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There wasn’t one undisputed best sports game of 2019: the answer depends on the sport you wanted and who was voting. Crash Team Racing Nitro-Fueled topped PlayStation Blog’s player-voted poll, while MLB The Show 19 won both the Operation Sports editorial award and its community vote. For a useful shortlist, choose by genre first: arcade kart racing, football (soccer), basketball, baseball, American football or motorsport.
What were the best sports games of 2019?
These games stand out across different sports and play styles. The two cited year-end selections do not represent a single shared ranking: PlayStation Blog ran a player vote, while Operation Sports made an editorial pick and reported a separate community poll.
| # | Preview | Product | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
|
MLB® The Show™ 26 – PS5™ | $39.99 | Buy on Amazon |
| 2 |
|
PGA TOUR 2K25 - PlayStation 5 | $17.99 | Buy on Amazon |
| 3 |
|
EA SPORTS College Football 27 - Standard Edition PS5 |Disc I VideoGame | $49.94 | Buy on Amazon |
| 4 |
|
EA Sports Madden NFL 27 - Standard Edition PS5 |Disc I VideoGame | $42.99 | Buy on Amazon |
| Game | Sport or style | Why it belongs on the shortlist |
|---|---|---|
| Crash Team Racing Nitro-Fueled | Arcade kart racing | First in PlayStation Blog’s year-end player-voted Best Sports Game poll. |
| FIFA 20 | Association football (soccer) | Second in the PlayStation Blog poll; Meristation’s contemporaneous review noted a slower pace and fewer dangerous speed-based breaks, while criticizing some long passes and shots. |
| eFootball PES 2020 | Association football (soccer) | Named as an honorable mention by PlayStation Blog. |
| NBA 2K20 | Basketball | Third in the PlayStation Blog poll and second in Operation Sports’ community vote. |
| MLB The Show 19 | Baseball | Operation Sports’ 2019 sports game of the year and its community poll winner; fourth in the PlayStation Blog poll. |
| Madden NFL 20 | American football | An honorable mention on PlayStation Blog and third in Operation Sports’ community vote. |
| F1 2019 | Motorsport | Named as an honorable mention by PlayStation Blog. |
Which game should you choose?
For arcade racing: Crash Team Racing Nitro-Fueled
Choose this if you want kart racing rather than a simulation of a ball sport or real-world motorsport. It was the top choice in PlayStation Blog’s player poll, but that result is a poll outcome—not proof that it is the best fit for every sports-game fan.
For soccer: FIFA 20 or eFootball PES 2020
Both are soccer options on PlayStation Blog’s shortlist. Meristation’s review of FIFA 20 described its pace as slower than before and said speed-based breaks were less dangerous; it also criticized the feel of some long-distance passes and shots. Those are that outlet’s assessments, not a universal consensus or a head-to-head verdict against PES 2020.
#1 Best Overall
- MLB The Show 26 Full Game on PlayStation 5
- Includes 5 The Show Packs
- NEW Road to Cooperstown & Expanded Amateur Years Career
- Build your ultimate fantasy team with a new Red Diamond rarity tier and World Baseball Classic player cards featuring elite game-changing players
- NEW Revamped Front Office Experience Play the nail-biting key matches and moments of your Franchise GM career with streamlined seasons and Custom Game Entry
For basketball: NBA 2K20
NBA 2K20 placed third in the PlayStation Blog poll and second in Operation Sports’ community vote. 2K announced worldwide availability on September 6, 2019, and its announcement described game modes and player customization. The announcement establishes the publisher’s stated features, not an independent quality assessment.
For baseball: MLB The Show 19
This is the strongest pick if you put weight on the Operation Sports results: the outlet named it its 2019 sports game of the year, and its community poll also placed it first. It finished fourth in PlayStation Blog’s player vote, illustrating how the choice of poll changes the result.
Rank #2
- REAL FEEL: Swing your swing and play your game with new EvoSwing mechanics—new shot types, ball flights, roll physics, and visual improvements.
