Several bloggers around the globe have created their lists of the best video games of all time. However, these lists don't always give you the information you're trying to get. Instead of getting a list of the best overall, I will give you a list of the best games by sport, regardless of platform.
Football: Tecmo Super Bowl (NES) 
Tecmo Super Bowl seems to be the proper way to start off this list, as it is often referred as one of the greatest games ever made, regardless of platform. This is one of those games, plain and simple, that everybody knows, and most everybody loves. Teams have a total of 8 offensive plays and 8 defensive plays to choose from, limiting possibilities slightly, but at the end of the day this game has reached a legacy status that will never die. A strong running game is the most dominating way to trample through the competition, as evidence by the crazy Bo Jackson runs. Don't worry, sports fans, even Bo is stoppable with a little luck and some proper planning.
Honorable Mention: Madden 2006, NFL Blitz
Basketball: NBA Jam (Genesis)
You can't throw alley-oops. You struggle to score 100 points in a game. But no other basketball game brings more joy (or makes you want to say, "BOOM SHAKALAKA!") than NBA Jam. Known just as much for its trademark sayings as anything else, this game was ahead of its time. On top of the high flying dunks, this game also allowed you to play as a number of celebrities. That list included Bill Clinton, P-Funk, Warren Moon and others. It also has a good list of power-ups that basketball games have mimicked ever since. It has next to no story (you can't even play for an NBA Championship), but if you and a buddy want to kill off a rainy afternoon, this is the game for you.
Honorable Mention: Double Dribble, NBA Live 2005, NBA Street
Baseball: Ken Griffey, Jr. Presents Major League Baseball (SNES)
This is truly one of the most intriguing games ever made. It had the MLB License, but not the MLBPA License; which in short means it has real teams and real stadiums, but not real players. They got creative with their player names, however. The Phillies have players such as R. Balboa and A. Creed (sound familiar, movie fans?) and the Detroit Tigers have Mo-Town singers such as A. Franklin and G. Knight. The Game Boy version, released a year later, had real player names. The game also was one of the first to feature a decent Home Run Derby, and had several intricacies among the different ballparks that mirrored the real ones. The game did have some flaws, but overall was a more-than enjoyable game, and ahead of its time as well.
Honorable Mention: Baseball Stars, MLB '09: The Show
Tennis: Mario Tennis (N64)
The game was marketed towards kids, but all ages have enjoyed this game over the years. The beauty of this game was its simplicity as well as the Mario legacy. We all grew up with Mario, Luigi, Yoshi and the rest of the gang, and Mario Tennis allowed us to take our favorite players to battle on the tennis courts, against each other or even on a doubles team. There were several different button combinations you could use to lob shots, hit power shots, and put spin on the ball. This game also saved stats and allowed you to take players back and fourth between the N64 and the Game Boy Color, a feature that has since been mimicked over and over by several game platforms. It also had a pretty impressive list of hidden courts to attempt to achieve. The game got very addictive, especially if you had 3 friends over, as all four could play at the same time.
Honorable Mention: Topspin, Topspin 2
Golf: Tiger Woods PGA Tour '09 (Wii)
A golf game on a system that was almost meant for golfing. Tiger '09 is by far the best effort EA has made in the Tiger series, albeit with a few bugs. The putting still takes a while to get down, but the online and multiplayer options are solid. Combine this with the fact that you have to actually swing a controller in order to swing your golf club, and this is hands down the most intriguing golf game ever made. It may still take a couple of attempts for the Tiger series to perfect the art (as this guy points out), but if you're an online player or host parties often, this is great option.
Honorable Mention: Hot Shots Golf, Fore!, Mario Golf
Racing: Metropolis Street Racer (Dreamcast)
Never heard of it? It's okay, it isn't one of the most popular games, and definitely on the least popular gaming system. But MSR packed more into a racing video game than any before it and any since then. It introduced the Kudos System (awarding points for stylish driving as well as speed) as well as the idea of DJs talking before songs start playing on the radio. It has 262 total tracks as well as a whole slew of awesome cars to choose from. Also, the internal clock on the Dreamcast was used to perfection. According to Wikipedia, if you live in England and go to a San Francisco race at 8a.m., the race will be held at night. The downfall to this game would be the difficulty level, but the fact of the matter is the shear size and intelligence of this game is unparalleled.
Honorable Mention: Mario Kart, Grand Turismo
Hunting: Deer Hunter (PC)
One of the most obvious choices in the lot, Deer Hunter was a hunting fan's dream when it was first released on Windows in 1997. The graphics were above average for video games, the subtleties were all their, and this was one of the first reasons 45 year old men spent 2 hours at one time in front of the computer screen. It improved over the years, and certain versions of the game can be found on PS2, XBox360, and even Cell Phones. As far as hunting video games go, the Deer Hunter series holds a clear edge to the competition. Fun Fact: In some versions, Big Foot can be seen in the background.
