Computers, consoles and online platforms have a wealth of football-related games for fans to explore.
Football titles are often some of the biggest-selling games throughout the world. Big-hitting releases such as FIFA record millions of sales each year. They tap into the global excitement and prestige of the world’s most enjoyed sport.
But what are the games that every football fan should try out? Here are the best of the best stretching from way back to right now.
FIFA 10
The FIFA series has sold over 300 million titles over its long career. Debuting in 1994, the games detail the buzz of a match with players able to take part in single games or tournaments.
FIFA 10 has been noted as a particular high point for the series. Arriving in 2009, with this release developers EA really pushed the game mechanics to allow for greater movement and fluidity.
Perfectly capturing the essence of the magic of football, it has become a byword for what is possible in footballing game excellence.
Football slots
Soccer fans can also try their luck on a football-themed slot game. Available to play at Virgin Games, the slot game is an online variant of a classic slot machine. It offers a fantastic use of football imagery and all the excitement of matchday.
International Soccer
Back in 1983, International Soccer was the best football computer game around. Available to play on the classic Commodore 64 home computer, the game was the first game to truly get a feel of the sport.
Using a revolutionary (at the time) side-on view of the action, the game was the first of its kind to offer throw-ins, corners and goal kicks. The game was massively popular and saw players competing against each other for the joy of lifting the 8-bit pixelated trophy.
Pro Evolution Soccer 2017
The long-running rivalry between the FIFA series of games and the Pro Evo ones is a compelling drama that many fans tune into. But it doesn’t have to be either or.
Both of the games have their strengths and in 2017, Pro Evo scored a direct hit.
The game managed to come up trumps with the same beautifully detailed gameplay that fans know all too well. It also secured the official licences of two competitions, something that it occasionally falls behind FIFA with.
With both the UEFA Europa League and the UEFA Champions League on board for the game, fans felt a connection to the real world of unfolding football news. The familiarity of this combined with the as usual superb graphics and animation guaranteed it a special place at the football gaming table.
Super Arcade Football
If you happen to be one of the many football game fans who have a love for retro computing offerings, this could be one to check out.
Super Arcade Football offers a 90’s SNES and Megadrive look of top-down gameplay recalling early classics such as Sensible Soccer and Italia 90.
The game is suitably fast paced with an in-built arcade aesthetic using various options including different types of pitch to offer an all-round experience.
Up to four players can take part in the competitions, making this a great party game to try out. Simple controls of run, pass and shoot mean there isn’t much learning needed – just a desire to get to the essential thrill of the game.
Kick Off
The 1989 Amiga computer game Kick Off brought in a high level of gameplay based around the magical ingredient of pace and acceleration.
Sprites had rarely moved as quickly around a computerized pitch as this before. Football loving computer owners were drawn to the sheer excitement of full-on arcade level speedy gaming. A true turning point for the football sims on computers, Kick Off was always a frenetic experience.
Football Manager
Football games also look at the management side of things as well as the playing. Football Manager, first released on the ZX Spectrum in 1982 and later having a conversion to the C64, was the first to tap into the fun of managing.
Team selection, tactics and buying and selling were all brought out in detail as you try to top the league. Well recommended for fans to visit to see where it all started. Although thankfully these days we don’t have to rely on cassette tapes or cartridges to load up saved games!
New Star Soccer
This release from 2012 was one of the first to successfully showcase a football manager style game ported straight to mobile devices. Available on iOS and Android, it captures an all-round football simulation including both management and gameplay.
The game offers the player the chance to develop a footballing career. Starting out as a promising teen, the game works like a football RPG, with the player practising playing and signing deals.
Football is always a hugely profitable area for computer game developers to focus on. There are so many fans across the world with many opportunities for massive sponsorship and advertising deals. With that in mind, it’s no surprise that football and gaming are so closely linked
