Boxing is arguably the world’s oldest combat sport, with traces of its fighting style and rules dating back to Ancient Egypt and Greece. It’s a solo sport that involves one fighter against another — a sheer test of stamina, skill, and mental fortitude.

Anyone who has ever played a sport knows it takes serious mastery to be one of the best, but boxing takes the cake for physical demand. After ranking all sports on 10 athletic skills, including endurance, power, agility, hand-eye coordination, and nerve, ESPN determined boxing to be the number one most demanding sport.

The warm-up in itself is grueling, and throwing a simple jab takes time to learn — but what if there was another way you could revel in the glory of Muhammad Ali and experience the thrill of a bout without stepping into the ring?

Boxing games are your ticket to that immersive experience. They give you a thrilling platform to lace up your gloves, throw some combinations, and channel your inner fighter — or even inner   boxing manager. Without further ado, here are the four top boxing video games.

(Mike Tyson’s) Punch-Out!!

Released in 1987, Punch-Out!! is a critically acclaimed boxing game developed by none other than Nintendo. They took inspiration from their own arcade video games, Punch-Out!! and Super Punch-Out!!, released two years prior. As it was released on the NES at the time, its hardware capabilities didn’t match up to those of arcade cabinets, so they were forced to make adjustments.

Thus, Little Mac, a 17-year-old, 107-pound boxer who would work his way up the ranks of the World Video Boxing Association, was created. And if you’ve ever dreamed of facing off against Former World Heavyweight Champion Mike Tyson, the final boss is your chance.

As a relatively dated video game, the controls are limited yet well thought out. Players can perform left and right body blows, left and right jabs, and a big uppercut, as well as defend themselves by dodging, ducking, and blocking punches. The game also follows a typical heart counter system and a ranking hierarchy. So, what makes it so special?

The characters had interesting backstories, and having a narrative was novel for sports games at the time. They typically focused simply on the action itself and not so much on a character’s journey. Meanwhile, the gameplay involved Street Fighter-esque controls that required a lot of time and patience to perfect. Its notoriety is more of a retroactive one, and countless critics have cited it as either the best NES game or the best boxing game — or both — of all time.

EA Sports Fight Night Series

EA Sports is notorious for creating some of the best sports games in the world — Madden, FIFA (now the FC Series), UFC, NHL, and PGA Tour, to name a few. So, it’s no wonder they’re also responsible for making one of the best boxing video game series. The Fight Night series includes five installments, which were available on various consoles, including the PS2, Xbox, Xbox 360, PS3, and others. They follow their initial series, Knockout Kings, which existed between 1998 and 2002.

In contrast to the classic arcade style that makes Punch-Out!! so endearing, the Fight Night series boasts simulation-style gameplay that lets gamers enjoy the ins and outs of real-life boxing. Rather than have eccentric characters and limited controls, players can execute moves with Total Punch Control (TPC). TPC allowed for much more accurate maneuvers that could be refined with the controllers’ sticks and triggers. The games also had impressive graphics and audio design for their time, with mock commentary, dynamic camera angles, fluid animations, and lifelike figures. Although boxing hasn’t continued to be an EA Sports priority, the impact that Fight Night made is unmistakable.

Undisputed

If you’re craving a larger dose of realism, Undisputed combines the historical legacy of boxing with the modern-day perks of revolutionary create-your-own-fighter game mechanics and AI-powered opponents. Released in 2023, this highly authentic game gives gamers the most true-to-life representation of boxing there is. With licensing and collaboration with boxers, brands, and governing bodies, the authenticity is unmatched. 70+ fighters are seen in the game, including Sugar Ray Robinson, Canelo Alvarez, Terence Crawford, star female boxers such as Katie Taylor, and other big names, not to mention realistic fighter introductions by Jimmy Lennon Jr.

We could go on for days if we talked about all the innovations of the gameplay — it seems the game developers have left no box unturned. Players can create a representation of themselves in the game and play through a mock career from amateur tournaments all the way to the highest ranks. Interactions are physics-driven, and the little details, such as fouls and clinching, are refined. However, the most impressive thing about Undisputed is that there are more than 60 individual punches and groundbreaking footwork mechanics. There are also 50 different attributes and traits to distinguish the styles and capabilities of fighters and an Adrenaline system that replicates realistic stamina.

Creed: Rise to Glory

Taking modernization up a notch, Creed: Rise to Glory uses virtual reality technology to put players right into the ring like never before. Players get to simulate life as an aspiring boxing champion just like Creed, train under Rocky Balboa, and fight contenders to establish their legacy. With boxing games few and far between in the modern day, gamers were in for a pleasant surprise when it was announced that this game would allow them to experience boxing firsthand on the Oculus Rift, Meta Quest, PlayStation VR, and the HTC VIVE platforms.

For those who want a first-person gaming experience with the utmost realistic motion controls, Rise to Glory is the game to play. Players can box using the authentic movements of their hands and body rather than relying on buttons and thumbsticks to bob, weave, and throw punches. Using their own physical skills takes things to a whole new level.

Conclusion

There is no denying that boxing has had a massive impact on movies, games, and culture over the decades. Even those who play casino games for fun have likely played or at least seen boxing-themed casino slots, and we can only wonder how much further the sport’s influence will continue to go!