We already published the list of best PS3 games of all time, now it’s time to discover the best PS3 sports games of all time.
With amazing titles like the NBA 2K series, MLB series, and FIFA series, the PS3 surely have a great collection of sports games.
If you’re a fan of both PS3 and sports games, I know that you want to know the best PS3 sports games of all time.
Most of you will recognize (or even still playing) some of the games mentioned on this list.
See also: Best PSP Games & Best PS Vita Games
#25. MLB 08: The Show
The most realistic and accurate baseball experience has come to PlayStation 3.
Take the glory as one for the team, or carve the pathway to fame and success for one man only in this word-class baseball simulator.
Jaw-dropping detail, all player and field design have been designed meticulously, from the dirt effect to player interaction.
Long gone the day of single personality umpire, now each umpire has a distinctive personality and tendencies.
Season simulation is accurate and maybe the best from baseball based game.
The field felt alive, you could see all sorts of things happening between each pitch if you hold on to your pitch for a while.
#24. Skate
Synopsis: Feel the board on your joystick, Skate offers freedom for you to explore a virtual city fully designed for the skateboard.
Build your fame through numerous paths, be it by generating enough hype, or by annoying security and earn your street rep.
Stunning visual on the console, combined with realistic physic and animation creating the ultimate skateboard themed game we craving for.
The control perfectly simulates skateboarding experiences, and you really need to learn how to do tricks instead of button mashing and hope for the best.
This game beat the Tony Hawk’s series in every corner, rich in content and unlimited freedom to unleash your creativity, allows for at the very least hundred hours of fun.
#23. NHL 08
It is hockey time and this time we don’t settle for being spectator, NHL 08 lets you grace every inch of the ice rink.
Manage your team and challenge for the cup, or take the most difficult position as the goalie, it is up to you.
EA Vancouver produced a consistently good ice hockey simulation each year, and NHL 08 is an example.
Turbo button is removed which added a new realistic approach to the gameplay as you rely solely on momentum to gain speed.
AI is much much improved from the last entry, creating a challenging environment for new players and veterans alike.
NHL 08 is heading toward realism and leaving the arcade-ish gameplay, this results in several changes in control and sometimes to get used to if you’ve played NHL before.
#22. UFC Undisputed 3
Step into the octagon in this intense bloodshedding hand to hand combat, variety of fighting discipline and a whole new complete UFC rooster to take your fighting urge into the ring.
Just like real life, in UFC Undisputed 3 you need to train with your fighter to grab a result, no more button mashing and accidentally knocking out your opponent.
Career mode allows you to create your custom player and delve into your own UFC journey.
With some decision to be made between and after matches that’ll affect your gameplay and training results.
You can perfectly the atmosphere inside and outside of the octagon as you deliver knockout blow into your opponent.
UFC Undisputed 3 is a complete package and an enjoyable game for UFC fans who wanted to have some octagon action on the console.
If you love MMA or fight game in general, UFC Undisputed 3 is the perfect game to try.
#21. FIFA 14
World best football sim, FIFA franchise releases its edition for the new season.
A new gameplay engine provides players with more precision and distinctive control for each unique player.
Screen menu UI has gone through a massive overhaul and now looks better than ever.
FIFA 14 added some new skill moves into the collection, with improved quality of life to execute the skill moves.
Attacking moves feels fluid and dynamic and improved defending to balance out the attacking bias.
#20. Madden NFL 09
Ready for some touchdown?
Madden NFL 09 delivers the most complete football experience to your console.
Madden NFL 09 accurately showcase player signature ability and skill just like in real life situations, perfect for hardcore NFL fans.
Player physique difference is now recognizable in every aspect of gameplay, instead of being there for just an ornament.
Madden NFL 09 is for passionate american football fans who would appreciate the realistic gameplay and authenticity it brings into the table.
#19. MLB 12: The Show
The number one baseball simulation is back.
MLB 12: The Show delivering an authentic feeling and detailed baseball experience to PlayStation 3.
MLB 12: The Show took some little tweak into the mechanic and might need some time to get used to it.
Realistic pitching, use a bad pitcher and you got some bad pitch occasionally even if you do it perfectly with the timing bar.
With its improvement in all department, graphic and gameplay-wise, MLB 12: The Show is a no brainer if you love baseball or if you want to try some baseballing action on your console.
#18. FIFA Soccer 13
EA Sports released yet another genuine football sim experience in FIFA Soccer 13.
With its new feature, FIFA Soccer 13 lets you experience the emotional feeling and euphoria on and off the pitch, all within your fingertips.
