Best games
Best Sports games of 2008
The 11 best Sports games released in 2008, ranked from 733 critic and player ratings.
The best Sports game of 2008 is Pro Evolution Soccer 2009, with a critic score of 90/100 — updated September 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: 2008.
- 11 games are listed on this page, carrying 733 ratings between them.
- Rankings are recomputed hourly; this one was last rebuilt on 29 September 2026.
Top 11
01
Pro Evolution Soccer 2009
Pro Evolution Soccer 2009 (often shortened to PES 2009, or simply PES 09) is an association football video game in Konami's Pro Evolution Soccer series. It is the sequel to Pro Evolution Soccer 2008. Before the game was released, it was revealed that creator Shingo Takatsuka had given the game a complete overhaul following the serious criticism of the previous title. The game supports network play with a reduction in lag compared to PES 2008. Lionel Messi is featured as the cover star, although Andrés Guardado features on some versions. A new game mode called Become a Legend was introduced, which involves creating a player and taking him through a career. The Master League mode saw the introduction of two-tier negotiations, which involve negotiating with the club first and then the player separately. The Edit Mode was also improved. The game was followed by PES 2010.
90
/100
02
Inazuma Eleven
Mark Evans is a very talented goalkeeper and the grandson of one of the strongest goalkeepers in Japan, who supposedly died before Mark was born. Even though his skills and enthusiasm are incredible, his school lacks a real soccer club, as the six other members don't appear very interested even in training. One day, when a mysterious forward named Axel Blaze moves to Mark's town, the young goalkeeper sets out to find and recruit members for his soccer team. There are nearly 1000 playable characters with varying skills that will determine the success of the team. As you play through the story, Mark can recruit various characters on the team and help achieve his ultimate goal of competing!
93
/100
03
iRacing
From NASCAR, rallycross, and Aussie Supercars to sports cars and Grand Prix racing, iRacing has it all. All you need is a computer, a gaming wheel or game pad that simply plugs into the USB port of your computer and an Internet connection. iRacing centrally organizes all of the racing for you with over 150 cars and tracks, 40 official series , or you can choose to host your own race or race in one of over 800 private leagues.
91
/100
Pro Evolution Soccer 2009
Pro Evolution Soccer 2009 (often shortened to PES 2009, or simply PES 09) is an association football video game in Konami's Pro Evolution Soccer series. It is the sequel to Pro Evolution Soccer 2008. Before the game was released, it was revealed that creator Shingo Takatsuka had given the game a complete overhaul following the serious criticism of the previous title. The game supports network play with a reduction in lag compared to PES 2008. Lionel Messi is featured as the cover star, although Andrés Guardado features on some versions. A new game mode called Become a Legend was introduced, which involves creating a player and taking him through a career. The Master League mode saw the introduction of two-tier negotiations, which involve negotiating with the club first and then the player separately. The Edit Mode was also improved. The game was followed by PES 2010.
90
/100
02
Inazuma Eleven
Mark Evans is a very talented goalkeeper and the grandson of one of the strongest goalkeepers in Japan, who supposedly died before Mark was born. Even though his skills and enthusiasm are incredible, his school lacks a real soccer club, as the six other members don't appear very interested even in training. One day, when a mysterious forward named Axel Blaze moves to Mark's town, the young goalkeeper sets out to find and recruit members for his soccer team. There are nearly 1000 playable characters with varying skills that will determine the success of the team. As you play through the story, Mark can recruit various characters on the team and help achieve his ultimate goal of competing!
93
/100
03
iRacing
From NASCAR, rallycross, and Aussie Supercars to sports cars and Grand Prix racing, iRacing has it all. All you need is a computer, a gaming wheel or game pad that simply plugs into the USB port of your computer and an Internet connection. iRacing centrally organizes all of the racing for you with over 150 cars and tracks, 40 official series , or you can choose to host your own race or race in one of over 800 private leagues.
91
/100
04
FIFA 09
PlayStation 2 and PC port of FIFA Soccer 09.
83
/100
05
NBA 2K9
Improved facial and skin textures, better uniforms, improved eye movement and more realistic crowd reactions bring the game alive like never before. Analyst Clark Kellogg and sideline reporter Cheryl Miller join color commentator Kevin Harlan to create one of the most knowledgeable broadcast teams in the game. End each quarter with enhanced, multiple angle replay highlights, and be rewarded like never before with all-new, true-to-life celebration sequences after you capture the NBA championship.
