Sport
Sport games replicate real-world or fantasy athletic activities, focusing on competitive play, either against AI or other players. Often the goal is to win matches, tournaments or races, and players typically try to climb the leaderboard and win championships to reach overall success, either through individual achievement, or teamwork. Rewards may include improving personal stats, unlocking new gear which introduces customisation goals, or advancing through career modes.
However, to achieve all this, strategic decision-making is necessary to secure success. This is because the games normally need quick reflexes, timing, and accuracy, as you would in real life sports. These are important, to ensure the character actually does what the player wants, due to these games being so fast paced. Usually these games don’t just focus on one character, but a whole team, meaning that setting tactics, formations, and strategies to outsmart opponents, all key features.
Team sports games may be about football or basketball, like FIFA or rocket league. Racing sports involves vehicle-based competitions, like cars or bikes. Realism may vary, for example asphalt 8 is realistic, and Mario kart is more arcade style.
Mario Kart
Race as characters from the Super Mario Franchise and more, on land, underwater, through the skies and even on walls. Mario kart 8 deluxe has 48 unique courses, with races from previous console versions and some courses inspired by other games. You can also play different game modes, against AI or online multiplayer. This colourful game allows you to participate in race car driving in the most chaotic way possible, with each race being a unique experience, allowing you to be in 1st and hunted down by blue shells, or 12th and speeding through the track as a rocket. This game is mostly linear, with structured courses, but emergent elements like items usage and interactions with other racers.
Other Players
In Mario Kart you compete with 11 other players, either racing against AI at a difficulty of your choice, or other real players in the online mode. For multiplayer you can choose to race locally or globally, allowing you to choose whether you want to be against friends, or racers worldwide, creating social and competitive features into the game.
Challenges
To be a successful driver, players must control their speed, drifting, handling and timing, to ensure they stay on the course and can evade other players and their attacks. However, these courses contain challenges, such as tight turns, hazards, and elevation changes, making navigating these much harder. To help, you can obtain a variety of powerups (e.g. mushrooms, shells, and stars), that can give you either a defensive or offensive edge. These can help to protect you from enemy attacks, give you the speed boost you need to secure the victory, or hinder other players.
Real-life basis
Mario kart is based on real-life racing but combined with an arcade-style to add fun and accessibility into the game, rather than focusing on realism. The core mechanics of rushing around a track with other cars mirror the real sport, but the powerups, design of the tracks, and other various features make it unique and more light hearted.
Reward system and progression
Players earn coins and trophies (bronze, silver and gold) from placement in races and battles. Reaching certain quantities of each unlocks different characters and karts, introducing a level of customisation into the game. This allows you to tailor the experience to whatever you would like, allowing you to prioritise high speeds or precise turns and drifting.
Target
Demographic
This game can be enjoyed for all ages, but younger players might struggle with the basic mechanics of driving, so it is recommended for those 7 and up. The game appeals to those interested in arcade racing, casual sports, and competitive multiplayer, and is suitable for players of any experience level. This is due to the simple controls, alongside the smart steering and auto-accelerate options in Mario kart 8 deluxe.
Overall Reviews
Mario Kart consistently receives high reviews for its engaging mechanics, accessibility, and multiplayer appeal; where races combine skill with chaotic, item-based strategy that appeals to all players. The controls, colourful visuals, and range of tracks draw players of all ages into friendly and competitive races. However, some report that the unbalance of certain items, like the blue shell, which is almost impossible to avoid, can disrupt gameplay, providing too much of a handicap, and making certain aspects of the game unfair. Overall, Mario Kart 8 Deluxe maintains high ratings, with many reviewers awarding it scores of 9/10 or higher.
My Evaluation
I grew up on the Mario Kart franchise, and have played it from the ages of 6, to my current age of 16, with a variety of family members and friends. It has been so fun to progress, from always coming 12th when I was younger, to being able to consistently win races now after developing and practicing my timing, driving skills and reflexes – this game has never stopped being entertaining to me! Although I find some of the powerups to be annoying, these can be turned off and fully customised, and really helps the players who are behind to have a more enjoyable time. This game is truly reliable, as everyone loves playing it and can keep large groups entertained, and the variety of game modes means this game never bores me.
Just Dance
Just dance is an interactive, linear dance game where players mirror on-screen dance routines set to popular songs. The game uses motion-tracking technology, (via phones, consoles like Nintendo Switch, or camera systems like PlayStation and Xbox), to track player movements and score their accuracy to the choreography.
Other Players
Just dance allows you to play solo, locally or worldwide, in modes like world dance floor. This adds a theme of friendly competition into the game, as your score is shown in real time, encouraging you to try harder to increase it, and then displayed at the end of the dance, so players can compare results at the end of each song.
