If you’re generally undecided about what to play, we’ve got a guide for you here that introduces different genres.

FIFA 23

And daily greets the groundhog. For the last time EA delivers us a new FIFA. EA, of course, will not stop releasing a new soccer game every year, but after FIFA 23, the license runs with the namesake, the Fédération Internationale de Football Association and the game gets a new name. Nevertheless, the soccer game remains one of the best sports games of 2022, and that’s why it’s our first game.

With FIFA 23, EA officially makes the native debut on current-gen consoles, the PS5 and Xbox. Because this year FIFA was developed natively on these consoles. For this reason, you can expect a huge boost in graphics this year. But also other changes should please one or the other FIFA fan. For one, there are some killer changes for the career mode, which has always fallen by the wayside a bit in previous installs. The player career mode is getting a huge update. This year you get the possibility to give your player personality by choosing from three different character traits. These change constantly during the games and the new activities you can do outside of the games. The new player career is slightly reminiscent of a classic role-playing game.

Also, the “HyperMotion 2” technology. is intended to take gameplay to a higher level. “HyperMotion” is the new gameplay technology that has brought every game closer to reality since FIFA 22. For this purpose, the movements and movement patterns of real professional soccer players in special suits were recorded in order to recreate them in the game in even greater detail. In other words, FIFA Football is supposed to become more realistic.

Madden 23

Continuing with the annual installment of the Madden-series. This year, the game has a special theme, because for the first time in 22 years, namesake and former Head Coach John Madden on the cover of the game. Madden passed away on December 28, 2021, and Madden 23 is intended to stand as a memorial to his legacy in football.

Even though Madden 23 has a sad undertone, you shall not lack for football action. The Face of the Franchise mode lets you take on the role of a young star and take your team to the Super Bowl. The Ultimate Team mode, a must-have in EA sports games, is also sure to keep you on your toes. There you can build your top team from scratch.

Franchise mode will feature new additions, including free agency tools and additional trade factors. The PS5 and Xbox Series X/S versions of the game will include new defensive animations, including mid-air collisions and tackle assists, as well as more precise passing mechanics on offense. The game will also feature player-locked touchdown camera views, additional player silhouette body types and improved stadium details.

AEW: Fight Forever

Now, one may argue whether wrestling is a “real sport” or not, athletic it certainly is and games are games. And AEW: Fight Forever Looks quite like one of the best sports games of 2022. WWE alternative All Elite Wrestling are making their video game debut with Fight Forever, pulling out all the stops. Together with developer Yukes and publisher THQ, who both have a long history with wrestling games, AEW has now created Fight Forever.

The team deliberately wants to take a cue from the cult classic “WWF No Mercy” for the Nintendo 64 from 2000. That is considered by wrestling and N64 fans to be the best wrestling game of all time. And indeed Fight Forever, is visually very reminiscent of the classic from 2000. The camera angles are the same and the graphics also look slightly cartoonish. While the “WWE2K” series wants to convince with realism, AEW: Fight Forever focuses on a “casual” gaming experience. You can expect some crazy game modes that are almost reminiscent of Mario Party.

NBA 2K23

Of course, you can’t have a list of the best sports games of 2022 without the basketball hit NBA2K23. In the USA, the basketball game from Take Two has long been the undisputed number 1 among the most popular sports games, and here in Germany the game has also established itself. The career mode lets you slip back into the role of a rookie who takes the league by storm. The career mode in NBA2K games is special because a narrative storyline accompanies you, where you can also make decisions. In MyTeam mode, you can build your own team, similar to the Ultimate Team modes in EA games.

In NBA2K23, the “Jordan Challenge” also makes a return. In it, you take on the role of the basketball legend and relive 15 playable moments from Michael Jordan’s legendary career. From Jordan’s time in collage basketball to the legendary NBA Finals in 1998, it’s all here. The game mode was last seen in NBA2K11 and for this reason has been completely revamped for NBA2K23. The arenas, the players, the outfits, the broadcasts and even the game style of the era have been analyzed to teleport you to the 80s and 90s.

Nintendo Switch Sports

Who remembers the days when everyone*wanted the Wii just to play a game of virtual bowling? Wii Sports conquered the world in the early 2000’s and became the Nintendo Switch Sports is now the successor to the cult classic. The fourth part of the Wii Sports series has been available for the Switch since April 29, 2022 and is in no way inferior to the original. That’s why it can’t be left out of our list of the best sports games of 2022.

