What are the best sports games on PS5? Whether you’re the kind of person who thinks football should be played with your hands or your feet, sports games are enormously popular on PlayStation, and there’s a growing selection available on the PlayStation 5. We’re combining both arcade and simulation titles for this list, so regardless of whether a release is a replica of the real thing or a little more off-the-wall, you’ll find it on this page.
Sports games, typically, subscribe to annual release cycles, especially when it comes to the genre’s heaviest hitters, like FIFA and NBA 2K. However, not every title within has been developed in a 12 month period: Knockout City, the brilliant dodgebrawler from Velen Studios, is a tantalisingly original idea – and it took years for Activision to do justice to Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 1 + 2, which were among some of the best games on the PS1.
The inherent nature of sports means many of the games you’ll find below have strong multiplayer suites, both online and offline. However, many of them can also be enjoyed solo, whether you’re working towards a starting quarterback gig in the Madden NFL or assembling your dream bullpen in MLB The Show. We’ve also incorporated motorsports here if you prefer clutches to cleats, and many of the best sports games on PS5 are enjoyed from the comfort of a cockpit.
Of course, the classification of these titles is one thing, but it’s up to you to determine the order. Don’t sweat it if you feel your favourite is out of place, because it’s ultimately up to you to do something about it. You’ll find a search bar below which will allow you to rate any of the PS5’s many sports games, and this list will automatically update according to your tastes.
Please do keep in mind that a title will need at least 10 ratings before it appears on this page, so if you’re wondering why your favourite Japanese horse racing franchise is struggling to clear this hurdle, that could be why.
Best PS5 Games
With all that said, it’s time to suit up and begin our list of best sports games on PS5. Is this a league table you can get behind?
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20. Madden NFL 21 (PS5)
Publisher: EA Sports / Developer: EA Tiburon
Release Date: 4th Dec 2020 (USA) / 4th Dec 2020 (UK/EU)
19. NBA 2K21 (PS5)
Publisher: 2K Sports / Developer: Visual Concepts
Release Date: 12th Nov 2020 (USA) / 19th Nov 2020 (UK/EU)
18. Madden NFL 22 (PS5)
Publisher: EA Sports / Developer: EA Tiburon
Release Date: 20th Aug 2021 (USA) / 20th Aug 2021 (UK/EU)
17. FIFA 21 (PS5)
Publisher: EA Sports / Developer: EA Sports
Release Date: 4th Dec 2020 (USA) / 4th Dec 2020 (UK/EU)
16. Knockout City (PS5)
Publisher: Electronic Arts / Developer: Velan Studios
Release Date: 2nd Nov 2021 (USA) / 2nd Nov 2021 (UK/EU)
Knockout City is a bit of a knockout. The self-proclaimed dodgebrawler, originally released on the PS4, mixes a retro-future aesthetic with multiplayer deathmatches. Your objective is to lob balls in the direction of your opponents, striking them out with two hits, but you can also catch said projectiles and add spin to your tosses. This all leads to a frantic, classic competitive experience that’s easy to grasp but seriously challenging to master. Lob in different ball types, each with unique properties you need to take the time to learn, and you have the recipe for a dangerously addictive arcade sports experience.
