Football Manager

Football Manager 2023 is another year of evolution for the series, with small but meaningful changes to established proven system. This results in a game that is the best in the series no question, one for die-hards and newcomers to enjoy.

84%Game Brain Score

gameplay, music

graphics, stability

89% User Score Based on 10,956 reviews

Critic Score 78%Based on 12 reviews

Platforms

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About

"Football Manager 2023" is a football management simulation game where you take charge of a club, controlling everything from transfers and tactics to training and finances. With deep complexity and attention to detail, it offers a vast and immersive experience, making you feel like a real-life manager. The game boasts of updated databases, official club partnerships, and a refined match engine, promising a more authentic and engaging football management experience than ever before.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

89%

Audience ScoreBased on 10,968 reviews

gameplay44 positive mentions

graphics44 negative mentions

graphics
298 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
11%
74%
15%
The graphics of the game have received mixed reviews, with many players expressing disappointment over the outdated visuals that fail to meet modern gaming standards. While some appreciate the game's art style and detail during matches, the overall consensus is that significant improvements are needed, particularly in the match engine and player animations, which many liken to graphics from a decade ago. Despite the game's depth and engaging gameplay, the lack of graphical evolution remains a sore point for many fans.
- “It really works that in through paying time and attention, you can eventually achieve the fantasy scenario of your dreams; the depth is really incredible and it has come such a long way in graphics, UI, and general accessibility in making a ginormous spreadsheet into a game.”
- “I love the detail; the graphics during matches are impressive.”
- “Another excellent rendition of FM - the new features are subtle but so useful, the graphics are perfect for the nature of the game, and the number of ridiculous things that happen in games have reduced a lot.”
- “In an era where gaming technology is pushing boundaries, the dated visuals of Football Manager 2023 are a stark reminder of the game's stagnant visual evolution.”
- “Graphics are 20 years out of date.”
- “The graphics are comparable to FIFA 2005, and there are indie mobile games with 1/1000th the budget that have better graphics than this game.”
gameplay
179 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
25%
71%
4%
The gameplay of Football Manager 2023 is characterized by its depth and engaging mechanics, appealing to both newcomers and veterans of the series. While the controls are user-friendly and the overall experience is smooth, many players feel that the game lacks significant innovation compared to previous titles, with some mechanics feeling outdated. Despite some frustrations with bugs and repetitive elements, the game remains a solid choice for those who enjoy tactical and simulation aspects of football management.
- “The controls are easy to understand and use, and the gameplay difficulty is well balanced.”
- “The heart of FM23 is its deep and engaging gameplay.”
- “Its deep gameplay, attention to detail, and commitment to realism make it a highly addictive and rewarding experience.”
- “This game is just absolutely rubbish; the mechanics break, it's so unrealistic these days and just wastes hours.”
- “Dont normally leave reviews, not my thing, but after spending so much time trying to get to grips with this year's version and finding no consistency or logic in the gameplay, I just had to vent my frustration before I put my fist through the screen!”
- “Same terrible mechanics as always... nothing has changed... so much hype for nothing every year.”
stability
42 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
10%
90%
The game's stability has been widely criticized, with numerous players reporting significant bugs, glitches, and performance issues that detract from the overall experience. While some users noted minor technical issues, the consensus is that the match engine and various gameplay elements are particularly problematic, leading to frustration and confusion. Many players are calling for urgent patches to address these ongoing issues, which have reportedly worsened over time.
- “Runs great on Linux and is still as entertaining as always.”
- “Considering that this league is a top 10 league in Europe, you'd think after obtaining licenses for it, they would ensure it's bug-free.”
- “It's so buggy and unrealistic that it's impossible to enjoy after realizing that these gameplay limitations are insurmountable and also aren't in any way being tried to fix or improve by the developers of the game.”
- “The gameplay (match engine) is extremely buggy and results in the player being utterly confused by what they should be doing.”
- “They haven't removed so many bugs including: promises being completely broken and never working, B teams in international management never being able to arrange friendlies or anything despite being able to appoint staff, your inbox is still spammed with scout reports, the ask for a reasonable price promise but then setting the asking price lower exploit still works so you never have to sell players, the match engine is still buggy (even buggier if I'm honest), the approval rating is completely dumb often not making any sense at all, and international management is still broken as players can be called up from your national team despite playing competitive matches.”
optimization
40 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
15%
55%
30%
The optimization of the game has received mixed reviews, with some players praising its smooth performance on various devices, while others report significant issues such as crashes, glitches, and a stuttering match engine despite stable frame rates. Many users feel that the game is poorly optimized compared to previous versions, highlighting a lack of realism and excessive bugs that detract from the overall experience. Overall, while there are improvements in certain areas, the game's optimization remains a contentious point among players.
- “The tactical options at your disposal are extensive, allowing you to fine-tune your team's performance to an unprecedented level.”
- “Also, I think the game is well optimized; I play it on my laptop basically anywhere I go, and it's never lagged.”
- “I think they made improvements to the match engine, scouting, etc. Generally, it is good; the only problem I see is that the tactics of AI managers and consideration of big teams' power for match results need to be optimized.”
- “Unoptimized, just wasted over 100 minutes of my life starting it for the first time and making my club for it to crash after I press start. Never wanted to give up so much in my life after that.”
- “Poorly optimized game.”
- “The 3D match engine always looks like it's stuttering even though the FPS is steady at 60 FPS.”
grinding
34 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
6%
12%
82%
The reviews highlight that grinding in the game is excessively tedious and time-consuming, often requiring players to invest significant hours to achieve meaningful progress. Many users express frustration with repetitive tasks, lack of substantial improvements, and an overwhelming amount of management details that detract from the overall enjoyment. While some aspects, like scouting, have seen minor enhancements, the core experience remains bogged down by monotonous elements that can make the game feel bloated and unmanageable.
