Whether your favorite sport is football, basketball, or snowboarding, you’ll find a video game counterpart on Xbox Series X/S ready for you to take out for a spin. You can enjoy realistic and authentic simulators from the comfort of your home, browsing real-life inspired teams and gameplay. Alternatively, you can veer off of your comfort zone and play new sports games you’ve never tried before. Either way, these best sports games on Xbox Series X/S stand tall above the rest.
What is a Sports Game?
A sports game is any game that simulates a real-life sport like football or basketball. Alternatively, sports games can simulate a fictional sport like Quidditch from Harry Potter. In all these, you may find sports games that focus on the player competing against human opponents or AI on the field. You may also find sports games that focus purely on tactical and team management.
Best Sports Games on Xbox Series X/S
Here are the top sports games on Xbox Series X/S:
10. PGA Tour 2K21
PGA TOUR 2K21 - Launch Trailer
Assemble the golf club for a round of PGA Tour 2k21. The gaming session can go for as long as you want, depending on the mode you choose to focus on. You can check out the legendary career mode, for instance, and take your chosen team all the way to the big leagues. You can also hone your skills on licensed courses, playing as one of the biggest golf superstars. Whether you create your own crew or choose a team to compete against the pros, PGA Tour 2k21 ensures your every need is covered.
9. NBA 2K23
NBA 2K23 First Look Trailer
If you’re a fan of basketball, however, then by all means, jump into NBA 2K23 for a quick spur with friends. You can flex your dunking and shooting skills on the street courts, playing against online gamers in casual mode. But you can get serious and work your way up from rookie to the big leagues. NBA 2K23 has plenty of modes to keep you coming back for more. Whether MyNBA, MyCAREER, MyTEAM, MyLEAGUE, or even WNBA, the game has something for everyone.
8. Riders Republic
Riders Republic - Deep Dive Trailer
When you’re not feeling up to going outside, you can always hop into Riders Republic. The game has an impressive host of games you can play, all catering to different interests. You can check out the biking mode, where you can jump off massive canyons and not worry about breaking any bones. Or you can ski down snow-capped mountain peaks. Further, you can try out snowboarding or flying through the skies in your wingsuit: there’s something cool for every gamer to try in the game’s open-world sports paradise.
7. Forza Motorsport
Forza Motorsport - Official Trailer - Xbox & Bethesda Games Showcase 2022
Getting behind the wheel of an iconic fast car remains an unmatched feeling in the racing world. There simply is no better way to burn rubber at blistering speeds than in a race car. With Forza Motorsport, you can enjoy drifting around the sharp corners of some of the most popular circuits in the world. Moreover, you can dive into an in-depth customization system that lets you paint and fine-tune your car to match your style.
6. F1 23
F1® 23 - Launch Trailer
Formula One returns with F1 23, which simulates the 2023 FIA Formula One World Championship. You can step into the shoes of professional F1 drivers, taking charge of steering licensed cars down the Las Vegas and Qatar circuits. And there’s a Braking Point story mode, too, for an extra pinch of rivalry and drama.
5. WWE 2K23
WWE 2K23 is here!
Wrestling, too, has its own own simulation video game series, with WWE 2K23among the best iterations you can play. The installment improves upon its predecessor's graphics and mechanics. Further, you access a bigger roster of WWE superstars. Fans of John Cena, in particular, will be happy to comb down 20 years of his career alongside the re-introduction of WarGames.
4. Tony Hawks' Pro Skater 1+2
Tony Hawk’s™ Pro Skater™ 1 and 2 - Official Trailer
Old folks will remember Tony Hawks' Pro Skater 1+2 from back in the day. It’s sure to bring back nostalgic memories of skating as Tony Hawk along graffiti-ridden lanes. However, newcomers will also enjoy the improved graphics and gameplay remaster. The remaster rebuilds the two games from the ground up, offering the best of both worlds in one package.
3. MLB: The Show 23
MLB The Show 23 - New Feature Trailer | Available Now
As for baseball fans, you can have your fill of the sport in MLB: The Show 23, based on Major League Baseball (MLB). It’s the closest simulation game to playing the actual game on the field. In addition to realistic visuals, you also enjoy reliving some of the most iconic MLB moments. Moreover, the game adds a new Storylines game mode that focuses on the Negro Leagues.
2. Madden NFL 24
Madden 24 Official Launch Trailer
Football fans, on the other hand, can check out Madden NFL 24. It’s based on the National Football League games and features Buffalo Bills’ Josh Allen on the cover. Thanks to the new SAPIEN technology, you can enjoy more realistic movement and characters who take after their real-life counterparts as closely as possible. Further, the installment improves on the predecessor’s gameplay. With FieldSENSE for PC platforms, you can enjoy more control over your tackling, blocking, throwing, and catching techniques.
1. EA Sports FC 24
EA SPORTS FC™ 24 | Official Gameplay Reveal Trailer
Among the best sports games on Xbox Series X/S, EA Sports FC 24takes the crown home. It innovates on the predecessor’s mechanics to bring to you the most realistic experience. Using technologies like HyperMotionV and the enhanced Frostbite Engine, you can truly feel like a football star tracking down the field. Moreover, the content in the game is sprawling with variety, including over 19,000 licensed players, 700 teams, 30 leagues, and more. You’ll be hard-pressed to find a more authentic simulation sports game than EA Sports FC 24, with the franchise growing better and better with each new iteration.