1. NBA 2k16
With the NBA Live series dead, resurrected, and then effectively killed again (it sold about 8,000 copies week one)Â NBA 2k continues to make the single greatest simulation game of any real-life sport on the market. Every year, the team at 2K Sports delivers a denser and denser experience in terms of features and modes. This year is no exception.
The most touted new feature of NBA 2k16 was the MyCareer mode which featured a story written and directed by Spike Lee. For fans of a more narrative experience, the story followed a heavily-recruited basketball player from high school to college and all the way through his NBA career, and highlighted the major decisions pro players face both on and off the court.
Changes didn’t just come to this mode, but also to the core on-court experience through a list of small upgrades that added up to a major difference. Defense put its best foot forward in this iteration making for a much more balanced experience. Players whose shots were bothered as they drove the lane or who were quickly ran off the three point line found it much harder to hit their shots.
Simple yet effective changes also made their way to the offensive side of the ball. Dribble hand-offs, a more intuitive pick-and-roll system, an improved movement system that eliminates the feeling of gliding across the floor, and a completely overhauled AI that created offensive movement even when no play is called make NBA 2k16 the definitive sports title of 2015.
2015 was definitely a great year for sports fans. Established franchises either regaining momentum or continuing previous success and new IPs making a big splash. What were your favorite sports games of 2015?
