Gamers are spoilt for choice when assessing the various genres of gaming they can choose from. However, while some players will always opt for battle royale products and sandbox masterpieces like Minecraft, there are huge populations of gamers who always choose NFL games.
Whether you’re a proud Buffalo Bills fan or you adore the Dallas Cowboys, it’s always fun playing as your sporting heroes and executing hard hits on the field. For many NFL fans, alongside selecting their fantasy teams ahead of major clashes and assessing DraftKings NFL betting odds, diving into a football gaming marathon makes sense, particularly when the action on the field in the real world is over.
Throughout the history of gaming, we’ve seen some truly iconic NFL video games come to the fore on a variety of platforms. Some titles are fairly basic compared to today’s sophisticated releases, but they helped to shape what we’re now exposed to through top-notch titles like Madden NFL 26. So, with that in mind, below we salute some of the very best NFL games we’ve ever seen.
Madden 2005
While aforementioned titles like Madden NFL 26 are the main option for American football fans these days, it’s fair to say that Madden 2005 is widely regarded as the finest release from this iconic series of NFL games. With Ray Lewis being front and center of the game’s promotional material, there was plenty of hype surrounding Madden 2005 at the time of its release. In the end, the game delivered in all areas, with its signature defensive feature particularly standing out. Alongside this, the title had graphics that were ahead of its time, plus welcome inclusions like its new and improved tackle system. Overall, Madden 2005 is iconic.
Mutant League Football
An American football game with a difference, Mutant League Football is still being played by millions of players today, especially on PC. In this one, though, you won’t find the likes of legends like Tom Brady and modern-day heroes like Patrick Mahomes as they’re replaced by mutants and an array of nasties in a product filled with blood and gore. With strong doses of violence on offer throughout in a post-apocalyptic environment, Mutant League Football isn’t for the sport’s purists, but it’s definitely a blast to play.
Tecmo Super Bowl
Numerous games have attempted to cash in on the global appeal of the Super Bowl, and while some game makers have gotten it massively wrong, Tecmo Super Bowl was almost perfect. This retro NES favorite had a huge community of fans behind it, many of whom adored the product thanks to its charming 16-bit format, its diverse range of game modes, and so much more.
NFL Street
If you were lucky enough to play NFL Street in 2004, then it’s a title you undoubtedly recall. Developed by EA Tiburon, it certainly helped to make the football gaming genre what it is today. With its unique seven-on-seven package, it resulted in epic on-field battles as players wore regular clothing while scoring touchdowns on the street. Also containing player customization features, NFL Street was a truly brilliant release. The second instalment of NFL Street was also memorable, although the first game edges it for many.
ESPN NFL 2K5
Ending with an undisputed favorite among the community, ESPN NFL 2K5 will never be forgotten by NFL gamers. The last instalment from an iconic series of football games, it went out with a bang thanks to its unrivalled on-field gameplay, the game’s beautifully crisp graphics, and an array of customization options that helped it stand out from the crowd.
