The 10 Most Groundbreaking Sports Video Games of All Time

Over the years, video game systems have evolved into something most of us never dreamed possible.

Each year new technology makes the gameplay seem more and more real.

Over the past 30 years, video games have come a long way. From the old Atari to Nintendo, all the way to Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3, kids these days love their video games.

Without question the best types of games are sports games, and over the past 30 years a few of these games have changed video gaming forever.

Here is a list of the 10 most groundbreaking sports video games of all time.

10. Jordan vs. Bird

Starting off the list is the classic one on one game, Jordan vs. Bird.

Released in 1988, Jordan vs. Bird is unique in so many ways.

Offering gamers a one on one shot to duke it out, Jordan vs. Bird certainly settled disputes in many households across North America throughout the '90s.

With a slam dunk contest utilizing Jordan and a three-point contest utilizing Bird to go along with one on one gameplay, Jordan vs. Bird offered it all.

As sports games go, this one was certainly one of the most groundbreaking of all time.

9. Tiger Woods PGA Tour 2005

The king of all golf games is without question the Tiger Woods series, and the best of them all is Tiger Woods 2005.

From 2004 to 2005, the Tiger Woods video game made huge strides in nearly every facet.

The ability to create a character was enhanced, allowing gamers to create a character nearly exactly how they wanted it.

The courses are exact to a tee, and different modes were introduced, including Legend Pursuit, allowing gamers to chase down legends like Ben Hogan and Jack Nicklaus.

8. Duck Hunt

While Duck Hunt may not be as sports-related as any other game on the list, the fact is hunting is still a sport, and nobody did it quite like Nintendo with the release of Duck Hunt.

Who can forget pointing and shooting the orange gun at the television and racking up the points?

Duck Hunt is a mindless game that allows gamers to have fun without having to use their heads.

As the first of its kind, Duck Hunt was a phenomenon in the mid 1980s and has been placed in several combination cartridges since.

7. Baseball Stars

The legendary Baseball Stars changed the way we think about sports games and is certainly the best baseball sports game of all time.

Released for Nintendo in 1989, Baseball Starsl really made a name for itself.

The gameplay was something never seen before and realism was taken to a new level.

Baseball Stars was one of the first video games to have data memory, allowing gamers to create a team, configure a league and play a season.

While Baseball Stars does not compare graphics-wise to games of today, it was unique in how real it was. In season mode, statistics were kept up, as were standings. There was also free agency, allowing gamers to buy players.

Baseball Stars is one of the best sports games of all-time and certainly is the most groundbreaking baseball game ever made.

6. Lakers versus Celtics and the NBA Playoffs

In 1990, Lakers versus Celtics offered gamers something a basketball game had never offered: the ability to distinguish the court from the players.

As the first real basketball game of its time, Lakers versus Celtics was truly a classic. With eight teams to choose from and five-on-five basketball, this game introduced gamers to so much.

From Michael Jordan baseline reverses to the gorilla slams of Charles Barkley, Lakers versus Celtics was the first basketball game to have signature moves from real players.

This was the first game to feature halftime shows and announcers and is also one of the few to have a playable Michael Jordan.

With three difficulty levels, gamers of all skill sets could be challenged by one of the greatest sports games of all time.

5. Madden NFL 2004

While the Madden curse did come down hard on Michael Vick, Madden '04 is one of the best sports games ever.

Madden NFL 2004 is the best game in the Madden series, allowing gamers to get a taste of what it's like to really run a franchise.

Everything from moving your team to a new city to increasing stadium prices was included in this game.

For the first time, gamers could use Playmaker controls on offense, giving quarterbacks the ability to point to receivers and change their routes.

The training camp mode before the preseason was also introduced, allowing players to improve in the offseason.

All of these additions make Madden 2004 the best Madden has ever offered.

4. NHL '94

NHL '94 was a groundbreaking game not only for hockey, but for the video game world as well.

NHL '94 was the first game to support four players at once, and the speed of the gameplay has been unmatched by any hockey game since. For the first time, gamers could score on one-timers.

The game is so good, NHL '06 even featured the Genesis version of this game as a playable mode in its game.

3. NBA Jam

The best basketball game of all time is NBA Jam. Period. End of discussion.

NBA Jam offered real NBA players and was played in a two on two setting.

Who can forget the incredible dunks or spending all night trying to beat every team in the league?

The Atlanta Hawks' Dominique Wilkins and Mookie Blaylock were a deadly combination.

The best part of the game was the on fire aspect. After hitting a few shots in a row, the announcer would say, "He's heating up." Then one more bucket and "He's on fire," at which point it was impossible to miss.

Those words will forever be connected to the greatest basketball game of all time, NBA Jam.

Now, the next generation will get to experience the magic, as a new NBA Jam game is expected for the Wii later this year.

2. Mike Tyson's Punch-Out!!

The greatest boxing game of all time and perhaps the game kids logged the most hours on is Mike Tyson's Punch-Out!!.

I can remember spending countless hours as Little Mac, working my way up the professional boxing circuit.

Quite possibly the most addicting game, Punch-Out!! offered gamers a wide range of characters, from Glass Jaw Joe to King Hippo to Mr. Sandman and eventually the champion Mike Tyson.

Beating Tyson was a near impossibility. Come to think of it, I don't think I ever accomplished that feat, but the countless hours I spent trying will always make me truly appreciate this groundbreaking sports video game.

1. Tecmo Super Bowl

The upgrade from Tecmo Bowl to Tecmo Super Bowl is monumental, but the uniqueness of Tecmo Super Bowl places it at number one on the list.

Tecmo Super Bowl, will certainly go down as one of the best and most groundbreaking sports video games of all time.

Equipped with a full arsenal of plays and a roster of 30 players, Tecmo Super Bowl changed the gaming industry.

For the first time, real teams and players were used, along with a full-length 1991 NFL schedule.

I can remember playing for hours with the Buffalo Bills and the dominant teams they had back then.

With different game modes, including preseason, regular season, and Pro Bowl, Tecmo Super Bowl had it all. Injuries, substitutions, and the ability to adjust offensive plays make Tecmo Super Bowl one of the truly classic sports games and number one on this list.