Showing your enthusiasm for the Olympic Games isn't limited to just watching; you can also immerse yourself in the sporting event through Olympic video games! The Olympics have been a popular theme in numerous sports video games, be it officially licensed by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) or not.
These games include multiple events across various sports and carry an Olympic theme, so you can experience the excitement of competing on a global stage from the comfort of your own home. If you are a gaming creator, it’s the perfect content to engage with during these times of heightened interest in sports competition.
Now, which video games should you try first? Check our list of the best Olympic video games and start aiming for the gold medal!
In this article
Part 1. Top 10 Summer Olympic Video Games in History
Participating directly in Paris for the Olympic Games may not be feasible for everyone. But anyone can at least take part and play these Olympic video games. It can be an exciting way to feel the adrenaline of the Olympic competition and showcase your agility skills in various sports disciplines, from swimming to archery, virtually.
Here’s the list of the best Olympic video games to try:
1. Olympics™ Go! Paris 2024
Platform: PC, Android, and iOS devices.
For the upcoming Olympic games, it’s only right to try the Olympics™ Go! Paris 2024 by nWay. Officially licensed by the IOC and inspired by the events of the upcoming Olympic Games Paris 2024, this game lets you unlock 12 Olympic sports and mini-games, and build and manage your virtual cities. Featured sports include swimming, the 100-meter dash, fencing, and artistic gymnastics.
As you advance, you can customize your host city and earn Fan points to level up venues, upgrade city buildings, and unlock many benefits, such as resources crucial for improving athletes' training and boosting their performance in the mini-games. You can also collect a complimentary Olympics™ Go! Paris 2024 digital collectible pin featuring the iconic Paris 2024 mascot!
Pricing:
- Free download
- Starter bundle costs $0.99
- Temporary boosts cost $1.99
- Gems pack costs $2.99 - $49.99
2. Olympic Games Tokyo 2020
Platform: PlayStation 4, Nintendo Switch, Xbox One, PC (Steam), Stadia.
Olympic Games Tokyo 2020 video game brings us back to the excitement and competitive spirit of the world's greatest sporting event back in 2021. This official game offers 18 entertaining arcade-style sports events that you can enjoy solo or with friends and family, including 100m sprint, Boxing, Baseball, Table Tennis, and more.
The game features an avatar creation system that lets you design the athlete. While aiming for the gold medal, you can share your Avatar Creation Code with friends or use theirs to build your ultimate dream team. You can also play this Olympic video game online with multiplayer options for 2-8 players.
Pricing: $39.99
3. Mario & Sonic At The Olympic Games Tokyo 2020
Platform: Nintendo Switch
Besides the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020 video games, you can also enjoy and participate in the thrilling games inspired by the previous Olympics with Mario, Sonic, and others through Mario & Sonic At The Olympic Games Tokyo 2020. The game includes sports climbing, karate, skateboarding, surfing, and more. You can play solo or compete with your friends in this fun and competitive video game.
Pricing: $39.99 or $59.99 (digital ver.)
4. Mario & Sonic at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games
Platform: Nintendo 3DS, Wii U
Before the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, Mario & Sonic were also featured in the Rio 2016 Olympic Games, a crossover sports and party game in the Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games series. It’s also officially licensed by the IOC and developed by Sega, with assistance from Arzest and Spike Chunsoft.
This installment includes 42 playable characters from the Mario and Sonic franchises, with an option to use a custom Mii character. New events like Rugby Sevens, Archery, and BMX make their debut, alongside refined versions of returning events such as athletics, volleyball, swimming, and equestrian.
Pricing: $79.99
5. London 2012
Platform: Online, PC (Steam), PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, Android, iOS
London 2012: The Official Video Game represents the official video game for the 2012 Summer Olympics held in London. Published by Sega and developed by Sega Studios Australia, it marks the first Olympic title developed internally by Sega.
The game includes 37 countries and 31 events, introducing new disciplines such as 10m Synchronised Platform Diving, Trampoline, Beach Volleyball, and Keirin. You can also play this Olympic video game online to compete with challengers from around the globe. However, since it’s an old game, it may be difficult to find or purchase a copy of the game.
Pricing: $19.99
6. Track & Field
Platform: Nintendo Switch
Track & Field, released by KONAMI in 1983, is an Olympic-inspired sports game known for its accessible controls and multiplayer capability for up to 4 players. It features six exciting events: 100m sprint, long jump, javelin throw, 110m hurdles, hammer throw, and high jump.
