eFootball introduces significant upgrades in graphics and gameplay, but the free-to-play simulator still has room for improvement.
While eFootball 2021 was merely a rebranding of Pro Evolution Soccer 2020 with an updated roster due to the COVID pandemic, expectations were higher for eFootball 2022, especially with Konami adopting the Unreal Engine.
However, those hopes quickly turned into disappointment as the game’s launch revealed an array of issues, including poor graphics and numerous bugs. In comparison to the polished experience of EA Sports FC 25, which we recently previewed, eFootball seemed far from competitive.
Fast forward three years, and surprisingly, eFootball continues to exist, now omitting the number from its title. We aimed to see if this free-to-play simulator had enough time to improve, and after several days of gameplay, we can affirm that it is indeed in a significantly better condition.
So, is eFootball 2025 an improvement over its predecessors?
The key takeaway from the latest version is that while many criticisms from three years ago—such as subpar graphics, bugs, sluggish gameplay, and a lack of licensed clubs and leagues—are still present, they are less severe than before.
For instance, graphics remain a generation behind EA Sports FC 24 but have seen substantial enhancements compared to eFootball 2022, highlighting just how poor it was at launch.
Animation quality has also improved, but while there are fewer bugs, challenges remain. Player movements during cutscenes, ball interactions, collisions between players, and occasional goalkeeper saves still exhibit awkwardness and a lack of realism at times.
Despite some improvements, the game speed remains frustratingly slow. Often, a ground pass takes an excruciatingly long time to reach its destination, leaving players just inches away from a pressing opponent when they finally receive the ball, forcing them into a scramble to avoid losing possession.
This unnecessary stress can restrict your gameplay, making it feel like the only viable option is to launch the ball to your winger or hope for a lucky break through the middle. Additionally, the game speed cannot be adjusted in the settings, except during friendly matches, and the match duration is locked at 10 minutes across all campaigns where rewards can be earned.
One persistent issue with eFootball, dating back to the Pro Evolution Soccer era, has been the lack of licensing agreements with teams and leagues worldwide. Instead of featuring Real Madrid, for example, players might see Madrid Chamartin B.
There has been some progress in this area; eFootball 2022 had only nine licensed clubs, whereas the 2025 edition boasts 21, including well-known teams like Arsenal, Manchester United, Bayern München, Inter, AC Milan, and Barcelona. While this is a step forward, it’s still far from ideal for a simulator aiming to provide an accurate representation of the real world.
What’s new in eFootball 2025?
Despite its shortcomings, this year’s eFootball introduces several exciting new features. The most significant is the innovative finesse dribble option, allowing for greater ball control using the L2/LT button. This feature operates similarly to EA Sports FC, enabling players to move at a decent pace while executing quick touches on the ball.
Another positive addition is Smart Assist, which simplifies gameplay by allowing the AI to take control of certain actions based on the current situation. It can determine the appropriate power for your pass or shot, as well as suggest which dribble to perform, and it functions effectively.
However, Smart Assist is disabled in online matches, so while it serves as a helpful tool for beginners, it’s essential to gradually move away from it to avoid becoming reliant on its assistance.
Another significant letdown with eFootball 2022 was its launch without any of the classic game modes, including Master League. Unfortunately, this remains unchanged, as the available modes are now limited to creating your own Dream Team—eFootball’s version of Ultimate Team—or playing with real-life squads.
Currently, eFootball features an online ranked league system with promotion and relegation, a single-player mode that lets you progress through a season, and options for both single-player and online friendly matches.
There are also timed events, but these largely consist of variations on the same competition format, such as “play this many games to earn a reward” or “win a game in three attempts to advance to the next challenge.” Overall, the lack of variety and creativity in game modes feels like a minimal effort on the developers’ part.
What Konami has invested considerable effort into is the rewards system, which aims to encourage daily engagement with the game. There’s a lot to cover, so bear with us. The system features four types of rewards: experience points (for leveling up players), eFootball points (to purchase players, coaches, and kits), nominating contracts (for signing specific players), and coins (to buy player packs).
These rewards are frequently presented to you after every game, following a brief 30-second training session, or simply by logging into the game. In fact, during your first week of play, you’ll receive daily bonuses, including one login bonus, one welcome login bonus, and a Booster Token that can be used to upgrade a player.
That’s not all; when you first log in, you also receive a booster pack containing 10 players, with one guaranteed to be Lionel Messi, the game’s star. Additionally, you can earn Trent Alexander-Arnold by completing two quick training sessions, along with one player each from Barcelona and Bayern München simply by logging in and finishing a couple of challenges.
After just a few hours of gameplay, our Dream Team was filled with players rated 80 or higher, including stars like Messi, Alexander-Arnold, Harry Kane, Jules Koundé, Leroy Sané, and a 94-rated Ferran Torres.
While Konami has made significant efforts to keep you engaged with these rewards, there’s no pressure to spend real money on packs. You can use your experience points to upgrade your Dream Team players, and it doesn’t require much effort to boost a player into the mid-90s ratings—making real-money purchases unnecessary if you’re willing to invest time in the game.
We also want to highlight the commentary, which has significantly improved compared to eFootball 2022. Fans of the Premier League will recognize Peter Drury’s voice, and hearing him exclaim “HARRY KANE” when you take a shot is truly exhilarating.
After giving eFootball 2022 a dismal 2/10 rating at launch, it’s clear that the game has made strides in almost every area over the past three years. However, it still feels and looks like a football simulator from five years ago, meaning it has a long way to go before it can compete with EA Sports FC.
The array of freebies is exciting once you grasp how it all functions, and building a formidable Dream Team is both enjoyable and relatively quick. Unfortunately, you’re then left with a limited selection of uninspired game modes to play.
As a free game, it undoubtedly offers some fun, but it falls short of the high standards set by Pro Evolution Soccer at its peak and cannot claim to be anywhere near as polished as EA’s offering.
eFootball 2025 review summary
In Short: Although eFootball has made notable progress, it remains hindered by subpar graphics, gameplay, and game modes in comparison to EA Sports FC.
Pros: Matches are significantly smoother and largely free of bugs. The abundance of free players you receive early on makes assembling your Dream Team an exciting experience.
Cons: The game continues to be sluggish, particularly regarding passing speed. Additionally, there isn’t enough variety in game modes to keep players engaged.
Score: 6/10
Formats:
Xbox Series X/S (reviewed), Xbox One, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, PC, iOS, and Android
Price: Free
Publisher: Konami
Developer: Konami
Release Date: September 12, 2024
Age Rating: 3+
