Sports games consistently rank among the biggest-selling video games on the market. Long-running franchises like Madden NFL and FIFA – soon-to-be EA Sports FC – release a new iteration each year, boosting their sales numbers to further heights.
But while taking on competitors on the pitch is all fun and games, managing every aspect of an on-screen sports team from behind the scenes is just as exciting. So, feel like drafting a squad and cooking up a winning strategy to snatch every trophy down the line? Lead your team to victory with these engrossing sports management video games.
F1 Manager 2022
Are you ready for the race of your life? From Gran Turismo 7 to Need for Speed Unbound, the best racing games cater to the motorsport fan in you. Yet F1 Manager 2022 takes a different approach to focus on the management department. The first installation in the series came out to mixed reviews in the late 1990s. And while a second coming was a long time in the making, the wait was worth it as this racing management sim does feel way more cohesive and realistic than its predecessor.
F1 Manager 2022 draws from the MyCareer option introduced in F1 2020 and expands it for players to drive every decision, from scouting new staff to enhancing cars. A strategy editor allows gamers to schedule each stint down to every pit stop, while controlling every team detail from HQ. This officially licensed game also benefits from true-to-life features like team radios from actual F1 drivers and professional commentator voices.
Teamfight Manager
An original spin on the sports management sub-genre, Teamfight Manager is one of those games that can quench your eSports needs. This meta MOBA entry gets you going as the manager of your esports squad. So, assemble blue-chip players to achieve the best possible combo and turn them into ruling champions. You can check out each player’s characteristics before enrolling them in your team and craft an effective strategy to improve their skills – or make up for the lack thereof.
Helping your team grow might also mean banning a few wannabe champions. Meanwhile, you may upgrade your players’ training facilities and enhance their gear to push them to the top. Each champion then battles it out in 1v1 matches, unless you’d rather go down the multiplayer route and show your friends who’s boss in 10-player brawls.
Football Manager 2023
Coming a close second behind FIFA, Football Manager is arguably one of the most popular soccer gaming franchises ever. Incidentally, FM has set the standard for most sports management series. Die-hard fans of the beautiful game can create a team from scratch or preside over the existing team of their liking. Running things on and off the pitch, managers get to recruit new talents, devise tactics, and even give rousing motivational speeches in the locker room.
Funnily enough, these hyper-realistic features have prompted many fans to make a career out of their FM skills. Players turned professional scouts and even acting managers have emerged. Football Manager is also a precious resource for players. Gamers may thus put their FM expertise to good use on the top betting sites. Users can view an array of leagues and competitions worldwide. Not all game sites are equal, though, so newcomers can check expert tips and reviews on the best esports online. Lofty bonuses and an extensive range of sports also come into play when picking teams to follow.
Legend Bowl
The Madden NFL series leads the way for football video games. But with its retro aesthetics, Legend Bowl strays from the usual formula established by its massive competitor. A throwback to 8-bit and 16-bit titles, Legend Bowl is all about the pixelated glory of past classics. Its vintage looks go hand-in-hand with modern features, however.
This immersive management sim has you select a squad to play through a 17-week schedule against 16 rivaling teams. Your ultimate goal is to win the Legend Bowl. So, recruit the best players and monitor their traits and stats to manage your team’s chemistry. Of course, you may customize every last detail of your squad. Then train them hard to crush it on the field in a series of matches blending simulation and arcade mechanics.
Are you more of the coaching type than the jock? Covering both traditional sports and esports, these management games are the perfect combination of clever strategy and all-out fun.
