Sports are no longer just identifiable through what happens on the field – so many other products have been derived from the core sport with sub-cultures of their own today. Video games are one such category. Sports video games have carved their own little market over the last three decades, and some excellent sports video game titles were released in 2022. Let’s take a look at the best of them.
FIFA 23
The FIFA games have been going strong for a while, and the latest entry didn’t disappoint. FIFA has entered a new age with HyperMotion 2 tech, new acceleration, dribbling, and shooting mechanics. The goalkeeper AI has also improved drastically. It’s almost like the real thing now, but it’s not just in terms of technology that the game showed progress. Women’s club football was also an essential addition to FIFA 23. There was a FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 update, which was ideal during one of the most memorable World Cups of all time.
This will, of course, be the last edition for a considerable length of time that will carry official FIFA licensing, with EA Sports failing to agree on extension terms with the footballing body. As such, it could become one of the most ubiquitous titles when it comes to esports in particular – don’t be surprised if FIFA 23 continues to draw audiences for a few more years thanks to its recognizable name.
This period will overlap with a growing esports scene in the US that has seen more states every year getting attention at the grassroots levels – for instance, West Virginia University now has a dedicated esports program that will expand its professional gaming portfolio in the years to come. With this kind of a focus on esports and the rise in online betting as a whole in the US – for a sample of this rise, all you have to do is learn about BetMGM bonus codes in West Virginia and other such promos that are popping up - those in charge across the landscape will need games with global appeal, and FIFA 23 ‘s quality and brand recognition have set it up well to make it a viable vehicle for this adaption.
Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 1 + 2
The original Tony Hawks Pro Skater shook the video game world in 1999. It got a whole new generation into skateboarding, and this remaster has done a fantastic job of getting skateboarding to enter the mainstream again. This remaster doesn’t just capture the nostalgia from the original games but has added all the best features from the games after it – giving players the best of both worlds. There’s also a multiplayer mode in these remasters.
One of the best things about the original games was the music, and this remaster has retained that energy with the soundtrack. Tony Hawks Pro Skater built a real culture around skateboarding in the late ’90s and early 2000s. ’80s nostalgia was all the buzz a few years ago, with ’90s nostalgia looking to upend that in the coming decade. This game is one of the many pieces of media that accomplished that in 2022.
NBA 2K23
The NBA 2K series has been another sports video game staple for over a decade. This title has brought with it improved graphics, controls, and gameplay. Players can block, dunk, and dribble through MyCareer story and MyTeam modes, which have been a real hit amongst gamers. The Jordan Challenges have also returned, allowing players to recreate Michael Jordan’s best moves. It shouldn’t be a surprise that Jordan Challenges is back following the success of Netflix’s The Last Dance series, chronicling Michael Jordan’s legendary achievements with the Chicago Bulls in the ’90s.
With the rapid advances in technology, it hasn’t been out of the question in recent years to ask whether we’re in the final stages of video game evolution. But the titles mentioned above have managed to step it up and remind us that innovation is unrelenting.
I'm a published author and proud US Army veteran who happens to be a gamer, so I decided to combine the two and love every minute of it! Feel free to contact me with any questions or comments and I'll be sure to get back to you.
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