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The PlayStation Portable is one of the best handheld devices for gaming that you can get. It has a wide variety of games, and sports are some of the most popular ones. If you’re an avid fan of sports video games, then you’re in luck because the PSP has plenty to offer.
The games we’ve listed are among the highest rated on sites like Amazon and Metacritic, so they are perfect if you want to dive right into playing your favorite sports with this device. Whether you like baseball, golf, hockey, or another sport entirely, there’s likely an awesome game available for you on this list.
Let’s dive in!
What are Sports Games?
Sports games are video games that simulate real-world sports. While these games are usually based on real sports, they can also be exaggerated or fictional. These games let you control one or more athletes during competition while playing against other players or computer-controlled opponents. There are sports games for almost every sport, including football, basketball, baseball, golf, and hockey, among others. Most of these games are based on real-world sports leagues, such as the NFL, NBA, MLB, EPL, and NHL, while others are based on Olympic or amateur sports. With lifelike graphics and gameplay, sports games have increasingly become realistic.
Some even let you create teams and personalized athletes. Alongside these, you can change gameplay options and certain rules. You can also completely customize your game experience and add to the overall appeal of a game. Since the 1990s, these games have continued to evolve to include technologies such as motion controls and online play. With 4D environments using VR technology, you can now play your favorite sports and create an even more authentic experience.
Some of the most popular sports game franchises include FIFA, Madden NFL, NBA 2K, MLB The Show, WWE 2K, NHL, and F1.
The 10 Best PlayStation Portable Sports Games
Here are our top picks for the absolute best PlayStation Portable sports games of all time.
#10. The Winning 11: Pro Evolution Soccer 2007
The Winning 11: Pro Evolution Soccer 2007 offers several gameplay options for any soccer fan.
Featuring new teams, advanced AI, and better offense and defense, this game allows you to play quick games with randomly generated match-day settings. Essentially, it combines aspects such as injuries, aging players, and pressure players to create a truly immersive game where results are everything.
With its graphics and gameplay changes, each new title is completely different from the previous version. For instance, the shooting system has been extensively retouched to enable you to pull off much more accurate snapshots and have a larger feeling of control when going for difficult full volleys and quick half volleys.
Also, you can now make realistic runs into space while pointing where you would like the ball played. Moreover, The Winning 11: Pro Evolution Soccer 2007 has included several new licensed teams featuring official kits for the Netherlands, Argentina, Italy, Spain, and Sweden. New modes have been included, such as the Master League mode, together with several new tricks and feints.
| Developer | Konami, NHN |
| Publisher | Naver |
| Platforms | PSP, Microsoft Windows |
| Mode | Multiplayer |
| Release Date | December 27th, 2012 |
#9. emHot Shots Golf: Open Tee/em
- More golfers and caddies than ever - 34 off-the-wall new characters, from returning favorites to popular PS2 characters
- Enjoy 15 different courses, ranging from challenging 18-hole layouts to demanding par three executive courses
- Unlock more prizes than ever - advanced golf equipment, new courses, characters and tons of wacky golf gadgets
- Go head-to-head with both friends and foes via WiFi compatible Ad Hoc Mode and become a true golfing legend
emHot Shots Golf: Open Tee/em is a sports game with newly designed gameplay elements such as faster rounds, more rewards, and tougher competition to help you play golf on the go.
Continuing with the tradition of 24 playable characters and 12 courses, this sport has more than 300 different options for clothing, hairstyles, clubs, and more. emHot Shots Golf: Open Tee/em has also added a 16-player online mode to boost the game and make the gameplay more fun.
At the start, it’ll seem that you’ll play completely with the X button. You’ll tap the button to start and tap it again to decide how much oomph to put into the shot. Once the tapping is complete, you need to knock the ball toward the spinning 3D triangle that acts as your crosshairs.
If you need an extra book, you can tap the square, and once unlocked, you can tap the triangle in the impact sweet zone. While playing you need to watch out for the sand traps, rolling hills, and sand water hazards especially when you’re aiming for the fairway. Hot Shots does a pretty job at having you learn and master all of these elements as you go, thanks to Challenge Mode. If you adore golf, emHot Shots Golf: Open Tee/em is great fun. Besides the new design, it has online multiplayer modes that take it to another level.
