What were the best sports games on the SNES?

[Anthony1]

I'm trying to work on my Top 50 All-Time Super Nintendo game list, but I just can't think of the classic sports games for this system.

I know that when it comes to Madden and NHL Hockey, the Genesis always had the better versions.

However, I believe that the SNES had the best versions of NBA Live. I think that NBA Live 98 was the ultimately the best Basketball game on the system. I also have to give much respect to NCAA Basketball, which to my knowledge, is the first ever 3-D basketball game.

As for Baseball, I remember trying all the various Baseball games, but none in particular stick out. I was a big fan of Bases Loaded on the Nes, but the SNES versions were underwhelming. I also found the Ken Griffey games to arcadish.

When it comes to Soccer, I think I enjoyed the Fifa versions on the genesis better as well.

So basically, these are the three games that I feel deserve serious consideration from a sports standpoint for the Super Nintendo.

1. NBA Live 98 - Possibly the best 16 bit basketball game (From a NBA simulation standpoint)

2. NCAA Basketball - The first ever 3-D Basketball game and a revolutionary use of Mode 7 technology.

3. Super Tennis - An incredibly playable game of Tennis.


Which other sports games for the SNES should get some serious respect?

[Quintracker]

I pretty much stay away from sports games altogether, but I always found NBA Jam T.E. to be fun.

[RetroYoungen]

I never played a lot of sports games on my SNES, but there are two that do stand out to me:
You already said it, and I agree: Super Tennis is one helluvagame, still playable today. But the other is NBA Jam. I loved it to death in the arcade and on both the Genesis and the SNES.

[nesman85]

super bases loaded is one of my favorite sports games and the only baseball game that i can think of that i liked. i agree that nba jam definitely deserves to be on there.

[NESCollector75]

Rap Jam volume 1

[boatofcar]

I enjoyed the FIFA games on the SNES, but as far as baseball and football go, I'd much rather play Bad News or Little League Baseball and Tecmo Super Bowl on the NES. Actually, after I think the only sports game I've ever bought new in the store on any system is All Star Baseball 2004 on PS2....I remember Tecmo Super Bowl being sold in an indie game store for around 80 bucks when it came out...crazy!

[jaybird]

All the Tecmo Bowls on SNES are pretty good. I prefer TSB 3 the best.

Some of my favs are:
Baseball Simulator 1.000
Super Bowling
NHL 95
the 1st Ken Griffey game
Super Baseball 2020
Saturday Night Slam Masters (if you count wrestling as sports).

Finally, the greatest sports game for SNES is Super Punch Out.

[Sega Hitman]

The NBA Jam games and Super Tennis are the only really good SNES sports games that come to mind. I'm sure that plenty of the EA games are good, but the Genesis versions are far superior. I've played very little EA SNES games just for that reason.

Did anybody else really dislike the Ken Griffey games? I never understood why those got popular. I assumed it was just the license.

-Hitman-

[boatofcar]

Ken Griffey baseball was the closest the SNES got to having a real arcade baseball game. It moved quickly, and I remember how real the fans and stadiums looked.... just my .02.

[Anthony1]

I have to be honest and say that I'm not at all a fan of non simulation sports games.

Games like NBA Jam and NFL Blitz and stuff like that do nothing for me.

I've always been a huge fan of the NFL, NBA, Major League Baseball and stuff like that, and I'm always interested in games that try their best to simulate the real thing, while still being fun and entertaining.


I'm starting another thread of the best sports games of all time.

Check it out!

[Zaxxon]

Mario Jai Lai
Mario Fencing
Kirby's Cock Fighting Fantasy
Princess Toadstool Mud Wrestling
Shaq-Fu

[hydr0x]

Jimmy Connors Pro Tennis Tour, best US+PAL SNES Tennis game

[Ruudos]

International Superstar Soccer Deluxe
better than FIFA and better than its Genesis counterpart!

ISS Deluxe is still the btes soccer game ever! :D

[dreamcaster]

The NBA Jam games were the only ones I liked.

Super Tennis wasn't too bad either.