It’s a bittersweet reality that many of us will never excel at football. However, whether you’re gaming on a console or PC, the top titles can transport you to a fantasy realm where you reign supreme.
Incredible as it may seem, this holds true whether you’re controlling a simple stick figure on an 8-bit machine or a highly detailed 3D avatar sporting ultra-realistic stubble on a PS5. We’ve genuinely shed tears over a line of text on the screen that describes how the opposing stick figure has knocked us out of the cup.
Such is the nature of football: it can turn even the most rational individuals into mere shadows of their former selves. Game developers quickly recognized the potential of football simulations when they first emerged, and soon, they were flying off the shelves.
Over the years, countless football games have been released—so many that it was nearly impossible to limit our selection to just 28 titles. Debates erupted in the office—FIFA or Pro Evo? Sensi or Kick Off?—and that’s how it should be. After nearly 30 years, EA and FIFA have officially parted ways, leaving us to wonder if EA Sports FC will make its way onto this list in the future.
Regardless of whether you agree with our choices, we hope this list evokes some fond memories. Let the discussions commence!
10) Virtua Striker (1994, Arcade)
Sega’s iconic AM2 team, known for creating classics like Daytona USA and Virtua Fighter, brought us this revolutionary game—the first football video game to utilize 3D player models. Exclusively found in arcades, Virtua Striker prioritized high-paced action over intricate simulation. However, for those of us who pumped countless coins into the machines, it represented the most realistic digital representation of the beautiful game we had ever experienced.
9) International Superstar Soccer (1994, SNES)
Looking back, this SNES classic serves as a link between the traditional side-scrolling games of its time and today’s football titles. As a precursor to PES, the original ISS showcased an impressive range of moves—ranging from feints to shoulder charges—by combining different button inputs.
In terms of visuals, it far surpassed titles like Match Day and International Soccer. However, despite its polish and innovation, what truly made ISS stand out was its entertaining and fast-paced gameplay. It maintained a distinctly arcade feel during that fleeting period before sports games became overly focused on achieving a TV-style realism.
8) Football Manager 2011 (2010, PC)
After parting ways with Eidos, Sports Interactive lost the Championship Manager title but continued to produce the only management games still worthy of attention. This edition stands out as one of the best, introducing a comprehensive 3D engine that enabled you to witness every pass, shot, tackle, and cringe-worthy goalkeeping blunder during matches.
Additionally, one of the noteworthy features was the inclusion of press conferences—a minor detail that enhanced the immersive experience of an incredibly realistic football universe with an impressive 117 playable leagues.
7) Kick Off 2 (1990, Amiga)
Kick Off 2 retained a similar appearance to its predecessor, effectively merging elements from the original game and several expansion disks, all while being meticulously refined. This focus on detail elevated the game from a fun, sometimes chaotic experience to one that required a greater level of skill.
In addition to featuring tournaments, referees with varying temperaments, and—importantly—fewer bugs, this Amiga sequel slowed down the gameplay and improved the controls. The generous application of ‘aftertouch’ allowed players to execute impressively audacious shots that even Matt Le Tissier would have admired.
6) Sensible Soccer (1992, Amiga)
Sensible Software, passionate fans of both Kick Off 2 and football, were frustrated by the limitations of the former, believing it didn’t fully capture the essence of the sport. Their response was Sensible Soccer, designed to evoke the feeling of playing professional football, enhanced by a level of detail that only true football enthusiasts could appreciate—right down to the accurate hair and skin tones of each player.
The game featured a zoomed-out perspective, providing a broader view of the pitch and eliminating the need for a Kick Off-style radar. Passing and shooting mechanics were simplified and streamlined, resulting in an incredibly responsive gameplay experience. Until the arrival of its sequel, SWOS, this game stood as the pinnacle of its genre.
5) ISS Pro Evolution (1999, PS1)
Ah, the Master League: how many hours have we spent wrapped in its warm embrace, meticulously crafting a team of dedicated professionals and transforming them into champions? Quite a few thousand, and that’s no exaggeration. This feature made its debut in this game.