Nintendo Switch Sports is set in a fictional multi-sport facility called Spocco Square where you can play three sports from previous installments (Tennis and Bowling from Wii Sports and Sword Fight from Wii Sports Resort) and three new sports. The three new sports are soccer, volleyball and badminton. Another sport from a previous edition, the popular Golf, has also been announced and will be released in a free update sometime in late 2022. To play, you use the Nintendo Switch’s Joy-Con in a similar way to the Wii controllers from previous sports games, positioning them to resemble the actual sport. The gyroscope function embedded in the Joy-Con is used to simulate in-game movements.

In addition to the familiar Miis, new avatars called “Sportsmates” have also been introduced, featuring detailed hair and faces, as well as arms and legs. In addition, the leg strap accessory introduced from the Switch game Ring Fit Adventure is included in the physical copy of the game. Since the July 2022 summer update, you can use the leg strap for soccer matches. The game features multiplayer, which is available both locally on your Switch, and online. Online allows you to play with friends and random matchmaking.

Forza Horizon 5

Of course, a racing game can not be missing in the list of the best sports games 2022 and Forza Horizon 5 is without question an absolute blast. Originally only intended as a spin-off of the Forza series, the Horizon games are now the brand’s flagship. And why not? Forza Horizon stands for casual driving fun, big worlds, lots of cars and a lot of action. The fifth installment has been available since November 9, 2021 and offers a great driving experience.

Forza Horizon 5 takes you to a fictional version of Mexico. This time the world is even 50% bigger than in the predecessor Forza Horizon 4 and offers you a variety of different places to explore. From active volcanoes to Mayan temples, everything is there. Also with the new weather system you will experience the world over and over again.

Forza Horizon 5 also brings you a new arcade mode. This consists of a series of mini-multiplayer games scattered around the map. One of these mini-multiplayer games is called “Piñata Pop”, where the Horizon Festival cargo plane drops piñatas and you have to break as many piñatas as possible in a set amount of time. There’s even a battle royal mode. The Hot Wheels DLC has also been available since July 19, 2022. This makes a return from Forza Horizon 3 and provides you with even more arcade fun.

If you are still undecided whether Forza Horizon 5 including the Hot Wheels DLC is something for you, we have an in-depth test for you here.

F1 Manager 2022

The management aspect is, of course, part of the sport. Making sure everything runs smoothly and managing your team to victory is just as fulfilling as playing the actual match. F1 Manager 2022 For this reason, F1 Manager 2022 is one of the best sports games of 2022. For the first time in over 20 years, racing fans can look forward to a new F1 Manager game, so the game from Frontier Developments has also brought along some decent hype.

In F1 Manager 2022 you slip into the role of a Formula 1 manager and take over the management of a racing team. You will be in charge of everything. From which tires to put on to how many pit stops your racers should make, F1 Manager 2022 puts a lot of focus on the details and wants to give you a truly authentic gaming experience. What makes F1 Manager 2022 different from other manager games is how close you are to the action. You don’t drive the races themselves, but you can experience them in a breathtaking way. Either through a bird’s eye view, through an authentic TV broadcast or through cameras attached to the F1 cars. Fans of manager and racing games are well catered for with F1 Manager 2022.

OlliOlli World

Skateboarding games aren’t all that common these days, aside from remakes of classics like Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 1 + 2 or the upcoming Skate 4, so as skateboarding fans we’re always happy when someone ventures into the genre. Just like the British indie developer Roll7 has been doing since 2013 with the OlliOlli series. OlliOlli World is now the third entry in the series of the same name and is a lot more ambitious than its predecessors.

The game takes place in Radlandia, a fictional city where you can interact with the game’s various characters and accept quests. To achieve high scores, you’ll have to string together skateboarding tricks to get combos. You’ll also be able to ride on walls and grind on rails to increase your score. OlliOlli World introduces new elements to the series, such as quarter pipes and branching paths. The game also has a new hand-drawn style, unlike the pixel style of its predecessors, which in some places resembles a mixture of the cult series Adventure Time and the classic game Jet Set Radio reminiscent. Besides, you’ll have a lot of crazy customization options to equip your character with. OlliOlli World doesn’t offer you a realistic version of skateboarding, but still a lot of fun and is absolutely one of the best sports games of 2022.