We already published the list of best original Xbox games of all time, now it’s time to discover the best original Xbox team sports games of all time.
With amazing titles available, the original Xbox definitely has a great library of team sports games.
So, if you’re a fan of both the original Xbox and team 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. NHL 2002
- Release Data: EA Sports/Electronic Arts, 2001
- Genre: Sports » Team » Ice Hockey » Sim
NHL 2002 is one of the deepest, most realistic 3D NHL games on the market.
Its graphics are impressive, its depth of gameplay modes is staggering, and the gameplay is predominantly tight.
If you’re an Xbox-owning hockey fan, NHL 2002 is a must-buy. Fans of sports video games in general would also do well to give it a look.
#24. FIFA Soccer 2003
- Release Data: EA Canada/Electronic Arts, 2002
- Genre: Sports » Team » Soccer » Sim
Soccer fans really can’t go wrong with FIFA Soccer 2003.
Of course, the simulation aspects may turn off those looking for a faster-paced game, and even the game’s arcade mode, which features a faster-paced game with fewer rules, requires some strategy and punishes careless play.
Still, anyone craving for realistic soccer action should definitely pick up FIFA Soccer 2003.
#23. Championship Manager Season: 02/03
- Release Data: Sports Interactive/Eidos Interactive, 2002
- Genre: Sports » Team » Soccer » Management
Like its predecessors, Championship Manager Season: 02/03 very much resembles a spreadsheet package.
It has no animated graphics per se and instead displays screen after screen of statistics and text.
Because of this format, some players may find the experience boring; dedicated soccer fanatics, however, will appreciate Championship Managers detailed and accurate simulation of the beautiful game.
#22. NHL 2K3
- Release Data: Treyarch/Sega, 2002
- Genre: Sports » Team » Ice Hockey » Sim
Fans who have been complaining about hockey games being too arcade-like can now rejoice.
There is absolutely no reason why a hockey fan with an Xbox should skip this title.
The new additions and excellent gameplay make this one of the best hockey games on the Xbox.
#21. NBA 2K2
- Release Data: Visual Concepts/Sega, 2002
- Genre: Sports » Team » Basketball » Sim
No matter how you like your hoops games, NBA 2K2 is one of the best basketball games available for the Xbox.
Thanks to the street-ball mode, it’s like there are two games in one—the graphics are on par with most basketball games on the market, and the gameplay is tight and intuitive.
#20. MVP Baseball 2005
- Release Data: EA Sports, 2005
- Genre: Sports » Team » Baseball » Sim
EA Sports has simply taken previous game, improved it in myriad ways, and then tacked on a few new features to make the end result that much more appealing.
The bottom line is that if you’re looking for a realistic and feature-rich baseball video game, you can’t go wrong with MVP Baseball 2005.
#19. ESPN NHL Hockey
- Release Data: Kush Games/Sega, 2003
- Genre: Sports » Team » Ice Hockey » Sim
Though it’s not impossible to find fault in ESPN NHL Hockey, you’d be hard-pressed to find enough faults to call this game anything but excellent.
If you’re a fan of the sport of hockey, you owe it to yourself to add ESPN NHL Hockey to your collection, as it’s simply too good to pass up.
#18. NCAA Football 06
- Release Data: EA Sports, 2005
- Genre: Sports » Team » Football » Sim
While a bevy of new features has been added to this title, the best aspect of the game is probably its re-tweaking of the usual NCAA game balance.
The actual nuts and bolts of playing a game of NCAA 06 make it feel just right, and for veterans of the series, playing this will evoke warm memories of NCAA 04.
#17. NBA Street V3
- Release Data: EA Canada/EA Sports Big, 2005
- Genre: Sports » Team » Basketball » Arcade
NBA Street V3 offers a fantastic amount of content, from tons of unlockables and customizable options in the single-player game to the addition of an online mode.
If you’re a fan of basketball, you owe it to yourself to check out NBA Street V3
#16. NCAA Football 07
- Release Data: EA Sports, 2006
- Genre: Sports » Team » Football » Sim
There simply is no way to underestimate the passion fans have for the game of college football.
By once again capturing that electric atmosphere in NCAA 07, and combining it with an ever-evolving set of control tweaks and gameplay modes, EA Sports has created a game that no fan of football video games will want to be without.
#15. World Soccer Winning Eleven 9
- Release Data: KCET/Konami, 2006
- Genre: Sports » Team » Soccer » Sim
It certainly plays a more realistic game of soccer than FIFA 06, but it also lacks many of that game’s great features, such as official licenses across the board, the multiplayer lounge mode, and its innovative playing-style feature.
However, the game represents a significant enough improvement over its predecessor that it’s impossible not to recommend it.
#14. NCAA Football 2005
- Release Data: EA Sports, 2004
- Genre: Sports » Team » Football » Sim
Overall, NCAA Football 2005 offers a fine overall package and should appeal to just about any hardcore college football fan.
The new home-field advantage and composure ratings do a lot to give the game a true college sports feel, and the core gameplay has evolved to a satisfactory degree as well.