At this point, the Pro Evo Master League was still fairly basic, but it introduced a solid career simulation to an already excellent football game. Players could be bought and sold using points earned from victories instead of money, avoiding the complex daily management required in Championship Manager. Instead, it offered the opportunity to create your ideal team—whether that meant filling it with attacking midfielders or ensuring a defense as solid as Mourinho’s.
While the Master League was a fantastic addition to the series, it would have fallen flat without gameplay to back it up. Fortunately, by this time, ISS Pro Evolution was already outpacing FIFA, offering more realism while remaining incredibly playable—a winning formula for any game.
4) Championship Manager: Season 97/98 (1997, PC)
Sports Interactive’s series stands as a titan among all management games.
Often dismissed by narrow-minded critics as little more than a glorified spreadsheet, Championship Manager’s brilliant tactical engine, extensive accurate data (including the first edition that allowed simultaneous league management), and massive player database crafted a rich and immersive football universe that paralleled our own, igniting the imagination like no other game could.
It was also incredibly addictive; the game’s official forums were filled with stories of lives nearly sacrificed to Champ’s irresistible “just one more game” allure. Players would recount their pride in leading lower league teams to the FA Cup final, often donning a suit to celebrate the occasion.
3) FIFA 21 (2020, PS4/Xbox One)
Recent FIFA titles have focused on refining a successful formula rather than introducing significant changes, but given that the series has been atop the competition since FIFA 10, this approach is understandable.
FIFA 21 makes only slight adjustments from its predecessor and certainly has its flaws—defending often takes a backseat to scoring, online play can be filled with excessive showboating, and goalkeepers seem to punch the ball more than they should, almost as if they’re using buttered gloves. Nonetheless, it continues to be the best virtual representation of the beautiful game.
2) Pro Evolution Soccer 5 (2005, PS2)
There are moments in popular culture when a particular phenomenon—be it a band, TV series, or game—reaches such incredible heights that it seems impossible for it to maintain that level of success. Yet sometimes it does, year after year. For example, “The Simpsons” held that peak from seasons 3 to 9, but such consistency is rare. Pro Evolution Soccer achieved a similar feat.
Although its standards inevitably declined over time, the glory years from 2002 to 2005 remain unforgettable. We could have chosen any of the four titles from Pro Evo 2 to Pro Evo 5 and made a strong case for their inclusion. In fact, we could have included them all on this list, but that wouldn’t be practical. Instead, we’ve selected what we believe to be the pinnacle of an already stellar series.
What made it so remarkable? Simply put, everything. By this time, the Master League had evolved into a comprehensive four-division system complete with promotion, relegation, and a Champions League counterpart, along with real player names. In terms of gameplay, it was as smooth and enjoyable as football games could get. It wasn’t the frantic chaos of Sensible Soccer, nor the intricate detail of FIFA 18, but rather a perfect balance between the two extremes.
You could score long-range screamers or net simple tap-ins after a scrappy buildup. If you had a skilled player, you could elegantly navigate through five defenders, but you couldn’t just dribble the ball into the goal without some finesse. In short, it struck a beautiful balance.
Of course, such excellence couldn’t last forever, but during its prime, it was an absolute blast.
1) Sensible World of Soccer (1994, Amiga)
Nearly 30 years on, Sensible World of Soccer (SWOS) remains at the top of its game. It built on everything that made Sensible Soccer great and took it to new heights. With the same thrilling arcade-style gameplay, it also embraced the global football scene with the passionate dedication of a true football fan.
The game significantly enhanced its management features and player trading by introducing an impressive roster of 1,500 teams and 27,000 players. This should have marked the beginning of a new era, but somehow, SWOS was overshadowed by FIFA and PES. Nevertheless, devoted fans keep its spirit alive with leagues, events, and updated patches that incorporate modern data—those wonderful, dedicated enthusiasts.
Can it compete with FIFA for realistic gameplay or Football Manager for exhaustive statistics? Clearly not. And for many, the classic mid-2000s Pro Evo might even surpass it as an all-around football experience; this topic certainly divides opinions in our office.
Yet for pure moments of exhilaration—like shouting, “JUST LOOK AT THAT GOAL! THAT WAS LIQUID FOOTBALL!”—nothing else comes close. Go on, treat yourself to just one more game.