Honorable Mention: Duck Hunt
Extreme: Tony Hawk Pro Skater (PS1)
THPS made landfall in 1999, and Hawk hasn't looked back since. The game was a huge success, as it brought aspects to a video game that were once unimaginable. The ability to choose mid-jump what kind of flip or grab you wanted to do was inventive, and the Career Mode was more than entertaining. Everyone remembers trying to make the longest trick possible, racking up those points and dragging the run over the 2 minute time limit as long as possible, as this guy proved in a newer version of the game. The game could be simple enough, but provided hours of entertainment at a skill most people could obtain in a relatively short amount of time.
Honorable Mention: Excite Bike
Soccer: FIFA Soccer '08 (XBox 360)
Another great series of games put out by EA, FIFA Soccer is the cornerstone for soccer video games. With the only real competition being Pro Evolution Soccer, FIFA delivers excellent game play that everyone can enjoy. It does take a while to get the controls down (something true about all soccer games) but once you do, it's a real kick in the grass. With 621 teams and 30 leagues, it is near impossible to play as everyone, but your favorites are most likely included. This version was also the first to include the "Be a Pro Mode", where you can play as one player throughout the entire game and rack up individual stats. FIFA has some bugs still, but it is by far the best soccer game made to date.
Honorable Mention: Pro Evolution Soccer
Boxing: Mike Tyson's Punch Out (NES)
This one was the most obvious choice of the group. Everyone grew up playing Punch Out, and a very select few of us ever beat Mike Tyson in the Dream Fight. The first 1:30 of the 1st round Vs. Tyson was nearly impossible to get through, and even if you got through that he wasn't easy to beat. With several characters that we all still know the names of (Glass Joe, King Hippo to name a few) Punch Out reigns supreme in the video game boxing world. At one point, most people knew the cheat code to get to Mike Tyson himself, but try as we might, most of us failed. He is beatable, but you better play your best 3 rounds of Punch Out ever in order to beat him.
Honorable Mention: Fight Night 2004, Knockout Kings
Hockey: NHL Hockey '94 (Genesis)
There were several ways one could go for best Hockey video game, but NHL '94 was always in the lists for best hockey game ever. It doesn't have the greatest graphics, and you can't bloody people up in fights like you could in the '93 version of the game, but everything else in the game is pretty on-point. Most people knew the pass-from-behind-the-goal trick, and most people knew to stay away from a game against Pittsburgh. Other games have looked better, but as far as gameplay (you can play a full season and playoffs, or shortened seasons of both) and shear enjoyment, NHL Hockey '94 is the icing on the cake.
Honorable Mention: NHL '09, Blades of Steel
Tecmo Super Bowl seems to be the proper way to start off this list, as it is often referred as one of the greatest games ever made, regardless of platform. This is one of those games, plain and simple, that everybody knows, and most everybody loves. Teams have a total of 8 offensive plays and 8 defensive plays to choose from, limiting possibilities slightly, but at the end of the day this game has reached a legacy status that will never die. A strong running game is the most dominating way to trample through the competition, as evidence by the crazy Bo Jackson runs. Don't worry, sports fans, even Bo is stoppable with a little luck and some proper planning.
Honorable Mention: Madden 2006, NFL Blitz
Basketball: NBA Jam (Genesis)
You can't throw alley-oops. You struggle to score 100 points in a game. But no other basketball game brings more joy (or makes you want to say, "BOOM SHAKALAKA!") than NBA Jam. Known just as much for its trademark sayings as anything else, this game was ahead of its time. On top of the high flying dunks, this game also allowed you to play as a number of celebrities. That list included Bill Clinton, P-Funk, Warren Moon and others. It also has a good list of power-ups that basketball games have mimicked ever since. It has next to no story (you can't even play for an NBA Championship), but if you and a buddy want to kill off a rainy afternoon, this is the game for you.
Honorable Mention: Double Dribble, NBA Live 2005, NBA Street
Baseball: Ken Griffey, Jr. Presents Major League Baseball (SNES)
This is truly one of the most intriguing games ever made. It had the MLB License, but not the MLBPA License; which in short means it has real teams and real stadiums, but not real players. They got creative with their player names, however. The Phillies have players such as R. Balboa and A. Creed (sound familiar, movie fans?) and the Detroit Tigers have Mo-Town singers such as A. Franklin and G. Knight. The Game Boy version, released a year later, had real player names. The game also was one of the first to feature a decent Home Run Derby, and had several intricacies among the different ballparks that mirrored the real ones. The game did have some flaws, but overall was a more-than enjoyable game, and ahead of its time as well.
