We already published the list of best original Xbox games of all time, now it’s time to discover the best original Xbox individual sports games of all time.
With amazing titles available, the original Xbox definitely has a great library of individual sports games.
So, if you’re a fan of both the original Xbox and individual 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. Real World Golf
- Release Data: In2Games/Mad Catz, 2006
- Genre: Sports » Individual » Golf » Sim
When all is said and done, Real World Golf is a novel idea.
It gets players up, active and swinging like they were actually at the driving range or golf course.
If you’re a golf fan that would rather swing a club, as opposed to pushing a few buttons, you might want to consider taking a look at Real World Golf.
#24. Rocky
- Release Data: Rage Software, 2002
- Genre: Sports » Individual » Combat » Boxing / Martial Arts
It did an incredible job of capturing the spirit and story of the entire movie series and offered solid gameplay with plenty of options and game modes to keep even the most diehard boxing fanatic entertained.
Even if you don’t like boxing this may be the game that will convert you, especially if you enjoyed the movies.
#23. Tiger Woods PGA Tour 06
- Release Data: EA Sports, 2005
- Genre: Sports » Individual » Golf » Sim
You will find success early and often in Tiger Woods PGA Tour 06, and though that may not sound like such a bad thing, it isn’t necessarily true to the spirit of the sport, where triumphs need to be earned, not simply offered to you for the taking.
#22. Kelly Slater’s Pro Surfer
- Release Data: Treyarch/Activision, 2002
- Genre: Sports » Individual » Surf / Wakeboard
Kelly Slater’s Pro Surfer is a surfing game that exhibits a high level of quality in every facet of its execution.
Extreme sports fans looking for something totally original may be a bit disappointed, but Kelly Slater’s responsive control, consistently good visuals, and diverse gameplay will ensure that almost anyone will end up enjoying this game.
#21. SSX On Tour
- Release Data: EA Canada/EA Sports Big, 2005
- Genre: Sports » Individual » Ski / Snowboard
The subversive style of SSX On Tour is unlike anything the series has seen before, and it’s pretty unique in the overall world of video games.
The game expertly balances the fresh and the familiar and creates an experience that will have fans falling for SSX all over again, while bringing newcomers into the fold.
#20. Tiger Woods PGA Tour 07
- Release Data: EA Redwood Shores/EA Sports, 2006
- Genre: Sports » Individual » Golf » Sim
If you own Tiger Woods PGA Tour 06, there’s little reason to pick up Tiger Woods PGA Tour 07, unless you’re just dying for new content, minimal as it may be.
That said, if you’ve never played a Tiger Woods game before, or you’ve been away from the series, Tiger Woods PGA Tour 07 is well worth getting.
#19. Amped 2
- Release Data: Indie Built/Microsoft Game Studios, 2003
- Genre: Sports » Individual » Ski / Snowboard
If you’re a fan of the original Amped, then you should feel right at home with this game.
The improved controls and added gameplay elements only make the game less frustrating and more fun.
But Amped 2 is not for everyone. If you’re more of an SSX fan, then the more realistic physics may not be for you.
#18. Wakeboarding Unleashed Featuring Shaun Murray
- Release Data: Shaba Games/Activision, 2003
- Genre: Sports » Individual » Surf / Wakeboard
Wakeboarding Unleashed isn’t as good as Aggressive Inline or the Tony Hawk series, but it is a great deal of fun.
It’s challenging, it’s incredibly long, and the gameplay is distinctly wakeboarding.
And you don’t have to dig wakeboarding or even know who Shaun Murray is to enjoy the game.
#17. Amped: Freestyle Snowboarding
- Release Data: Indie Built/Microsoft Game Studios, 2001
- Genre: Sports » Individual » Ski / Snowboard
Amped is a new way to look at snowboarding, and it’s fun and large enough to keep you interested for hours and hours.
It manages to be simultaneously epic and humble at the same time, thanks to the mixture of cool presentation, easy to navigate goal structure, and time-free boarding on giant mountains.
#16. Fight Night Round 3
- Release Data: EA Chicago/EA Sports, 2006
- Genre: Sports » Individual » Combat » Boxing / Martial Arts
EA Sports’ heavy-hitting franchise doesn’t change up its approach for the third time through, but the gameplay remains as tight and enjoyable as it has always been.
So while there are no surprises in store, you can expect a great game of boxing, with a fully capable single-player experience provided for you.
#15. Links 2004
- Release Data: Indie Built/Microsoft Game Studios, 2003
- Genre: Sports » Individual » Golf » Sim
Despite the game’s uneven presentation, Links 2004 is still a good choice, especially for Xbox owners.
The game is, fundamentally, not much different from Tiger Woods PGA Tour 2004, but it’s generally not as polished or feature-rich.
However, it allows you to roam in free camera and study the lie and the green, which makes the short game more interesting.
#14. Tony Hawk’s Underground 2
- Release Data: Neversoft Entertainment/Activision, 2004
- Genre: Sports » Individual » Skate / Skateboard
All in all, Tony Hawk’s Underground 2 is a strong skateboarding game, though if you’ve remained devoted to the series, you might not be so impressed with its changes.
Nevertheless, the gameplay remains fast, fluid, and exciting.
The visuals are, for the most part, pretty sharp, and the story mode is still fun to blast through.
