16 Forgotten Sports Video Games from the ’90s
Take a retro dive into the sports video games from the ’90s that time — and your console — left behind.
- Chris Graciano
- 4 min read
The ’90s were an iconic age for sports gaming. Companies gave us pixelated athletes and wild arcade action. Unfortunately, others quietly faded into digital dust. These 16 forgotten gems once thrilled fans, but now live mostly in memory or bargain bins.
1. Bill Laimbeer’s Combat Basketball
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Set in a futuristic world, this SNES oddball featured tackling and bombs instead of rules. It mixed basketball with chaos and confusion. Critics panned the gameplay, but it had its niche fans.
2. ESPN Extreme Games
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Inspired by the X-Games, this PlayStation launch title let you bike, blade, and luge. You could punch opponents mid-race, giving it an arcade-style edge.
3. Tony Meola’s Sidekicks Soccer
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Named after the U.S. goalie, this SNES title aimed for realism but missed the goal. Clunky controls and awkward animations made it frustrating. Soccer fans quickly moved on to better options.
4. Base Wars
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This NES game turned baseball into a battle between robots. Players could fight instead of tag, making it feel like sci-fi meets MLB. It was surprisingly deep for its time.
5. NHL Breakaway ’98
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Released during a crowded era of hockey games, this one flew under the radar. It had decent graphics but sluggish movement and odd mechanics. EA’s NHL series crushed it in popularity.
6. Jammit
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A gritty streetball game with three characters and a trash-talk-heavy vibe. Released on 3DO and Genesis, it tried to cash in on the urban sports trend.
7. Wayne Gretzky and the NHLPA All-Stars
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Despite Gretzky’s name, this SNES game struggled with poor AI and clunky pace. It lacked NHL team licenses, which hurt its appeal. Fans found it underwhelming compared to EA’s titles.
8. Barkley Shut Up and Jam!
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This Genesis streetball game starred Charles Barkley and leaned hard into attitude. It lacked NBA licensing but made up for it with gritty style. Sadly, controls were awkward and dunk animations were limited.
9. NFL Quarterback Club ’96
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Overshadowed by Madden, this game offered a skills competition mode that was fun but not enough. Gameplay was stiff and slow. It never reached the depth or polish of its competitors.
10. International Superstar Soccer Deluxe
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Before FIFA took over, this was Konami’s answer to digital soccer. Great animations and variety made it shine in its time. But licensing issues limited appeal in North America.
11. Kobe Bryant in NBA Courtside
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This N64 game had Kobe before he became a legend. Solid visuals and fun gameplay made it enjoyable, but it never evolved beyond the basics. Later, NBA games quickly outpaced it.
12. Hyper V-Ball
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A volleyball game on the SNES with futuristic flair and robotic teams. Unique but niche, it never found a wide audience. Despite solid mechanics, it was a one-hit wonder.
13. HardBall 5
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One of the last in a long-running PC baseball series, this one struggled to keep up with the times. It felt dated compared to console offerings. Graphics and gameplay were both stiff.
14. Mutant League Hockey
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A violent, hilarious spin-off of Mutant League Football, this game was all about chaos. Fights, traps, and exploding pucks defined the action. It never became mainstream but developed a cult following.
15. Olympic Summer Games Atlanta 1996
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Officially licensed but painfully dull, it featured stiff animations and button-mashing galore. Events like javelin and high jump lacked excitement. Despite the Olympic branding, it never captured the thrill of competition.
16. WWF WrestleMania: The Arcade Game
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Part fighting game, part wrestling sim, this Midway classic was pure arcade nonsense. Wrestlers performed flaming punches and electric slams. Fun but far from authentic. Overshadowed later by the more realistic WWF No Mercy.