Honorable Mention: Baseball Stars, MLB '09: The Show
Tennis: Mario Tennis (N64)
The game was marketed towards kids, but all ages have enjoyed this game over the years. The beauty of this game was its simplicity as well as the Mario legacy. We all grew up with Mario, Luigi, Yoshi and the rest of the gang, and Mario Tennis allowed us to take our favorite players to battle on the tennis courts, against each other or even on a doubles team. There were several different button combinations you could use to lob shots, hit power shots, and put spin on the ball. This game also saved stats and allowed you to take players back and fourth between the N64 and the Game Boy Color, a feature that has since been mimicked over and over by several game platforms. It also had a pretty impressive list of hidden courts to attempt to achieve. The game got very addictive, especially if you had 3 friends over, as all four could play at the same time.
Honorable Mention: Topspin, Topspin 2
Golf: Tiger Woods PGA Tour '09 (Wii)
A golf game on a system that was almost meant for golfing. Tiger '09 is by far the best effort EA has made in the Tiger series, albeit with a few bugs. The putting still takes a while to get down, but the online and multiplayer options are solid. Combine this with the fact that you have to actually swing a controller in order to swing your golf club, and this is hands down the most intriguing golf game ever made. It may still take a couple of attempts for the Tiger series to perfect the art (as this guy points out), but if you're an online player or host parties often, this is great option.
Honorable Mention: Hot Shots Golf, Fore!, Mario Golf
Racing: Metropolis Street Racer (Dreamcast)
Never heard of it? It's okay, it isn't one of the most popular games, and definitely on the least popular gaming system. But MSR packed more into a racing video game than any before it and any since then. It introduced the Kudos System (awarding points for stylish driving as well as speed) as well as the idea of DJs talking before songs start playing on the radio. It has 262 total tracks as well as a whole slew of awesome cars to choose from. Also, the internal clock on the Dreamcast was used to perfection. According to Wikipedia, if you live in England and go to a San Francisco race at 8a.m., the race will be held at night. The downfall to this game would be the difficulty level, but the fact of the matter is the shear size and intelligence of this game is unparalleled.
Honorable Mention: Mario Kart, Grand Turismo
Hunting: Deer Hunter (PC)
One of the most obvious choices in the lot, Deer Hunter was a hunting fan's dream when it was first released on Windows in 1997. The graphics were above average for video games, the subtleties were all their, and this was one of the first reasons 45 year old men spent 2 hours at one time in front of the computer screen. It improved over the years, and certain versions of the game can be found on PS2, XBox360, and even Cell Phones. As far as hunting video games go, the Deer Hunter series holds a clear edge to the competition. Fun Fact: In some versions, Big Foot can be seen in the background.
Honorable Mention: Duck Hunt
Extreme: Tony Hawk Pro Skater (PS1)
THPS made landfall in 1999, and Hawk hasn't looked back since. The game was a huge success, as it brought aspects to a video game that were once unimaginable. The ability to choose mid-jump what kind of flip or grab you wanted to do was inventive, and the Career Mode was more than entertaining. Everyone remembers trying to make the longest trick possible, racking up those points and dragging the run over the 2 minute time limit as long as possible, as this guy proved in a newer version of the game. The game could be simple enough, but provided hours of entertainment at a skill most people could obtain in a relatively short amount of time.
Honorable Mention: Excite Bike
Soccer: FIFA Soccer '08 (XBox 360)
Another great series of games put out by EA, FIFA Soccer is the cornerstone for soccer video games. With the only real competition being Pro Evolution Soccer, FIFA delivers excellent game play that everyone can enjoy. It does take a while to get the controls down (something true about all soccer games) but once you do, it's a real kick in the grass. With 621 teams and 30 leagues, it is near impossible to play as everyone, but your favorites are most likely included. This version was also the first to include the "Be a Pro Mode", where you can play as one player throughout the entire game and rack up individual stats. FIFA has some bugs still, but it is by far the best soccer game made to date.
Honorable Mention: Pro Evolution Soccer
Boxing: Mike Tyson's Punch Out (NES)
This one was the most obvious choice of the group. Everyone grew up playing Punch Out, and a very select few of us ever beat Mike Tyson in the Dream Fight. The first 1:30 of the 1st round Vs. Tyson was nearly impossible to get through, and even if you got through that he wasn't easy to beat. With several characters that we all still know the names of (Glass Joe, King Hippo to name a few) Punch Out reigns supreme in the video game boxing world. At one point, most people knew the cheat code to get to Mike Tyson himself, but try as we might, most of us failed. He is beatable, but you better play your best 3 rounds of Punch Out ever in order to beat him.
Honorable Mention: Fight Night 2004, Knockout Kings
Hockey: NHL Hockey '94 (Genesis)
There were several ways one could go for best Hockey video game, but NHL '94 was always in the lists for best hockey game ever. It doesn't have the greatest graphics, and you can't bloody people up in fights like you could in the '93 version of the game, but everything else in the game is pretty on-point. Most people knew the pass-from-behind-the-goal trick, and most people knew to stay away from a game against Pittsburgh. Other games have looked better, but as far as gameplay (you can play a full season and playoffs, or shortened seasons of both) and shear enjoyment, NHL Hockey '94 is the icing on the cake.
Honorable Mention: NHL '09, Blades of Steel
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