Fancy a Change?
If you’re a FIFA fan but have played it so many times you feel like you need a break, it might be time to look for something else where you can branch out your sports gaming skills. While FIFA 23 might be the newest (and most popular) soccer game on the market right now, it’s far from the only one worthy of your time. Whether you’re in the mood for something a bit more fast-paced or something requiring a bit more strategy, there are plenty of other soccer and sporting games you should check out.
Here are some esport titles that are like FIFA for you to play next!
1. Football Manager 2023
If you like FIFA 2023’s career mode and organized gameplay, Football Manager 2023 is a great alternative. Available on all major platforms, including iOS, Windows, mac OS, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 5, and Xbox, this is one soccer game where you don’t have control of the action on the pitch: instead, you get to monitor the overall performance of the team, decide on which new players to sign, and deal with the behind-the-scenes duties that are all important components of running a successful soccer club. This game moves at a slower pace than FIFA 2023 but arguably has more depth and detail. This is the closest you can get to running a soccer team, all from the comfort of your own home.
2. Rocket League
Available on PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, and other devices, this is a game that you need to try! It’s still a game full of soccer balls but features supercars instead of players. You can race around the pitch and try to put the huge soccer ball in your opponent’s net. To help you along the way, you can drive into power-ups such as turbo boosts to help increase your speed and fly across the pitch in record time. This crazy mash-up of driving and soccer might sound strange initially, but it can provide hours of fun. Since its launch in 2015, it has been increasingly popular, with no sign of slowing down anytime soon.
3. Mutant Football League
Available on PS4, Microsoft Windows, Nintendo Switch, and Xbox One, this game takes a step back from soccer and turns toward American football. Here, you will attempt to move the ball across the field, dodging different traps and hazards at every turn. Unlike regular football players, these players are ghosts and monsters. This isn’t a regular game, as you can deploy dirty tactics to bribe the referee, and may the dirtiest player win!
4. eFootball PES 2021
Although eFootball PES 2021 isn’t the most recent game in the series, it is by far the best. It’s essentially an updated version of PES 2020 but offers new club data and rosters while maintaining the same realistic gameplay that makes the PES series so popular. The only catch for this game is that you can’t play in online mode. Instead, you can have lots of fun with offline modes, single-player, etc. Even with some of these limitations, it’s still a great game to play if you’re a FIFA fan.
5. Mario Strikers: Battle League
Available only on Nintendo Switch, take your football skills to the Mario world. In this fast-paced game, you will play matches of 5 vs. 5, with your team being made up of the beloved faces of Mario, Peach, Luigi, Bowser, and Toad. Each one of these characters unlocks a new skill set that is unique to the game and can be used in your favor. The longer you play, the more fantastic features you can unlock to help mold your team into something stronger. You can play in solo game mode or take the leap and play online for chaotic matches with players worldwide!
6. Nintendo Switch Sports
Sticking to our Nintendo Switch theme, this is similar to the classic Wii Sports in that it features a series of party games that will have you up and moving about your living room. You can use your controller to play sports such as soccer, tennis, badminton, bowling, and more. If you’re a FIFA fan, soccer will naturally be the most attractive option for you, and Nintendo has even released a leg strap accessory that you can wear to track your kicks! If you’re up to the challenge, take your skills to the online playing mode. When you aren’t leaping around your living room, you can customize your player to look and sound however you like and create your dream athlete.