Sport management games are big business. Several of the genre’s leading titles list among the most successful game franchises of all time.

Video game reviews, downloads for American NFL Football and College Football Manager Coach GM games on Windows PC, Online, Mac, iPad, iPhone, Android. Jets vs Bears: New York Jets vs. Bears Week 8 2018, Predictions, Latest Odds. I’ve gotta be honest here folks. I don’t feel great about this one. It just feels way too much like one of those classic Jets games where everything leading up to it makes you feel like the Jets are gonna lose and then they go ahead and get absolutely demolished and exceed your wildest nightmares. All The PC E3 Games With 2018 Release Dates: Fallout 76, Assassin's Creed Odyssey, And More By Chris Pereira on June 21, 2018.

It doesn’t matter whether you want to lead a soccer minnow to international glory9 Android Soccer Games for the Armchair Football Manager9 Android Soccer Games for the Armchair Football ManagerThere are so many great Android games for soccer/football fans. Whether you're looking for a deep management sim or a casual puzzler, here are the best games for any soccer enthusiast.Read More, own the most famous motorsport team on the planet, or help your local baseball team win its first World Series — you’ll be able to find something to suit your preferences. Just about every sport is represented in some capacity.

If you’re a sports fan10 Useful Chrome Extensions You Need to Get Sports News Today10 Useful Chrome Extensions You Need to Get Sports News TodayThere is no faster way to stay in the sporting loop than with an extension for Chrome. Take a short break to catch scores and check the headlines in the sports world with the click...Read More looking for your next challenge, we have you covered. Here are the seven best sports management games you must play — no retro sports titles4 Classic Sports Games That Are Still Fun Today4 Classic Sports Games That Are Still Fun TodayRemember when a few pixels could represent your sports heroes, and your imagination did the rest? Re-live that. Here are some 8- and 16-bit sports classics still worth playing today.Read More allowed.

1. Football Manager 2017

Football Manager is perhaps the most well-known of all sports management games. Originally called Championship Manager, the franchise’s first title hit the shelves in 1992. There has been an annual release ever since. It’s comfortably the best soccer-based gameTop 5 Football (Soccer) Games You've Probably Never Played But ShouldTop 5 Football (Soccer) Games You've Probably Never Played But ShouldIf you feel as though you've played the latest, high-profile titles to death, there are alternatives for the armchair pro tired of FIFA, PES, Football Manager, and the rest.Read More in the world.

The renaming happened in 2005 after a dispute between the publisher (Eidos Interactive) and the developer (Sports Interactive). The first title named Football Manager, which went on sale in the summer of 2005, remains the fifth fastest-selling PC game of all time5 Awesome Games That Have Broken Records5 Awesome Games That Have Broken RecordsThere are plenty of great games out there, but only the best can claim to have broken world records. In fact, you might be surprised by the games that have actually broken any records -...Read More.

In the 2017 edition, users can take charge of more than 2,500 soccer clubs and play in excess of 140 leagues across 50 nations. Realism is the name of the game. Everyone from the world’s greatest players to a small club’s sports scientist has their real name, real stats, and fullly fleshed-out personalities included.

The database has become so impressive that many professional soccer clubs — including several Premier League clubs — have signed access deals with Sports Interactive.

Buy:Football Manager 2017 on Steam (Windows, Mac, Linux; $50)
Buy:Football Manager Mobile 2017 on Android or iOS [No Longer Available]

2. Out of the Park Baseball 18

Out of the Park is to baseball what Football Manager is to soccer. Like Football Manager, it also has its roots in the 1990s.

In its 20-year lifespan, it’s amassed many celebrity fans. They include Boston Red Sox owner John W. Henry, writer Bill James, and sports journalist Roy Firestone.

Since the 2016 version of the game, the developers have held full licenses for Major League Baseball and Minor League Baseball, both past and present. You can build a modern-day dynasty with today’s stars or try and recreate the successes of yesteryear, depending on the mood you’re in.

The newest release includes the latest rule changes, new tournaments and fall leagues, complete rosters for MLB, MiLB, international leagues, and many independent leagues, and a re-imagined injury engine.

Buy:Out of the Park Baseball 18 on Steam (Windows, Mac, Linux; $40)
Buy:MLB Manager 2017 on Android ($4.50) or iOS ($5)

3. Franchise Hockey Manager 3

Franchise Hockey Manager is made by the same team as Out of the Park Baseball. It shares many of the same traits. In its short lifespan, it’s quickly grown to become the leading ice hockey management game.

It’s younger than its baseball-based brother. The 2017 edition, called Franchise Hockey Manager 3, is only the third installment of the game. For the first time, it has complete licensing from the NHL.

The game offers 22 playable leagues, including the NHL, minor North American leagues, the Canadian junior leagues, and several European leagues. All the leagues have up-to-date rosters and extensive player ratings. You can either assume a role in the front office as general manager or on the bench as a head coach.

In the 2017 edition, fans can look forward to a better tactical system, international teams, and improved player development.

Buy:Franchise Hockey Manager 3 on Steam (Windows, Mac; $20)

4. Motorsport Manager

Fans of 1996’s Grand Prix Manager 2 have been starved of any meaningful follow-up for two decades. The dearth of successors was a sign that the original game still has a hugely active modding community to this day. If you want to relive the olden days, Grand Prix Manager 2 is available for free as abandonwareWhat Is Abandonware & Is It Legal? [MakeUseOf Explains]What Is Abandonware & Is It Legal? [MakeUseOf Explains]Most websites that offer formerly paid software for free do so with little to no illusion of legality. However you feel about torrents of paid software and media, it’s unarguable that they are illegal in...Read More.

However, with the release of Motorsport Manager in late 2016, it seems petrol heads finally have a title they can rally behind.

