eFootball PES 2020

About

eFootball PES 2020 is an authentic soccer game, winner of the 'E3 Best Sports Game' award, featuring real-life teams such as FC Barcelona, Manchester United, and Juventus. The game offers various playing modes, including local multi-player, single-player, and co-op, with realistic graphics and gameplay. However, it suffers from optimization issues and bugs that may detract from the overall experience. The Legend Edition includes exclusive content for myClub mode.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Local Multi-Player Play with friends in the same physical space using split-screen or multiple screens
2-Players Play with one other player, either online or locally, in a cooperative or competitive game mode
Multi-Player Compete or cooperate with other players online
Co-Op Team up with friends to complete levels or missions together
Single-Player Play through the game's story or campaign solo
PvP Player versus Player - Fight against other players in real-time, often in arena-style combat
Split Screen Play with multiple players on the same screen, often with divided or shared screen real estate

+10

70%

Audience ScoreBased on 1,906 reviews

gameplay107 positive mentions

optimization9 negative mentions

Best soccer game out there with realistic gameplay and graphics.
Gameplay feels more relaxed and less scripted compared to FIFA.
Master League mode offers a fun and immersive experience.

Requires downloading mods for the best experience, which can be a hassle.
AI can be inconsistent, often leading to frustrating gameplay moments.
Online matchmaking is poor, with long wait times and lag issues.

