Olympic Games Tokyo 2020: The Official Video Game

Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games: The Official Video Game doesn’t have a lot going on. Progression boils down to earning points to unlocking costumes, different titles, earning medals, and not much else. That progression can be kind of a slog, though, when a lot of the gameplay mechanics are too shallow to be fun for more than a few minutes (especially when playing alone). It’s at its absolute best when it’s over-the-top and absurd while competing in sports that are more than just button mashing.

In an era where arcade titles are few and far between, Olympic Games Tokyo 2020: The Official Video Game serves as a reminder that SEGA is still the champion of effervescent sports games. A varied selection of events, each with their own addictive gameplay mechanics, makes for an entertaining package with plenty to see and do. Pair this with a vibrant artstyle and some decent online options, and you've got the gold standard in athletics right here.

It's easy to see how a fan of past Olympics games could be put off by Tokyo 2020, but if you're willing to lean into its arcade tendencies, you can have a lot of fun with it. The games are enjoyable for the most part, the presentation is great, and there's enough depth to keep you playing longer than just a few rounds of each sport. It certainly won't be for everyone, but SEGA's willingness to be bold and divert away from the simulation-heavy focus of previous Olympics games makes Tokyo 2020 a refreshingly memorable competitor that deserves some attention.

Comparing Tokyo 2020 to Mario & Sonic is not only unavoidable, it's also just weird. Mario & Sonic released in November 2019, and while Tokyo 2020 was always going to release a little later it was delayed a full year due to the real life Olympics being postponed as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. With more than a year and half gap between the two video games, it's bizarre that the one that had so much longer to be worked on ends up feeling more rushed and lacking in comparison to its counterpart. Tokyo 2020 would be tough to recommend on its own merits, but placed next to Mario & Sonic there really doesn't seem to be any reason to choose the "Official" Olympic Games.

This Olympics compilation may be bare bones, but collects its medals by focusing on accessibility and solid gameplay.

Olympic Games Tokyo 2020 - The Official Video Game, like most titles focusing on so many completely different gameplay loops and styles, falls short on truly delivering in any of them. The sheer variety of the twenty different sports presented, the rush of adrenaline of some of the shorter modes, solid online performance, and good presentation makes it a pleasant enough title for fans of the world's most famous torch.

It's clearly a simple, familiar and intuitive approach to the Olympic Games, being a perfect complement to follow our favorite athletes and sports. Don't expect nothing as complex as FIFA, PES or the NBA for example, but rather a title to be played in fast rounds with friends or family. And in that it's quite competent.

Unfortunately, I would give a higher score to this game had I played it on any other platform. The online component has the potential to make this a wonderful sports addition, with ranked matches following a streaming schedule (mimicking the around-the-clock nature of the Olympic Games), but unfortunately the Stadia userbase was so barren that I wasn’t able to test this out. I hope that there can be some sort of cross-platform compatibility in a future update, because I’d love to test my mettle against human opponents around the world. As it stands, I feel like I’m the only person playing this game on Stadia, and as such it’s pretty lonely. If you plan on getting this game on Stadia, I strongly recommend getting another local player with you; you’ll have an immensely better time with someone in local multiplayer.

Olympic Games Tokyo 2020: The Official Video Game is a collection of sport games that perfectly capture the essence of the old Track ‘n Field series, mixed with the easygoing sport games from 20 years ago. The game is not perfect by any means, and the lack of depth does make it an ill-fit for lone players. But if you are looking for a fun and competitive yet easy to play sports game for both family and friends – this is it.

Olympic Games Tokyo 2020 is an accessible game with an impressive array of sporting events for all ages to enjoy. While it might not be the deep-dive some are looking for, it serves as an enjoyable title to pick up and play with friends or younger members of the household.