We already published the list of best N64 games of all time, now it’s time to discover the best N64 sports games of all time.
With amazing titles available, the N64 definitely has a great library of sports games.
So, if you’re a fan of both the N64 and sports games, there’s a chance you’ll like this list.
And some of you may already know some of the games mentioned in this list.
#25. Ready 2 Rumble Boxing
- Release Data: Point of View/Midway, 1999
- Genre: Sports » Individual » Combat » Boxing / Martial Arts
Ready 2 Rumble Boxing is a good arcade-style boxing game.
If you’re a fan of fighting games, you’ll enjoy the game’s special moves, combo system, and varied characters.
And while it’s not as good as the Dreamcast version, Ready 2 Rumble on the Nintendo 64 is still a fun two-player game.
#24. NHL Breakaway 98
- Release Data: Iguana Entertainment/Acclaim, 1998
- Genre: Sports » Team » Ice Hockey » Sim
In the end, Breakaway 98 is one of those rare games that come along every once in a while.
It seems to have everything going for it: great graphics, superb sound, unmatched control—a game that’s just plain good in all of the categories.
Breakaway 98 is better than real hockey.
#23. NFL Quarterback Club 99
- Release Data: Iguana Entertainment/Acclaim, 1998
- Genre: Sports » Team » Football » Sim
NFL Quarterback Club ’99 improve its predecessor’s gameplay with better animations, graphics, and more fluent control.
While these improvements seems minor at first, it make the game a lot more enjoyable and more appealing to fans.
Though the AI seems to be bugged in some places compared to similar game at that time.
#22. Madden Football 64
- Release Data: EA Tiburon/EA Sports, 1997
- Genre: Sports » Team » Football » Sim
Although it has a few flaws, Madden 64 is still one of the best football simulations on the N64.
Ironically, the most realistic NFL simulation on the market lacks an NFL license.
Still, football fans are urged to buy this title, unless having the real NFL teams and logos is of supreme importance to them.
#21. NBA Live 2000
- Release Data: NuFX/EA Sports, 1999
- Genre: Sports » Team » Basketball » Sim
It doesn’t really offer anything special in graphics, control, or any other category.
But it does do the NBA Live series justice, and it is the best N64 iteration of the series yet.
The extras are nice and add to the game’s value. Fans of previous versions of Live N64 will have a good time.
#20. Major League Baseball Featuring Ken Griffey, Jr.
- Release Data: Angel Studios/Nintendo, 1998
- Genre: Sports » Team » Baseball » Sim
Graphic wise, it’s pretty average compared to other game of same genre.
Though it makes that up for better sound, with atmospheric crowd cheers, organ music, fireworks, booing, commentary and even city noises like ambulances driving by.
All in all, it’s pretty stale in graphic but pretty solid with its arcadey and speedy gameplay.
#19. FIFA 99
- Release Data: EA Canada/Electronic Arts, 1998
- Genre: Sports » Team » Soccer » Sim
While FIFA 99 is the most in-depth soccer sim to date on the N64, it still faces stiff competition in Konami’s ISS Pro ’98.
Konami’s game may look a bit slicker and play with more robustness—but if your definition of a great soccer game begins and ends with dead-on realism, you can’t go wrong with FIFA 99.
#18. WCW/nWo Revenge
- Release Data: Aki Corp./THQ, 1998
- Genre: Sports » Individual » Combat » Wrestling
Running on an enhanced World Tour engine, Revenge plays incredibly similar to World Tour.
This game has improved graphics with better texture map and variety of cinematic intros and highlights.
Overall, it feels like a more complete game compared to World Tour.
#17. NFL Blitz 2000
- Release Data: Midway, 1999
- Genre: Sports » Team » Football » Arcade
People who haven’t seen Blitz ’99 in arcades yet are going to be blown away by the additions and tweaks that have been made since the original Blitz was released on the N64.
Veterans of Blitz ’99 will welcome the ability to finally play the updated game at home, and the new Y2K add-ons don’t hurt, either.
#16. NHL 99
- Release Data: MBL Research/EA Sports, 1998
- Genre: Sports » Team » Ice Hockey » Sim
All in all, NHL 99 provides a great gameplay experience for both fans and non-fans of the sport.
It is simple enough for anyone to pick up and play, yet there’s enough here to keep you interested for a long time.
#15. WWF WrestleMania 2000
- Release Data: Aki Corp./Asmik Ace Entertainment, Inc, 1999
- Genre: Sports » Individual » Combat » Wrestling
WWF Wrestlemania 2000 does a lot of things right. It’s got some good gameplay, though it may be a bit too simplistic for some.
It improves on THQ’s last N64 wrestling game by quite a lot, especially with the addition of a good create-a-wrestler mode.
#14. Madden NFL 2001
- Release Data: EA Tiburon/EA Sports, 2000
- Genre: Sports » Team » Football » Sim
Everyone who’s a fan of video game football, whether a fan of the Madden series or not, will surely enjoy the game’s solid control and presentation.
The tweaks to the AI and the small additions like the two-minute drill and coach-specific playbooks are more than enough reason for fans of the series to pick this up.
