently? In a few words, the main reasons are the development of realistic graphics, innovative gameplay, and the inclusion of multiplayer (online) features in most sports video games.
However, the most important reason is always the same. Sports fans all over the world love to play games that feature their favourite real-life players. Let us take a closer look at it.
Gamers love to play with real-life players
The fact that sports games allow players to interact with their favourite teams and players is the main reason for the popularity of these games. If you think about it, this is also one of the main reasons why sports betting is so popular. After all, in the process of placing a bet, for example on a favorite player or team, a person continues his “history” with them, because usually he has long been a follower of them and follows most of the matches. The interaction with sports and the overall experience are similar to video games.
So what’s better than playing a game where you can control the team you support in real life? That’s probably what gamers are thinking before they buy a sports game. Another reason for the increasing popularity is the variety.
A few years ago, sports games only had a small selection of sports. Now, that is no longer the case. Nowadays, there is a game for fans of most sports. From racing games like Formula 1 to well-known basketball and football titles like NBA 2K and Fifa, nothing is left out.
Best sports theme games
To be precise, there is at least one game franchise for every sports game genre. When it comes to racing games, Gran Turismo and Formula 1 are by far the best known. For football (or soccer, if you are American), there’s Fifa and eFootball (PES).
The same goes for basketball (NBA 2K), American football (Madden NFL), boxing (Olympic Boxing, Creed) and more. Even less popular sports like tennis have their own well-known video games (Top Spin, Virtua Tennis). Although football, basketball and racing games make up the largest part of the pie, there is room for all participants.
It becomes clear that there is a top-notch video game on the market that covers the needs and preferences of every sports fan. Subsequently, this variety of game titles is another reason why sports games are one of the most popular genres among gamers today. But what does the future hold for sports-themed games?
The future of online sports theme games
Sports theme games are already part of a growing industry: esports. To be precise, competitive gaming has become one of the emerging industries of this decade. By the end 2022, for example, there will be more than 29 million monthly esports viewers around the world.
With sports games now including competitive multiplayer modes, the future seems bright. Innovative technologies such as AR and VR are also already part of game development. We are excited to see how sports games will use such technologies in the future.
In any case, interacting as a fan with your team, player or favourite race car will hardly ever go out of style.