Level up your Olympics experience with these handpicked videogames

The Olympic Games are finally back and theyrsquove brought with them seasonal sports pundits like this writer who will spend the fortnight judging worldclass athletes from their couches We curate our top five videogame picks that will turn the tables and put you at the centre of all the action for a change Olympic Games Tokyo 2020This onersquos an official Olympicscertified entertainer Customise your character as per your preferences and jump into events like boxing track and swimming While the Paris Olympics doesnrsquot have an official game yet this 2021 throwback is worth a try Olympic Games Tokyo 2020 isnrsquot your ultrarealistic sports simulator that takes you ages to master This fun and simplified version offers both serious gamers and enthusiasts a chance to try their hand at all the listed sports Needless to say the Olympic spirit shines through in every moment with official visuals and immersive audioAvailable PlayStation 4 Xbox One Nintendo Switch and WindowsTony Hawkrsquos Pro SkaterIf last nightrsquos skateboarding action has you itching to grab a board and show off some tricks we get it Itrsquos probably a good idea to kick things off with Tony Hawkrsquos Pro Skater first This classic game based on Hawkrsquos style lets you live out your extreme sports fantasies from your couch sans the scraped knees Pull off kickflips and halfpipes with a click of the right buttons With multiple revisions and rereleases since its debut in 1999 pick the right one for your gaming setupAvailable PlayStation Xbox Windows AndroidPro Gymnast SimulatorChase that perfect 10 from the comfort of your couch in this parkour gymnastics and obstacle course simulator The game offers a course builder that allows you to create your own obstacle courses and setups to match your style With gymnastics events lined up all week in Paris it might be the right time for this game to make a clean landing into your listAvailable WindowsTop Spin 2k25Gear for the weekend showdown in Paris with this title that features real players and venues The customisable shot selection makes the title a standout amongst its more arcadey counterparts Lace up for some long practice sessions that will introduce you to the endless possibilities of the game We suggest you use this week to work it towards your advantage before itrsquos too lateAvailable PlayStation 4 Xbox One and WindowsPing Pong FuryWersquove come a long way from the original Pong game that took over gaming arcades in the country in the late 1990s This game lets you compete with friends around the world with a simple swipe The swipetoserve and smash feature might come in handy for butterfingers who struggle at the table The simple interface makes for an addictive single or multiplayer to pass time on a slow day or a boring commuteAvailable iOS AndroidReady for some gaming action Herersquos how citybased enthusiasts are joining the sporting action from their homesRiding soloIrsquom not a serious gamer who spends hours playing a competitive game But sports games have a special place in my heart Irsquom currently playing Riderrsquos Republic It allows you to pick from BMX mountain biking as well as winter sports like skiing and snowboarding The fact that itrsquos a multiplayer game means my friends can join in on the fun My eyes are glued onto the upcoming BMX quarterfinals later this weekShayan Roy 32 content creator and sports podcasterPlan BIt wouldrsquove been great to have an official video game which has been the norm for the previous Olympic games This year gamers like me have turned to other games like NBA 2k24 the gold standard for basketball video games For old school gamers Mario Sports is a fun detour from the newer hyperrealistic games Nintendorsquos Switch Sports series has a bunch of new sports titles that players can choose from One of my favourite ways to wind down after a long day is to play Cricket 24 on my PlayStation I canrsquot wait to see cricket at the 2028 Olympics Itrsquoll be a gamechangerSatyam Pandey 25 game designerBest of both worldsMy job in finance leaves me with little time to myself My favourite game to play when I have an hour or two to myself is Rocket League Itrsquos a mix of motorsports and football and itrsquos just as fun as the idea sounds The game brings together elements from two of my favourite sports which makes it my pick this sporting season I recently introduced it to my peers at the official Real Madrid fan club here in Mumbai and they seemed to love it too Irsquom trying my best to keep track of the Olympics in Paris by following nearly 10 sports news aggregators to make sure Irsquom not missing out on any updatesRishabh Jain 23 investment banker