Realism and the spirit of competition are the main factors that influence the success of sports simulators. Without them, nothing substantial can be achieved. If the first is lost, the simulation turns into an arcade game; if the second is lost, the meaning is completely lost.

Such examples are well known, especially in the indie game community. Developers of the latter justify their failed projects with their inexperience, attribute the omission of important genre elements as "special features," or due to greed, they put a price tag on the game, label it as "Early Access," and release an unfinished product on the market, while you, dear audience, wait for patches and hope for stable versions. There are also plenty of such examples. Just take a look at Steam.

But today's top list will be led by seven exceptional sports simulators. Their uniqueness lies not only in maintaining realism and the thirst for competition but also in creating additional gameplay mechanics or solutions that elevate the game to the top of the ranking tables of gaming websites.

Football: FIFA series

An undisputed leader in terms of copies sold worldwide. Not because the developers come up with something new and unimaginable every year or rely on past successes, but because football itself is popular. Plus, FIFA is the only one that uses real team names, player names, and commentator lines from the countries where club competitions are held.

Furthermore, in recent years, the series has gained an online client. Now fans can compete against each other for ranking positions, trade virtual player cards within the in-game store, and improve their skills.

Finally, eSports associations have taken notice of players and have started recruiting the best of the best for their teams. International competitions with significant prize pools have been organized and held recently.

EA Sports has also taken the path of supporting female communities and added women's teams to the game. This has further increased the series' popularity.

It is worth mentioning that FIFA gradually improves the graphics of the simulator, refines the physics and animations, and also makes minor decorations on stadiums and changes the players' uniforms in line with real-world updates.

At first glance, it may seem like the game is standing still, but if you visually compare the progress over a decade, you will notice significant advancements and the developers' significant contribution to the series, which still has no worthy analogs.  

FIFA Manager series

Another simulator directly related to football. However, it covers the managerial aspects of teams, including the club's budget, loans, and the transfer market. It involves tasks such as scouting and recruiting young players, as well as establishing youth football academies. Afterward, the trainees can join the senior national team, be sent on loan, or sold to another club.

The player also takes on the role of the club's head coach. The position includes several responsibilities:

• Formation of the main team lineup;
• analysis of players' strengths and weaknesses;
• analysis of gameplay connections;
• skill training;
• monitoring the physical health of athletes;
• monitoring the fatigue level of players during a single match or series of matches;
• managing substitutions.

The simulator is also great because it allows you to fast-forward matches, immediately revealing the final result. The game is suitable for those who enjoy the combination of football and management.     

Racing: Dirt Rally 2.0

Continuation of the famous off-road racing game Collin McRae Rally, which was released during the era of the first PlayStation consoles. Since then, the simulator has experienced many ups and downs but has finally established itself in the rally racing segment.

A new team of developers has helped restore its former status. The game has excellent graphics, quality effects, a realistic control model on different road surfaces, and realistic car damage modeling. 

Both old and new fans were delighted with the off-road simulator. Devoted series fans praised the revival of the nostalgic atmosphere, while newcomers simply got an incomparable game. Everyone was happy. Nostalgia combined with novelty did the trick, and the game sold hundreds of thousands of copies.    

Fall Guys: Ultimate Knockout

The first game on the list might not seem related to sports at first glance, but it encompasses the elements of a sports simulator. It features a realistic physics model, battle royale-style competitions, and the thrill of racing.

Although Fall Guys has a childish appearance, its casual exterior is balanced by its complexity. The game presents several challenges:

• The setting itself is hostile to the player;
• Other players serve as obstacles;
• The objective is to be the first to reach the finish line by pushing opponents off the track.

And much more. But these three factors alone can be associated with any racing simulator.

At the same time, the game has a carefree and beautiful appearance, making it difficult to determine the target audience's age. Fall Guys is equally enjoyable for preschoolers and office workers.    

Skateboarding: THPS and THU Series

Tony Hawk's Pro Skater and Tony Hawk's Underground are iconic extreme skateboarding simulators that originated in the late 90s. Over time, each installment of the game has been ported to PC and rightfully received HD remasters. The developers have preserved the gameplay and the spirit of the series.

For those who are clueless: THPS is not just skateboarding on ramps and rails in a skatepark, it's racing on rooftops, power lines, buses, and trams on the streets. It's a punk simulator, especially considering the music selection. Players can simply skate around the location, practicing their balance, acrobatics, and who knows what other tricks, or they can break a dormitory or institute window in a college town and ride through the corridors, smashing and destroying everything in their path. THPS and THU are simulators for true connoisseurs of the bygone era of thick-starred sneakers, cheap drinks, scraped knees, and punk rock.    

Rocket League

The only representative of the futuristic setting in this compilation. The game is magnificent with its vibrant stadiums, magical special effects, insane speeds, and intense competitions. This multiplayer simulator combines everything to make the sport as dynamic as possible.

Players choose a car, equip it with various nitro boosts, decals, colors, wheels, adorn the roof with huge hats or cartoon characters, choose solo or corporate mode, the type of competition, whether it's a soccer, hockey, or basketball field... In short, any settings to make the gameplay as thrilling and crazy as possible.

The music deserves a separate mention. It's what brings the necessary rhythm and tone to the competition. The playlist includes electronic mixes, dubstep, rock, a blend of club music and hip-hop. If you have a separate audio system, a huge TV, or a high-quality projector, connect them without hesitation.

The Golf Club and The Golf Club 2

Completing the game compilation is the conservative sport of golf. Beautiful views of green fields, serene music, leisurely and measured gameplay. And the sunsets: such beautiful sunsets in the game. For those who want to retreat and escape the rhythms of the metropolis, both parts of TGC are the best solution.

The game atmosphere is reminiscent of chess, where the player and the golf ball act as pieces. The same thoughtful individual moves that are part of the strategy, the same tricks and leisurely but cunning maneuvers, the same thrill of intellectual competitions, and the taste of victory.

Choose your club, course, competitive or casual mode, and experience the sport of aristocrats. If you get tired of competing against computer opponents, connect to the online mode.