While there are plenty of famous video game series that have been around for decades, the MMA genre of video games is relatively newer in comparison to most sports titles. As the world of MMA, and more specifically the UFC rose in prominence, so too did the need for various video games. What better way to fill in gaps between events than with a realistic simulation someone can control themselves?
There have been many MMA video games over the years, but it is fair to say that the quality hasn’t always been the highest. Some MMA games have been rated in the low forties at times, but luckily, some of the best can rival some of the most famous gaming franchises in terms of overall quality.
10 Ultimate Fighting Championship: Throwdown – Score: 68
Released back in 2002, Ultimate Fighting Championship: Throwdown was one of the few games that came out before the big boom in popularity of the UFC. With that being the case, it’s not surprising to see that the game didn’t receive rave reviews.
Despite the game’s relatively low score, there is still plenty to do within the game itself. There are five separate modes to play through including a full career mode in which you create your own fighter. Many of the other modes offer different versions of the same things which may be why the score is as low as it is.
9 EA Sports UFC – Score: 70
The first of the EA Sports line of UFC games weren’t met with the greatest reception from fans. While a 70 is still a respectable score, it’s not the score most game developers are hoping for, especially with some of the success of previous games.
A big selling point of this game was a kind of adaptive difficulty system that it implements mid-match. If someone sticks to something too long or changes up strategies, the AI that they’re fighting against will do what it can to adjust to and predict any future moves.
8 UFC Personal Trainer: The Ultimate Fitness System – Score: 70
Some games are just baffling. While the concept of a personal training game isn’t necessarily a bad thing, the fact that it’s UFC branded just seems strange. The game received a solid 70, but no one could be blamed for scratching their head at the game’s existence.
The entire game is something many people dread, a motion control game. The entire thing is essentially an exercise videotape in video game form. A player gets tips and encouragement as they stretch and make their way through the game MMA-style workouts.
7 EA Sports UFC 3 – Score: 77
The third attempt at an EA Sports UFC game seemed to have gone a bit better than the original iteration. Some common credit for the game seems to come from the relatively realistic graphics and gameplay. It does seem that a mode filled with micro transactions kept it from soaring to greater heights.
This series introduced some tweaks to its career mode with this title and the overall focus is now on becoming the G.O.A.T. in the mode. This can be done by not only successfully winning fights but also through the various actions you take outside of the octagon in regard to your career.
6 EA Sports UFC 4 – Score: 78
This game is filled to the brim with fighters to choose from. There are over two hundred playable characters and apparently an additional 81 variations of some of those characters on top of that. It seems that some people aren’t the biggest fans of the ground game and the lack of significant graphical improvements.
This game might actually be the most beginner-friendly of them all. Playing through the game’s career mode lets people see how every fighting style in the game works and how you may want to build your fighter.
5 EA Sports UFC 2 – Score: 79
While this entry into the EA Sports UFC series seems to be received better than the other entries, it has its fair share of criticisms. Some of the biggest stem from what many people refer to as a clunky control scheme.
One of the biggest positives in the minds of most critics was the overall presentation of the game. People had a lot of praise for the game’s relatively realistic models and in-fight movements. Attempts at realistic movements can go a long way in adding to the much-needed realism within games.
4 EA Sports MMA – Score: 79
Despite Dana White having some serious issues with the release of this title when it originally came out, EA Sports MMA seems to be a widely respected title in regard to MMA games. People may enjoy the game, but apparently, it didn’t sell nearly as well as EA had hoped.
The game seems to be a relatively standard MMA game, but it seems to have done the standard formula well before it was even properly solidified. Depending on your taste in fighters, the roster may be perfect for you, but it may also be lacking for fans of the sport at the time.
3 UFC Undisputed 2009 – Score: 84
There seems to be quite the jump in the quality of MMA games if people are willing to find games that are over a decade old. While there seem to be lots of complaints about online functionality, many people praise the game for its deep mechanics.
There are six main fighting styles to learn and dominate with while playing through the game. Those styles are Boxing, Muay Thai, Kickboxing, Wrestling, Judo, and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. The game is definitely one to check out for fans of that era of the UFC.
2 UFC Undisputed 2010 – Score: 85
While people were thrilled with UFC Undisputed 2009, they were even happier with the next year’s installment that did what it could to improve on their proven formula. Most of the complaints about the title seem to be rather minor, which is a good sign for MMA fans.
The game made some quality of life improvements to the career mode, but it also added new features such as actually being able to interact with the cage. The difficult-to-implement ground game also saw some reworking, and it seems to have paid off.
1 UFC Undisputed 3 – Score: 86
While it doesn’t follow the same title format as its previous two titles, UFC Undisputed 3 is a sequel to the 2010 and 2009 titles. It is widely regarded as the best of the trilogy and the best MMA game to have ever been made.
This game actually added a Pride mode for those that are fans of that promotion. There were new and more realistic ways to win bouts, and once again, the ground game had been adjusted. It makes sense that this is the highest-rated of the games thanks to nothing but overall improvements based on prior criticisms.
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