#15 EA Skate
Without a doubt, EA's "Skate" revolutionized skateboarding video games because it added unchartered levels of realism and made gamers use the joystick. With a roster full of indie skaters, an outstanding soundtrack and numerous custom options, it quickly killed off the once heralded "Tony Hawk" franchise.
#14 Gran Turismo III
If you and your friends didn't jump with glee with the release of "Gran Turismo III", your childhood may have been mediocre. The new installment was the most anticipated Sony Playstation game at the time and with unbelievable graphics and originality, it delivered and blew everyone away. It goes without saying, this game ushered in gaming's "cool" era. Which of course was much trendier than its dorky-parents-basement-era.
#13 Major League Baseball Featuring Ken Griffey Jr.
Not only was it one of the best N64 games ever made, it was one of the best baseball games ever created. The video game title all started with the Nintendo release and then ballooned into the most popular MLB video game of our generation. Needless to say the graphics got a boost as well.
#12 Mario Tennis 64
Well equipped with power-ups and all the popular characters from the "Mario Kart" series, N64's "Mario Tennis" was the first game that saw the beloved Nintendo icons jump to sports. It wasn't short on challenges such as unlocking characters and courts, to this day it still remains one of the most difficult games ever.
#11 NHL 94
Ask any NHL fan and they'll tell you - "NHL 94" set the standard for nearly two decades of hockey from Electronic Arts. Though minimalist in design, the hockey title thrived on fast and furious gameplay which more than made up for the "humble" graphic quality. It's was one of the first games that let you beat up on opposing players, outside of battle games of course.
#10 Fight Night Round 3
Boxing always had a tough time making a serious impact on the video game industry but luckily Microsoft decided to pair its latest venture - the Xbox 360 - with "Fight Night Round 3". That changed everything with joystick controls, authentic animations and EA's coveted GameFace feature. Good job Microsoft, you changed the game, literally.
#9 Backyard Sports Series
While it notoriously difficult for sports games to acquire licenses of professional leagues, the "Backyard Sports" series went with its own fictional characters while including youthful impersonations of all-star athletes. For most kids, it reinvented the sand lot. For the rest of us, it was a bit creepy. Don't they sorta look like Arnold?
#8 NBA Jam
Ever wondered where you got the phrase "Boomshakalaka!" from? "NBA Jam" of course! The arcade-style sports game spawned numerous sequels and cross-overs after its original release and all because it featured the kind of gravity-defying jumps and fireball dunks most of us only see during the dunk contest.
#7 Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 2
The original title made the world of skateboarding a little challenging with multiple tasks, but the sequel introduced a career mode and the "Create-A-Skater" and "Create-A-Park" features. It also boasted a massive soundtrack with Bad Religion, Rage Against The Machine and Naughty By Nature.
#6 MVP Baseball 2005
"MVP Baseball 2005" had everything. It had Manny Ramirez on the cover, it presented a more in-depth minor league system and even gave its "Owner Mode" a little shimmer and shine. Arguably, it was the best (and last) baseball game EA Sports ever made.
#5 Madden 2006
"Madden 2004" gets some credit for being revolutionary but the 06 take was an illustrious depiction of football. Along with introducing the "Truck Stick", the title brought forward "Superstar Mode", which allowed gamers to create their own prospect and guide them through a realistic career. From high school recruit to draft day.
#4 Tecmo Super Bowl
The difference between it and "Madden 2013" is actually tremendous but that hasn't stopped the 1991 title from letting gamers engage with a realistic season schedule. It's become so addicting that a "Tecmo Super Bowl 2012" mod showed up on the Internet last year. We sense another cult favorite in the making.
#3 NBA 2K11
Believe it or not, NBA 2K11 sold more than 5.5 million units in its first year thanks to critic and user reviews that cemented it as the best basketball game ever created. Improved graphics, mechanical gameplay and a cover featuring "His Airness" Michael Jordan was a trifecta in itself.
#2 Punch-Out!!!
It may not have been a very realistic interpretation of boxing, but "Punch-Out!!!" delivered hooks and body blows with a unique blend of characters. But most importantly, the Nintendo classic also increased Mike Tyson's cultural influence and became a cult favourite in the 1990s'. Oh Mike. . .
#1 FIFA 10
After more than a decade, the FIFA series took an unbelievable jump with FIFA 10 in 2009, improving gameplay and updating "Virtual Pro" and "Manager Mode". Focusing on realistic enhancements, the installment helped push the series to what it is now, the most realistic sports game on the planet.
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