Challenges
Accuracy and timing are necessary to get a good score, as more difficult dances require higher amounts of skill to keep up, as some of the moves and combinations can be quite advanced. You also need to be able physically, as some are fairly demanding. Maintaining rhythm and stamina is crucial to improve.
Real-life basis
The game is based on real-life dancing, with more than 500 unique choreographies inspired by hip-hop, salsa, Bollywood, jazz, disco, and modern dance, including viral dance trends and pop culture. Song choices in Just Dance reflect this diversity, featuring pop, rock, hip-hop, R&B, electronic dance music (EDM), and music from the 80s and 90s. This range appeals to a broad audience, especially in age.
Reward system and progression
You can unlock new avatars, choreographies and songs, from the mojo points you earn from your performance. High scores, star ratings and progression milestones allow players to measure improvement and provides incentive to keep playing. This means that players feel motivated to carry on dancing, encouraging replay-ability.
Target
Demographic
Just dance is primarily for all ages, with dances based on Disney movies for kids, or song choices that are aimed more at teens and adults. The game is easy for beginners to pick up, as there are minimal buttons to press and motion-based, making it therefore very accessible, making it very popular amongst those who are interested in music, dance, fitness and casual gaming.
Overall Reviews
Just Dance generally receives positive reviews for its fun, interactive gameplay, which appeals to a broad audience and makes it a popular party and family game, which keep players engaged and moving. Each new instalment adds new choreography to popular tracks, making it appealing for fans who enjoy dancing to current hits as well as classics. Reviewers also say that the game effectively doubles as a casual fitness tool, especially with features like Sweat Mode, which tracks calories burned and time spent dancing, adding an exercise component to the fun. However, some criticism has been directed at Just Dance’s annually released game, and the increasing reliance on subscription-based services like Just Dance+, which unlocks additional songs from past titles. While the game offers a solid base of songs, many players feel they’re missing out on content unless they purchase these add-ons. However, the consistent motion tracking and minimal lag on platforms like Nintendo Switch is appreciated amongst players. Overall, Just Dance remains highly rated.
My Evaluation
Just Dance is another game I have been playing since a very young age, due to how its accessible to any age. I have always loved the bright, colourful visuals, from the characters outfits to the background and environment they were dancing in. Every edition of just dance include a wide selection to songs I would like, with interesting choreography to master, increasing the games replay-ability. I particularly enjoyed how you could dance with others, as me and my sister used to love competing for the highest amount of points. What kept us really engaged, was the ability to see who was winning during the game, as a little crown would pop up on your avatar, making us more competitive. However, as fun as this game is, it requires energy and space to play, meaning that its not like other games where you can sit at a computer and relax. This makes playing the game a lot more rare, as for me I only really play it with others. But when I do, it is always fun and addicting, due to the variety of music and dances it offers, making it extremely memorable. I 100% would recommend it!
Comparing both sport games:
Game Focus
Similarities:
Both games focus on accessible, fun gameplay that emphasizes enjoyment over intense competition, making them appealing for casual and social gaming.
Differences:
Mario Kart is a racing game with a focus on speed and reflexes, while Just Dance is a rhythm game centred on timing, movement, and dance accuracy.
Linear vs. Emergent Gameplay
Similarities:
Both games have linear elements in their structured tracks or song choreography, with slight emergent aspects based on player actions and interactions.
Differences:
Mario Kart incorporates more emergent gameplay due to item randomness and player interactions that change the outcome of races, while Just Dance is more consistently linear per song.
Multiplayer Appeal
Similarities:
Both titles have strong multiplayer modes that encourage social interaction, either locally or online, enhancing their appeal at parties or family gatherings.
Differences:
Mario Kart supports up to 12 players online and 4 locally on most platforms, while Just Dance can host up to 6 players locally or online, focused more on collaborative dance sessions.
Progression and Rewards
Similarities:
Both games offer rewards and progression: Mario Kart with trophies and unlocked levels, and Just Dance with stars, avatars, and customization options.
Differences:
In Mario Kart, progression involves unlocking new tracks, vehicles, and characters, while Just Dance progression is centred on improving scores and unlocking dance routines and avatars.
Performance Challenges
Similarities:
Both games challenge players’ timing and precision—Mario Kart with drifting and item usage, and Just Dance with matching dance moves to on-screen choreography.
Differences:
Mario Kart introduces performance variability through track hazards and item-based mechanics, while Just Dance focuses on dance routines that test rhythmic accuracy and endurance.
Fitness and Physical Activity
Similarities:
Both games incorporate physical movement, making them active options compared to traditional video games.
Differences:
Just Dance places a stronger emphasis on physical activity with dance-based gameplay that doubles as exercise, while Mario Kart involves limited movement focused on controlling karts.