Boxing video games have been popular with players for decades, long before the 2020s, and Metacritic has rated them all accordingly. Games are given User Scores, but the main focus is on the Meta Score which takes an average of at least four critics' reviews. These games are played on a variety of systems so all players will be able to find a boxing game they will enjoy.
Each game has a different setup and different objectives which make them unique, hence their wide appeal. Some are for fitness, while others are for entertainment, which is why their scores are so high. These are some of the best boxing games available whether you want to experience a realistic sporting event or practice your uppercut.
Updated on August 27, 2021, by Kristy Ambrose: Fitness and sports video games are riding a popular trend with a variety of demographics, and video game developers are responding to the demand. Boxing video games have expanded to include more titles based on fitness and player engagement along with more realistic portrayals of professional matches. Metacritic has a few more highly rated titles to add to the list of this growing genre, so we've expanded our list to help you find the best boxing video game.
13 Fitness Boxing (Score: 66)
- Platform: Nintendo Switch
- Developer: Imagineer
- Release Date: January 4, 2019
Fitness Boxing was released in 2019 for the Nintendo Switch and it was only given a Metacritic score of 66. You can listen to some of your favorite artists like Lady Gaga and Pitbull while you box your way to a healthier you.
There are daily training intervals that span from ten to 40 minutes, but the downfall is the lack of features and the fact that the joy-cons don't always register movements.
12 Don King Boxing (71)
- Platform: Nintendo DS
- Developer: Venom Games
- Release Date: June 10, 2008
This is a version of a game called Don King Presents: Prizefighter, which was originally developed for the Xbox 360. Unlike other games that feature cartoon-like animation or fantasy opponents, this game intends to re-create the experience of seeing a live match or participating in one yourself.
You use the DS stylus pen to control your character's movements, making this both a boxing and simulation game.
11 Real Steel World Robot Boxing (73)
- Platform: iOS, Microsoft Windows, Android
- Developer: Reliance Games
- Release Date: October 17, 2013
There was a movie in 2011 called Real Steel about robot boxers, and although it didn't make enough of an impact to warrant a sequel, the mobile game was very successful.
Real Steel World Robot Boxing is a boxing game first and foremost, but it's also an adventure set in a dystopian future. Not only does it have some of the lore that's usually reserved for RPGs but also has features like multiplayer and tournament play.
10 Rocky (Score: 74)
- Platform: GameCube
- Developer: Rage Software
- Release Date: November 17, 2002
Rocky was released for the GameCube back in 2002, but it can also be played on PlayStation 2 and iOS devices. You will become Rocky Balboa in this boxing game where your combos will determine your success.
The biggest complaint is that it is too easy to win, as a single button can make you victorious in every round, which is why it was awarded a Metacritic score of 74.
9 Ready To Rumble Boxing: Round 2 (Score: 75)
- Platform: PlayStation 2
- Developer: Midway
- Release Date: Oct 23, 2000
Those who owned a PlayStation 2 will probably remember how much fun Ready To Rumble: Boxing Round 2 was to play. It is why it received a Metacritic score of 75 as you are tasked with making your way up the ranks and beating celebrities like Shaquille O'Neal.
Many loved the humorous side of this game, but others felt it was a step back in this new era of consoles.
8 Boxing Fever (76)
- Platform: Nintendo Game Boy Advance
- Developer: Digital Fiction
- Release Date: Oct 11, 2001
Just because a game is vintage doesn't mean it can't knock out its modern counterparts. At 20 years old, this game is still rated more highly than those that run on brand new consoles and operating systems.
If you liked the classic Punch-Out Nintendo games from back in the day, Boxing Fever will carry you for more than a few rounds.
7 Real Boxing (Score: 76)
- Platform: PC, PlayStation Vita, iOS
- Developer: Vivid Games
- Release Date: Nov 15, 2012
Real Boxing is out on several different platforms, like PC and PlayStation Vita, but it is the best on iOS devices. The graphics are fantastic and you can use real punches with your device's camera to control the boxer's movements.
The biggest drawback is that this system is flawed, but it still helped it achieve a Metacritic score of 76.
6 Wii Sports (Score: 76)
- Platform: Nintendo Wii
- Developer: Nintendo
- Release Date: Nov 19, 2006
Wii Sports was the total package with five different sports for you to play, and boxing was one of them. It was given a Metacritic score of 76 and the boxing game mode helped it achieve this rating.
You could play solo, or against a friend, and you utilized controller movements to dodge, punch, and block your way to knocking out your opponent. Players often wonder when a game like this will come to the Nintendo Switch as it would bring boxing into the modern era.
5 Title Bout Championship Boxing (Score: 79)
- Platform: PC
- Developer: Out Of The Park Developments
- Release Date: Dec 8, 2003
If a PC is your primary gaming console then you should look into buying a game called Title Bout Championship Boxing. It is great for those with knowledge of the boxing industry as you can choose from over 3,600 boxers to fight one another which is why it has a Metacritic score of 79.
Statistics are the name of the game and you must use them in order to be successful in these boxing matches.
4 Knockout Kings 2001 (Score: 84)
- Platform: PlayStation
- Developer: EA Sports
- Release Date: Oct 30, 2000
The first PlayStation saw this game in 2001, but it was also released for PlayStation 2 as well. It featured 40 different boxers and both contemporary and retired boxers were included on the list for you to go up against.
Players loved the Career Mode and fighting styles of the different boxers, but it was a bit more basic than others would have liked. Despite the critics, it is still regarded as one of the best boxing games of all time with a Metacritic score of 84.
3 Creed: Rise To Glory (Score: 84)
- Platform: PC, PlayStation 4
- Developer: Survios
- Release Date: Sep 25, 2018
One of the more recent games to be released is Creed: Rise To Glory, which came to PC and PlayStation 4 in 2018. The PC version is far superior with a Metacritic score of 84 as you take on the role of Adonis Creed.
It provides a VR boxing experience that everyone will enjoy, especially if you use one of these budget VR headsets.
2 Punch-Out!! (Score: 86)
- Platform: Nintendo Wii
- Developer: Next Level Games
- Release Date: May 18, 2009
Punch-Out was a Wii game that topped the charts with a Metacritic score of 86. Players loved the reimagination of this 1980s classic as it utilized both the buttons and motion controls of the console.
It is full of pure fun that a group of friends can enjoy for hours on end. It appealed to both old and new gamers which is why it achieved a Metacritic score of 86.
1 Fight Night Round 4 (Score: 88)
- Platform: PlayStation 3, Xbox 360
- Developer: EA Sports
- Release Date: Jun 23, 2009
All of EA's Fight Night games are highly ranked, but Fight Night Round 4 is the greatest of them all. It was released in 2009 for PS3 and Xbox 360 and each character has their own special skills that make them great.
This game features a new physics system which is part of the reason why it was given a Metacritic score of 88. The realism of the matches explains how it is the best boxing game of all time as it shows other contenders what they should strive to be.