#13. World Cup 98
- Release Data: EA Canada/EA Sports, 1998
- Genre: Sports » Team » Soccer » Sim
The game is essentially FIFA 98, minus the FIFA team, but with improved gameplay and cinematics. It’s all about the world cup now.
Thanks to the license, it features accurate teams and stadiums, which feels like the real thing.
Overall, this game is as close as you could get to the real World Cup 98.
#12. WWF War Zone
- Release Data: Iguana West/Acclaim, 1998
- Genre: Sports » Individual » Combat » Wrestling
WWF War Zone is long on gameplay but really lacks on the atmosphere side.
While the wrestlers taunt during matches, their personalities never really come across.
Still, if graphics and gameplay modes are all you care about, the N64 version is the way to go.
#11. WWF No Mercy
- Release Data: Aki Corp./THQ, 2000
- Genre: Sports » Individual » Combat » Wrestling
If you’ve never played any of THQ’s wrestling titles, WWF No Mercy is a game you should have loads of fun with—especially with your friends.
However, if you’ve stuck with early WCW games and WWF Wrestlemania 2000, No Mercy may not be fresh enough to hold your attention.
#10. All-Star Baseball 99
- Release Data: Iguana Entertainment/Acclaim, 1998
- Genre: Sports » Team » Baseball » Sim
The only negative thing that could really be said about the game is the recycling of basic animations.
The animations for players walking out to the plate and players taking the field are used over and over.
But All-Star Baseball 99 is easily one of the best baseball games to come around at that time.
#9. All-Star Baseball 2001
- Release Data: High Voltage Software/Acclaim, 2000
- Genre: Sports » Team » Baseball » Sim
Regardless of some issues, All-Star Baseball 2001 is the second best console baseball game.
The visuals are photo-realistic, the gameplay itself borders on perfect, and the variety of game modes and multiplayer options offer high replay value.
Furthermore, the game is just fun—and that, when all is said and done, is what counts the most.
#8. Mario Golf
- Release Data: Camelot Software Planning/Nintendo, 1999
- Genre: Sports » Individual » Golf » Arcade
Sadly, if you’re looking for a Mario-ish golf game here, you will be disappointed.
Aside from the final course, which has holes shaped like Mario characters, each area is really quite normal and does not have special Mario-ish obstacles to avoid.
But if you don’t mind that the game is actually quite realistic, you can do no wrong here.
#7. Mario Tennis
- Release Data: Camelot Software Planning/Nintendo, 2000
- Genre: Sports » Individual » Tennis
With Mario Tennis, the portly plumber proved once again that he can make any sport more entertaining.
The 64-bit entry, conversely, is a pure, unspoiled Mario Tennis experience and one of Mario’s best outings with a racket.
All in all, a fun, frantic game and an absolute blast to play with friends.
#6. Madden NFL 99
- Release Data: EA Tiburon/EA Sports, 1998
- Genre: Sports » Team » Football » Sim
The control is great, the AI is great, and of course, the graphics are well done.
The game gives you everything you could ever want on the features side, plus the ability to change them.
And with the addition of franchise mode, which allows you to play season after season, football gamers can play Madden 99 for a long time.
#5. All-Star Baseball 2000
- Release Data: Iguana Entertainment/Acclaim, 1999
- Genre: Sports » Team » Baseball » Sim
There is a total of four different game modes to play in—exhibition, season, play-off, and home run derby.
Overall, All-Star Baseball 2000 is a refined version of the previous year’s game.
However, the new features and refinements totally add up; they make picking up All-Star Baseball 2000 a must for every N64-owning baseball fan.
#4. International Superstar Soccer 64
- Release Data: KCEO/Konami, 1997
- Genre: Sports » Team » Soccer » Sim
Like every soccer game in that era, International Superstar Soccer 64 follows the model that FIFA set—fast 3D graphics, a choice of camera angles, and real stadium sounds.
So, in short, International Superstar Soccer 64 offers just about everything FIFA 64 did. It just does it slightly better.
#3. 1080: TenEighty Snowboarding
- Release Data: Nintendo, 1998
- Genre: Sports » Individual » Ski / Snowboard
1080 Snowboarding is the best snowboarding game around.
And if it weren’t for the slowdown caused by the trees, the graphics would be perfect.
Innovative level design and gameplay that requires skill and rewards you for seeing your death-defying tricks through to completion add up to one of the best values in both sports and racing gaming.
#2. NFL Blitz
- Release Data: Midway, 1998
- Genre: Sports » Team » Football » Arcade
NFL Blitz is the best football game ever made.
Unless you’re one of those freaks that requires hyperrealism in every facet of your football games, there’s no need to buy any other football game.
Even those of us that despise traditional sports games aren’t immune to Blitz‘s incredible performance.
#1. Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater
- Release Data: Edge of Reality/Activision, 2000
- Genre: Sports » Individual » Skate / Skateboard
Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater is a game for skaters and non-skaters alike.
It would have been nice to see some more variety in the game’s tricks, but as it stands, THPS is an outstanding game and an excellent port of the PlayStation original, and it’s a worthy addition to anyone’s collection.
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See also: Best SNES Games & Best GBC Games
Are your favorite games on the list?
Deciding which N64 sports game is the best is no doubt a never ending topic, but it’s fun to do!