Pricing: $7.99
If you don't have a Nintendo Switch, you can explore other Track & Field-inspired video games online on websites like arcadespot.com or retrogames.cz. These options provide some of the best free Olympic video game experiences!
7. Beijing 2008
Platform: PC (Steam), PlayStation 3, Xbox 360
Beijing 2008 is the official video game of the 2008 Summer Olympics held in Beijing. Developed by Eurocom and published by Sega, this old Olympic video game features 32 national teams and 38 events. While it may seem a bit outdated by today's standards, it still offers an enjoyable experience for those interested in reliving the excitement of the 2008 Games.
Pricing: Approx. $17.45 - $29.95 (on Amazon/eBay)
8. Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games
Platform: Wii, Nintendo DS
In 2007, Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games marked the inaugural title in the Mario & Sonic series, developed by Sega. This game offers a diverse lineup of 24 events inspired by the Olympic Games.
While both the Wii and DS versions include many of the same events, each version also boasts unique content not found in the other. For instance, the DS version features events such as 10m Platform Diving and cycling, which are absent from the Wii version.
Pricing: Approx. $22.72 - $24.76 (on Amazon/eBay)
9. Athens 2004
Platform: PC, PlayStation 2
While it may be old, the official Athens 2004 video game offers a button-mashing experience that can be incredibly enjoyable, especially if you're a fan of competitive sports on console systems. It features popular games like Track, Field, Swimming, Gymnastics, Weight lifting, and Archery (among others) that exercise your reflexes and timing skills.
Pricing: Approx. $20.98 (on Amazon/eBay)
10. Sydney 2000
Platform: PlayStation, PC, Dreamcast
Compare the official Paris 2024 game with Sydney 2000 to witness the evolution of Olympic video games over time. Developed by Attention to Detail, the Sydney 2000 featured up to 32 playable countries and offered around 12 events, including the 100m sprint, 110m hurdles, Super Heavyweight Weightlifting, and Chase Cycling.
What makes this game unique is its Olympic mode, where players have to train and qualify athletes for each event. This mode consisted of four stages: Open Trials, Invitation Event, The Championship, and Olympic Class. Each stage required players to complete 20 mini-games in the Cyber Gym, such as running on a treadmill, pole climbing, and squats.
Pricing: Approx. $8.89 (PlayStation) - $27.95 (DreamCast)
Part 2. Record Your Games and Share Your Gaming Experience
The next thing you can do to commemorate your gaming achievements and share your Olympic video game experiences is to record your gameplay. If you are a novice gaming content creator or even a seasoned one, you can do it easily using an all-in-one video editor like Wondershare Filmora.
Filmora has supported screen recording and motion tracking within the app, which are among the essential tools you can use to capture precise movements and actions within the game. You can "bind" the gameplay material to the selected content to help your viewers understand exactly what you're showcasing.
How to use Filmora to record and edit video games:
Step1Launch Filmora and log in to your Wondershare account
Open Wondershare Filmora and make sure it’s run on the latest version. After logging into your account, you can select the feature you want to use on the main interface.
To record your screen, select “Screen Recorder.” But if you already have the recorded video, you can go straight to click “New Project” and import the video file.
Step2Edit the video
After you are done recording or importing the video file to the software, it’s time to edit the video. First, drag the video clip to the timeline and do basic video editing. You can trim, cut, and split the video to remove unwanted sections or to focus on specific parts. Use the playhead and click the scissor button to make precise cuts at the desired points.
Step3Apply motion tracking
To apply motion tracking to your video, make sure that the subject you wish to track remains within the frame throughout the entire clip. Then, click the clip in your timeline and go to AI tools to enable the motion track on the right panel. Adjust the selection of the object you want to track and click “Click to start motion track” to proceed.
Step4Add and adjust the object that will follow the track
For the object, you can place text, images, elements, or video clips onto the track above your video. Adjust their position, size, and orientation as needed. For this tutorial, we are going to add text to help viewers to identify our player.
After that, select the motion tracking video clip on the timeline. Open the dropdown menu for Link Element under Motion Tracking. Choose the object you want to follow the tracked movement.
Step5Review the motion tracking result
Play the video to preview the tracking. When done correctly, the object will track and follow the subject on your video. This is particularly useful if you want to point out something in a dynamic scene, such as highlighting a moving object or player in the game.
Conclusion
With the release of Olympic-themed video games that simulate and celebrate the spirit of the Olympics, there’s no better time to dive into gaming content centered around these exciting titles.
You don’t need to worry about your video production skills. Tools like Wondershare Filmora simplify the creation process while enhancing your video content with features like motion tracking.