- MAJOR TOURNAMENTS HAVE ARRIVED: The U.S. Open Championship, The Open Championship, and the PGA Championship make their 2K Franchise debut.
- MyCAREER AND MyPLAYER, YOUR WAY: Step into the most immersive MyCAREER yet. Dynamically simulate rounds, play through training and pre-tournament events. Be your authentic self in MyPLAYER with diverse customizations, a new Attributes Points system, upgraded Skill Trees, and an all-new Equipment Progression system.
- UNLEASH YOUR INNER COURSE ARCHITECT: Design your dream course with Course Designer! New tools, surfaces, objects, and more control with higher-res terrain. Show off your courses in all their natural beauty with an all-new camera system.
For American football: Madden NFL 20
PlayStation’s description emphasizes a career route that starts with college quarterback playoffs, continues through the NFL Draft, and leads to a career with an NFL franchise. That progression may help you decide whether its career framing appeals to you; it is not a comparative assessment of the game’s modes.
For motorsport: F1 2019
F1 2019 appears among PlayStation Blog’s honorable mentions. The cited selections do not provide a comparable mode-by-mode evaluation or establish how it stacks up against the other racing games for every kind of player.
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- Standard Edition for PlayStation 5 (disc) includes the full EA SPORTS College Football 27 game.
- DYNASTY BLUEPRINT – Control your program’s future with recruiting, NIL, staff, facilities, and Athletic Director Expectations..
- ROAD TO GLORY – Build your player, explore new positions, earn NIL deals, chase the Heisman, and raise your Legacy Score.
- MASCOT MASHUP – Play as your favorite mascot, collect 120+ icons, and compete in wild 11-on-11 matchups full of school spirit.
What the 2019 votes actually say
PlayStation Blog’s year-end player-voted Best Sports Game results were Crash Team Racing Nitro-Fueled first, FIFA 20 second, NBA 2K20 third and MLB The Show 19 fourth. Its honorable mentions were eFootball PES 2020, Madden NFL 20 and F1 2019.
Operation Sports separately named MLB The Show 19 its 2019 sports game of the year. In that site’s community vote, it received 41%, followed by NBA 2K20 at 20% and Madden NFL 20 at 13%. These percentages describe that poll only; they are not sales figures, critic scores or a measure of all players’ preferences.
Rank #4
- Standard Edition for PlayStation 5 (disc) includes the full EA SPORTS Madden NFL 27 game. Experience authentic NFL gameplay with Franchise mode, Superstar Career, and Ultimate Team.
- DYNAMIC FRANCHISE MODE – Persona Engine brings each NFL athlete to life with unique personalities, creating a reactive and evolving league shaped by your decisions.
- AUTHENTIC NFL GAMEPLAY – Realistic WR vs DB battles, improved coverage, and new short-yardage mechanics deliver true on-field physicality and control.
- BUILD YOUR LEGACY – Progress through the Superstar G.O.A.T. Career Journey and customize your roster with Ultimate Team Captains.
How to decide between them
- Start with the sport. A strong showing in a broad poll does not make a baseball game a substitute for soccer, or kart racing a substitute for a driving simulation.
- Choose the style you want. The shortlist ranges from arcade kart racing to games based on established sports. The cited sources do not provide a complete, comparable evaluation of every title’s modes.
- Check the exact platform and edition. These annual releases may have platform-specific versions, and physical listings can differ by region and condition. Verify the listing details before buying.
- Read rankings as evidence of a viewpoint. A player poll, an editorial award and a review answer different questions. Consider which perspective matters most to you.
What is established—and what is not
This is a retrospective view based on two 2019 award or poll results, official information about NBA 2K20 and Madden NFL 20, and one contemporaneous FIFA 20 review. It is not a hands-on comparison. These sources do not establish present-day online-service status, player populations, marketplace inventory or prices, so check those separately if they affect your choice.
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Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