- “The squad comparison was better; at least with that, I could look at the whole squad and not tediously go position by position.”
- “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
- “It's about the tedious, senselessly unmanageable elements.”
- “Too little has changed; broken long ball football is overpowered once again, still some very tedious player interactions, set-pieces and international management remain awful, and the new scouting system is even more of a time-sink.”
story
28 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
7%
71%
21%
The story aspect of the game is generally perceived as lacking, with many users noting that there is little to no structured narrative. Some players mention the ability to create their own story, but overall, the storytelling is described as simplistic and not fully realized, with a few references to specific characters like Haaland adding a minor layer of interest.
- “You can create your own story.”
- “This year's football manager is like a story-based game where Haaland is the villain.”
- “The base 'story', if we can call it that, is moderately interesting.”
- “Story = no story.”
- “Such a simple bit of story-writing but not taken.”
music
18 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
50%
17%
The music in the game receives mixed reviews; while some players appreciate the engaging Champions League walkout music and the overall presentation of match day sounds, others find the music to be minimal or distracting. Some users express a desire for a focus on gameplay improvements over musical elements, suggesting that the music should not overshadow the core gaming experience. Overall, the Champions League features are highlighted as a standout aspect, adding a special touch to the gameplay.
- “This is the best game in the entire series... really love the Champions League walkout music!”
- “The new Champions League visuals and music are a nice touch.”
- “It feels special to play those games when the music comes on and the players are walking out.”
- “No music basically.”
- “For the love of god, stop putting fancy bullshit like music in the game and make it better. Your loyal consumers give great feedback every year, but you keep avoiding it.”
- “It seems complicated, but it isn't actually that difficult. You can delegate things you don't want to do to other people so that you can focus on only the things you find interesting. It's a chill game where you don't need all of your focus on it, so you can listen to music or podcasts or even watch YouTube while playing.”
monetization
18 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
11%
22%
67%
The monetization aspect of the game has received significant criticism for including intrusive ads despite the absence of microtransactions or in-game purchases. Players express frustration over being bombarded with ads related to personal information and promotional content, particularly in a game they have already paid for, leading many to label it a cash grab. Overall, the presence of ads detracts from the gaming experience and has resulted in negative reviews.
- “There are no micro-transactions or in-game purchases.”
- “No ads.”
- “It's a cash grab and it doesn't just deserve a negative review on the editor itself, but the base game as well.”
- “In-game ads in a game that I paid for.”
- “They are still trying to show me ads in a game I paid 48 euro for...”
humor
16 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is often derived from its absurdities, such as the wild interactions between players and managers, the comically low salary caps in MLS, and the exaggerated media reaction options that force players into self-deprecating responses. While some players find the game's flaws laughable, others feel that the developers are mocking them, leading to a mixed reception of the humor overall. Despite its shortcomings, many players appreciate the comedic elements when they embrace the game's quirks.
- “One complaint that is more of a humorous observation: the interactions with players and other managers is wild.”
- “Can't even get through the first year without just laughing my ass off at the complete failure of the tactics and match engine implementation.”
- “Media reaction options are hilarious as unless you praise the opposition, you can only say everything was your fault, etc... no player bashing allowed.”
emotional
14 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players report a profound emotional experience while engaging with the game, often feeling a range of emotions from happiness to sadness, with some moments eliciting tears. The emotional depth is highlighted as a significant aspect, even surpassing expectations for graphics quality, contributing to a rich and immersive experience. Overall, the game effectively captures the emotional rollercoaster associated with football.
- “I laughed, I cried 10/10.”
- “I have been happy, sad, and angry—all the emotional rides of football ⚽.”
- “This can actually bring the game more emotional depth.”
replayability
12 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
42%
25%
Overall, the game is praised for its high replayability due to various team management options, offering hundreds of hours of gameplay. However, some users feel that it could benefit from additional features to enhance playability, and there are mixed opinions on the depth of replay value in the latest update.
- “I will say this, the replay value is high based on the different ways you can manage the teams.”
- “As always, FM is fantastic value - it offers hundreds of hours of replayability and is one of my favorite games.”
- “As always, FM is fantastic value - it offers hundreds of hours of replayability and is one of my favorite games, but this year really is just a glorified database update.”
- “It could be a little more playable.”
- “Infinite replay value.”
atmosphere
10 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
20%
50%
30%
The atmosphere in the game is enhanced by the inclusion of iconic UEFA anthem intros and improved match branding, contributing to a more immersive experience during key matches. However, while the audio elements provide a decent ambiance, they can feel repetitive, and the overall graphical representation of fans lacks the passion expected, particularly in high-stakes scenarios like derbies. Overall, the atmosphere is a strong point but still has room for improvement.
- “These additions add an air of atmosphere around the draws and those big European nights under the floodlights.”
- “The match engine really does have a special something about it this year; the UCL, UEL, and UECL branding really does add something to the atmosphere of the simulation, and the shortened VAR review times are an upgrade to the playing experience.”
- “Great game, typical FM with its ups and downs. Very realistic in its management style, but the only thing I believe it can get better are the atmosphere and the graphics, which are pretty basic. Even in a derby, the fans don't seem to have much passion. Overall, great game.”
- “The match engine really does have a special something about it this year. The UCL/UEL/UECL branding really does add something to the atmosphere of the simulation, and the shortened VAR review times are an upgrade to the playing experience.”
- “The addition of Europa and Champions League anthem intros really adds a huge amount to the atmosphere of those games.”