Summary
Mixed martial arts, or MMA,is a relatively under-represented sport in video games, be that because of its fairly modern nature or its more niche following for many years. It could also be argued that all facets of MMA are difficult to replicate in video games, given the prominence of grappling in the sport, a stark difference when compared toother combat sports.
Despite the low number of MMA games when compared to other sports, there are still some incredible titles that any fan of MMA will love.These range from UFC games, to nostalgic explorations of Pride, to a mix of various historical and modern MMA promotions. Not all MMA games are made equal, but there are a good number of them that offer various ways to have fun and offer varied representations of the sport.
Pride FC was an MMA promotion that started life in Japan. The now-defunct promotion was famous for its brutal and shocking displays of MMA, often pitting fighters of different weight classes against one another. Pride FC was known for its spectacle and for housing many fighters who would go down in the history books as legendary pioneers of the sport.
Pride FC: Fighting Championshipsis a far more arcade-styled example of an MMA video game, playing more like a standard fighting game than any simulation of the sport. Despite its casual nature, it is still a historic game, allowing players to take control of legendary Pride FC fighters such as Sakuraba, Wanderlei Silva, Ken Shamrock, and many more. The arcade styling holds the game back from a higher place on the list, butPride FC: Fighting Championshipsis still worth playing, especially for fans of MMA history.
World of Mixed Martial Arts 5is the fifth game in the series by Adam Ryland, a developer known for management and simulation games. The game allows players to take control of an MMA promotion, booking fights, dealing with contracts, engaging in promotional work, and managing every other aspect of the business.
This already compelling concept is only made better when players look into the community creations surrounding the game. There are plenty of roster and promotion mods that allow players to take control of various MMA promotions, even down to specific years and roster compositions. The game fails to reach a higher spot on the list, as many think of partaking in MMA competition when playing an MMA game, althoughWorld of Mixed Martial Arts 5is perfect for fans of both MMA and management games.
4EA Sports MMA
A Casual-Friendly MMA Game With Fun Animations
EA Sports MMAwas released as a competitor to the firstUFC Undisputedgame in 2010. It was EA Sports' first MMA title and centered around a series of promotions, notably not including anything to do with the UFC. At the time, EA Sports had refused a video game contract with the UFC, ultimately releasingEA Sports MMAa couple of years after discussions with the UFC.
EA Sports MMAis a far more casual MMA title, but pioneered some systems, such as the ‘sweet spot’ submission mechanic, which would later go on to be used in bothUFC Undisputedand theEA UFCgames. Despite its more casual nature, with simplified striking and grappling,EA Sports MMAhas incredible animations, especially for knockouts.EA Sports MMAdoesn’t make it higher on the list as it isn’t the most representative of the sport, although it is still incredibly fun.
EA Sports UFC 5is the fifth EA UFC title, taking place on a new engine for the series that allows for improved graphical fidelity and animation quality.UFC 5iterated upon previous titles to make a more modern UFC game, taking its position as the best-looking MMA game to date.
For most players,UFC 5is the best example of MMA gaming. It is both graphically and mechanically impressive, with a continually updating roster and an active competitive community. Despite this, many players would argue the striking is lacking when compared to previous UFC titles, and the polished gameplay and animations have removed some charm that was present in earlier MMA titles.
An MMA Game With Solid, Competitive Striking
UFC 2
FINISH THE FIGHT EA SPORTS™ UFC® 2 innovates with stunning character likeness and animation, adds an all new Knockout Physics System and authentic gameplay features, and invites all fighters to step back into the Octagon® to experience the thrill of finishing the fight.
EA Sports UFC 2is the secondEA Sports UFCgame, and their third MMA game overall. It featured a deep roster, taking place at one of the heights of modern MMA.UFC 2was released at the height of McGregor popularity, releasing in 2016, the year in which he would obtain ‘double-champ’ status, marking a massively popular period for MMA.
EA Sports UFC 2, despite not being the most modernEA UFCtitle, is often favored due to its striking mechanics. Many players argue that the striking system, in both its speed and responsiveness, was the best in the series. This can be felt clearly when playingUFC 2, especially after playing the more modern titles. This striking system givesUFC 2theedge over the more modernUFC 5on the list.
UFC Undisputed 3was the third title in theUFC Undisputedseries, the premier UFC video gaming series, before EA received the license. It iterates upon previous entries in the series, including a wide andlegendary roster of both UFCand Pride FC fighters.
UFC Undisputed 3was incredibly popular, generally considered to include some of the best systems in MMA gaming. Both the striking and the submissions felt realistic and immersive, combined with a roster of fighters from one of the most popular periods in MMA history. Many MMA fans considerUFC Undisputed 3as the peak of MMA simulation in gaming, equal parts fun and immersive.