You can find it on Amazon right here.
| Developer | Clap Hanz |
| Publisher | Sony Computer Entertainment |
| Platforms | PSP |
| Mode | Single-player, multiplayer |
| Release Date | June 3, 2008 |
#8. emMLB 07: The Show/em
- The top-selling baseball franchise for PSP in '06 is bigger, better, and back for the '07 season
- Adaptive Pitching Intelligence delivers a revolutionary enhancement to artificial intelligence that considers strengths, weaknesses, and trends
- All-new Road To The Show career mode literally puts you on the field to play from player-based cameras and allows you to fast-forward between every at-bat and defensive play
- Pitch Command System challenges you to utilize the full repertoire of every pitcher in the Major Leagues
Produced by San Diego Studio, emMLB 07: The Show/em is one of the most detailed sports games out there.
This sports game comes with four different modes to choose from; Exhibition, Career, Franchise, and Season. In Exhibition Mode, you are required to pick any two teams to square off in one game. You can choose from the All-Star teams, MLB teams, or even some bonus teams. With the Career Mode, you can create a player and play from their perspective. There is also the Franchise mode that lets you run a team from the clubhouse and handle more things like managing rehab assignments, scouting, or drafting. You do a lot more managing in this mode than playing. Finally, there is just Season mode that lets you fight for a playoff spot and work your way to the top.
When pitching, you need to select pitch by pressing the appropriate button. Next, you need to stop the pitch in the right area of power to ensure that it moves the way you want it. The best part about the pitching aspect is when your pitch gauge speeds up and you have to calm it down by striking guys out or just getting out of the inning.
While emMLB 07: The Show/em doesn’t have a flashy presentation, it’s still one of the better sports games on the PSP.
Grab your own copy on Amazon here.
| Developer | San Diego Studio |
| Publisher | Sony Computer Entertainment |
| Platforms | PSP, PlayStation 2, PlayStation 3 |
| Mode | Single-player, multiplayer |
| Release Date | February 26, 2007 |
#7. emHot Shots Golf: Open Tee 2/em
- Sony Computer Entertainment Hot Shots Golf Open Tee 2 (PSP)
Popularly known as Everybody’s Golf 2, emHot Shots Golf: Open Tee 2/em is a classic, entertaining golf game with new quirky characters, beautiful courses, and a huge variety of customizable options.
emHot Shots Golf: Open Tee 2/em brings more than double the content with six new challenging golf courses, distinctive environments, and a total of 12 exotic locations.
If you add this to a total of 20 golfers, 5 caddies, and more than 320 options for equipment, clothing, and accessories, you have a portable sports game that is worth your money and time. To get started, you just need to tap the X button 3 times to start the swing, set the power, and set the accuracy of the game. If you like, you can activate an Easy Swing two-tap mode to make it easy.
Compared to other sports games, emHot Shots Golf: Open Tee 2/em offers dynamic gameplay that tracks your skill and dedication as a player. The more you play with one character, the more loyalty you earn. The main issue with the game is that there is no mini-golf and no single-system multiplayer. Overall, Open Tee 2 is a technically flawless game that lets you play a round of golf in minutes. If you’ve never played golf online, this is the ideal place to start.
You can find it on Amazon here.
| Developer | Clap Hanz |
| Publisher | Sony Computer Entertainment |
| Platforms | PSP |
| Mode | Single-player, multiplayer |
| Release Date | December 6, 2007 |
#6. emTony Hawk's Underground 2 Remix/em
- Join either Tony Hawk or Bam Margera's team as they fight it out in all-new levels, goals and level-changing events
- Tear it up in all-new PSP-exclusive levels like Las Vegas, Atlanta, Kyoto and Santa Cruz
- Sick new multiplayer game modes - Play four-player mini-games like Combo Mambo, SLAP! and Scavenger Hunt through the PSP's wireless network
emTony Hawk's Underground 2 Remix/em is a skateboarding video game that takes you to a new level of skating where you embark on the ultimate road trip.
For the first time, Remix offers up two main modes of play, Story Mode and Classic Mode. While Story Mode pits you as one of Tony Hawk’s crew, you don’t get an opportunity to choose your side. The game will take you to various cities with goals based on either blowing something or destroying something, generally being a public nuisance. As a player, you can upload your picture onto the PSP through a memory stick and map your face to create a different game character.
That said, emTony Hawk's Underground 2 Remix/em is a great portable game in that you can pick it up, play your games, and then change it to sleep mode when you are done.
