Sports games with fun/weird aesthetics?

[Ubiiik]

Hey!

So I've been on a retro sports games kick recently, and one series in particular caught my eye, Dolucky no Kusayakiu.

I just love the weird presentation and visuals, and the gameplay is super fun too, so I was wondering, does anyone have any recommendations for sports games with a similar aesthetic? Don't really mind what systems they're on, long as they're fun to play and look at!


(Also, I'm new here, so if making this thread is breaking a rule, please let me know!)

 

[Waffles's iconWaffles]

Look no further than Super Mega Baseball -- which is not only great, but everyone looks made out of Play-Doh!

 

[ArchienineArchienine's icon]

You are not breaking any rules, stay calm.
The Mario sports series are good if you are familiar with the franchise.

 

[Ubiiik]

Yeah I've played a lot of the Mario sports games, but I'm hoping to find some more niche titles

 

[Clippy]

Namco's unfortunately short-lived Numan Athletics series comes to mind if you don't mind breaking a joystick or two.

 

[SecretStrategist]

 

[HikaruKitsune]

The art style or player appearances aren't unusual, but I like Tecmo's Bakuretsu Soccer/Super Shot Soccer and its use of special techniques for each team.

If we're going purely on aesthetic, then the arcade game "Heavy Smash" is a nice one.

 

[Abecero]

On PS2/Gamecube, it's dumb fun, it's like them Mario soccer games before they were a thing (iirc).

 

[seaglass]

Not the weirdest aesthetics per se although it's unusual in how.. deliberately unpleasant the player models are? I find the general premise of this (shortlived) series unusual - it's based on highschool baseball in Japan, which is apparently a pretty big deal. Anyway, it's a quirky one I guess

 

[Anoobis]

Mutant Football League and Bloodbowl. Not like your example, but still different from normal aesthetics.

 

[Ubiiik]

View attachment 170410
On PS2/Gamecube, it's dumb fun, it's like them Mario soccer games before they were a thing (iirc).

This looks great!

Post automatically merged: Apr 3, 2026

Mutant Football League and Bloodbowl. Not like your example, but still different from normal aesthetics.

View attachment 170468

Yup, love MFL and Bloodbowl! Even didn't mind the remake too much

 

[Megarockman _1987 Megarockman _1987]

Lol

 

[x0d9e]

Fun and unusual sports game? Maybe it's not a retro title, but I can recommend Dodgeball Academia (relased in 2021 on PC, PS4, Switch 1 etc.).

It's an indie game developed by Bralizian studio, with a feel of Pokemon games and old anime TV shows (like Tsubasa).
Tha game takes place in a sport academy (and its surroundings), where main character gathers a team of dodgeball players and battle other teams.

Game is divided into two phases: world-map exploration (talking to ppl, gathering stuff, battling other "trainers") and actual dodgeball matches in real-time arcade style (usually 3v3 but there are some variations).
Game has some RPG element as well, with leveling up, statistics, special skills, equipment, quests and so on.

As you can see on the pictures, it has some unique comics / manga style graphics and it looks and plays quite fun, although for me the matches are a bit chaotic. Also it gets somewhat repetetive after a while but I think it is worth to check this title.

 

[diet_orange]

View attachment 170379View attachment 170376
View attachment 170380View attachment 170381

It's 2026 now and I'm still pissed that there isn't a new Super Baseball 2020 game

 

[Ubiiik]

Fun and unusual sports game? Maybe it's not a retro title, but I can recommend Dodgeball Academia (relased in 2021 on PC, PS4, Switch 1 etc.).
View attachment 170533
It's an indie game developed by Bralizian studio, with a feel of Pokemon games and old anime TV shows (like Tsubasa).
Tha game takes place in a sport academy (and its surroundings), where main character gathers a team of dodgeball players and battle other teams.
View attachment 170536
Game is divided into two phases: world-map exploration (talking to ppl, gathering stuff, battling other "trainers") and actual dodgeball matches in real-time arcade style (usually 3v3 but there are some variations).
Game has some RPG element as well, with leveling up, statistics, special skills, equipment, quests and so on.
View attachment 170534
As you can see on the pictures, it has some unique comics / manga style graphics and it looks and plays quite fun, although for me the matches are a bit chaotic. Also it gets somewhat repetetive after a while but I think it is worth to check this title.
View attachment 170535

Looks cool! I'll give it a look!

 

[stealthRUSH stealthRUSH]

Super Shot Soccer (Bakuretsu Soccer) on PlayStation

Is a soccer game where you can perform special moves

Wicked 18 / New 3D Golf Simulation: Devil's Course on 3DO

You play golf on strange courses. Also on SNES/SFC and GEN/MD.

 

[Deleted member 466]

In 98Koshien, you can make your own pitching animations:

sports videogames peaked here.

 

[Ubiiik]

In 98Koshien, you can make your own pitching animations:

sports videogames peaked here.

That's wild, especially for a game from the late 90s

 

[Sfjeov]

Japan World Cup

 

[Megarockman _1987 Megarockman _1987]

Japan World Cup

Umamusume OG