#13. Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 2x
- Release Data: Treyarch/Activision, 2001
- Genre: Sports » Individual » Skate / Skateboard
Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 2x represents the ultimate version of a classic game, so anyone who is looking for a nice, solid freestyle sports game for the Xbox and who isn’t looking for a graphical showpiece for his or her new system won’t be disappointed.
#12. Aggressive Inline
- Release Data: Z-Axis, Ltd./Acclaim, 2002
- Genre: Sports » Individual » Skate / Skateboard
Aggressive Inline is a success on several levels.
It manages to take the gameplay and design concepts that have worked well in past games and give them enough of a face-lift to make the game feel new.
Fans of Tony Hawk or Dave Mirra will surely find a lot to like in Aggressive Inline.
#11. Fight Night 2004
- Release Data: EA Sports, 2004
- Genre: Sports » Individual » Combat » Boxing / Martial Arts
Everything the game offers comes together to deliver one cohesive boxing experience and stands as a boxing simulation that it as fun to play as any arcade-styled boxing game before it.
This is one title that every boxing fan should own since it’s deeply rooted in skill-based gameplay that tests your defensive and offensive abilities equally.
#10. Tony Hawk’s Underground
- Release Data: Neversoft Entertainment/Activision, 2003
- Genre: Sports » Individual » Skate / Skateboard
The core gameplay is still extremely entertaining, and some of the new additions, like being able to get off your board and execute wall plants, do make for some interesting, new possibilities.
All things considered, Tony Hawk’s Underground is another great installment in the franchise.
#9. Tiger Woods PGA Tour 2005
- Release Data: EA Sports, 2004
- Genre: Sports » Individual » Golf » Sim
From strictly a bullet-point perspective, Tiger Woods PGA Tour 2005 is a more full-featured game than the previous, and it still stands as one of the best golf games for the Xbox.
However, many of its improvements over PGA Tour 2004 feel kind of incremental, and owners of PGA Tour 2004 shouldn’t necessarily rush to get this one.
#8. SSX Tricky
- Release Data: EA Sports Big/Electronic Arts, 2001
- Genre: Sports » Individual » Ski / Snowboard
SSX Tricky for the Xbox looks slightly better than the PlayStation 2 and GameCube versions of the game, but its unstable frame rates can occasionally hamper the gameplay experience.
But despite this problem, the gameplay has remained hectic, the new trick system adds substantial depth, and the overall production is top-notch.
#7. Tiger Woods PGA Tour 2004
- Release Data: EA Sports, 2003
- Genre: Sports » Individual » Golf » Sim
Tiger Woods PGA Tour 2004 offers such a complete package, it almost seems like EA is painting itself into a corner.
With the sheer number of courses available, the variety of gameplay modes offered, and the overall polish of the presentation, there just doesn’t seem like a lot of room for improvement for the next game.
#6. Top Spin
- Release Data: Pam Development/Microsoft Game Studios, 2003
- Genre: Sports » Individual » Tennis
Top Spin would not exist had Virtua Tennis not come before it. This is an undeniable truth.
But Top Spin comes with more features, deeper gameplay, significantly better graphics, and an experience that, overall, promises to be even longer-lasting.
In the end, this is as close to flawless as a tennis video game has ever been.
#5. Fight Night Round 2
- Release Data: EA Sports, 2005
- Genre: Sports » Individual » Combat » Boxing / Martial Arts
There’s a lot to like about Fight Night Round 2, most obviously a deep and involving boxing mechanic that allows you to be creative in your approach to the sports.
As a sequel, the game improves on many aspects of its predecessor and ends up as one that will continually challenge your skills the longer you play it.
#4. Tiger Woods PGA Tour 2003
- Release Data: EA Sports/Electronic Arts, 2002
- Genre: Sports » Individual » Golf » Sim
Tiger Woods PGA Tour 2003 is a well-rounded game of golf that should prove to be completely playable by both hardcore and casual fans, as well as those without any interest in the sport.
And now Tiger Woods, along with more than a little help from EA Sports, has raised the bar for excellence in the field of golf games.
#3. Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 4
- Release Data: Neversoft Entertainment/Activision, 2002
- Genre: Sports » Individual » Skate / Skateboard
The deeper single-player and improved multiplayer modes makes Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 4 the most tightly-packed installment in the series to date, and the slightly refined gameplay is still unmatched in the action sports arena.
In short, anyone with even a remote interest in either the genre or the real-life sport should get this game as soon as possible.
#2. SSX 3
- Release Data: EA Canada/EA Sports Big, 2003
- Genre: Sports » Individual » Ski / Snowboard
The game’s new, open-ended structure, excellent audio, enhanced trick system, and improved graphics combine to make this a superlative sequel to a series that’s always had high standards.
Regardless of whether you’ve played SSX or care much about snowboarding, you’d be doing yourself a favor by checking this game out.
#1. Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 3
- Release Data: Neversoft Entertainment/Activision, 2002
- Genre: Sports » Individual » Skate / Skateboard
The first game reinvented a genre and set off a series of clones that still flood the market today.
The second game refined the formula, but its higher level of difficulty and steeper learning curve turned off casual players.
Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 3 brings it all together in one package that makes everything before it almost unplayable by comparison.
Browse Original Xbox Games By Genre
See also: Best Gaming Chairs & Best Xbox 360 Games
Are your favorite games on the list?
Deciding which original Xbox individual sports game is the best is no doubt a never ending topic, but it’s fun to do!