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Best Sports games of 2003

The 10 best Sports games released in 2003, ranked from 710 critic and player ratings.

The best Sports game of 2003 is SSX 3, with a critic score of 90/100 — updated October 2026.

How this ranking is built
  • Games are ranked on the aggregated critic score out of 100 imported from IGDB and Metacritic, never on Tier's own grades.
  • A game only enters the ranking with at least 30 external ratings, so a single enthusiastic review never outranks a proven classic.
  • Community grades from F to S are shown next to every game, and only stated as a fact above 5 Tier ratings.
  • Release window covered: 2003.
  • 10 games are listed on this page, carrying 710 ratings between them.
  • Rankings are recomputed hourly; this one was last rebuilt on 12 October 2026.

Top 10

01 SSX 3 SSX 3 2003 · 91 ratings Players can discover the open mountain in the newest version of the smash-hit SSX snowboarding franchise. SSX 3 allows gamers to go anywhere gravity will take them. Players will discover a colossal mountain where they can immerse themselves in a free-roaming snow paradise. The ultimate all-mountain experience, SSX 3 features all-new events and courses, awe-inspiring tricks and a cast of cool, customisable characters. Discover the open terrain, explore its hidden crevices, and conquer its peaks. Produced under the EA SPORTS BIG brand, the SSX 3 development team at EA Canada is adding technologies that bring to life rich natural graphics such as snow that sparkles and blows in the wind and realistic character shadowing. A new gameplay experience allows users to seamlessly ride from one awesome area to the next- entering competitions, taking on Big Challenges and discovering hidden collectibles. SSX 3 has blown out the trick component with unlimited combos and new, over-the-top tricks. In addition to the new boarding venues, Big Challenges rewards players for completing any of the more than 100 unique challenges as they explore the mountain's vast world. Grind billboards, board press logs, even hand plant the fence line. The musical soundtrack features a broad range of music from artists including the X-Ecutioners, Felix Da Housecat, Queens of the Stone Age, N.E.R.D., and many more. 90 /100
02 WWE SmackDown! Here Comes the Pain WWE SmackDown! Here Comes the Pain 2003 · 61 ratings WATCH YOUR BACK Relive the drama like never before in SmackDown! Here Comes The Pain. Create, play and develop your own Superstar through storylines developed exclusively by WWE writers. Track your progress with seasonal stats, earn money to build up Superstar abilities and unlock hidden elements. Featuring enhanced gameplay, new match types and better production values. The most electrifying brand in sports entertainment will ignite the Playstation 2 this holiday season. SEASON MODE Featuring comprehensive statistics, dynamic storylines and Superstar attribute building LEGENDS Sgt. Slaughter, The Million-Dollar Man, Jimmy Snuka and more ENHANCED GRAPPLING SYSTEM MATCH TYPES New match types including Bra-&-Panty and the Elimination Chamber 90 /100
03 World Soccer: Winning Eleven 7 International World Soccer: Winning Eleven 7 International 2003 · 51 ratings The third instalment of the Pro Evolution Soccer series, with improved graphics and a bigger Master League, which was split into four zones, with two divisions and cup competitions in each zone. Other than most of the Italian teams, club names, as are many of the players, are fictional. However, the game has an improved edit mode so players can edit the team's name, flag, logo, team shirts, and stadium. The shop system can unlock hidden features such as classic teams. The game also has a training and a challenge mode, in which players must dribble around cones as quickly as possible. Replays can be fast-forwarded and rewound, and the view can be rotated. The advantage rule was implemented, so a foul only stops play if the fouled team suffers for it. 87 /100
04 NBA Street Vol. 2 NBA Street Vol. 2 2003 · 47 ratings NBA Street Vol. 2 is a basketball video game, published by EA Sports BIG and developed by EA Canada. It is the sequel to NBA Street and the second game in the NBA Street series. It was released on April 28, 2003 for the PlayStation 2, GameCube, and, for the first time in the series, on the Xbox. Japan was only able to see a PlayStation 2 release of this game. The GameCube version was also planned to be released in that region, but it was canceled for unknown reasons. 85 /100
