In 1997, I played my very first video game, and no, it wasn’t a Mario game. Instead, it was a charming little sports game called Backyard Baseball, where you build a team of personable little kids to play some, well, baseball. As I split time between playing sports and video games, the Backyard games remained a huge part of my life for years — and for my money, Backyard Football was always one of the best.
And now an entirely new generation, or anyone looking for that weekly dose of nostalgia, can dive into Backyard Football ‘99 on Steam, or on your mobile device if you need a football fix on the go — you could even play it while you’re at an actual NFL game. While it’s a game that does show its age, its simplistic approach to recreating America’s favorite pastime is undeniably charming, and a genuine good time for anyone of any age.