gameplay
298 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
36%
55%
9%
The gameplay of eFootball PES 2020 has received mixed reviews, with many praising its realism, ball physics, and tactical depth, often highlighting it as superior to FIFA in these aspects. However, numerous players have expressed frustration over issues such as inconsistent AI behavior, sluggish controls, and a lack of polish in online modes, leading to a perception that while the core gameplay can be enjoyable, significant improvements are still needed. Overall, while some players find the gameplay satisfying and realistic, others feel it falls short of expectations, particularly in comparison to previous titles and the demo version.
- “The gameplay is amazing.”
- “Gameplay is refreshing though, ball physics is way better in PES compared to FIFA which feels a bit more arcade-y, passing and receiving animations are more natural here.”
- “I love the gameplay on PES 2020, it's fun, challenging, and it feels realistic, plus I was always a fan of build-up play rather than one-man dribbling the entire defense, so it seems like PES is a perfect match for me.”
- “Terrible gameplay for a 'football simulation' game; passing is broken and off-player movements are as well.”
- “Gameplay is so bad that it feels like I wasted my money even trying this game.”
- “The problem with PES gameplay is that you feel very much out of control so much of the time.”
graphics
140 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
54%
42%
4%
The graphics in the game have received widespread praise for their realism and detail, often being described as superior to competitors like FIFA. Many users highlight improvements in player likenesses, animations, and overall visual quality, although some note issues with optimization and performance. While the graphics are generally considered a strong point, they are sometimes overshadowed by gameplay concerns, with some players feeling that the focus on visuals has come at the expense of gameplay quality.
- “Amazing graphics!”
- “The graphics are stunning.”
- “Superb graphical realism, and tantalizing gameplay, create an experience that fans of the beautiful game should absolutely play.”
- “The graphics are bad and the gameplay is also bad, do not buy it.”
- “I'm running a system that is high-end graphics, and the game still lags badly.”
- “The only meaningful upgrade from last year is graphics but is not enough positive upgrade, to justify the rest of negatives which are far more than positive upgrades.”
optimization
22 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
14%
45%
41%
The game's optimization has received significant criticism, with many players reporting severe performance issues, including stuttering, lag, and inconsistent frame rates, even on high-end hardware. While some users have found workarounds to improve performance, the overall consensus is that the game is poorly optimized for PC, leading to frustrating gameplay experiences. Despite impressive graphics, the optimization problems detract from the enjoyment and competitiveness of the game.
- “Works well on an ultrawide display at 3440 x 1440, smooth and good performance.”
- “[Tight, methodical gameplay, outstanding animations, well-optimized PC port, clean, detailed graphics].”
- “Put the money into development, bug fixing, network optimization, I don't know, something, instead of useless partnerships... it makes no sense when 75% of the teams and players are unlicensed anyway and you'll need to get an option file to get a decent experience.”
- “The game's optimization seemed to be bad when I first bought this game in November 2019 as I struggled with framerate issues; however, I looked up gameplay on YouTube with my specs and copied the settings I saw in the video, and it now works flawlessly.”
- “Game is crap... stuttering and lag... game is made for consoles, not PC.”
- “Low performance, severe FPS drops even at low quality video settings.”
music
11 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
36%
36%
27%
Overall, the music in the game has received mixed reviews, with some users finding it repetitive and limited, leading to boredom during extended play. While a few enjoy specific soundtracks, many agree that FIFA's extensive and superior selection outshines the game's offerings. The general consensus suggests that improvements are needed to enhance the musical experience.
- “I will start by saying that I do enjoy the songs that are on PES's soundtrack.”
- “FIFA's soundtrack also takes the cake here, being four times the size (104 to PES's measly 25) and also being, well just better.”
- “Looks like FIFA can keep the crown of best video game soundtrack, for now.”
- “What else... music is horrible and repetitive as usual (got a tank full of gas yeah you know really fast gimme everything you got gimme everything you got...).”
- “The number of soundtracks are very limited, it gets boring if you play for a long time.”
- “I want to kill the one who inserted music from the opera for the second year in a row in ml.”
stability
11 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
9%
91%
The stability of the game has received mixed reviews, with many players reporting frequent glitches, freezes, and AI issues that detract from the overall experience. While some users with older hardware have noted that the game runs well on max settings, others have experienced significant problems, particularly in online matches, leading to frustration and disappointment. Overall, the game's stability appears to be a major concern for a substantial portion of the player base.
- “My CPU is 8 years old (i7 3770k), and this game still runs great on max settings.”
- “It freezes after the first half and won't let me play. I tried to get a refund and they wouldn't do it. I really feel let down by Steam.”
- “This game has gone off the deep end; their commitment to realism has created a code too complex for them to figure out, resulting in a game that is too buggy and broken to enjoy.”
- “In-game glitches are far too numerous to ignore, and the AI will almost never miss a free kick as long as they can see the goalkeeper. You'll have a better chance saving a penalty since you can actually control the goalkeeper then.”
monetization
9 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
22%
22%
56%
The monetization aspect of the game has drawn significant criticism, with users labeling it a cash grab that heavily relies on in-game purchases, reminiscent of mobile games. Many players feel that the focus on microtransactions detracts from the overall experience, particularly in modes like "Become a Legend," and express frustration over the perceived prioritization of profit over gameplay quality. Additionally, concerns about account suspensions for non-spending players further exacerbate feelings of exploitation.
- “I have not spent a dime on in-game purchases and have been managing to build a decent team.”
- “Total focus on online features and in-game purchases as FIFA does, forgetting BAL totally.”
- “I only play for BAL and the AI is bad; in 2020, I would put this on the level of a cash grab mobile game.”
- “Also, Konami started leaning heavily on in-game purchases. The company does not care for anything but taking your money.”
- “Total focus on online features and in-game purchases, as FIFA does, forgetting BAL totally.”
story
8 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
38%
25%
38%
The story aspect of recent football games has been criticized for its lack of engaging narrative and meaningful choices, with players noting a repetitive and uninspired progression system. Many reviewers express disappointment in the absence of interesting story events or mini-games, leading to a perception that the games prioritize online play and marketing over a compelling single-player experience. Overall, the consensus is that the story mode feels shallow and fails to deliver a satisfying experience.
- “Being a fan of simulator-based games, I used to think FIFA was a joke with its arcade-like, greedy, politically correct story. There was no option to customize a player from scratch or include real existing players in the world. The game focused heavily on online play, with aggressive marketing that prioritized that aspect. However, now PES is right there as the lost twin of failed FIFA.”
- “The story mode offers a few hours of engaging content, typically around 10 to 20 hours if you focus on the main narrative.”
- “The storytelling elements in the game provide a unique experience, even if they sometimes feel disconnected from the main gameplay.”
- “No story events, lackluster choices on progression.”
- “The progression system is uninspired to say the least and still no interesting story events or mini games/systems.”
- “They make no remark if a ball goes off the post, will tell a random side story in the middle of a counterattack, and repeat the same phrases towards the end of nearly every match.”
humor
7 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in PES 2019 is described as a mix of charm and frustration, with players finding the game's numerous flaws—such as poor AI and gameplay mechanics—both amusing and exasperating. While some appreciate the comedic aspects of the game's shortcomings, others feel that the humor wears thin due to the overwhelming frustration it causes. Overall, the humor is a double-edged sword, providing moments of laughter amidst significant gameplay issues.
- “Mind you, the gameplay of PES 2019 is laughably bad at some points, but it's 'cute' and 'funny' and it was one of the charms that made the game enjoyable.”
- “The passing is bad, crossing is terrible, and constant bugs are just hilarious.”
- “It's hilarious and frustrating to play.”
atmosphere
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
50%
Players appreciate the game's ability to create a small, local stadium atmosphere, particularly when controlling lower-tier teams, and enjoy the crowd reactions that enhance the overall vibe. However, there are criticisms regarding the lack of atmosphere in certain stadiums, missing cutscenes, and the absence of trophy celebrations, which detracts from the immersive experience. While the graphics and initial atmosphere impress, ongoing gameplay reveals significant issues that undermine the overall enjoyment.
- “The crowd reactions are cool, adding to the atmospheric vibes of the game.”
- “Greatest football game made yet, but it needs some FIFA polish, like better commentary and stadium atmosphere.”
- “I was amazed by the graphics and atmosphere in the first games.”
- “Not all stadiums in the game... no qualifiers, no atmosphere, no cutscenes... lose a final and you won't see the lifting of the trophy. What the heck?”
- “Greatest football game made yet, but needs some FIFA polish, like better commentary and stadium atmosphere.”
- “The first games I was amazed by the graphics and atmosphere, but the more I played, it became obvious that this game is broken.”
replayability
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
50%
Users highlight the replayability of the game as "infinitely replayable," particularly noting its accessibility compared to FIFA, which often requires significant financial investment. This affordability enhances the overall playability, making it a more attractive option for players looking for long-term engagement.
- “Infinitely replayable.”
- “This change alone makes the game much more playable.”
- “Especially if you are done spending a ton of money on FIFA, since PES is much more playable without throwing dollars at it.”
- “I haven't played tons yet, but this change alone makes the game much more enjoyable.”
grinding
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be slow and tedious, often leading to frustration and boredom after extensive playtime, with some feeling compelled to quit due to the repetitive nature of the grind.
- “The online game is slow, tedious, and often stops mid-game.”
- “After over 800 hours of grinding, I got really bored and it was time to give up.”
emotional
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players express frustration with teammates' lack of engagement during critical moments, which detracts from the emotional intensity of the game. This disconnect can lead to feelings of disappointment and confusion, impacting the overall experience.