Best PSP Sports Games, Ranked

Highlights

• Pro Evolution Soccer 2012 is the best sports game on the PSP, with decent graphics and the classic gameplay formula.
• Madden NFL 08 offers the best gameplay and graphics in the franchise on the PSP, providing excitement and fun.
• Smackdown! Vs. Raw 2007 is the best WWE wrestling game on the PSP, with a great roster and a deep, accessible gameplay experience.

The PSP is probably the most beloved handheld made by Sony. Originally released in 2005 in the US, this system was commercially and critically successful, even if it failed to end Nintendo’s dominance in the handheld market. The PSP had a lifespan of over seven years, as its successor PS Vita came out in 2012 in the US.

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During its lifespan, the PSP saw the release of many great games, some of which are fondly remembered by PlayStation fans. The PSP was able to run almost PS2-level games, which made porting far easier to make on the system. This, of course, proved to be a great help for sports games. But which are the best sports games ever released on the PSP?

8 Pro Evolution Soccer 2012

Metascore: 74

Even if FIFA was considered the go-to football series at the time, Pro Evolution Soccer is the best-represented franchise on the PSP, and Pro Evolution Soccer 2012 is arguably the best offering on the system. First, the game runs on a fairly decent engine, which has aged quite nicely even if the game does indeed look like a PS2-era game.

Secondly, the game has the same gameplay formula that has made the franchise famous over the years. There’s nothing particularly great about this entry: it’s just the latest one released on the system, so it has every upgrade the series added over the years.

7 Madden NFL 08

Metascore: 75

Madden NFL 08 is the best football game that players can find on the PSP. As for most sports games, there are no deep reasons why this version is better than others. It’s just that this particular entry offers the best gameplay and the best graphics the franchise has ever had on PSP.

While subsequent entries would still keep the same gameplay formula (as it happens in almost every sports series), none of them managed to keep the same level of excitement and fun as this one.

6 Smackdown! Vs. Raw 2007

Metascore: 78

The PSP was the first handheld system capable of running direct ports of home console wrestling games. Wrestling fans can find a great selection of WWE titles on the PSP, but Smackdown! vs. Raw 2007 is probably the best one of the bunch. The game has one of the best rosters in the series, representing the climax of the Ruthless Aggression era in WWE, and it also has a great rendition of the GM mode, something that later entries would lack.

Gameplay-wise, the game strikes a nice balance between the arcade style of the past and the newly-found realism of the series, providing a deep experience that is still easily accessible to players of every age and skill level. For every PSP wrestling fan, this is definitely a must-have.

5 Virtua Tennis 3

Metascore: 79

Virtua Tennis 3 is the best tennis game players can find on the PSP. The game has a nice balance between arcade style and realism, so it can be enjoyed by players of all ages and skill levels. While the graphics are indeed outdated, they’re still not a bad result considering the hardware the game runs on.

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Also, the game has a nice career mode, which should keep players busy for quite a while. While there are better tennis games out there, this is the best shot for all those who are looking for a tennis game to play on the go with their PSP.

4 NBA Live 06

Metascore: 80

While NBA Live 06 is the first entry of the franchise on the PSP, it’s also ironically the best one released on the system. Simply put, the game presented the best roster selection, along with the best gameplay formula. Subsequent entries, while not bad at all, did not match this game’s same level of quality, at least on the PSP.

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For all those who are looking for a great basketball simulation on the go, NBA Live 06 is the best available choice, as the game replicates the sport admirably, as well as giving players the chance to live through an entire season with their favorite team.

3 Hot Shots Golf: Open Tee 2

Metascore: 82

Hot Shots Golf: Open Tee 2 blends arcade and realism to bring players an experience that can be enjoyed by casual and hardcore gamers alike. While the series is most known for entries released on home consoles, this portable release brings all the excitement on the go, as players can choose between a selection of colorful characters, each with their unique characteristics, to become a master of golf.

This entry also includes character customization, and it also has a nice selection of fields to play on. There are options for single-player games and also some modes for multiplayer, which is probably where the game shines best. The cartoonish style of the game also helped it to age much better than other realistic sports simulations.

2 MLB 06: The Show

Metascore: 83

MLB 06: The Show is the first entry in the franchise released on the PSP, and it’s also the best one that can be found on the system. The game allows players to pick any team from the 2006 season, guiding them to the pinnacle of success.

While the game suffers from early PSP graphics, it hasn’t aged badly at all, and it can still be a fun time for all those who feel some degree of nostalgia towards this specific era of baseball. It doesn’t do anything amazing compared to other entries in the series, but it offers the overall most balanced experience among all the PSP entries.

1 Tony Hawk’s Underground 2 Remix

Metascore: 83

The Tony Hawk series is one of the best time capsules for the early 00s in gaming, and Tony Hawk’s Underground 2 Remix is the best entry on the PSP. As the title suggests, this is mostly a direct port of the similarly titled home console game, but it has a few tweaks here and there, like a new progression system and some new levels that were absent in the original release.

The game basically plays like every other game in the franchise, and veterans of the series will be pleased to see many fan-favorite levels make a return from earlier games. While the PSP would not get any other Tony Hawk game (except for one) during its lifetime, it’s good to know that it got one of the best in the franchise.

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