In the 2000s, fans of sports games were blessed with choice. Unlike modern times, it was more than just a new simulation game each year. We still have those (sometimes even several), but arcade sports consistently entered the competition, giving players so many more options than we have in the 2020s. Beyond the arcade games, you also had companies fighting over licenses by trying to make better games than each other, not just tossing more money around. It was a great time to be a sports fan, but these six games are the ones that defined the era for many.
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Here are the decade-defining sports games for the 2000s.
6) Backyard Baseball 2001
Before you jump into the comments to talk about MVP 2005, trust me, I know. That game is the quintessential baseball sim of the 00s. In fact, I still prefer several of the modes and options to what we get these days with MLB The Show. However, you can’t talk about sports games in the aughts without mentioning the Backyard Sports series.
Humongous Entertainment gave so many young gamers their first foray into the medium. Backyard Baseball 2001 is an important milestone for the company because it’s the first time they added kiddie versions of real-world players, making it even easier for young gamers to jump in and play as their favorites. The gameplay’s a little simplistic, but it is meant for grade schoolers.
5) NHL Hitz 20-03
Midway’s better known for the NFL Blitz and NBA Jam games. However, both of those series started in the ’90s, so they can’t make this list. Still, it’d feel weird to not have one of Midway’s standout arcade games on this list, and NHL Hitz is, in some ways, better than those other two games.
There’s just something special about going from fast-paced, hardcore action on the rink to a literal fighting game. The NHL is the only league that lets its players settle business with fists, so it translated perfectly to Midway’s formula. I would, unfortunately, not say the same for MLB Slugfest and RedCard, despite both games being an undeniable good time.
4) Fight Night Round 3
We can squabble over which boxing game should get this spot. After all, Fight Night Round 2 and Round 3 are both great games. However, I’m going with Round 3 because of its increased presentation values. Sure, you could turn the HUD off in previous games, but starting everyone out that way was a bold choice that gave every bout that “big fight feel.”
On top of that, the new “Impact Punches” change up gameplay just enough, while the ESPN Classic fights let you relive fan-favorite bouts as some of your favorite stars. These days, boxing has fallen out of popularity as UFC has become the most popular combat sport, but in 2006, Fight Night Round 3 was king.
3) Tony Hawk Pro Skater 3
Again, I wouldn’t fight you too hard if you wanted to put Tony Hawk Pro Skater 2 in this spot. It just barely makes the cut for the decade, but I ever so slightly prefer THPS 3. From Canada to Tokyo, I think this is the strongest set of levels in a Tony Hawk game (Neversoft can leave the Foundry behind), and the addition of the revert opened up brand new avenues for combo potential.
Whether you pick THPS 2 or 3, one of those has to make this list. The Tony Hawk games were at the forefront of extreme sports games, consistently performing well critically and commercially. Activision eventually ran it into the ground, but Tony Hawk Pro Skater 3 was the series at its absolute apex.
2) Madden 2005/ ESPN NFL 2K5
This rivalry is what caused Electronic Arts to go out and get the exclusive rights to the NFL. NFL 2K5 was an incredible game that was about half the price of that year’s Madden. It was jam-packed with innovative modes and best-in-class gameplay. We had a simulated SportsCenter that recapped each week’s games and a first-person mode. Heck, you could even build your own custom house and face off against the likes of Steve-O and Carmen Electra.
Don’t think EA took that all sitting down. Madden 04 was essentially broken by the legs of Michael Vick, so the developers made it their mission to improve defense. This year’s version gave us the Hit Stick, letting defensive players really lay the wood for the first time. Madden 05 was also the first time the series featured Xbox Live, opening it up to a new frontier of better online play.
This is what made the 2000s so great for sports fans. Two companies were battling each other to deliver the best possible game. Then, EA ruined it for us by scooping up the NFL rights, forcing 2K out of the party. It made EA rich, but the playerbase has undoubtedly suffered.
1) NBA Street Vol. 2
If the battle between Madden 2005 and NFL 2K5 represents the rivalries that made sports games so good, NBA Street Vol.2 shows us what happens when developers aren’t afraid to take chances. Gamers aren’t strangers to arcade basketball games. NBA Jam launched in 1993, for goodness sake. However, NBA Street was an entirely different ball game.
The NBA Street series didn’t just capture the fun of playing basketball; it found ways to integrate the culture around the game. Players were allowed to express themselves in ways we’d never seen before. Are you a no-nonsense knockdown shooter? Throw on your Chuck Taylors and make it happen. Do you want to take your opponent’s soul with a filthy crossover? Let me introduce you to my man Biggie Little.
Vol. 2 gives you boundless freedom on the court and is a love letter to the game off of it. The soundtrack still bumps. The modes are impeccable. It might be the best sports game that’s ever released. The rights issues will always be a problem, but it is a shame that EA has never brought Vol. 2 back.
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