If you’re planning to get a PSP soon, you should certainly pick this one up from Amazon here.
| Developer | Neversoft Shaba Games |
| Publisher | Activision |
| Platforms | PSP |
| Mode | Single-player, multiplayer |
| Release Date | March 24, 2005 |
©DMstudio House/Shutterstock.com
#5. emFIFA Soccer 10/em
- Practice Mode and an updated Quiz Mode where you can practice and perfect your skills before stepping onto the pitch, and test your knowledge of world soccer trivia.
- More intelligent teammates, providing a greater level of support. Support runs are now more effective, and there are increased passing and crossing options as a result.
- Goalkeeper AI intelligence has been improved, so that keepers now make more authentic decisions, with improved variation in shot stopping and deflections.
- In Be A Pro mode, grow your professional player at the club level and work your way into your national team in one of the most grueling challenges of any professional players career.
- Season Mode provides a more accessible option of guiding your favorite team to glory. Take your club through the most in-depth Season Mode to date and compete in official league fixtures, cup and...
emFIFA Soccer 10/em is a football simulation sports game that lets you live the life of a professional soccer player or manager by playing against some of the toughest competitors.
Similar to a role-playing game, the player that you create becomes more and more effective as he gains experience. With emFIFA Soccer 10/em, you can expect to get the best game in the series thanks to improved animation, incredibly fluid 360-degree player control, and realistic opponent AI. This series has also introduced a Virtual Pro feature and revitalized Manager mode to allow you to put yourself in the game and unlock new abilities. This way, you can enjoy an unparalleled game of football, whether sitting on the manager’s chair or playing a quick game with your mates.
With 600 international teams from which to choose and several hours of enjoyment, you’ll certainly be thrilled. You’ll then rise through the ranks as you practice hard and play through all of the game modes. On the pitch, the game has critical gameplay fundamentals to ensure it mirrors real-world soccer in addition to sophisticated ball control and physical interaction between players.
You can now position or move players more realistically. You can also analyze space more effectively, curve their runs and create passing lanes naturally.
So, whether you are a soccer fan or want to learn, emFIFA Soccer 10/em can be bought from Amazon here.
| Developer | EA Canada |
| Publisher | EA Sports |
| Platforms | PSP, Microsoft Windows |
| Mode | Single-player, multiplayer |
| Release Date | October 1, 2009 |
#4. emMLB 6: The Show/em
- Try out Career Mode, Rivalry Mode and other new game modes
- All-new game mechanics like the Release Point Pitching meter, pitch-type guessing and user-controlled slides
- Personalize the way you hit the field - Pick a position, assign yourself to a team, and start negotiating
- King of the Diamond mode challenges your pitching and hitting skills - move as many ghost runners as you can in two minutes
- Take over management duties for a 40-man lineup -- set the active players on your team
emMLB 6: The Show/em is a baseball sports game produced by Sony Computer Entertainment and developed by San Diego Studio.
As the first game in the MLB, this game features an all-new Career Mode to help you create a player and take them out to play anytime, anywhere. The game also has a Season Mode that offers multiple seasons where you can pick your favorite team, advance to the playoffs, and be crowned the series champion. You also have the option to change team rosters, review scouting reports, and view statistics. Alongside these, the game features a Franchise mode and Home Run Derby Mode that gives you more control of the game.
One unique aspect about it is that it only allows you to control one chosen player at a time. For instance, if you are pitching in a particular game, the gameplay simulates half-innings in which your team is hitting. If you are on the go, emMLB 6: The Show/em offers gameplay you can enjoy wherever you are. Additionally, you can utilize its new online news service to get the latest MLB news feeds, plus save and review them offline at your convenience.
Check it out on Amazon right here.
| Developer | San Diego Studio |
| Publisher | Sony Computer Entertainment |
| Platforms | PSP, PlayStation 2 |
| Mode | Single-player, multiplayer |
| Release Date | February 28, 2006 |
#3. emFIFA Soccer 09/em
- New Animation Sequences
- New Collision Detection System -- With 360 degree coverage players behave according to their physical attributes
- Pro Skill Moves 32 tricks in your arsenal
- Enhanced Shooting Mechanics - Ball-striking enhancements create more responsive and more accurate first-time shots
- Be A Pro - Seasons Pick a professional player and test your ability at one position over four seasons. All performances are tracked through detailed statistics
emFIFA Soccer 09/em is a PlayStation portable football simulation video game that has come a long way from the original PSP version.
