The Top 10 Sports-Themed Video Games of 2014

Now that we've removed ourselves from a grueling summer filled with watching baseball and soaking up rays on the beach, sports enthusiasts have been rewarded with their favorite season of all: video game season.

Madden NFL 15, FIFA 15, NBA 2K15, the list goes on and on. But with so many titles to choose from, what games are the best?

Considering some of the major titles have yet to be released, we've relied on history, reviews and firsthand experience to rank the top 10 sports-theme video games of 2014.

Start the slideshow, find out what made the list and let us know your thoughts in the comment section below.

10. Pro Evolution Soccer 2015

You might not know this, but EA Sports' FIFA franchise has some competition nowadays. Konami's Pro Evolution Soccer 2015 is attempting to give soccer fans an alternate way to enjoy the time they spend on the digital pitch.

Pro Evolution Soccer 2015 hasn't quite generated the buzz of its counterpart, but the game itself looks extraordinary. When it comes out in November, it will be interesting to see if it has taken enough steps to compete with a dominate company like EA.

Last year's version of the game procured an 8.4-out-of-10 grade from IGN. If Konami is able to further develop the product and bolster it with compelling narratives and game modes, EA could be in a world of trouble.

9. NBA Live 15

In all fairness, NBA Live 15 hasn't yet hit stores. EA Sports has put a release date of Oct. 28 on the game.

Still, based on what we've seen in the past from this once storied franchise, NBA Live 15 isn't going to be on most people's shopping lists and there's a good reason why.

To fully comprehend how big a drop-off we've seen, IGN gave NBA Live 14 a 4.3 rating out of 10. This basically deemed the game complete trash.

Naturally there should be some improvements with this new edition. EA has to understand that the coveted NBA 2K series has been killing them for close to a decade now. If they want to take back the crown and win the hearts of NBA fans, they are going to have to make significant changes to their gameplay.

8. EA Sports UFC

UFC as a brand just doesn't pack the same punch—I had to—as it used to. The same can be said for its latest game, EA Sports UFC.

Aesthetically it's on the money. Leave it to EA to develop a gorgeous product. Looks are important and all, but how the game plays trumps that time and time again. EA Sports UFC struggles in the actual gameplay department.

The grappling animations are repetitive and despite being able to throw a barrage of strikes at an opponent, it tends to get tedious after a while.

One of the worst elements of this game comes down to submissions. The game has made taking people down one of the easiest features. Because of that, you can lock opponents into a submission and sit there for a good chunk of time as the person you've taken down tries to escape. Rarely are there quick submissions like we see at times in mixed martial arts.

Another big disappointment is the complexity of the controls. Sure, you can pick up the controller, learn a few basic commands and have fun. But mastering the commands feel like a lifetime commitment.

The saving grace for EA Sports UFC is that even with its fair share of flaws, it's still fun. You can go online with your favorite fighters and compete. There's always been something about combat sport games that make it somewhat appealing. Plus, you can use Bruce Lee. That has to count for something, right?

7. NHL 15

NHL 15 has consistently been the one game you can count on for a good time. Flying up the ice, taking an obscene slap shot from deep and shelving it. The game is fast-paced and full of action.

With all of those positives aspects, why is it ranked No. 7 on this list? Simply put, NHL 15 has been stripped to the bone.

IGN's Colin Moriarty talked about the dramatic changes:

"

Speaking of modes, NHL 15 is noticeably lighter than old-gen iterations on PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 (and, in fact, the old-gen version of NHL 15, which is a clone of last year's), and this is where the overall package begins to diminish. Online Team Play is gone, as is EA Sports Hockey League, which were two community lynchpins.

"

For players who live for head-to-head competition, NHL 15 doesn't disappoint. But we are living in a world that's dictated by online play. Without crucial modes like Online Team Play, the game doesn't quite live up to its full potential.

6. MLB 14: The Show

MLB 14: The Show has been in stores for a while now, giving fans a chance to enjoy its stunning visuals and beautiful design.

The Show has quickly become one of the best sports games on the market. It's rich with a deep array of online and offline modes. It also boasts a fantastic batting engine without sacrificing the integrity of pitching or playing defense.

The downside to The Show has always been it's only available to Playstation users. Baseball fanatics who want to slam a ball into the bleachers or throw gas with Clayton Kershaw will have to pony up and buy a PS4 to realize those dreams.

A fragmented game that leaves Xbox users alone in the wilderness is really its only major drawback. But considering the industry has two major consoles in rotation right now, that is a significant one.