05 Tony Hawk's Underground Tony Hawk's Underground 2003 · 186 ratings Get ready for a major new step for the Tony Hawk series. Tony Hawk's Underground tweaks the gameplay of previous installments to include a plot-twisting story, customizable tricks and decks, online play, and the ability to include your own mug shot on your custom player. Of course, you can also play as any one of pro skating's biggest stars including Tony Hawk, Bob Burnquist, and Elissa Steamer. Ride, walk, or drive through nine expansive levels then test your skills against other gamers online. Become a star of the Underground. 80 /100
06 FIFA 2004 FIFA 2004 2003 · 66 ratings FIFA Football 2004, also known as FIFA Soccer 2004 in North America, is a football video game developed by EA Canada and published by Electronic Arts. It was released in October 2003 with the tagline "Create Brilliance". FIFA Football 2004 is the eleventh game in the FIFA series and the eighth to be in 3D. While not adding much to the engine used in FIFA Football 2003, the biggest new inclusions were secondary divisions, which allow the player to take lower ranked teams to promotion attempts. Gameplay has a new feature dubbed "Off the ball", which allows the control of two players at the same time for greater tactical play. Another key feature was Football Fusion, which allows owners of both FIFA 2004 and Total Club Manager 2004 to play games from the management sim in FIFA. The title sequence was filmed in St James' Park, home of Newcastle United, with the opening song being Kings of Leon's European hit "Red Morning Light". The cover features Alessandro Del Piero of Juventus, Thierry Henry of Arsenal, and Ronaldinho in a Brazil kit. 80 /100
07 TrackMania (2003) TrackMania (2003) 2003 · 43 ratings TrackMania is a racing game and the first entry in the TrackMania series, combining driving with track construction. Players race across circuits filled with jumps, loops, and tight corners to earn in-game currency, which is spent on building blocks used to design their own tracks on a snapping grid. Three environments, Rally, Snow, and Desert, each provide a distinct car and handling style, and the game includes Race, Puzzle, and Survival modes. Players can create custom car skins and share their tracks and skins online, and the game supports hotseat, LAN, and internet multiplayer. A later re-release, TrackMania Original, added new block types and features. 81 /100
08 Colin McRae Rally 04 Colin McRae Rally 04 2003 · 49 ratings There are 4 classes of cars: 4WD, 2WD, Group B and Bonus. The bonus class are cars that are not usually raced in rallies. This fourth incarnation of the Colin McRae Rally series, unlike in the previous three games, has no official WRC team license. All of the cars' liveries are either fictitious or taken from championships other than the WRC. Nicky Grist is replaced by Derek Ringer as the co-driver voice in the game. There are six championships to complete in the game. 80 /100
09 Harry Potter: Quidditch World Cup Harry Potter: Quidditch World Cup 2003 · 74 ratings Harry Potter: Quidditch World Cup is set in the universe of J.K. Rowling's Harry Potter and features the fictional sport of Quidditch, which is characterized by the use of flying broomsticks. 78 /100
10 Mario Golf: Toadstool Tour Mario Golf: Toadstool Tour 2003 · 42 ratings Hit the links in the Mushroom Kingdom! Mario, Peach, Yoshi, Donkey Kong and others have tee times reserved in the Mushroom Kingdom! Challenge them to tournaments, or take them on in character matches to collect rings or nab coins! Play on resort-style courses or look out for Chain Chomps, Warp Pipes and Thwomps on the Mushroom Kingdom courses! 76 /100
Browse all Sports games

Other years

Best Sports games of 2022Best Sports games of 2020Best Sports games of 2019Best Sports games of 2018Best Sports games of 2017Best Sports games of 2016Best Sports games of 2015Best Sports games of 2014Best Sports games of 2013Best Sports games of 2012Best Sports games of 2011Best Sports games of 2010

Same year, other platforms

Best PC games of 2003Best PlayStation 2 games of 2003Best GameCube games of 2003Best Xbox games of 2003Best Mac games of 2003Best Game Boy Advance games of 2003

Nearby rankings

Best Sports games of 2001Best Sports games of 2005Best Platformer games of 2003Best Puzzle games of 2003Best RPG games of 2003Best Shooter games of 2003Best Simulation games of 2003Best Strategy games of 2003

Catalog statistics

Most abandoned gamesMost completed games

Frequently asked questions

What is the best Sports game of 2003?

SSX 3 currently tops the ranking with a score of 90/100 across 91 ratings. Ranking updated October 2026.

How is this ranking built?

Games are ranked on their aggregated critic score out of 100, with a minimum vote threshold so a single glowing review never outranks a proven classic; the Tier community's own F-to-S grades are shown alongside each game.