For years, EA Sports FC (formerly FIFA) has been the go-to soccer game for millions. But not everyone wants to see the same menu screens, yearly updates, and familiar gameplay loops. Some players crave something that feels fresh, a soccer experience that plays by its own rules or dives deeper into what makes the sport so much fun in the first place.
10 Forgotten Soccer Games That Were Great
The following soccer games were a ton of fun, but have sadly been lost to time.
The soccer genre has changed more in the past few years than it did in the decade prior. Studios big and small have started experimenting with new ideas, and soccer fans now have more options outside EA Sports FC, whether it’s realistic management simulators or fast-paced street battles that ignore traditional rules.
Football Manager 2024
Be In Charge Of Every Part Of A Club’s Journey
Football Manager 2024
- Released
- November 6, 2024
WHERE TO PLAY
Building a great team on the pitch starts with making the right choices off the pitch. Football Manager 2024 makes those off-pitch choices the main game. It puts players in the role of club manager and chief decision maker. The game focuses on planning, scouting, transfers, training, tactics, and relationships inside the club.
Players who enjoy long careers and slow progress will find this game very much up their alley. The challenge is planning ahead for seasons, reading scout reports well, and reacting to media and board demands. The game is not about fast thrills on the pitch. It is about building systems that win over years. That long-term play is FM24’s core appeal.
EFootball 2024
An Evolution Of PES With Authentic Team Play, Competitive Online Seasons, And Real-Time Content Updates
eFootball
- Released
- September 30, 2021
WHERE TO PLAY
eFootball 2024 is Konami’s attempt to turn a yearly sports update into a service that can be adjusted mid-game while players test new ideas. EFootball emerged from the old Pro Evolution Soccer brand as a live service model. The 2024 updates focused mainly on improving ball control, chance creation, and match responsiveness.
eFootball 2024: Best Strikers, Ranked
Here are the seven best strikers in eFootball 2024, ranked from worst to best.
My Club or Dream Team style modes continue to be what draws most people to eFooball. It lets players assemble squads from licensed partner clubs and legends, trade in-market items, and contest online ladders. Even though eFootball 2024 is still far from perfect, the developers did well on things that affect gameplay, like the weight of a pass, the timing window for a shot, and the way a defender closes space.
Pro Evolution Soccer 2011
Perfected Timing, Balance, And Fluid Control Before Modern Soccer Sims
Pro Evolution Soccer 2011
- Released
- September 30, 2010
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- everyone e10+
- Multiplayer
- Local Multiplayer
- Genre(s)
- Sports, Simulation
Pro Evolution Soccer 2011, or PES 11, still gets shouts from long-time soccer game fans for being one of the best soccer games ever. It's particularly fun because of its passing feel and low-lag controls. For someone who wants to understand why modern soccer games feel the way they do, this game acts like a blueprint. It's also a fun, fast way to play with friends when modern features are not needed.
PES 11 used licensed teams and simulated tactical depth, so using a team like Barcelona with Messi is almost a cheat code, just like in real life. Passing requires correct timing and weight. Defending requires good positioning and timing of tackles. Those mechanics mean better players can control the match tempo without relying on flashy moves. The visual and audio presentation shows its age today, the polygon counts, camera work, and commentary are dated, but all in all, it’s still a fun game even after all these years.
UFL
A Decent Skill-Based Alternative To Pay-To-Win Soccer Games
UFL
- Released
- December 5, 2024
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- E For Everyone
- Developer(s)
- Strikerz Inc
- Genre(s)
- Sports
UFL is a newer soccer game for those who want something that’s “fair-to-play” and skill-first. Unlike some soccer games, UFL is big on the fact that monetization should not buy any gameplay advantage. In fact, the developers publicly stated the game’s model aims to avoid pay-to-win mechanics, focusing instead on mechanical skill, squad-building through abilities, and balanced matchmaking.
10 Best Strikers In UFL, Ranked
Players looking to take the reins of the best strikers in UFL don't have to look much further than the following individuals.
The game boasts features like club management, custom tournaments, and esports-focused modes that are built to support organized competition. All these make UFL interesting to players who like ranked competition and want a modern engine with open developer communication.
Rocket League
High-Speed Football With Rocket-Powered Cars
Rocket League
- Released
- July 7, 2015
WHERE TO PLAY
Rocket League shows that soccer can still work perfectly when cars replace players by combining driving and soccer into short, action-packed matches. Players control rocket-powered cars and aim to hit a large ball into the opponent’s net in anything from 1v1 to 4v4 matches.
Rocket League is one of those games where matches last only a few minutes, so mistakes are costly. That short time keeps games fast and addictive. Custom modes, cosmetic items, and limited-time events bring the needed variety, but there is nothing available for purchase that will make one player better than another. Gameplay is purely skill-based, and those skills are hard-earned. Thankfully, the game supports solo play and team play, so new players can learn in casual playlists before facing ranked competition.
Rematch
No Rules, No Referees, And Endless Room For Creativity
Rematch
- Released
- June 19, 2025
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- Everyone / In-Game Purchases, Users Interact
- Developer(s)
- Sloclap
- Genre(s)
- Sports
When Rematch dropped in June 2025, over a million players jumped in within a single day, not because of big soccer licenses or famous teams, but because it made soccer feel fast, raw, and personal again. It basically throws out the traditional soccer rulebook. There are no fouls, no offsides, and no referees to stop the action. Rematch is built around pure ball movement, timing, and single-player control.
Players don’t command a full squad; instead, they control one athlete from a third-person view, moving, tackling, passing, and shooting with precision. Matches are small-sided, usually 3v3, 4v4, or 5v5, and are played in compact arenas designed for speed and chaos. It's fast, addictive, and the perfect antidote to EA Sports FC fatigue.
7 Best Soccer Games On Mobile
There are hundreds of soccer mobile games out there, but these are among the most fun and replayable that can be downloaded right now.