An overview of the most popular online sports games: Which one to choose?

The definition of the ‘most popular’ online sports game is quite complex, as popularity can vary depending on the region, age group and other factors. However, we can identify several games that are traditionally very popular and have an active community of players.

Here are the top 3 most popular online sports games:
FIFA (series):

Genre: Football simulator.
Why it is popular: Realistic graphics, licensed teams and leagues, regular updates, active online mode with a variety of tournaments and leagues.
Features: Deep customisation of teams, the ability to create your own tournaments, and a developed career as a player and coach.
NBA 2K (series):

Genre: Basketball simulator.
Why it is popular: Detailed basketball simulation, licensed NBA players and teams, a variety of game modes, including My Career.
Features: Realistic physics of movements, the ability to create your own player and lead his career from school to the NBA.
NHL (series):

Genre: Hockey simulator.
Why it is popular: Realistic physics, licensed NHL teams and leagues, a variety of game modes, including ‘Be a Pro’.
Features: The ability to play both for individual players and the whole team, a developed tactical component.
Other popular online sports games:
eFootball PES: A competitor to FIFA that also has a large audience.
Madden NFL: American football from EA Sports.
F1: Formula 1 simulator.
MotoGP: Motorcycle simulator.
Why do people play online sports games?
Emotions: Games allow you to feel like a real athlete, to experience the thrill of competition.
Social interaction: Online games are a great opportunity to communicate with friends and meet new people.
Education: Many sports games help to learn the rules of different sports and develop tactical thinking.
Competition: The opportunity to compete with other players from all over the world makes games even more interesting.
How to choose a game?
What sport are you interested in? Choose a game that matches your sporting interests.
What level of difficulty is right for you? If you are a beginner, it is better to choose a game with simple controls and accessible modes.
What game modes are you interested in? Do you want to play a single player campaign or do you prefer online matches?
What budget do you have? Some games are paid, while others offer a free version with additional paid features.