NHL 14 – Best Sports Game 2013
Platform(s): PS3, Xbox 360
Publisher: Electronic Arts
Developer: EA Canada
For this year's best in sports titles, the winner has shown it doesn't necessarily matter how much popularity the actual sport gains. Even year to year sales play little role. One year could mean a bad-mouthing around town, just for the next to be a chariot ride to the king's castle. With the usual suspects on this 2013 nominated list, it's been an open and interesting competition with every release.
The runners up include Madden NFL 25, FIFA 14, MLB 13: The Show, and NBA 2K14. It's partially surprising 2K didn’t come out on top. In terms of giving fans what they want—in short that's exactly what they did—it had playable features, game play/style, and total presentation. With NBA Live 14 arriving to the year's end "best of" party late, it received no consideration in the award, though it wouldn't have mattered any.
But as this year's winner, NHL 14 has shown its resiliency. NHL 12 was probably one of the best sports games to be released in recent years but then the following year took a major step back… which brings us to the present. There was a simple trick EA used to bring its hockey franchise back to glory: violence. With their improved collision system and all new fight features, '14 couldn't be better. Solid game all-around; hence, why it's this year's best.
Runners Up:
