10 Sports Video Games to Look for on Black Friday

Everyone's looking for deals on Black Friday. I can't help you find the best prices, but if you're a sports gamer, or shopping for one, there's a long checklist of games released in 2015 that should be in your collection.

Unlike in years past, 2015 was a banner year for sports video games. The major publishers hit their stride on the current generation of gaming consoles. Fans are just starting to see all of what the PlayStation 4 and Xbox One can do.

The present and future of sports video games looks bright. If you or your favorite sports gamer don't have the following titles in your collection, you need to scour your resources for them on Black Friday.

10. Rory McIlroy PGA Tour

Tiger Woods was booted and replaced by Rory McIlroy as the cover athlete for EA Sports' first golf release on PS4 and XB1. The results were interesting.

Rory McIlroy PGA Tour is not a game packed with a ton of features, players and game modes, but it does play a really exciting game of virtual golf. It looks great as well. That counts for something. I scored the game a 7.1, but the Metacritic score was a harsher 60 out of 100.

Since it's release, the game has been updated with more courses and a new golfer in Dustin Johnson. This isn't necessarily enough to completely remedy the game's overall limitations, but it does make it better.

If you're looking for a golf game that is simply fun to play in a career mode, or in a party setting with friends, this one should suffice—especially since it's been more than four months since it hit stores.

9. The Golf Club

Way back in April, the Collector's Edition of The Golf Club was released. While not as shiny from a graphics and presentation standpoint, The Golf Club offers much of the depth missing from Rory McIlroy PGA Tour. That might explain why Metacritic scored it six points higher.

The game features an awesome course creator that is only limited by your own imagination. If you want to create a fantasy course with impossible holes—or really easy ones—you can. The game doesn't look horrible, but it's definitely a step behind most video games visually.

There's also no real presentation. I never thought I'd miss actual commentary in a golf game, but this title is proof that idle chatter can be a good thing.

That said, the gameplay is solid, and many might argue more realistic than EA Sports' title.

8. Rocket League

To put it plainly, Rocket League is the best sports video game ever released on PlayStation Network.

For those who aren't familiar, the game combines soccer with Destruction Derby and the result is some of the most fun you'll ever have playing a sports game. Some might hesitate to call such a thing a sports title, but once you've played and felt the intensity of the matches, those reservations are likely to fade.

It's only available on PSN, which means the cost is already cheaper than a full release, but don't think for a minute that this game isn't a complete title.

There's been multiple updates and DLC since it released in July, and Rocket League has become a favorite of many YouTube gamers. If you own a PS4 and haven't at least tried Rocket League, you're missing out.

7. NHL 16

NHL 15 suffered from the same limited options issues that Rory McIlroy PGA Tour had this year. Thankfully. NHL 16 brought fans a more complete experience with most of the omitted features from past games back in the mix.

Graphically, it's stellar and it plays a fast-paced, fun game of virtual hockey. Because there's no other hockey alternative in the video game world, and Black Friday runs right through hockey season, this is a no-brainer for any fan of the sport.

6. Pro Evolution Soccer 16

Believe it or not, there's a good number of American gamers who aren't very familiar with the Pro Evolution Soccer series. When most people think about a soccer video game, they automatically picture EA Sports' FIFA series.

As recent as seven years ago, the PES series was considered the best by many hardcore fans, and according to Metacritic, Konami's virtual football title has again taken the lead from FIFA.

PES 2016 received a rousing 87 compared to an 82 for FIFA 16 on the website, and the best could be yet to come. I scored it a bit lower at 7.8, but did agree with most as it pertains to PES' gameplay.

For pure fun and action on the pitch, it's the best soccer video game. However, it is still lacking some meaningful licenses and the presentation/commentary is dreadful.

5. WWE 2K16

Many fans felt that WWE 2K15 was a disappointment. It was the first WWE game on the current generation of consoles, so like other titles, the features were a bit scaled back.

Like NHL 16, WWE 2K16 brought out the big guns.

Universe Mode is back and fully fleshed out, and the underdeveloped MyCareer feature that has been so good with the NBA 2K series got much-needed depth.

There's still some inconsistent graphics, animations and really bad commentating which led to a 73 on Metacritic, but the hardcore wrestling fan in me loved the humongous roster. The awesome creation suite and Universe Mode are also automatic buy-ins as well.

I scored it an 8.4 out of 10. If there's one wrestling game you need to own from the last five years, it's WWE 2K16.

4. Forza Motorsport 6

Do you or the sports gamer in your life enjoy cars and video games? Do you also have an Xbox One? If the answer to both of those questions is yes, you should already have Forza Motorsport 6.

If for some reason you don't, you're missing out on one of the most highly regarded sports video game releases of the year. Forza 6's Metacritic score is an 87, and there's several reasons for the high marks.

Visually, it looks as if it maximizes the graphical potential of the Xbox One. If not, it has to be pushing the machine close to its limits. The online components offer great depth, but it's the handling of the various cars that really put it over the top.

There's 469 cars and 26 famous tracks to race. This is easily the best racing game on the current-gen systems.

3. FIFA 16

While PES 2016's gameplay is a little tighter than FIFA 16's, the gap is not large enough to make up for the difference in licensed teams, or the huge disparity in presentation.

FIFA looks sharper, sounds better and because of those things it is more engrossing. Hardcore PES fans will obviously share a different opinion, and truth be told, both games are great.

That said, if you're looking for the safest buy, and you haven't already picked up a soccer title, chances are you would be better grabbing FIFA 16. Only the staunch purists can look past the lack of licensed clubs, leagues and bad commentary from PES 2016.

2. Madden 16

Most years, the running joke about Madden is that it's the same game as it was the previous year, only the rosters have been updated. Sometimes that's a fair assessment, other times it isn't.

With Madden 16, it couldn't be further from the truth. With vastly improved gameplay that boasts unprecedented offense-defense balance, a solid franchise mode and a new and addictive feature called Draft Champions, Madden 16 is the best release in the series for a while.

Draft Champions tests your ability to draft a team and guide it through a short tournament to earn a prize. It's a simple concept, and those are usually the most addictive.

The mode has caught on so much that there's a $50,000 tournament opened to all gamers that will culminate on the week of the Super Bowl. 

1. NBA 2K16

NBA 2K16 is not only the most complete sports video game released in 2015, it may be the most airtight game to hit stores regardless of genre.

Without concession, there are seven different modes that you could play exclusively for months and not get bored. Whether you're a franchise mode guy or girl who chooses to spend their time on MyGM and MyLeague, or you're a single-player campaign player that plays MyCareer, there's something for every virtual hoops fan.

If you can only get one game from this list, it should be NBA 2K16.