Top 10 Football Video Games of All Time

Time to get nostalgic, people. 

We all have our favorite football video games, and this list should bring back some "moments of glory" for you to relive with your friends.

Believe me, I have many of my own.

To begin with, I'm not much a gamer anymore, but that's no excuse not to fire up the Super Nintendo/Nintendo 64 every now and then and get competitive with my friends.

So everyone dust off your old consoles, get ready to go back in time and let the debating begin.

Honorable Mention Games

These games don't crack the Top 10, but they're definitely worth a mention—an honorable mention:

• Every Madden that has been released since 2001
• Madden '97
• Tecmo Bowl (1987): The beginning of greatness
• Tecmo Super Bowl (1993): The end of greatness, personal all-time favorite
• Bill Walsh College Football (1994)
• NFL GameDay '99 (see video)
• NCAA Football 2003: Took college football gaming to another level

10. 10-Yard Fight

Released: October 18th, 1985

Console: Nintendo Entertainment System (NES)

It didn't set the bar high, but it set the bar nonetheless.

You have to remember that back in 1985 the technology was not as advanced as today, so having a game like this was epic.

A good metaphor for this game would be comparable to a convoy of ships at sea. The ball carrier is running with his blockers all around him in unison. The opposing team comes in trying to break up the convoy and tackle the runner.

I want to say the opponent is like a torpedo or a cannon trying to destroy the convoy, but they are way too slow for that.

Regardless, 10-Yard Fight was a great game that set the standard for all future football video games. 

9. NES Play Action Football

Released: September 1990

Console: Nintendo Entertainment System (NES)

A game that was very underrated for its time, and yet very impressive.

Features eight actual NFL teams: Chicago Bears, Denver Broncos, Houston Oilers, Los Angeles Rams, Miami Dolphins, New York Giants, San Francisco 49ers and Washington Redskins.

Became the first game to have all players (22) on the screen simultaneously, and the use of real voices for the QB and referee.

Also, it is still the only football video game ever created that uses the isometric view to make it appear in a 3-D format. For its time, this type of innovation in a game was very impressive because the 3-D format was extremely rare. 

8. Mutant League Football

Released: September 10th, 1993

Console: Sega Genesis

By today's standards in terms of rating games, Mutant League Football would have been rated M for Mature (if not higher).

This was the Mortal Kombat of football video games, and had EA Sports not made another football game after this, I would not have cared. 

The gameplay is similar to that of the John Madden Football games created in the 1990s: viewpoint from behind the offense, three boxes that come up for receivers and commentary that you have to read.

I wish I knew what the motivation was for EA Sports to make this game.

Back when this was created in 1993, I'm sure all the executives at EA Sports had goals in mind regarding an NFL License Contract Agreement for their Madden Football series (Whose Line Is It Anyway? points for those picking up the sarcasm).

Also, non-football in-game features were originated in the Mutant League, such as bribing the refs and/or dirty play.

7. Madden Football 64

Released: October 31st, 1997

Console(s): Nintendo 64

This game doesn't get the recognition it deserves because of the technology in current Madden games.

Gamers tend to forget that this game was the first to be implemented in a 3-D format, and it changed the Madden Football series forever.

The graphics are much better than its predecessors, and it runs rather smoothly for being the so-called "guinea pig" in the 3-D format.

Although a downside is not having an official NFL license, it does have the NFL Players Association License. Not to mention it provides historic teams from 1960-1996.

A lot of my friends hate me for being an enthusiast of this game, but I can't help myself—I absolutely love it.

6. NFL Blitz

Released: September 10th, 1998

Console(s): Nintendo 64, PlayStation

"Midway Presents, NFL Blitz!" That tagline will stand the test of time.

The NFL Blitz series today, sadly, is a disgrace to the game that first hit the shelves back in 1998. Every Blitz on N64 and PS1 from 1998 through 2001 was amazing, but the original was the best.

I will never forget playing the arcade version of the game. I was addicted to it, and I anxiously waited every day until its release on N64. The day before it was released, I actually had a dream that I was IN the game, running around as a virtual football player. 