FIFA Soccer 13 comes with the best FIFA soundtrack from recent years.
Defending now feels rewarding, zoning out your opponent and perfectly timed tackle will result in some counter-attacking opportunity.
FIFA Soccer 13 took some radical turn into the game.
It restructured the game from the ground up, let you take full control of attacking and defending.
FIFA Soccer 13 successfully implements a new gameplay mechanic into the game and did it in a brilliant way.
#17. NHL 12
Aim to be the next big star to ever grace the ice rink in NHL 12.
Feel the rapture as you create a big play, score a spectacular solo goal or even deliver an impossible save as a goalie.
AI has improved a lot, thanks to the Anticipation AI feature, now player anticipate each move you make realistically.
Revamped hitting mechanic, makes hitting the perfect shot a little bit harder yet rewarding at the same time when you pulled off the perfect hit and score.
Build upon NHL 11, NHL 12 takes what’s good from NHL 11 and carefully polished it, resulting in one of the best game in the sports simulation genre.
#16. FIFA Soccer 09
Live up your fantasy as a professional football player making it into the big league with FIFA Soccer 09.
Now lace up your shoes and plant your shin pad and step straight into the field.
FIFA 09 is the beautiful game we all know meant to be played, inch-perfect ball handling and pure emotion.
Be a Pro feature, allow you to create your own football player and watch as you develop your player and mastering your position.
FIFA 09 is the long-awaited football simulation game that has become the most fun football game in recent years.
Lots of features, combined to create the perfect football game.
#15. UFC Undisputed 2010
Aspiring to be a martial art fighter but without the years of training?
Thanks to UFC Undisputed 2010 now we have the chance to relieve what it likes to step into the octagon.
UFC Undisputed 2010 is as close as the real octagon experience you can play from the comfort of your living room.
The game comes with vast improvement across all boards from previous entry while still keeping the game light and enjoyable.
If you’re a hardcore MMA fan or fighting game in general then you can’t go wrong with UFC Undisputed 2010.
Tons of new striking moves and submissions, paired with an extensive number of fighter roster making UFC Undisputed 2010 the most authentic MMA experience.
#14. MLB 13: The Show
MLB series has been delivering the best baseball simulator to our console every year, and MLB 13: The Show is no exception.
MLB 13: The Show answers the clamoring issues from the last entries to produce the best version of MLB ever.
MLB 13: The Show ease of the difficulty factor of hitting, which new player from the series will thank you for.
New camera angles, and improved cut scene to create the most authentic television experience from your console.
MLB 13: The Show clearly has been given lots of attention and care during the development and it shows.
Producing the most realistic baseball game this series has ever seen.
#13. FIFA Soccer 11
Building on the base from FIFA Soccer 10, FIFA Soccer 11 is the eighteenth game from EA Sports’s most anticipated football simulator.
FIFA Soccer 11 allows a free-flowing creative football while not making it for the defense.
A perfect balance between the attack and defense.
360 passing is a solid new mechanic creating a realistic approach to the beautiful game.
For everyone who ever kicked a ball in their life must agree that FIFA Soccer 11 is a solid football game and worth every penny you spend.
#12. NHL 09
Released in 2008, NHL 09 is the seventeenth game from the award-winning NHL series by EA Sports.
EA decided to remove all arcade-ish aspects from the NHL series, producing a fully immersive and an actually realistic ice hockey simulator.
AI has been revamped, resulting in a more realistic movement and decision making, improving the simulation aspect of the game.
For non NHL fans, this game provides a safe entry point to the series, with its new approach to simulation and intense hit feeling as well as immersive atmosphere.
#11. NHL 10
Developed by EA Canada, NHL 10 is a genuine ice hockey game to experience in your living room.
It is amazing how NHL 10 still able to improve (a lot) from an already amazing NHL 09.
NHL 10 brings a whole new fighting system, a lot of fun for everyone interested in that feature of ice hockey.
Graphics is great, especially on PS3, and it successfully captures the raw atmosphere from an ice hockey matches.
#10. Fight Night Round 4
The critically acclaimed boxing game, Fight Night is back for Round 4.
Put on your mouthguard, and boxing gloves, and get ready to deliver the knockout blow to your opponent.
It took me a while to grasp this game mechanic, but once you do, it’ll be satisfying to be able to anticipate while countering your opponent moves.
Fight Night Round 4 is challenging, it is really hard to win every game, expect a lost here and there, and opportunity to knock out your opponent won’t come in every match.