#13. Madden NFL 2002
- Release Data: EA Sports/Electronic Arts, 2001
- Genre: Sports » Team » Football » Sim
In the end, Madden 2002 is a great game of simulation-style football for the Xbox.
If you’re trying to decide between Madden and NFL Fever, it really depends on what type of football game you’re looking for.
If you’re looking for a simulation that has incredible depth, Madden 2002 is your game.
#12. MVP Baseball 2004
- Release Data: EA Sports, 2004
- Genre: Sports » Team » Baseball » Sim
Assuming you do decide to pick up a copy of MVP Baseball 2004, you’ll likely be satisfied no matter which version you get.
The core fundamentals are spot-on, the variety of options and control choices is spectacular, and the presentation totally draws you into the experience of being front and center at an actual ballpark that’s filled with screaming fans.
#11. NCAA Football 2003
- Release Data: EA Sports, 2002
- Genre: Sports » Team » Football » Sim
There’s a lot of selection of college football games on the Xbox, but that really doesn’t matter because NCAA Football 2003 offers the complete football experience.
The rivalry games are incredibly entertaining, and the dynasty mode adds a tremendous amount of replay value to an already great game.
#10. NBA Street Vol. 2
- Release Data: Electronic Arts/EA Sports Big, 2003
- Genre: Sports » Team » Basketball » Arcade
While it may have a little too much in common with the previous game in the series for some of the more-casual NBA Street fans to swallow, NBA Street Vol. 2 is a great game.
Any fan of basketball who isn’t necessarily sold on the complexities of your average NBA simulation will find plenty to love here.
#9. World Series Baseball 2K3
- Release Data: Blue Shift/Sega, 2003
- Genre: Sports » Team » Baseball » Sim
Minor criticisms aside, World Series Baseball 2K3 is spectacular. It’s easy to play and deep enough to lose yourself in.
The ESPN branding may seem like a gimmick at first, but it’s really just one part of a thoroughly enjoyable product.
#8. Madden NFL 2004
- Release Data: EA Tiburon/EA Sports, 2003
- Genre: Sports » Team » Football » Sim
Unfortunately, the Xbox and GameCube versions of Madden NFL 2004 don’t have any sort of online play, but that really doesn’t detract much from how great Madden NFL 2004 really is.
All the new features have been integrated so well into the preexisting framework that it seems like they’ve always been there.
#7. ESPN NFL Football
- Release Data: Visual Concepts/Sega, 2003
- Genre: Sports » Team » Football » Sim
In the end, ESPN NFL Football is truly the best playing football game available for the PlayStation 2 and Xbox.
That said, if you’re a fan of the off-the-field options and gameplay modes found in Madden, you might find that ESPN’s franchise mode come up a bit short on the simulation side of things.
#6. Madden NFL 2005
- Release Data: EA Tiburon/EA Sports, 2004
- Genre: Sports » Team » Football » Sim
When all is said and done, Madden NFL 2005 is still Madden.
That is to say, it’s another superb game of football that continues Madden’s long legacy as one of the best in the business.
Also, the additions to the franchise mode easily make the mode the best of its kind.
#5. Madden NFL 2003
- Release Data: EA Tiburon/Electronic Arts, 2002
- Genre: Sports » Team » Football » Sim
Madden NFL 2003‘s abundance of modes and the amount of detail in them are sure to keep you busy for quite some time.
But the few minor issues in the gameplay prevent it from being the best, though it’s still certainly one of the best football games out there.
#4. NFL 2K3
- Release Data: Visual Concepts/Sega, 2002
- Genre: Sports » Team » Football » Sim
There’s very little, if anything, to really complain about in NFL 2K3.
The graphics look great, the commentary is interesting and sounds natural, and, most importantly, the game features balanced offensive and defensive gameplay that does an excellent job of mimicking the nuances of the actual sport.
#3. World Soccer Winning Eleven 8 International
- Release Data: KCET/Konami, 2005
- Genre: Sports » Team » Soccer » Sim
If you can manage to play without official licenses and are looking for the most realistic soccer game available for the original Xbox, in addition to an all-consuming career mode that you can play when your friends aren’t around, then Winning Eleven 8 is definitely the game for you.
#2. ESPN NFL 2K5
- Release Data: Visual Concepts/Sega, 2004
- Genre: Sports » Team » Football » Sim
Again, another great title from Sega that offers gamers something different than the standard EA game.
ESPN NFL 2K5 may be the last but it is a worthy end to a franchise that should still be making games.
Pick up this title, and do so with the peace of mind that you’re getting no less than the deal of a lifetime.
#1. NCAA Football 2004
- Release Data: EA Sports, 2003
- Genre: Sports » Team » Football » Sim
If you’re a casual college football fan and you already own the previous game, then there really isn’t a huge reason for you to buy this game.
But if you’re a hardcore fan, then you will certainly enjoy all of the features that EA Sports has added to make an enjoyable game even better.
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See also: Best Gaming Chairs & Best Xbox 360 Games
Are your favorite games on the list?
Deciding which original Xbox team sports game is the best is no doubt a never ending topic, but it’s fun to do!