For anyone who wanted a different version of football, but one that still maintained a realism in comparison to its competitors, Blitz was the game. 

As an added selling point, you could continually hit after the play (and there were no injuries). Nor could you just simply run out of bounds. Extra points were free, but two-point conversion attempts were encouraged. 

Also, for the Mortal Kombat fans that followed Midway to NFL Blitz, unlockable MK characters Raiden and Shinnok were secretly available.

5. College Football USA '97: The Road To New Orleans

Released: June 1st, 1996

Console(s): Super Nintendo (SNES), Sega Genesis

I know it wasn't the first, but it was the first to have a lot of features in current NCAA games...i.e, create-a-player, custom schedules and new animations.

Also featured for the first time were authentic playbooks, the USA Today/CNN Coaches' Poll and the Sears National Championship Trophy.

For your own convenience, you could adjust the penalty settings, weather, enter user records and edit the game length and difficulty.

In terms of game planning/scheming, other features included were setting substitutions and audibles, as well as viewing injuries. 

Plus, how could you go wrong with the great Tommy Frazier on the cover? However, this may have been the beginning of what is now deemed "The Curse" when a player is on the cover of a game.

4. ESPN NFL 2K5

Released: July 20th, 2004

Console(s): PlayStation 2, Xbox

Award: 2005 Academy of Interactive Arts and Sciences Interactive Achievement Award for Sports Simulation Game of the Year.

The last installment of the NFL 2K series, and they saved the best for last. 

At this point in the football division of the video game industry, EA Sports with the Madden series was basically owning everything. 

A special feature you don't see in any football games today is the franchise mode. 

You had ESPN's SportsCenter hosted by Chris Berman and Trey Wingo. Then once you get to the games, you had Suzy Kolber reporting from the sidelines and Mel Kiper hosting the draft.

In addition to this specific feature, it had all the other features you would expect in a football game of its day...i.e. create-a-team, online play, 2K's version of the hit stick and the chance to relive old-school NFL moments.

3. Madden '95

Released: December 31st, 1994

Console(s): Super Nintendo (SNES), Sega Genesis

To this day this game still has its cult following from 1995. 

Although the Madden Football series began back as an arcade game in 1989, the 1995 version enhanced the game to another level.

It was the first Madden game to ever have both the NFL team logo and NFLPA licenses and come without passing windows.

Additional features were the tracking of stats (both in-game and season), commentary that you didn't have to read and the NFL on Fox pregame music. 

All of these features led to an increase in popularity, which set the standard for all future Madden games. 

2. NCAA Football 2005

Released: July 15th, 2004

Console(s): Gamecube, PlayStation 2, Xbox

Prior NCAA games were good, but not great. They were solid prequels to the 2005 version. 

Features that enhanced the game included:

1. When the home team was on D, it could "pump up" the crowd, so the opposing offense couldn't make audibles or hear the snap count. When the home team was on offense, it could quiet the crowd to make audibles and other adjustments.

2. In addition to pumping up the crowd, the game ranked the "Top 25 Toughest Places To Play," places where the crowd factor then played a role in the game, thereby influencing/motivating the home team, as well as the potential outcome of the game.

3. When you were the away team, you could feel the controller shake as the crowd got pumped up before the play. Then for both players, you could feel the controller shake on big hits and tackles. 

4. And finally, the new "Matchup Stick" feature made for more strategic game planning to exploit mismatches. 

If you team was overmatched, you could adjust your formations to accommodate the mismatches. And if you were the dominant team, you could exploit your opponent.

1. Tecmo Super Bowl

Released: December 13th, 1991

Console: Nintendo Entertainment System (NES)

The video game that changed virtual football forever. Based on its popularity alone, and the cult following that exists today, no game is more deserving.

Check out Tecmo Super Bowl on Facebook, and you can find more information about it. They give updates on upcoming tournaments that happen annually all over the country. I have yet to go to one, but I really want to. 

There is even an online league that you can compete in with other Tecmo Super Bowl fans.

Oh yeah, and Bo Jackson is GOD.