Sports video games to watch this holiday season

Whether it’s buying new video games for the next generation of consoles or finding retro games on eBay or retro game stores, consumption is at an all-time high.

The lockdowns following the coronavirus pandemic are partly to blame. Nielsen data in April revealed that there was a 45% spike in video game consumption in April, according to The Hollywood Reporter.

With the Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, and PlayStation 5 all hitting the market before the holiday season, sports video games will be among the most popular giveaways.

There are plenty of sports video games, new and old, that are still perfectly fun to play, as well as games that you might not have heard of before.

Read below for a quick guide to sports video games this holiday season.

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THE MAIN

Mainstream games are always going to entertain all types of gamers. You can’t really go wrong if you choose any of these games as a gift for your loved ones. With Black Friday and other holiday deals going on, you can find these games online or in your local store for around $ 20 to $ 30 cheaper than any other part of the year.

MADDEN NFL 21: This is the latest installment in the Madden franchise with Baltimore Ravens star Lamar Jackson on the cover. While legacy Madden fans have lamented the lack of a deep franchise mode, the game still features Madden Ultimate Team and Superstar modes. The game is slated for release on next-gen consoles in December. (Play on: Xbox One, PS4, Steam, PC, iOS or Android)

NBA 2K21: NBA 2K21 has been the only professional basketball game on the market for a few years and has dominated sales. The NBA even has its own 2K League for die-hard pro players. The game offers in-depth MyGM, MyPlayer and MyTeam modes, among other cool features. There are three versions of the game: Mamba Edition, which features the late Kobe Bryant, the current generation version, which has Damian Lillard on the cover, and the next generation version, which has Zion Williamson on the cover. (Play on: Xbox Series X / S, Xbox One, PS4 / 5, Nintendo Switch, PC, Steam)

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FIFA 21: FIFA21 is EA Sports’ latest football episode. PSG star Kylian Mbappe is on the cover of this match. The game offers Ultimate Team, Career and VOLTA Football modes, but due to certain licensing agreements, teams such as Juventus, Roma, River Plate, Boca Juniors and Corinthians are not in the game. will not be on next-gen consoles until December. (Play on: Xbox One, PS4, Nintendo Switch, PC)

NHL 21: The last professional hockey game is NHL 21. Washington Capitals star Alexander Ovechkin covers the game. It’s considered one of the best hockey games in recent memory for EA Sports, and with the 2020-21 NHL season in the air, it may be the only one hockey fans have yet. . Be a Pro mode and World of Chel are both returning for the game. EA Sports has stated that players will be able to play the game on next-gen consoles, but it doesn’t look like there will be a separate next-gen game. . (Play on: Xbox One, PS4)

PGA TOUR 2K21: When was the last time a PGA Tour match was premiered? It has been several years since players have been able to access virtual links. But the game is available for the holidays. The game offers a career mode and a course construction mode. He also has the full PGA Tour license. The game is not yet on next-gen consoles. Justin Thomas is on the cover. (Play on: Xbox One, PS4, Nintendo Switch, PC, Steam)

UFC 4: Jorge Masvidal and Israel Adesanya are some of the biggest names in the UFC and feature on the fourth installment of this game. The game features a career mode designed to teach players about the world of mixed martial arts and different disciplines. It also has over 200 fighters and a multiplayer mode. The game is not yet on next-gen consoles. (Play on: Xbox One, PS4)

Skater TONY HAWK PRO 1 + 2: Tony Hawk and Activision have released a remastered version of classic Tony Hawk Pro Skater video games. The first two games in the series are available and are as good or better than the original versions. It’s a big nostalgia bomb for the older gamer who grew up on PlayStation. The soundtrack is also a huge success. (Play on: Xbox One, PS4, and PC)

MLB THE SHOW 20: As the baseball season approaches, if your loved one missed MLB The Show this summer, now might be a good time to pick it up to prepare for the 2021 season. With Javy Baez on the cover, the game includes classics like Franchise Mode, Road to the Show, March to October, Showdown, and Custom Leagues. The game is only playable on PS4.

