7. Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games: Tokyo 2020
Games that try to capture the spirit of the Olympics are rarely able to do so, and they’re rarely good games.
Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games: Tokyo 2020doesn’t do a great job of being a sports game, but as a collection of mini games to play with friends, it’s not bad!
If you’re looking for a game to play with friends or family that don’t play many games, this is probably your best bet.
6. Windjammers 2
Windjammers 2isn’t based on an actual sport, but I kind of wish it was. This game was originally released in arcades in 1994, but recent ports have made it available on modern systems, complete with online multiplayer.
The game is essentiallyPongwith special moves, but the fast-paced fun of tossing the disc back and forth doesn’t seem to get old, no many how many rounds of the game you play.
Related:The Best Local Multiplayer (Couch) Games on Xbox Game Pass
5. Golf Story
If you ever played the Camelot-developedMario Golfgames (likeMario Golf: Advance Touron the Game Boy Advance), you have an idea of what to expect here.
Golf Storyis largely an RPG that uses golf in place of the standard turn-based combat you’d find in a traditional RPG. A sequel calledSports Storywas also announced for the Nintendo Switch, so this is a great time to dive into the series.
4. Mutant Football League
Originally released in 1993 for the Sega Genesis,Mutant League Footballwas a gory and campy take on football that ended up being really fun.
Mutant Football League(note the subtle name change) is a spiritual successor to that game that also takes cues from the arcade classicNFL Blitz.
While NFL fans will get a kick out of some of the player name references, you don’t need to know a thing about the actual sport in order to have a blast playing this game with friends.
Related:Is Humble Store Legit? Why I Buy My Games There Now
3. Mario Tennis Aces
If you want to liven a sports game up, put Mario in it. It’s a proven formula that has worked for kart racing, soccer, and… tennis!
There have been multiple entries in this series, and they’re all worth playing (aside from the Virtual Boy game), butMario Tennis Acesis the latest installment for the Nintendo Switch.
This game is best played with friends in the same room, but there is online multiplayer as well. It’s a great game to have in your library because it’s great for couples and for parties!
Related:The best Nintendo Switch games for couples
2. What the Golf?
One of the first major hits on Apple Arcade,What the Golf?is ostensibly a golf game… but also not really a golf game.
To describe the twists and turns this relatively short game takes would make them less fun to discover on your own as you play the game, so I’ll just say that this is much more than a golf game—and it can also be hilarious at times.
1. Rocket League
Rocket Leaguewas released in 2015 but is still immensely popular. This is largely due to the nature of the game: it’s incredibly easy to learn, but mastering it is another thing entirely.
Think of it as soccer but with rocket-powered cars! As you master the controls, you can pull off increasingly tricky maneuvers, making the game as fun to watch as it is to play.
