9 Best Football Video Games that Every Soccer Fan Should Try

Can you guess the most popular sport in the world? No prizes for guessing since you must have figured out the answer from the headline – Football. No other sport generates as much hype as soccer and hence, it is only normal to expect the video game industry to celebrate it in diverse ways. Over the years, we have seen notable developments in football video games across platforms and yet, the pitch fever doesn’t subside.

Hence, we decided to pamper fans across the globe by creating a list of the best football video games. Despite being a genre that has seen countless iterations from notable game developers and studios, the best ones have logically crept up in recent times, making utmost use of modern-day game engines and advanced development tools.

But it’s not just about which soccer games look the most realistic. The idea of having fun with a football can be adapted for various interpretations. Whether it’s sticking to the cool bits of scoring a goal or using cars to smash the ball through opponents to score as many points as you can, there’s something for everyone.

In fact, you can step into the boots of Ted Lasso if you can’t let go of Lasso’s happy and gay universe ever since the show’s Season 3 ended on Apple TV+.

Hence, join us as we explore some of the best football video games that you can play on PC, consoles, handheld consoles and smartphones.

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Best football video games of all time

1. EA Sports FC 24

Publisher: EA Sports

Platforms: PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, Nintendo Switch

For an authentic dose of football simulation, nothing comes close to EA Sports FC 24. Succeeding the erstwhile FIFA series of football games, the new version introduces several technical and graphical upgrades over the outgoing version. While it strips itself of all the FIFA branding, FC 24 remains one of the most authentic football experiences you can have on digital platforms.

Featuring HyperMotionV technology for realistic player movement and PlayStyles, which is optimised by Opta for authentic player behaviours, FC 24 relies on EA’s Frostbite game engine to deliver a visual experience that offers unmatched immersion. The Hypermotion V technology will let players witness their soccer stars in the exact way they seem on TV screens. Be it dribbling like Messi or sprinting like Mbappe, FC 24 promises to offer an authentic experience for the fans.

Soccer fans get to take control of 19,000 licensed players and 700 teams, with matches spread across 100 stadiums and hosted over 30 leagues. If that’s not enough, the game also lets you create your personalised player or team, thereby letting you rise from rookie to the topmost ranks.

2. FIFA 23

Publisher: EA Sports

Platforms: PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, Nintendo Switch

For a lot less, you can grab a copy of FIFA 23. Granted it isn’t the latest video game in the football genre but FIFA 23 lets you bask in the glory of an official FIFA-branded video game that hosts all the star tournaments from the 2022-23 season.

Look under the skin and you will find similarities with the newer EA Sports FC 24, including the massive roster of players, teams, gear, stadiums and all the advanced player animation techniques (although you miss out on the new volumetric animations from the newer game). Women’s football found a prominent footing on FIFA 23, complete with the official tournaments in the league. You also get to create a custom player or team and make your way through the pack to football greatness.

Most importantly, it costs a lot less than the newer FC 24 while still retaining the FIFA branding.

Moreover, if you belong to the Ted Lasso fan club, FIFA 23 is the game to pick. Partnering with the Apple TV+ web series, the game lets you use Ted Lasso as a Manager looking after the fictional AFC Richmond and some of its star players (all fictional).

3. Football Manager 2024

Publisher: SEGA

Platforms: PC, Sony PS5, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, Nintendo Switch, Apple Arcade, Netflix Games

If you fantasise about managing an international football team, you should pick up a copy of Football Manager 2024. Available on most of the popular platforms, Football Manager 2024 offers the most authentic soccer team management experiences in the video gaming community.

Some of the game’s key features include enhanced player development systems that allow for a deeper focus on training and player progression. You experience an improved match engine that provides a more realistic and engaging gameplay experience, along with expanded tactics and formations that offer greater flexibility in managing your team. The cross-platform save compatibility allows players to transfer their saved files between different platforms, thus enabling them to continue their managerial careers regardless of the device they’re using.

4. eFootball 2024

Publisher: Konami

Platforms: PC, PS5, PS4, Xbox One Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, Android, iOS

eFootball 2024 evolved from the renowned PES franchise as a free-to-play football game. Although the critics and fans have come up with mixed reviews since its release in 2023, eFootball 2024 remains an accessible way to relish your football thirst. Unlike other titles, the focus here is solely on the online multiplayer experience.

While you can download and play the game for free, there are in-game purchases available for cosmetic items and additional content. The Dream Team mode in eFootball 2024 allows players to build their dream teams by collecting and developing players. This provides a long-term goal for players and encourages them to engage with the game over time. It also offers a variety of match modes, including ranked, casual and co-op matches.

