Football is one of the most popular sports on the planet, especially in Europe. Many people still don’t know what makes this sport so popular and special, and many say that it’s the second most important thing in man’s life. This sport is all about scoring a goal versus the opposing team thus winning the game.
There are 10 players plus a goalkeeper in every team, and every single player has his own role in the team. There are defensive, midfielders, and attacking players formed in a unique way, which the trainer decides. Because of football being so popular around the world, football games started to make their way to the consoles, PCs, and now Android phones, but we’re going to focus on Top 20 Best Football Games for PC.
1. FIFA 17
FIFA 17 is currently the best football simulation you can play. It’s way advanced than its predecessor, introducing new features like improved AI, new attacking techniques, and other elements that make this game way more simulation than arcade, like the older FIFA games. Graphics is phenomenal, with every player looking almost like in real life and physics is now more realistic, so players will need to put in more effort and focus when playing this game.
Aside from multiplayer, which isn’t a new feature in FIFA, there is a single-player campaign mode called “The Journey” and this is new not only for FIFA but for every football game. There, the player assumes the role of Alex Hunter, a young player in Premer League, trying to be one of the best players in that league and the world. If you are interested, you can take a look at the games like FIFA.
2. Pro Evolution Soccer 2017
PES 2017 is another example of a great football. It’s the main rival to FIFA 18, and many still argue what is better- PES or FIFA. We’ll leave that question for you to answer because it’s not of our concern. PES 2017 is also a big improvement in the series with newly licensed football teams, and the new, adaptive AI. This means that the AI will optimize itself for the player’s playstyle, making it a great game for beginners and also those who are veterans in this game. Both PES 2017 and FIFA 2017 are nominated for the best sports game of 2016 but eventually lost to Steep, which is a Ubisoft game.
3. Football Manager 2017
Football Manager series is one of those series without a bad game in it. Football Manager 2017 is no exception. This new game features improved graphics and gameplay from the past games. It focuses on creating your own team or choose from the existing teams and lead it through the league. In this game, you are everything except the football player. You control transfers, play style, formation, substitutions, etc. and this can provide the player with a lot of fun. We decided to put it number 3 on the list because it’s the most popular football game after FIFA and PES.
4. Rocket League
Rocket League is a unique game, recommended for those who like to experiment. At its core, it’s a soccer game, but instead of soccer players, the player uses a car to control a ball. The field of play is concealed, so there are no outs, and the cars can use a boost or do stunts in order to control a ball. This game isn’t an AAA title and is very cheap to buy, but at this moment, it’s one of the best soccer games you can play. There is also a multiplayer available where players can compete against each other and enjoy this unique and authentic football game.
5. Winning Eleven Online
Winning Eleven Online comes from the developers of the Pro Evolution Soccer series- Konami. However, Winning Eleven Online is focused strictly on online play and uses the old PES engine that was used in making older PES games. This means that the focus of this game is more on an arcade-style of play at a little faster pace. As this is an arcade game, scoring goals and overall gameplay are more unrealistic and can be a lot easier, but this doesn’t make this game bad; it’s actually great! If you like to compete versus the other players and like older PES games, feel free to try this one.
6. Ultimate Soccer Manager
Back in 1995, when soccer games were in massive development, soccer manager games weren’t that popular. There were tons of different soccer games, we’re going to talk about later, but it’s important to mention one of the first soccer manager games called Ultimate Soccer Manager. It’s a classic manager game where the player can control team transfers and other stuff which older players can find interesting, especially the older ones.
7. Sensible World of Soccer
Although the Sensible World of Soccer was released back in 1994, this piece of the game is one of the most important football games ever made. Why? Well, it created a path for other PC football games to follow and even inspired FIFA and PES series. This game is still being played, and fans are still keeping this game ‘alive’ with many new leagues, events, and patches, so it now contains over 15000 leagues and 24000 teams.
8. Championship Manager: Season 97/98
If you’ve heard about the legends like Roberto Carlos, Zinedine Zidane, Luis Figo, and Ronaldo, you know why we put this football game on the list. The ’90s were one of the best periods for football where many football legends were at their peak. However, this isn’t a game where you can play football, but rather be a manager. At the time, it was a very popular game and is still one of the greatest manager games.
9. Sensible Soccer
Sensible Soccer is similar to the aforementioned Sensible World of Soccer, but rather simplified version of that game. It featured more streamlined and simplified football gameplay along with the different camera angles which were zoomed out, to allow for more detailed and tactical gameplay. If you are a fan of old-school football games, be sure not to miss this one!