I’ve followed boxing scene casually and for me, Fight Night Round 4 is the most authentic boxing experience available in the market right now.
Check it out on Amazon »#9. NBA 2K11
The biggest and greatest basketball experience in console, NBA 2K11 has collaborated with some of the most influential basketball players of all time to produce the ultimate basketball simulator.
You only need one reason to play NBA 2K11, Michael Jordan.
Now you can play as the legendary MJ, and NBA 2K11 successfully ported Michael Jordan as close to real life as a game could be.
It takes a while to be comfortable with all the control and movement but once you do, it’ll enable a realistic aspect from the game.
Because of its realism, NBA 2K11 might be more targeted toward basketball fans in general, while casual sports fans still can enjoy this game, it might need some time investment.
Check it out on Amazon »#8. NHL 11
Another game that raises the bar to a high level, see if you can build up your team in manager mode or raise from rookie to superstar and dominate the league in NHL 11.
While casual NHL fans might not appreciate the change and improvement, a new feature like the broken stick and might feasible for diehard NHL fans.
The glaring manual pass issue from the last game is gone, resulting in enjoyable gameplay all around.
Overall, NHL 11 is near perfection, it manages to escalate the intense action and energy from hockey matches to a game while still keeping the game light and fun.
Check it out on Amazon »#7. MLB 09: The Show
MLB series is back with the 09 version, expect tons of new feature in this officially licensed baseball game exclusively on PlayStation.
The improved interface between pitcher-batter might be the best from the series so far.
Road to the Show mode is authentic and looks as solid as ever.
If it ain’t broken then don’t fix it, this is what MLB 09: The Show all about.
Holding on to the last game foundation while improved massively on what is available.
Check it out on Amazon »#6. NBA 2K13
Dunk your way up to the championship in NBA 2K13, the only basketball sim game you ever need to play.
Right stick analog changes into movement might need some time to get used to.
NBA 2K13 does a good job on the signature move, it is not overpowered as many thought it would be.
All in all, a slight improvement from the previous iteration, a worthy game if you’re a basketball game fans.
Check it out on Amazon »#5. NBA 2K12
From Michael Jordan to Kareem Abdul Jabaar, take the shoes of the legendary basketball player and settle the best player debate once and for all.
The commentator adds some nuance into the flow of the overall game with some interesting stories about the team and players.
Perfectly balanced gameplay will keep the game interesting and tight to the last throw of the game.
The atmosphere produced from the stadium when you landed a huge dunk was a joy to behold.
Check it out on Amazon »#4. MLB 11: The Show
Published by Sony, the highest-rated baseball game is back with tons of improvement on gameplay from the previous entry.
Tons of improvement and new features from an already great MLB 10, make this game worth your penny.
A new “pure analog control”, now pitching not as simple as press this button, it requires some precision and very rewarding if you execute it properly.
MLB: The Show series is the only viable baseball simulator on the market and its show, time and time again.
Check it out on Amazon »#3. FIFA Soccer 10
FIFA Soccer 10 offers authentic football pitch experience and atmosphere, with extensive mode to play as well as online mode.
Pass and move gameplay, just like in real life instead of a static player.
Set piece modification allows you to formulate your perfect free kick or corner strategy.
Aside from a few glitches, FIFA Soccer 10 is a stellar football simulation game for your console.
Check it out on Amazon »#2. MLB 10: The Show
The real baseball experience, create your own magical and legendary baseball moment, from an improbable home run to replay worthy save in MLB 10: The Show.
Road to the Show is the best element of MLB 10: The Show, it is an immersive experience of managing and controlling catcher and pitcher.
New collision detection added some realistic factors into the gameplay.
MLB 10: The Show is an example of a sports simulation done right and as close as a baseball match you can get.
Check it out on Amazon »#1. FIFA Soccer 12
The only officially licensed football simulator on earth, FIFA series has delivered yet another revolutionary footballing experience on the console.
Tactical Defending the newest feature which allows you to defend like a true defender and perfectly timed your tackle.
A new mode Fifa Ultimate Team for online mode gives you a chance to build your ultimate team.
FIFA Soccer 12 successfully takes football simulation genre to a new high, thanks to the tactical defending features and improved career mode.
A worthy pickup and takes the crown of the best football simulation game.
Check it out on Amazon »Are your favorite games on the list? Leave a comment below!
If you think there are games that should OR shouldn’t be on this list, let us know by leaving a comment below.
Determining which PS3 sports game is the best is no doubt a never ending topic, but it’s absolutely fun!