Sim sports is any simulation of a real-world sport. You either own a team or join as a team player where the gameplay elements are all realistically based on your player's real-life skills/stats on the virtual roster. Any sim sports lover would enjoy a solid sim game, whether be it hockey, basketball, racing, or any other; that strives to deliver an overall engaging experience.

In the last few years, if you've been keeping your eyes out, you would have probably noticed the rise in popularity of sports simulation games along with their dedicated esports sim leagues.

But what are these esports sim leagues and what exactly makes them so engaging? What do they facilitate that's a game changer for competitive sim gaming? Let’s find out in this dedicated article on the top sports leagues and championships in sim sports!

Top Sports Leagues and Championships in Sim Sports

Some of the top sports leagues and championships in sim sports include FIFAe World Cup, NBA 2K, iRacing World Championship, and MLB.

These sim leagues are not only redefining how sim sports are consumed but also fostering vibrant communities around them. Improved technological trends, from new AI to real-time analytics, provide more fun and more engaging gameplay opportunities. This combination of authentic gameplay and active community engagement allows for a true sim gaming environment that is giving rise to a dynamic future for sports simulation esports.

With that said, let us now dive further into some of these top sports leagues and championships in sim sports.

Football Sports Leagues in Sim Sports

Football simulation esports has evolved significantly, offering immersive experiences for players and fans alike. Some of the biggest names, games, and producers in the realm are FIFA, Football Manager, and eFootball Championship Pro.

FIFA is now EA SPORTS FC but the game still continues to dominate the virtual football scene. Its flagship tournament, the EA SPORTS FC World Cup, showcases top players from around the globe competing for prestige and substantial prizes. As of writing, the upcoming 2025 edition is scheduled to feature 32 elite players from all across the globe.

In addition to this, Konami's eFootball Championship Pro presents itself as a strong competitor to EA SPORTS FC. It has an already established format and keeps the eFootball Championship Pro 2025 season intact with the eFootball Championship Open and the Club Events. The Open Division invites global players to join, which fosters accessibility and numerous entry options. The Club Events allow for play as official partner clubs in domestic and foreign competitions. The year will end with the World Finals held in Tokyo in July 2025, pitting regional winners against each other to determine the champion.

Another title that many enjoy is Football Manager. This franchise is renowned for its deep managerial simulation. In fact, the 2025 edition is set to come out later this year, and there are murmurs surrounding an integration into esports. A collaborative tournament has been announced between the esports version of FIFA, the FIFAe World Cup of Football Manager, with a grand prize of $100,000. Its purpose is to highlight the in-game managerial skills of the players in the virtual world and add another dimension to sim sports esports.

Basketball Sports Leagues in Sim Sports

Even simulated basketball esports have sprung up, with NBA 2K being the favored title. The NBA 2K League started in 2018, allowing players to compete for basketball bragging rights in virtual reality. In 2024, the league traveled to our nation's capital with a partnership with Monumental Sports & Entertainment to establish District E Powered by Ticketmaster to play for a title. The in-season championship occurred from February 28 to June 29, with various contests played online and in person.

If anything, 2024 was a return to normal for the league; 3v3 and 5v5 were offered as competitive options for yet another season. This collaborative effort of competitive options essentially created a fractional season of all the already established tournaments, each providing access to the playoffs, of TIPOFF, THE TURN, and THE TICKET.

The most thrilling addition over the course of the year, however, was an NBA In-Season Tournament. The NBA In-Season Tournament was part of 2024 as the NBA added this to the franchise in real life. Players participated in the tournament through various modes, including MyCAREER and MyNBA, with courts updated to reflect the tournament's branding during Season 3.

In addition, the NBA 2K24 One Up Championship Series was announced featuring a whopping one million dollar prize pool. It comprised 20 online qualifying tournaments, each hosted by an NBA superstar, offering fans and aspiring esports athletes the opportunity to compete alongside professional players.

Racing Sports Leagues in Sim Sports

When it comes to sim sports, none have reached the league level like racing simulation esports. 

The fact that iRacing has a World Championship Series for league-level play is somewhat on par with the larger sim racing platform. Moreover, the eNASCAR Coca-Cola iRacing Series and the Porsche TAG Heuer Esports Supercup are series hosted on it, with professional racers from around the world racing on a simulated version of the actual tracks and actual cars. For any professional wanting to solidify their career in sim racing or just test the waters of racing production cars, iRacing is the place to be. Thus far in 2024, viewer engagement and viewership have solidified iRacing as a frontrunner of all sim racing communities.

The F1 Esports Series (known as the F1 Sim Racing World Championship for the 2023 Season) is an official Formula 1 venture bridging the gap between the world of sim racing and the reality of racing. When Formula 1 fans witness their favorite teams and drivers compete within the confines of the Series, they have the same racing potential options as their superhero superstars. The 2023–2024 season introduced a revised calendar, including circuits like the Las Vegas Strip Circuit and the Losail International Circuit. This shows how Formula 1 continually attempts to do something to bridge the gap virtually and enhance fan engagement with an expanding fanbase.

Another racing league is the Assetto Corsa Competizione (ACC) which has solidified its position in the esports domain with the World Esports Series. Renowned for its focus on GT racing, ACC provides a realistic and immersive environment for competitors. The 2024 season has seen the World Esports Series expand its reach, attracting top-tier teams and drivers. The series' dedication to authenticity and simulation fidelity has garnered a dedicated following, contributing to the overall growth of sim racing esports.

Baseball Sports Leagues in Sim Sports

Similar to other sim sports, baseball sim esports leagues have also increased in popularity with one such being Major League Baseball (MLB). A standout in this domain is MLB The Show 24.

In 2024, the MLB The Show Championship Series returned, featuring a substantial prize pool exceeding $100,000. The Championship Series was an add-on circuit of all the circuits from the previous three years, focusing on the champions of champions throughout North America. The series maintained its traditional format, with qualifiers leading to intense playoffs, culminating in a grand finale that captivated audiences.

In addition to the Championship Series, there was a community tournament, the $15,000 "Bullpen Bash," to increase accessibility for even more players and provide a different competitive experience. In addition, MLB The Show 24 was also featured in PlayStation Tournaments providing daily competitions for anyone looking to play more frequently and enter the competition.

Another example of a flourishing community outside of the MLB is the Pro Baseball Experience (PBE). Established in 2017, PBE has 14 major league teams and 8 minor league teams. Operating independently from traditional MLB structures, PBE offers a unique ecosystem where each team is managed by real individuals, and players are uniquely controlled by participants. This structure allows for a diverse range of player experiences, from rookies to seasoned veterans, contributing to a dynamic and engaging virtual baseball environment.

Conclusion

When real sports become gameplay and games are played online and strategy integrates with online gameplay, sports fans have the chance to feel as competitive on the virtual field, court, or arena as in real life. Since technology surrounding gameplay and simulated characters and opportunities only gets better every year, expect more opportunities to integrate real-life abilities with simulated gameplay for this gaming category.

Sim Sports is a powerful subcategory of the Esports genre. Regardless of whether you're logging on to compete or just checking it out every once in a while, much is in store for you as a sports gamer.