Football Manager 2015

Better menu layouts, countless new options and improved match-day features see FM2015 remain in title-winning form.

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Football Manager 2015 is a single-player and multi-player sports simulation game that provides a realistic and immersive experience of football management. As the team's manager, you control tactics, substitutions, and pitch-side instructions, with a 3D match engine to follow the game in real-time. Despite some bugs, the game offers an in-depth and engaging experience for football fans.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Reviews

75%

Audience ScoreBased on 1,002 reviews

gameplay10 positive mentions

graphics8 negative mentions

The game offers a highly immersive and detailed football management experience, allowing players to engage deeply with tactics and team management.
The new user interface is more streamlined and user-friendly, making navigation easier for both new and veteran players.
The scouting system has been improved, providing more realistic player evaluations and making it necessary to scout players thoroughly before making transfers.

The match engine is flawed, leading to unrealistic scorelines and frequent defensive errors, which can be frustrating for players.
Injuries occur far too frequently, often sidelining key players for extended periods, which disrupts team performance.
The game can feel repetitive and lacks significant innovation compared to previous versions, leading some players to feel it is just a minor update rather than a new installment.

gameplay
42 mentions
24 % positive mentions
57 % neutral mentions
19 % negative mentions
The gameplay in the latest installment has received mixed reviews, with some praising improvements in player roles and team instructions, making it more accessible for newcomers. However, many players express frustration with matchday mechanics, unrealistic decision-making, and a lack of depth in gameplay, suggesting that it feels repetitive and luck-based at times. Overall, while there are enhancements, significant issues remain that detract from the immersive experience fans expect from the series.
- “Overall if you love your football and are willing to put a few hours into learning the mechanics and a few Google searches on how your team plays, you will have a lot of fun.”
- “Excellent in-depth gameplay, everything is up to date and it feels more realistic in terms of tactics and team status.”
- “This version of Football Manager surprised me in a good way, the match mechanics are a lot improved contrary to other people's reviews.”
- “It seems to me that in their pursuit of justifying a yearly release of the same game with updated rosters, they are adding small mechanics that detrimentally impact the game's performance and enjoyability.”
- “Crashing/freezing like this three or more times per game week is simply unacceptable and completely ruined gameplay for me.”
- “Poor gameplay; everyone is injured within a month, teams asking ridiculous prices for youngsters, and the 3D gameplay isn't that different. You might as well apply no tactics as it doesn't really affect the game.”
graphics
35 mentions
14 % positive mentions
63 % neutral mentions
23 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game have received mixed reviews, with many users expressing disappointment over their quality, often describing them as outdated or cartoonish. While some players noted improvements in certain areas, such as animations and matchday visuals, others criticized the overall graphical performance, stating that it falls short compared to other sports titles. Despite the graphical shortcomings, many players still appreciate the gameplay and depth of features offered.
- “Great improvement on graphics this year!”
- “The 3D graphics have been improved, making it more realistic on the pitch, especially with the new 'team talk' feature allowing you to shout specific instructions to your team.”
- “What can I say fellow FM'ers, no question the game is more aesthetically pleasing to the eye and it runs a tad quicker than previous years.”
- “Great game as always, but how can they still have this really bad graphics? I know it's not FIFA or PES, and I'm not expecting it to look like them, but it should surely be a lot better than it is.”
- “The graphics are terrible and cartoon-like. I have a top-spec PC (AMD FX8350, Radeon R9 series graphics), and the injuries are beyond a joke; I'm getting 3 or 4 serious injuries every game.”
- “Just upgraded from 2013 (I only do it every 2 years to avoid disappointment) and this is the buggiest version to date. Graphics glitches left, right, and center, and very few new exciting features. Plus, the engine needs sorting out; it's even worse than the original unpatched version of 2013, which was poor enough with at least 1 own goal a match.”
stability
15 mentions
0 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
100 % negative mentions
The stability of the game has been widely criticized, with numerous reports of glitches, bugs, and frequent freezing issues that significantly hinder gameplay. Many users express frustration over the game's performance, labeling it as the most flawed installment in the series, and suggest waiting for future updates or versions to address these problems. Overall, the current state of the game is seen as a buggy mess, lacking the polish expected from a new release.
