The best sports games to play in 2025
Sports play a massive role in Irish life and the country’s culture. Whether that’s GAA games or other sports, Irish people love to get involved and follow their favourite team. Playing sports–themed games is also something many fans like to do in their spare time.
With gaming now being such a major industry globally, there’s certainly no shortage of games to try out in 2025. But which are some of the very best?
Football Star Deluxe
When it comes to top sports games in 2025, online slots at the top casino sites in Ireland are a great place to start. There are lots of quality platforms to sign up with now which offer sports–themed games.
Football Star Deluxe from Stormcraft Studios is sure to be a hit with any Irish gamer and was launched in 2020. The action is set on a 5×5 grid which has up to 88 paylines to play on. The football theme comes through loud and clear, with a beautifully drawn stadium forming the game backdrop.
There are also plenty of football–themed symbols to look out for, from boots to players and a pitch. This slot packs in some interesting bonus features, with rolling reels and a free spins round being the most eye-catching.
EA FC 25
Staying on the football theme, EA FC 25 is easily one of the top sports games to check out currently. This latest instalment in EA’s huge franchise was released in late September 2024 on Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Windows, Xbox One and Xbox Series X/S, so it’s widely available to enjoy.
As you’d expect, the game is packed with real-life players, teams and leagues. The graphics are second to none and the in-game sound effects really add to the whole experience. A new FC IQ feature makes a complete overhaul of the game’s tactical system and enables players to have a big impact on team strategies.
There are also distinct roles for players in EA FC 25 and this helps gamer utilise them to their maximum abilities. With a variety of game modes, this is a stunning sports game to light up 2025.
Rugby 25
While watching football or keeping an eye on the latest GAA results is popular in Ireland, getting involved with rugby is not far behind. This makes rugby games a great choice for Irish gamers in 2025.
Rugby 25 from Big Ant Studios stands out as a top choice. It came out in June 2024 and is available on PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Xbox Series X and Series S, Xbox One and Windows. The game features real-life players, leagues and teams for a truly authentic gaming experience. The graphics are also very good and the super-smooth player animations are a major highlight.
In terms of gameplay, Rugby 25 scores well and offers plenty of big tackles to savour. Passing the ball around to score is fun and you can soon see the points rack up. For the best rugby gaming hit, scrums, rucks and lineouts are also featured.
PGA Tour 2K25
One of the more recent sports games to try out is PGA Tour 2K25. This game only came out in late February 2025 but has made a real splash already. This is perhaps down to golf being a sport that people across Ireland like to play or watch. It’s available on Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S.
This is a very impressive game in terms of graphics and animations. The players actually look like their real-life counterparts and have super-smooth swings. The courses are beautifully rendered and take your breath away.
Being able to play in Career Mode is a nice touch and allows players to really get stuck into this game over the long term. The game features commentary from Rich Beem and Luke Elvy. Their knowledgeable comments really bring an extra bit of authenticity to the proceedings.
NBA2K25
Another legendary sports gaming franchise is the NBA2K series from Visual Concepts. NBA2K25 is the latest edition and was released in late September 2024 for PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Xbox Series X and Series S, Nintendo Switch and Microsoft Windows.
As with games like EA FC 25 and Rugby 25, the inclusion of real-life teams and players is a major plus. The graphics are super-detailed and really bring the action to life. ProPlayTechnology is back in NBA2K25 and delivers eye-popping player animations.
Rhythm Scoring is a brand–new feature and provides a newway to hit three-pointers or middles. In addition to being a bit more forgiving when shooting, this feature allows players to seamlessly move into a dribble after faking a shot.
MyCareer is back in NBA2K25, and it adds real depth whenplaying it. There are also Legend Badges and a new ‘Agility’ rating, so it’s easy to see why this title rates so highly.
2025’s top sports games to enjoy
Sports are huge all over Ireland and something people love to play, watch or read about. Playing sports–themed games is just as popular and there are some awesome ones to check out in 2025. If you need a hand finding the very best, our list above is the perfect place to start.