Discover why Football Manager 2024 remains the top football sim, offering realism, depth, and unmatched satisfaction for every virtual manager.
Why Football Manager Still Reigns Supreme Among Football Games
Although we’ve seen different versions of them over the years, the premise of the Football Manager series of games remains the same - channel your inner manager and aim to progress the club of your choice. Nowadays, Football Manager 2024 is hogging the limelight, but it’s a series that has been impossible to beat in recent times.
Sure, we’ve seen numerous other games like Top Eleven that aim to offer something similar, but Football Manager always comes out on top. When it comes to a management simulation video game, it delivers in almost all areas. While Sports Interactive has been on the receiving end of a hammering after the cancellation of FM25, the company’s progress with the FM series of games has been quite remarkable, and it has elevated the management simulation genre massively.
For fans of the beautiful game, there is simply no other gaming product like it. Alongside picking Fantasy Premier League squads, indulging in some Premier League betting, and watching options like The Overlap on YouTube, Football Manager 2024 is now a go-to option for so many passionate football fans who fancy taking their beloved team to the very top of the sport or a relative minnow up through the leagues. It’s essentially a challenge that football fans relish.
While some football games come and go, though, what is the secret behind Football Manager’s undoubted longevity? As a series of games, it continually delivers and always entertains mass audiences on almost every corner of the globe. But why is this the case? What makes the Football Manager series such a special collection of games? Let’s take a look at some key reasons below.
It’s so realistic
First and foremost, one of the most appealing aspects of any Football Manager game, particularly the more modern versions of it, is that it specialises in delivering a realistic package that mirrors the real world. Where players are scoring hilariously silly goals in football simulations like EA FC 25 that don’t always look possible, Football Manager’s offering is very similar to management in the real-life environment.
This is backed
up by the fact that numerous Football Manager players have earned scouting
roles with professional clubs due to their successes in the game, and we’ve
even seen managers like Lens boss Will Still share his love of the game and
how it made him want to venture into football management.
Of course, just
because you’re shining in the virtual world while managing Barcelona doesn’t
mean you’re then able to take the Spanish giants to a Champions League
triumph away from the gaming sphere, but the game enables football fans to
get a taste of management life thanks to inclusions like in-depth tactics,
board meetings, player development, transfers, club finances, and so much
more.
Essentially, Football Manager games allow fans to have a glimpse
behind the curtain.
As we’ve already touched on, taking on a role at a club you aren’t familiar with lower down the leagues and challenging yourself to take them up through the divisions to the biggest league in that specific nation is an opportunity many managers struggle to refuse. However, most players can’t resist managing the team they love and essentially being in charge of the heroes they’re watching in action every week.
Manage the club you love
As we’ve already touched on, taking on a role at a club you aren’t familiar with lower down the leagues and challenging yourself to take them up through the divisions to the biggest league in that specific nation is an opportunity many managers struggle to refuse. However, most players can’t resist managing the team they love and essentially being in charge of the heroes they’re watching in action every week.
The emotional investment many
managers have in their clubs is illustrated by their desperation to succeed
with them in a video game like Football Manager 2024. The game fosters
connections with players and certain coaches, while some managers aim to
implement a style of play that resembles the team they support in real life.
Ultimately, though, the fact that fans can take charge of their favourite
clubs makes the game even more alluring.
Alongside the temptation of managing the club they’ve supported all their lives, the sense of achievement Football Manager games enable players to feel is another clear reason behind their undeniable appeal. Players have long-term goals to smash their way through, be it winning major competitions or developing young players and selling them on for huge transfer fees that can be reinvested into the squad. No matter what the objective is, it’s highly satisfying when a manager delivers it. In a ruthless profession where managers are sacked harshly at times, the sense of achievement FM players feel when their plans have been pulled off and their club is climbing up the rankings is powerful.
Another key reason behind the success of the Football Manager games has
undoubtedly been the strong community behind them. Whether you preferred
FM18 or FM24, there is a large fanbase of FM players who adore the games and
know them inside out. Fans can discuss their latest tactical decisions on
Instagram, there are YouTube videos where content creators are sharing an
array of
Football Manager-related tips, and streaming services like Twitch have an array of FM players who are
live streaming their management efforts to the masses. While the actual game
itself is largely a solitary experience, given the social aspect of football
as a sport in general, players of the games always have fellow managers to
bounce ideas off, discuss dangerous formations with, and share ideas on how
to handle temperamental players. It’s a great gaming community to be a part
of.
Above all else, though, is Football Manager’s entertainment aspect. There’s a reason why players promise they’ll only play one more match and it turns into two hours-worth of gaming, and it isn’t because the game’s boring. In fact, it’s hard not to become invested in your team and the objectives you’ve set yourself. Players can’t resist improving the fortunes of a League One struggler or edging closer to promotion with a pre-season relegation contender. From the game’s tactical element to the desire to unearth gems in obscure leagues, there are so many layers to a game that provide plenty of entertainment.
A sense of achievement
Alongside the temptation of managing the club they’ve supported all their lives, the sense of achievement Football Manager games enable players to feel is another clear reason behind their undeniable appeal. Players have long-term goals to smash their way through, be it winning major competitions or developing young players and selling them on for huge transfer fees that can be reinvested into the squad. No matter what the objective is, it’s highly satisfying when a manager delivers it. In a ruthless profession where managers are sacked harshly at times, the sense of achievement FM players feel when their plans have been pulled off and their club is climbing up the rankings is powerful.
A strong community
A fun and entertaining game
Above all else, though, is Football Manager’s entertainment aspect. There’s a reason why players promise they’ll only play one more match and it turns into two hours-worth of gaming, and it isn’t because the game’s boring. In fact, it’s hard not to become invested in your team and the objectives you’ve set yourself. Players can’t resist improving the fortunes of a League One struggler or edging closer to promotion with a pre-season relegation contender. From the game’s tactical element to the desire to unearth gems in obscure leagues, there are so many layers to a game that provide plenty of entertainment.
