5 of The Best Figure Skating Video Games

I am sure that if you place 100 pound ankle weights on a performing Michelle Kwan, she would still be an effective figure skater, but for the time being, she is retired from that sport. You are not alone, if you are realizing there were hardly any figure skating video games, compared to basketball and football. Hockey   has an ice rink, but figure skating can be like theatre with muscle memory. 

After all of this time, Yuzuru Hanyu (which is arguably the greatest male singles skater of all-time, winning gold at the 2014 and 2018 Olympics) and Kristi Yamaguchi (the first Asian-American to win a gold medal at the Winter Olympic competition, in 1992, are still not as renown as Michelle Kwan. On the sixth season of ABC’s Dancing with the Stars, Kristi Yamaguchi became the celebrity champion, while paired with Mark Ballas. That has to put her on some type of dancing video game cover, right? No.

At least create a Step Up video game based off of the movie series. Uh-oh! Confusion would loom out of the darkness like the seriously disastrous Step Up! video game for WiiWare. Just do yourself a favor and look at the relentless reviews of Step Up! if you ever intend on purchasing the game, starting with this review. As if somebody sucked the soul out of the graphics with a funnel, you will grow tired of it. The movements are difficult to follow, but maybe you are the few people that appreciate all video games (including unpolished ones). 

Well, Michelle has the Olympic disappointments of never winning the gold, but is still the best, if not, one of the best figure skaters of all-time. She is a two-time Olympic medalist (silver in 1998 and bronze in 2002), a five time world champion (1996, 1998, 2000, 2001, 2003), and a nine-time U.S. champion (1996, 1998-2005). This is a list of the top 5 figure skater video games. 

5. Winter Sports 2: The Next Challenge:

Winter Sports 2: The Next Challenge is known as Winter Sports 2009: The Next Challenge, in Europe. There are 16 winter sport events and 10 different disciplines (with 16 represented countries). This multi-sport simulation was released in 2008 for PS2 (PlayStation 2), Xbox 360, Nintendo DS, and Wii.

4. ESPN International Winter Sports 2002:

ESPN International Winter Sports 2002 (which is called Hyper Sports 2002 Winter in Japan) received a mixture of reviews, according to Metacritic. The overall skating does not look smooth, but the moderate details and high-speed follows through. 

3. Winter Sports 2010: 

For a family-friendly video game that balances 8 exciting disciplines (of downhill skiing, freeride skiing, sky flying, short track speed skating, blathlon, snowboard cross, bobsled, and figure skating), the figure skating is exceptional.

Back in 2006, Virtua Tennis 3 showcased visual quality, even though the audience members appear like virtual cardboard cutouts. 

Compared to Virtua Tennis 3, Winter Sports 2010 is worth your time. Well, Winter Sports 2010 is worth your time until you notice the unrealistic audience members practically jumping up and down, waving their hands in a similar fashion.

It was either Winter Sports: The Ultimate Challenge (also called RTL Winter Sports 2008: The Ultimate Challenge) or Winter Sports 2010, that can go in this list. If you feel differently, feel free to share your thoughts via Twitter. 

2. Mario & Sonic at The Sochi 2014 Olympic Winter Games: 

Score as many points as possible in the Figure Skating Pairs event, at the Iceberg Skating Palace. Select a pair of characters and five pieces of music to perform the routine to. This underrated, crossover sports/party video game is the fourth installment in the Mario and Sonic series and is available for the Wii U.

1. Michelle Kwan Figure Skating:

If you remember the 90s and saw Michelle Kwan skate, you absolutely adored her. Michelle Kwan Figure Skating is a 1999 released video game for PC, deserving of a return, with new features. A feature where Michelle’s tears of joy can be captured on camera, after a standing ovation, would be greatly appreciated.

In Michelle Kwan Figure Skating, you can create the skater and dress her, as well as choose the music and the routine. After that, you can compete in various figure skating competitions.

Bonus: Barbie Sparkling Ice Show:

The gameplay is sort of feels like repeated tutorial, where it should be convenient for all players, but just like anyone, you cannot perfect every move. 38 workers of this game contributed to The Adventures of Jimmy Neutron: Boy Genius – Jet Fusion.

Princess On Ice:

I have to add the Japanese game, Princess On Ice (for the Nintendo DS) to the list, for the adorable characters. The developers worked on getting rid of the anime influences for a realistic appearance, but will you have to still respect it.