Konami’s Dynamic Server Updates feature ensures that eFootball 2024 is constantly evolving. This allows the developers to quickly address issues, introduce new features, and improve the overall gameplay experience based on player feedback. Cross-platform play compatibility means players can compete against each other regardless of the platform they’re using – PC, consoles and mobile devices.

5. Dream League Soccer 2024

Publisher: First Touch Games Ltd

Platforms: Android, iOS

Dream League Soccer 2024 is currently one of the most feature-rich football games you can play on your smartphone. Be it advanced levels of team management or a quick match between your favourite club teams, Dream League Soccer 2024 offers almost an identical football experience to the earlier FIFA games you used to witness on PC and consoles.

With decent graphics, Dream League Soccer 2024 focuses on the gameplay experience by including real 3D animations for the players. One can create a dream football team from a choice of over 4,000 FIFPRO licensed players, thus letting you immerse yourself in realism. You play through eight divisions and compete in more than 10 cup competitions to rise up the ranks and dominate.

On the management side, you get to build an empire with your own Stadium, Medical Center, and Commercial and Training facilities. The game also provides options to recruit agents and scouts to improve your personal team, customise the kit and logos, train existing players and more.

6. EA Sports FC Mobile

Publisher: EA Sports

Platforms: Android, iOS and iPadOS

If EA’s flavour of digital Football is what you seek on mobile, you should look no further than EA Sports FC Mobile. Pitched as the mobile version of the popular Football simulation Game series, this free-to-download and play Game offers a simplified yet enjoyable Football experience for players on the go. You get simplified controls and Gameplay mechanics that make it easy for you to learn cool moves and tricks on touchscreen devices.

Similar to its PC and console counterpart, EA Sports FC Mobile lets you build your dream team, collect and upgrade players and participate in various online competitions like online leagues and tournaments. In addition to the basic gameplay, EA Sports FC Mobile frequently features live events tied to real-world football matches with exciting challenges and rewards. Not to forget, it also looks gorgeous for a mobile football game.

7. Score! Hero – Football Games

Publisher: First Touch Games Ltd

Platforms: iOS and Android

Do you seek a Football Game that lets you focus only on exciting bits and bypass all the tedious bits of dribbling, team management and strategy? Score! Hero is the Game to download.

Developed by the same people who developed Dream League Soccer 2024, Score! Hero follows a lighter note where players only need to focus on the on-ground action. This one is all about swiping to overcome the obstacles and lead the ball to the goalpost. Players can also develop their own character and upgrade their abilities to score more points.

Although the game may not score high on the graphics front, the intuitive controls and a variety of interesting challenges make it worth trying. Players can score goals, assist teammates and unlock new skills and abilities as they progress through the game. You also get a variety of game modes like tournaments, leagues, and daily challenges. The swipe and tap controls make it easy to go for heroic shots and match-defining moments.

8. Rocket League

Publisher: Psyonix

Platforms: PS4, PS5, Nintendo Switch, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, Windows, GeForce Now, Linux, Mac operating systems

So you like football but don’t enjoy its human element? How about playing football with cars? Rocket League’s immense popularity over the years seems to suggest that people are loving this wacky take on soccer. With continuous developer support, it only seems to get better.

In Rocket League, players control rocket-powered cars to hit the ball into the opposing team’s goal. The idea is to defend your opponents from scoring a goal and use your driving abilities to keep the ball away. The game features various power-ups scattered around the field that can be used to boost speed, jump higher or create temporary walls.

These power-ups add an element of strategy and unpredictability to the gameplay. Players can customise their cars with a wide variety of cosmetic items, including bodies, wheels, decals and boosts. Rocket League also features robust online multiplayer modes like ranked matches, casual matches and private matches.

9. Rocket League Sideswipe

Publisher: Psyonix

Platforms: Android, iOS

If the idea of Rocket League makes you want to play it on the go, then Rocket League Sideswipe is worth taking a look at. As the name suggests, you settle for a 2D graphical setting instead of the main game’s 3D environment. The fun, however, remains similar.

Rocket League Sideswipe deviates far from the look and feel of authentic soccer but for those seeking a fun experience, nothing beats this on mobile. The game features simplified controls that are optimised for mobile devices, thereby making it easy to learn and play. Rocket League Sideswipe offers quick matches for short bursts of gameplay but you get standard online multiplayer modes like ranked matches and casual matches for longer durations and intense action. Players can customise their cars with a variety of cosmetic items, including bodies, wheels and decals.

(Hero and Featured Image Credits: Courtesy EA Sports)

This story first appeared on Augustman Singapore