Attributes are what drive our sports games. Without them, franchises would feel hollow, head-to-head games would be less strategic and editing players would become a confusing mess. Each game has a single attribute that stands above the rest, so let's go game-by-game to determine which one is king.

Speed: Madden and FIFA

It would be hard not to mention speed. Though far less prevalent than it used to be, speed has been a fixture in every game since Tecmo Bowl in 1987. In games like NCAA Football 2010, speed often felt like the only stat that mattered. So where does it stand today?

It is still crucial. Especially in the FIFA and Madden series where breakaways are so important, speed is still the determining factor in a score or being tackled. Other things like agility and acceleration play larger roles than they used to, but speed (ultimately) prevails.

NBA 2K: Defensive IQ

This is a little bit of a cheat because there's four separate defensive IQ ratings: on-ball, pick-and-roll, help defense, and low post. Defensive IQ holding such weight speaks to how good NBA 2K is as a finished product. Particularly for the CPU, defensive awareness is often the difference between an easy bucket and flinging one up at the end of the shot clock. In fact, if you pay really close attention, this stat may matter a little too much. Players with low ratings frequently leave guys wide open and not just with a little space. It's easy to draft a player or sign someone for their impressive offensive abilities, but if you want to win games, make sure you have at least a few players with high defensive IQ.

MLB The Show: Plate Vision

This is the first thing you should be looking for in MLB 15 The Show. Why? Because regardless of contact rates and power attributes, a player with great plate vision is poised to go through a bunch of hot streaks and will rarely go cold. Pair it with some decent batter discipline and you have the next Miguel Cabrera.

Which attributes do you find the most important in your favorite sports game?