We here at TPSN are a multi-country-spanning team. The majority of us are based in Englandshire (almost exclusively in the North West), but there are a few living in foreign lands we have allowed to infiltrate. Due to this, we have to have a sports category in our game of the year awards. If there wasn’t any folks from *ahem* across the pond, then the award would automatically go to FIFA every year. Why don’t you go take a look at what tickled our sports game taste buds in 2009.

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5. Madden NFL 10

Another year, another Madden. EA continues to improve on the already outstanding representation of football with Madden 10. New game modes, more realistic on-field actions and animations, and a few subtle improvements to the graphics make Madden worth purchasing once again. We here at TPSN do consider this one of the best sports titles of the year, but that doesn’t mean we wouldn’t mind even bigger improvements for next years iteration. For now, this is still the king of football simulation. Well, American Football for our UK readers.

4. NBA 2K10

This year’s been a competetive year in terms of NBA games. EA Sports produced a remarkable turnaround with the latest installment in the NBA Live franchise, still the team at 2K pipped them to the post. Ten years after NBA 2K first released on the Dreamcast, the franchise remains the basketball fan’s basketball videogame. Everything here is as it should be. The visuals are fantastic, the gameplay: superb. It’s a great basketball package and one of the best sports games released in 2009.

3. Fight Night Round 4

With Fight Night Round 4 EA have perfectly captured ‘the sweet science’ that is boxing. Round 3 was a graphical masterpiece, but EA have followed up with a more complete boxing experience. Sure has it’s flaws, but this is the best boxing experience you’ll find on any console. Not only is it a great boxing game, it’s a great game in general. One that even, non-fans will enjoy.

2. NHL 10

NHL 09 was arguably the best hockey game ever created. No game had come close to it’s amount of features, game modes, and realism. Then, NHL 10 comes around. Just when you thought this series could not get any better, EA Games puts out NHL 10 and exceeds expectations by making this already fantastic game of hockey even better. Online league play, Be a Pro, and more are all still here and stronger than ever. The addition of board play, first person fighting, small refinements to gameplay, and Battle for The Cup mode make this one more iteration of NHL you will not want to miss. Although there will always be room for improvement, you cannot and will not find a better game of hockey anywhere.

1. FIFA 10

The majority of the team is English, FIFA was always going to win! Joking aside, FIFA 10 really didn’t coast to victory. A lot of the big sports games released this year were vying for our attention and this top spot. FIFA takes the crown because everything it does is fantastic. The manager mode is great, it’s a graphical achievement and gameplay-wise it’s near perfect. The new things brought in have enhanced the game further and have made it the best sports game experience of 2009, but only just.

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