Although it has almost the same content, it doesn’t have a lot of extras. This makes it a lean soccer game and thus much better than any other game on the PSP. While the Kick Off mode is just a friendly game and an easy way to satisfy your soccer cravings, there’s no lasting glory with a win.
To enjoy real fun, you need to join the “Be A Pro” and Manager modes. In Be A Pro mode, you can create a player or even take another player’s identity. This means you’ll be that player through all the ups and downs of a season. EA has tweaked the gameplay in this mode and cleaned up a lot of bugs that negatively affected the previous series.
For instance, you only need to worry about your player and not about scouting contracts. In essence, your work is just to play and score goals to keep the coach satisfied. In Manager mode, you must deal with cranky players, contracts, scouting, ticket prices, and a good list of other things. One of the best things about the game is that there are always people online to play against. Therefore, if you enjoy football sports games, then emFIFA Soccer 09/em is undoubtedly the definitive choice.
Grab your own copy from Amazon here.
| Developer | EA Canada |
| Publisher | EA Sports |
| Platforms | PSP, Microsoft Windows |
| Mode | Single-player, multiplayer |
| Release Date | October 2, 2008 |
#2. emMLB 8: The Show/em
- Umpire Personalities - Providing even more realism to the diamond with unique tendencies and animations
- My Sliders (Up/Downloadable) - Gives users the ability to create their perfect game settings offline by adjusting game sliders
- King of the Diamond - A classic playground duel from childhood where a pitcher and batter from opposing teams will square off head-to-head
- Home Run Derby - Lets gamers pick the lineup and set the rules for the traditional homerun contest of Major League All-Stars
- Season Mode -Tests the true baseball fan's commitment and allows them to make a run for consecutive rings with multiple seasons
First released in 2008, emMLB 8: The Show/em is a PlayStation Portable sports game that promises to provide you with the most realistic baseball experience.
With innovations such as a more immersive Road, The Show mode lets you play both offense and defense from the created player’s perspective. The game also has additional performance incentives such as the MLB franchise and the new Progressive Batting Performance feature to reward you for superior performance and penalize you for bad play. In addition to a customizable Online League Play with up to 30 teams, and scrolling MLB Score, emMLB 8: The Show/em has a SportsConnect Online User Tracking (SCOUT) to allow you to set the game and store your preferences on the server. Compared to the previous version, this game allows you to custom adjust your setting.
Once you get assistance, you can work your way up in the game. These changes have really improved the game and made it more of a reaction game. The trick is to pay attention to the little things in the pitch and ensure that you are extremely confident. In nutshell, the graphics were much better and the colors were more vibrant than ever.
With all these improvements, emMLB 8: The Show/em is a game worth checking out on Amazon here.
| Developer | San Diego Studio |
| Publisher | Sony Computer Entertainment |
| Platforms | PSP, PlayStation 2, PlayStation 3 |
| Mode | Single-player, multiplayer |
| Release Date | March 4, 2008 |
#1. Virtua Tennis: World Tour
Developed by Sumo Digital, Virtua Tennis: World Tour is a tennis video game that’s characterized by three modes: World Tour, Exhibition, and Tournament modes.
In the World Tour, you are required to move around the world with a specially created character to win cash. In the Exhibition, you need to take control of a pro tennis all-star for one-off matches. The Tournament, on the other hand, puts you in knockout sessions. Like any other aspect of the game, controlling your player is very simple. You can decide to move your character with the directional pad or analog nub depending on your preference. While both inputs work just well, it’s advisable to use the directional pad.
This fast-paced game also features an array of internationally renowned tennis pros, make-your-own player mode, exclusive mini-games, and original courts. You can also accessorize your character with the virtual cash you win in tournaments. The game features 14 real-life professional tennis players, four court surfaces, and various game modes. Virtua Tennis: World Tour isn’t just a game for fans, either. Essentially, it’s a title that requires some level of commitment for you to enjoy. The best thing about it is that anyone can pick it up and enjoy it.
| Developer | Sumo Digital |
| Publisher | Sega |
| Platforms | PSP |
| Mode | Single-player, multiplayer |
| Release Date | October 4, 2005 |
Wrapping Up
One of the most enjoyable things in life is playing sports, whether it’s just running, soccer, or basketball. Thankfully with a PlayStation Portable console, you can enjoy some of the best sports games. The best part is that you don’t have to leave the house. So, if you own a PlayStation Portable, this is the right time to get into the action with these amazing games.
