EA SPORTS FC 26 Review

Another year, another FIFA game.

Sorry, EA SPORTS FC game…

My love for the FIFA franchise has waned in recent years due to the stagnation of mechanics, the ever-increasing desire to separate players from their hard-earned cash, and the lack of investible time to really get the most out of more rewarding modes.

I dabbled with FC 25, which was probably the worst FIFA game in recent memory, so it didn’t leave much inspiration to dive into FC 26.

That being said, I was impressed with the build-up – so I thought I’d give it a shot.

EA SPORTS FC 26 Review

Building semi-decent teams for free seems more feasible than it used to

While disappointing in specific areas, EA SPORTS FC 26 is probably the best package football gamers have had for years. EA SPORTS FC 26 features fantastic visuals, great audio, and a bevy of game modes perfect for all fans.

Ultimate Team, Manager Career, Player Career, Rush, Clubs, Seasons, Tournaments…EA SPORTS FC 26’s arsenal of modes is as impressive as it is vast. In addition, each has been tuned to offer an improved experience over recent years.

This does make navigation in EA SPORTS FC 26 a bit of a puzzle. Modes within modes, menus within menus – it’s an impressive visual package, but it does leave a lot of time flipping navigating screens and menus to different areas.

One will most certain find a game mode you love, no doubt there. However, if one removes all the fluff and options, does EA SPORTS FC 26 hit where it matters most?

Packs, packs, and more packs. Don’t get excited though, these have no real value

The gameplay is a mixed bag.

Some of EA SPORTS FC 26’s areas have been vastly improved, with attacking feeling more fluid and creative alongside a greater variety of options for each play.

That being said, many of the issues that plagued the franchise persist.

For one, Rebounds are still an issue. 6 out of 10 goals in one of my matches were rebounds that fell directly at the feet of another player, who can react with near god-like speed to launch the ball into the net.

Goalkeepers can also make saves near impossible for mere humans, yet fumble a slow-rolling ball and they leave the net wide open.

While a huge improvement over FC 25 – and still one of the best FIFA games of recent years – fans expecting an overhaul of mechanics or a new era of gameplay will want to temper expectations.

The single biggest area of improvement, one I didn’t feel lacking in previous entries, are its graphics. EA SPORTS FC 26’s character graphics are incredible – the players look, move, and feel more accurate than ever before, making for a more realistic and immersive football experience.

Rush Mode is what would happen if you put eight 5-year-olds on a pitch and threw a ball at them

Well, if you can get around the rather unrealistic nature of mixed gender matches and teams.

The entire experience does feel more rewarding, with packs and unlocks scattered across various game modes, objectives, and missions.

It’s still an EA-style reward system complete with non-tradeable packs, so players still need to grind or invest to make real progress. Nevertheless, it does feel somewhat friendlier to those not wanting to invest extra cash into the game.

Somewhat, it’s still EA and it’s still FIFA.

EA SPORTS FC 26 is a fantastic football package. Not only is this the best the franchise has looked in years, its nuanced yet worthwhile gameplay improvements keep every match fresh and exciting.

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