82
/100
06
Wii Fit
Wii Fit is an exercise game consisting of activities using the Wii Balance Board peripheral. The game uses a unique platform peripheral called the Wii Balance Board, on which the player stands during exercise. The game features yoga, strength training, aerobics, and balance games. Wii Fit has been used for physiotherapy rehabilitation and has been adopted by various health clubs around the world. Additionally, the game has been used in nursing homes to improve posture in the elderly. The game has received generally positive reviews, despite criticism over the lack of intensity in some of its workout activities As of March 2012, Wii Fit has held the position of third best selling console game not packaged with a console, with 22.67 million copies sold.
80
/100
07
Race Driver: Grid
Discover a stunning world of motor sport brought to life, from racing muscle cars through the iconic streets of San Francisco and competing in the legendary 24 hours of Le Mans to drifting around the docks of Yokohama. Jump behind the wheel of exhilarating racing cars in the most aggressive, spectacular wheel-to-wheel races you've ever experienced.
78
/100
08
NHL 09
NHL 09 is the 17th video game in the NHL series released by EA Sports in 2008. Both the Nintendo DS and Wii versions had been planned, but canceled. It was the last installment of the NHL series to be released on Playstation 2 and the last to get a PC release
79
/100
09
FIFA Street 3
FIFA Street 3 is an arcade-style sports game for the Xbox 360 and Xbox Live, PlayStation 3 and Nintendo DS. It is the third game in the FIFA Street series created by EA Sports BIG.
67
/100
10
WWE Smackdown vs. RAW 2009
WWE SmackDown vs. Raw 2009 takes full combat sports entertainment to the next level by giving players more superstar control with interactive entrances and victory scenes.
66
/100
11
Sonic Riders: Zero Gravity
56
/100
FIFA 09
PlayStation 2 and PC port of FIFA Soccer 09.
83
/100
05
NBA 2K9
Improved facial and skin textures, better uniforms, improved eye movement and more realistic crowd reactions bring the game alive like never before. Analyst Clark Kellogg and sideline reporter Cheryl Miller join color commentator Kevin Harlan to create one of the most knowledgeable broadcast teams in the game. End each quarter with enhanced, multiple angle replay highlights, and be rewarded like never before with all-new, true-to-life celebration sequences after you capture the NBA championship.
82
/100
06
Wii Fit
Wii Fit is an exercise game consisting of activities using the Wii Balance Board peripheral. The game uses a unique platform peripheral called the Wii Balance Board, on which the player stands during exercise. The game features yoga, strength training, aerobics, and balance games. Wii Fit has been used for physiotherapy rehabilitation and has been adopted by various health clubs around the world. Additionally, the game has been used in nursing homes to improve posture in the elderly. The game has received generally positive reviews, despite criticism over the lack of intensity in some of its workout activities As of March 2012, Wii Fit has held the position of third best selling console game not packaged with a console, with 22.67 million copies sold.
80
/100
07
Race Driver: Grid
Discover a stunning world of motor sport brought to life, from racing muscle cars through the iconic streets of San Francisco and competing in the legendary 24 hours of Le Mans to drifting around the docks of Yokohama. Jump behind the wheel of exhilarating racing cars in the most aggressive, spectacular wheel-to-wheel races you've ever experienced.
78
/100
08
NHL 09
NHL 09 is the 17th video game in the NHL series released by EA Sports in 2008. Both the Nintendo DS and Wii versions had been planned, but canceled. It was the last installment of the NHL series to be released on Playstation 2 and the last to get a PC release
79
/100
09
FIFA Street 3
FIFA Street 3 is an arcade-style sports game for the Xbox 360 and Xbox Live, PlayStation 3 and Nintendo DS. It is the third game in the FIFA Street series created by EA Sports BIG.
67
/100
10
WWE Smackdown vs. RAW 2009
WWE SmackDown vs. Raw 2009 takes full combat sports entertainment to the next level by giving players more superstar control with interactive entrances and victory scenes.
66
/100
11
Sonic Riders: Zero Gravity
56
/100
Frequently asked questions
What is the best Sports game of 2008?
Pro Evolution Soccer 2009 currently tops the ranking with a score of 90/100 across 82 ratings. Ranking updated September 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.