5. WWE 2K15

Colin Young-Wolff/Associated Press

Forget EA Sports UFC: If you're looking to get your hands on a combat sports game, WWE 2K15 is the way to go.

WWE 2K15 is nothing more than a handful of a fun. The creators did a great job of incorporating a diverse roster of characters that will allow fans to play as legends like Sting, Hulk Hogan and The Rock. 2K Sports has also taken major strides with the gameplay.

Here's what they said on their website about those enhancements: 

"

WWE 2K15 will significantly improve the core gameplay experience through key additions and improvements designed to elevate the franchise now and into the future. By using new motion capture technology, 2K15 includes five times more new animations than any WWE game before. Combined with a brand-new chain wrestling system, WWE 2K15 will take the drama and adrenaline of a WWE match to new heights…just like on WWE TV! Xbox One and PlayStation 4 only.

"

There's no doubt that this game will surpass its predecessors. WWE and 2K Sports have formed a formidable partnership in the gaming space. Now all that's left to do is wait and pray that we can Frog Splash dudes off the top rope with Rob Van Dam 50 times over.

4. PGA Tour

Notice anything different about the name of this game? For the first time since 1998, Tiger Woods' name has been removed from the title.

EA Sports opted to shorten things up by calling its golf franchise PGA Tour instead. Fans of the previous franchise should have no need for concern. Based on the visuals we've seen, this game looks like it's going to be incredibly good.

Out of all the EA Sports titles, its golf games have constantly been stalwarts of quality and fun. There's no limit to what you can do on the course. Now that the developers have promised their courses will be open worlds, there's no stopping what you can do in the middle of your round.

To make things even better, EA announced via its website that it is including customized courses like "the Paracel Storm map from Battlefield." Are you thinking what I'm thinking? That's going to be a game-changer of space-bending proportions.

Even though this game is currently scheduled for a 2015 release, it was far too impressive not to put on this list.

3. NBA 2K15

Nothing quite compares to NBA 2K15 when we're talking about the best basketball games on the planet. Its gameplay is buttery-smooth, graphics pristine and the organic feel players have with the ball in their hands is unmatched.

The only real issue this franchise has endured over the years has been their dismal servers. Constantly they go down, forcing players to look elsewhere for their sports fix. With each passing year we pray for those severs to be robust but to no avail.

Hopefully the 2015 version will finally be able to climb over that hump. Because if it does, NBA 2K15 may very well wind up being the best sports video game to come out in 2014. I mean come on, just look at the trailer above.

2. Madden NFL 15

We've reached the point of no return. Puting Madden NFL 15 at No. 2 is going to cause quite a stir in the comment section.

Football fans either love this series or spend their time pounding the table, begging for 2K Sports to find a way back into this space. For all of its flaws, Madden NFL 15 is still a quality game.

The presentation has been enhanced and tackling and offensive mechanics have taken a step forward. Overall, the game modes have received a much-needed face-lift. Issues with this always go back to people exposing glitches and loopholes online.

As your record improves, you will always play people who exploit the game and ruin the football experience. Despite that, Madden NFL 15 looks great and feels great when you're controlling your players. It gives you the ability to call a ton of plays, run a franchise or build your very own Ultimate Team.

For football junkies there's no other place to turn. Madden NFL 15 is still king when it comes to virtual football.

1. FIFA 15

Once again, EA Sports FIFA 15 takes top honors as the No. 1 sports-themed video game. Unlike many of the other titles on this list—aside from NHL 15—FIFA 15 is a fluid experience, where the action never ceases for a moment.

The games go by quickly, and because of that, you get more bang for the time you put it on the sticks. Madden 15 on the other hand can take up to 45 minutes per game depending on how many stops there are between both teams.

This latest installment of the FIFA series has embraced change while not compromising what makes the game so great. Players feel more organic and reactive as they dance around the pitch. Like any updated game, it takes some time to embrace these changes. But when you finally get the hang of it, the game becomes an outstanding experience.

It doesn't matter if you're playing on Xbox One or Playstation 4, as these next-generation systems have helped FIFA 15 transform into a visual masterpiece. Virtual players look exactly like their real-life counterparts, the crowd is unrelenting and the goals are even more breathtaking.

Where NHL 15 falters, FIFA 15 doesn't disappoint. Well into an era where online play matters the most, the developers at EA Sports have stayed true to the world full of perks they created.

Ultimate Team, one-on-one divisional play and club games—where you and a series of friends can play together as a team—give FIFA 15 a long-lasting shelf life.

There's still nothing quite like this game. For all of the other great titles on this list, FIFA 15 once again sits atop the video game mountain, staring down at its peers.