Top 10 Weird Sports Games

Sports games like Madden or FIFA have been annualized franchises for a long time now. But what about the weird one-off sports games – the ones where the subject matter is just odd or not mainstream? This list compiles 10 games that might have slipped your notice or games that are bizarre takes on the sport.

10. Jam City Rollergirls (Wii)
Roller Derby is a pretty rough contact sport, but developer Frozen Codebas tried to capture it in a WiiWare release. Jam City Rollergirls a cartoony cross between actual roller derby and a kart racer. The are no penalties, but power-up attacks, speed boosts, and unconventional levels with jumps and tunnels are around the rink. Jam City Rollergirls features over 30 real players and official teams from the Women’s Flat Track Derby Association.

9. Harry Potter: Quidditch World Cup (PC, Xbox, GC, PS2, and GBA)
While technically not a real sport, it’s safe to say the wizarding world’s pastime would be rad to play. EA Games thought so! Harry Potter: Quidditch World Cup allows you to play in the Hogwarts school league or the World Cup. Through most of the game you control the ball by passing it and shooting at your opponent’s goal. On the defensive side, you can launch bludgers at your opponents or perform a tackle and steal to regain control. It even features special moves and shots that can be performed after stringing together passes.

8. Free Running (PC, Wii, DS, PS2, and PSP)
Plenty of games have parkour aspects as part of their design, such as Assassins Creed or Infamous, but finding one where that’s the focal point of the game is refreshing. Free Running has the objective of completing a course as quickly as possible, but also allows you to implement tricks like those seen in skateboarding games. There are over 50 different tricks available, so you can get a good amount of trick variety going, instead of performing the same stale move endlessly. Timing is incredibly important for a cohesive run; unfortunately, the controls are too sluggish to allow for an impressive performance.

7. Sled Shred: featuring the Jamaican Bobsled Team (Wii)
The movie Cool Runnings endeared the Jamaican bobsled team to many. Sled Shred featuring the Jamaican Bobsled Team isn’t exactly a video game adaptation, but it’s clear where its inspiration is from. Sled Shred isn’t exclusive to bobsleds, and allows players to cruise in various other sled types, like inner tubes or toboggans. Unlike bobsledding, this is more of a kart (sled?) racer complete with tricks and attacks, but it doesn’t have the replay value or fun factor of something like Mario Kart.

6. AaaaaAAaaaAAAaaAAAAaAAAAA!!! – A Reckless Disregard for Gravity (PC)
This game qualifies based on the title alone. Aaaaa! A Reckless Disregard for Gravity is a BASE jumping sports game.  If that’s not enough, it takes place in a 2011 alternate reality version of Boston, Massachusetts. Points are earned by being reckless and being as close to your obstacles as possible without hitting them. It has fun, fast-paced gameplay and a vibrant color pallet that makes it visually appealing as well. 

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5. Pirates vs. Ninjas Dodgeball (Wii and XBLA)
The question has spurred debate for centuries. Who is better – pirates or ninjas? Pirates vs. Ninjas Dodgeball is a little gem that pits these historic titans against each other. It also includes the ability to play as Zombies and Robots, because why not? Players can choose to play a regular game of dodgeball, or a more chaotic “dodge brawl,” which gets rid of the dividing line, and instead encases the players in one big court.

4. Mega Man Soccer (SNES)
Mega Man has been an integral part of gaming history since its debut on the NES back in 1987. However, it is easy to forget that the blue bomber once starred in a Mega Man branded soccer game. Players could chose to use Mega Man and a variety of his enemies to build a soccer team, and then play on a boss-themed field. Mega Man Soccer played similar to conventional soccer games, with the addition of special kicks unique to each character, such as Fire Man’s ball catching fire. These powerful shots would incapacitate players hit by them. Unfortunately, Mega Man Soccer suffered poor, sluggish controls – which were uncharacteristic of Capcom at the time. 

3. Diabolical Pitch (360)
Suda51 is well known for making super-stylized, odd games. His take on Baseball is no exception. Diabolic Pitch isn’t exactly a Baseball game per se, but it does star a former baseball pitcher whose career ends due to an arm injury. Then he gets a new, bionic arm, and what does he do with it? He uses his super-powered pitches to battle creepy, anthropomorphic stuffed animals at an amusement park, of course! Diabolical Pitch released in 2012 on the Xbox 360, and was meant to be a Kinect game for the mature demographic. 

2. Base Wars (NES)
Fights are a rare occurrence in Baseball; but in NES classic Base Wars, it would be hard to go a game without fighting. It takes place in the 24th century, where owners replace human players with robots, since they’re fed up with paying enormous salaries. The best part of Base Wars is that if the ball beats you to a base or if you get tagged, it doesn’t mean you’re out. You could run into a player and initiate a fight with them to determine whether you’re out or not you’re safe. Similarly, pitches can be used to intentionally hit players and decrease their health. If a team loses three robots in one game, they would be forced to forfeit. Base Wars is super bizarre, but in all the best ways.

1. Barkley, Shut Up and Jam: Gaiden (PC and Mac)
Barkley, Shut Up and Jam: Gaiden is a JRPG-styled unofficial sequel to SNES and Sega Mega Drive game Barkley Shut Up and Jam! It also occurs in the same universe as Space Jam. If that hasn’t sold you: it takes place in a post- apocalyptic Neo New York where basketball is illegal. You play as Charles Barkley, who years ago performed a dunk so powerful that it killed thousands. When that same dunk is performed again 12 years later, you need to avoid Michael Jordan (who is hunting you) and team up with cybernetic Vince Carter, the great grandson of LeBron James, and others to help clear your name. The combat is turn-based but it relies on timed attacks similar to Paper Mario or Final Fantasy VIII.

Did we miss any weird or obscure sports video games that you love to play? Is there an odd sport that you hold close to your heart that you wish had a game? Let us know in the comments below!