You’re responsible for everything within the team. You hire drivers, manage in-race strategy, organize R&D, attract sponsors, control your staff, balance the budget, and perform every other task you can think of. There are even three different motorsport series for you to enjoy, each with their own rules and permutations.

Formula One fans might be slightly saddened to learn Motorsport Managerdoesn’t have FIA licensing. All the drivers and car liveries are entirely fictional.

Buy:Motorsport Manager on Steam (Windows, Mac, Linux; $35)

5. Pro Cycling Manager 2017

You didn’t think sports management games only focused on the globally popular sports, did you? While cycling might not hold the same appeal as soccer and baseball, its leading management sim — Pro Cycling Manager 2017 — is as good as anything dedicated to its more illustrious cousins.

You play the role of a team owner. As you’d expect, you’re responsible for everything from rider recruitment to training and finding sponsors. During the races, you take complete control of strategy and performance.

The game features in excess of 200 races and more than 500 individual stages. The three Grand Tour races — the Tour de France, Giro d’Italia, and Vuelta a España — are all present, as are the world’s leading riders.

Buy:Pro Cycling Manager 2017 on Steam (Windows; $40)

6. Draft Day Sports: College Basketball 2017

Rather than making pro leagues the focus of the game, College Basketball 2017 lets you become the head coach of your favorite college basketball team.

This franchise has been around for a few years, but the 2017 release is the best yet. The user interface has been given an overhaul to make navigation easier, and there’s a new tournament creation feature. Further, the in-app news process sees a refresh, and the prestige and line-up trackers have been enhanced.

The game isn’t quite as feature-rich as some of the other games on this list, but for basketball fans, it’s the best there is.

Buy:Draft Day Sports: College Basketball 2017 (Windows; $35 with free demo)

7. MMA Tycoon

In the absence of any serious NFL management sim, I will leave you with something a bit different. MMA Tycoon is an MMORPGThe 10 Greatest Free MMORPGs To Start Playing NowThe 10 Greatest Free MMORPGs To Start Playing NowThe landscape of MMORPG gaming has never been better than it is today. Some may pine for the good old days when games like Ultima Online, Everquest, and Dark Age of Camelot dominated the scene,...Read More that focuses on the business side of the increasingly popular UFC.

To start a game, you create a stable of fighters and work your way up through the “Quick Fighting Championships.” Eventually, one of the user-created fighting organizations will offer you a contract, and your fighters will start their professional career.

Because MMA Tycoon is an MMORPG, you’re always fighting against other people. Your success will boil down to your own game planning ability.

Interestingly, you also have options to break out of the sport’s typical roles by becoming a business tycoon. You can open a gym, clothing company, nutrition company, bookmaker, and more.

Best of all? It’s the only game on this list that’s entirely free to playHow to Get Free PC Games: 4 Sites to Download Premium GamesHow to Get Free PC Games: 4 Sites to Download Premium GamesWant great games, but don't want to pay? Here are the best sites to download premium games for free.Read More!

Play Now:MMA Tycoon (Free)

What Are Your Favorite Sports Management Games?

I’ve introduced you to seven of the best sports management sims you can play in 2017. Hopefully, you’ll be able to find something you can enjoy. And if you feel too limited by these realistic simulators, try instead some wacky sports games that introduce super powersFireball Pitches? Tornado Putts? 4 Sports Games With Super Powers!Fireball Pitches? Tornado Putts? 4 Sports Games With Super Powers!Regular sports are fun, but sports games with crazy powers take it another level.Read More!

Of course, there are lots of poor quality sims out there, but there are also lots of smaller niche titles which might not get the praise they deserve. I want to know about these hidden gems.

Which games deserve a mention? What makes them so good? As always, you can leave all your suggestions and opinions in the comments below. And don’t forget to share the article on social media to continue the discussion with your friends.

Image Credit: nopporn via Shutterstock.com

Explore more about: Simulation Games, Sports.

1. Review the game 'Off and Pacing'! It is a small niche market game but its super fun and addicting! Its a horse racing (harness racing) management game. You can race, buy, sell, claim and breed!

This is a sortable list of American Football video games.Platforms: Arcade, PC, Commodore Amiga, Commodore 64, Commodore 128, Dartmouth Time Sharing System, Atari ST, Atari Lynx, Apple II, Apple IIGS, TurboGrafx-16, Amstrad CPC, ZX Spectrum, Intellivision, Atari 2600, Atari 5200, Atari 8-bit, MSX, Family Computer, Nintendo Entertainment System, Super Nintendo Entertainment System, 32X, Sega Genesis, Sega CD, Master System, Game Gear, 3DO Interactive Multiplayer, Atari Jaguar, Nintendo 64, GameCube, Wii, Wii U, Game Boy, Game Boy Color, Game Boy Advance, Game Boy Advance SP, Tapwave Zodiac, Nintendo DS, Virtual Console, Microsoft Windows, macOS, Macintosh, MS-DOS, DOS, N-Gage, OS X, Palm Pre, PlayStation, PlayStation 2, PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, PlayStation Portable, PlayStation Vita, Sega Saturn, Dreamcast, Windows Mobile, Xbox Live Arcade, Xbox, Xbox 360, Xbox One, iOS, Nintendo 3DS, Android, Mobile phone, Mobile game, BlackBerry, BlackBerry PlayBook, Magnavox Odyssey

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References[edit]

1. ^Doyle, Peter. 'Commemorative Python version by Peter G. Doyle of the original FTBALL*** by John G. Kemeny, circa 1965'.
2. ^Kemeny, John G.; Kurtz, Thomas E. (11 October 1968). 'Dartmouth Time-Sharing'. Science. 162: 223–228.
3. ^Blinkhorn, Tom (2 May 2014). 'Back to BASIC'. Valley News [White River Junction, VT].