10. Kick Off 2
Kick Off 2 follows almost the same formula as Sensible Soccer, but with little different game mechanics. It’s one of the first football games that featured various tournaments and players with different moods, which is used even today in PES or FIFA games. However, it has its set of bugs, and the camera was a little zoomed-in, so the overall visibility wasn’t its strongest part. Luckily, Sensible World of Soccer fixed this issue.
11. Super Arcade Football
Super Arcade Football is a top-down football game, made back in the ’90s. It follows a similar formula like Sensible Soccer, but it’s one of the first fast-paced games that combines great gameplay with cartoonish animations and even a slow-mo camera when the ball hits the net of the goal. On top of that there is a (not online) multiplayer, so you can play the game with your friends using a couple of cheap gamepads.
12. New Star Soccer
New Star Soccer is an old-school soccer game that is a little more challenging than a pure soccer game. Aside from a top-down view that was characteristic for the most soccer games at that time, New Star Soccer required of a player not just to play football but to succeed at various challenges in order to win. These challenges can free-kick around the wall or get a perfect pass to a team-mate for example, but there are also harder challenges that will be available later in the game.
13. Lords of Football
Lords of Football may not be the most popular football game out there, but if you played it, you know it’s great. It’s essentially a simulation game that covers most of the overall football experience, and event management! Lord of Football is one of the most challenging games on this list because it requires players to have experience with both classic football games and manager games, making it a great experience for those who want more of the football game.
14. Global Soccer Manager
As you’ve probably noticed, we put many manager games on this list, and it’s because they can vary from very sophisticated to simple games, like this one. Although it’s simple, it still manages to keep the roots from the classical manager games and even offers more than four thousand playable football teams which can add a variety in gameplay. It’s a very cheap game, and you can find it on Steam at any moment.
15. Pro Beach Soccer
Beach soccer, in general, is one of the most overlooked sports of today but despite this, a great sport! Pro Beach Soccer is here to try and return the popularity of this sport, with great gameplay and graphics for that time. There are various modes in this game, and the player can participate in every one of them from the beginning of the game. There is a practice mode, exhibition, or tournament, which is bloody hard especially when make it to the finals. On top of that, there are customizable controls and support for a gamepad, making it a good football game for Windows, with a well-deserved place on our list.
16. TableTop Soccer
TableTop Soccer is a little different football game on this list, featuring strategic, turn-based gameplay instead of classic gameplay. It’s an indie game, but this doesn’t make this game less great. Developers managed to combine these elements with the possibilities of leveling and buying a set of skills and abilities for your players. Multiplayer in this game is also available where the player can experience even more of what this game has to offer. As the game currently costs under 1$, we strongly recommend to try it.
17. FootLOL
FootLOL represents a game that is far more than a football game. It combines classic football gameplay with the addition of sheep, cows, aliens along with mines and various guns making it the most brutal football game of all time. At the beginning of the game, there is a short training, and the player is ready to roll. You can play versus the smart AI or in multiplayer where the more skill is required. If you decide to play a singleplayer, there are a total of 60 levels that will test your skills and sometimes nerves. It’s a fairly cheap game and overall a great experience that doesn’t require a strictly gaming PC. Also, if you like to try something more than the ordinary football, we strongly recommend to give it a chance.
18. Football Tactics
Football Tactics is another turn-based, strategy football game that combines the elements of RPG and adds some licensed football teams like Borussia Dortmund and Manchester United. As we said, this is a versatile game that features classic football gameplay and introduces elements of management like controlling transfers and team development. Aside from the licensed teams, players can also build their own team or even players, with the addition of face and body customization. As this is a new game, you can expect great animations, graphics, gameplay, and multiplayer which is focused on turn-based matches.
19. Frozen Cortex
Frozen Cortex doesn’t follow a classic soccer game mechanics, but rather an American version of soccer (American Football). This game is also turn-based and requires players to lay out waypoints for players to follow. Each turn ends when this action is finished, and it can be done for example when the pass is interrupted or when the player scores a goal. Like many other football games, this one is also cheap but can provide players with lots of fun for some time.
20. Club Manager 2016
Club Manager is the last title on our list, but nevertheless a great game. It’s a classic manager football game where you are in the position of a club manager trying to make your team the best in the world. The game starts with your team being in the 8th league, where you can work your way up. However, there isn’t a multiplayer available, which may be a problem for some players, but for its price tag, it’s still a great offer.