NASCAR HEAT 5: NASCAR Heat is the only console game dedicated to NASCAR. There are two versions, which were released in July – the Gold Edition and the Standard Edition. The Gold Edition has Tony Stewart on the cover while the Standard Edition has Cup Champion Chase Elliott on the cover. The game offers several different NASCAR series, a career mode, different tracks and multiplayer modes. (Play on: Xbox One, PS4, Steam, PC)

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THE ALTERNATIVES

If you’re looking for an alternative to mainstream sports games, these games below might be worth a look. You can find a majority of these games online and some might even be in your local store. The prices vary.

DOUG FLUTIE MAXIMUM FOOTBALL 2020: Maximum Football by Doug Flutie was created as an alternative to the Madden series. While the gameplay isn’t as smooth as anything EA Sports produces, Maximum Football allows for a wide range of creativity, allowing players to edit and create their own teams and players at a professional, college or even football level. Canadian. For those who miss NCAA football games, Maximum Football tries to fill the void. The game is worth a try if you are looking for something new and different. You can find the game at the Xbox and PlayStation online stores. The game costs around $ 30.

FOOTBALL 2020: Axis Football is another alternative football game that football fans looking for something new can devour. The 2020 edition features updated gameplay, a deep franchise mode, and creative stadium appearances, among other things. The game can be found on Xbox, PS4, PC, Mac, Linux and can also be purchased through Steam for around $ 29.99.

SUPER MEGA BASEBALL 3: Super Mega Baseball is another type of baseball game that does not feature professional teams or players. But the game features nice stadiums, a new franchise mode, and specific player bonuses for each team. It’s definitely a different game than, say, MLB The Show, but someone looking for a new challenge might enjoy it. The game can be purchased for Xbox One, PS4, Nintendo Switch, and the computer through Steam. It costs around $ 44.99 but could be cheaper with future vacation deals.

BASEBALL OUTSIDE THE PARK 21: Those who love baseball with a fiery passion probably know what baseball is out of the park. It’s an in-depth text-based baseball simulation game that lets you be the general manager of a team and control them season after season. The latest episode can be played on your computer on PC, Mac or Linux. It can be purchased through Steam. It was on sale for as low as $ 9.99.

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MARIO TENNIS ACES: Die-hard Mario fans and those looking for an easy arcade game may love Mario Tennis Aces. The game is for Nintendo Switch and contains all the favorites from the Mario world. The game can be purchased from a local retailer for as little as $ 26.99.

MUTANT FOOTBALL LEAGUE: Mutant Football is one of the fun football games buried in your Xbox and PlayStation stores. It’s a fun and demonic soccer game that allows you to take a team and try to lead them to a championship. The franchises and the players in the game are all puns with real NFL teams and athletes. Examples of this include the Outrageous Damned of Los, the Blitzburg Steelheads, and the New Yuck Tyrants. Bomb Shady and Hattrick Myhomies are among the stars of the game. You can find the game in your console stores and on Steam for around $ 19.99.

XL Skater: Skater XL is among the list of alternative games that can certainly provide a new challenge for the casual player. The game uses the joysticks of the controller to move the skater in the game. IGN described the game as “a serious and above all authentic and grounded simulation of skateboarding”. You won’t get a nostalgic bombshell that only Tony Hawk can deliver, but you will get a challenging gameplay. You can get it online or at a local retailer for as low as $ 19.99 and buy it on Steam for around $ 31.99.

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RETROS

The pandemic has forced sports fans to stay home, and while they were looking at their baseball cards, they also found old games like NCAA Football 14, Blitz The League 2, and Backyard Baseball. NCAA Football 14 is the latest EA Sports game made in the NCAA Football series and those looking for it might have to pay a pretty dime for it on eBay or Amazon.

But games like Blitz The League, SSX Tricky, NHL Hitz, and Backyard Baseball are some of the games that the average gamer can find online.

If you’re looking to feel nostalgic this holiday season, be sure to be on the lookout for some of these classics.