Sports were one of the very first activities to become an important part of the video game industry. In fact, Pong, often listed as the world’s first video game, was designed to simulate a game of tennis. Other early arcade hits, including Street Fighter and Space Invaders, touched on peripheral topics like shooting and fighting.
But sports games have truly stood the test of time. In fact, simulations are some of the most popular gaming categories found for consoles, PCs, and mobile devices. From EA Sports hits like FIFA and NFL Madden to 2K Studios’ standouts like the NBA 2K series, sports simulations are ubiquitous within the gaming community.
But that doesn’t mean sports fans have to choose a simulation. In reality, sports are such a varied and popular category that there are tons of games that don’t require players to step into the shoes of an athlete. Some are more focused on the leagues and business side of sports, while others are instead about new ways to enjoy being a fan. Let’s dive in to explore some of the most unique types of sports games—simulations excluded.
Sports Slots
Slots are the world’s most popular casino game. That’s because they offer a highly engaging and short-form format that allows players to explore a new world. Unsurprisingly, sports is a common category found on platforms that offer online slots , along with fantasy and topical themes.
Fishing is a popular choice, including titles like Fishin’ Pots of Gold and Big Bass Bonanza. These games take players into the wild outdoors with only their trusty fishing pole. Others take a more unique route. Sumo Sumo, for example, highlights the wonderful world of Japanese sumo wrestling. Others, like Football Cash Collect offer a more traditional look at sports themes.
Management Sims
Not every sports fan dreams about walking onto the oval cricket field to play in the IPL. Instead, they might dream about managing their own team in the hopes of making it to the top of the table. In these cases, fans have tons of different management simulations to choose from. The most popular is Football Manager, which has around 69,000 active monthly users as of 2023.
But keep in mind that management sims are available in just about every format for just about every sport. The NFL, for example, recently launched an NFL Tycoon experience via Roblox. Its annual events allow players to compete for a chance to win exclusive digital assets.
VR Activities
Many popular sports leagues have started to show interest in leveraging VR technology. For example, the Premier League and the NBA both offer exclusive VR viewing opportunities for certain games. However, many developers are branching out to offer unique simulations that challenge sports fans.
For example, The Climb challenges VR users to climb virtual mountains taking one step at a time. This type of unique premise is great for fans who are bored with traditional simulations. There are even more creative projects, too. Echo Arena takes players into a zero-gravity world where they’ll battle it out in a Quidditch-inspired game. For those interested in pushing the boundaries when it comes to unique sports games, VR is a great option.
Ultimate Fantasy Leagues
Fantasy leagues perfectly straddle the line between game and reality. That’s because each team is affected by the real-world performance of players in regular league games. Overwhelmingly, the setup is simple—if a bit long. However, keep in mind that there are a few highly unique fantasy league variations that you can try out.
First is DFS or daily fantasy sports. DFS competitions shorten the length of the standard fantasy league to a single day, event, or weekend. That means that players are able to wrap up their competitions quickly, then move on. But DFS is just the tip of the iceberg. If you’re bored with your standard fantasy league games, then consider adopting a ‘guillotine’ or ‘pirate’ league.
The former covers a league that cuts its weakest team every week. The cut team’s players go into free agency, which means other teams grow more competitive as the fantasy league advances. The latter covers a league that allows the head-to-head winner to steal an active player from the opposing team.