- “For the first time ever, I've had to go back to a previous version; this one is so flawed and buggy. Case in point: so many defensive errors. Any time you make three substitutions, you're guaranteed to pick up an injury. I'd suggest waiting for the next version and picking up 2014 cheap.”
- “This game is poor, plays poorly, but at least we can play a buggy game with a fresh interface every year, because that seems to be all the consumer pays for.”
- “Just upgraded from 2013 (I only do it every 2 years to avoid disappointment, lol) and this is the buggiest version to date. Graphics glitches left, right, and center, and very few new exciting features. Plus, the engine needs sorting out; it's even worse than the original unpatched version of 2013, and that was poor enough with at least one own goal a match.”
humor
7 mentions
100 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
Users find the humor in the game's mechanics, particularly during penalty shootouts where both players consistently miss, creating a comical situation. Additionally, the absurdity of the goalkeeper's behavior—such as watching the ball for an extended period while an opponent scores—adds to the game's comedic elements. Overall, while the game aims for realism, its quirks often lead to unintentionally funny moments that enhance the experience.
- “But the shortcomings of the engine are most hilarious with penalty shootouts.”
- “Whenever my player missed, the opponent did so as well and so on... hilarious.”
- “The two most common are players not chasing down a loose ball 5 yards away from them and the worst one of all... opponent takes a shot, keeper makes a save, ball comes back into the penalty box, keeper watches it for 5 minutes whilst the opponent runs 25 yards to stick it in the back of the net... funny thing is it only happens to your keeper.”
optimization
5 mentions
20 % positive mentions
20 % neutral mentions
60 % negative mentions
The optimization of the game has received mixed reviews, with some players feeling that the addition of new mechanics negatively affects performance and enjoyment, particularly in the match engine and goalie behavior. However, others appreciate the improvements in the 3D match engine, interface, and AI, suggesting that these enhancements provide significant value for dedicated players. Overall, while there are notable advancements, some issues remain that impact the overall experience.
- “For those who want to experience a better 3D match engine, a redesigned interface, better artificial intelligence performance, reworked transfers, and more interactions between the in-game characters, the new release offers a lot of value, considering that the fans tend to routinely spend 50 or 60 hours with it.”
- “The other big fault is the performance of goalies when the match engine is running.”
- “And not addressing your players' demands severely hinders their morale and their performances now!”
- “For those who want to experience a better 3D match engine, a redesigned interface, better artificial intelligence performances, reworked transfers, and more interactions between the in-game characters, the new release offers a lot of value, considering that the fans tend to routinely spend 50 or 60 hours with it.”
grinding
5 mentions
0 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
100 % negative mentions
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious and repetitive, often feeling that it relies too heavily on luck rather than skill. Many express frustration with the slow pace and the overwhelming number of repetitive tasks, which detracts from the overall enjoyment of the gameplay.
- “It's slow and tedious.”
- “Scouting is very tedious and doesn't work properly.”
- “My main problem is that, even by cheating, you can't win unless you are lucky enough to figure out ongoing tactics - which is kind of tedious and a game killer for me.”
replayability
3 mentions
100 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
Players highlight the game's significant replayability, noting that it offers countless hours of enjoyment and varied experiences, akin to managing a sports team with its ups and downs. Overall, it is regarded as a game that encourages repeated play.
- “Played this game a lot, and just like with my career as the Middlesbrough manager, there were some ups and downs, but ultimately this is a great game with tons of replayability.”
- “Countless hours of replay value.”
- “Lots of replay value.”
emotional
3 mentions
100 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
Players highlight the game's ability to evoke deep emotional empathy, likening the experience to the intensity of watching a live football match. The poignant moments, such as a goalkeeper's heartbreaking stance as the ball rests at his feet, contribute to a powerful emotional connection with the gameplay.
- “The emotional empathy this game creates is as close to the real thing as watching a real football match on TV.”
- “What an absolute heartbreaking shame.”
- “The goalkeeper saving the ball, standing back and staring at the ball, which is touching his feet.”
story
2 mentions
150 % positive mentions
-150 % neutral mentions
100 % negative mentions
The story aspect of the game is mixed; some players enjoy developing home-grown talent and witnessing their potential, while others find the narrative experience lacking to the point of dissatisfaction, even considering refunds.
- “The story of my Manchester United save has been incredible; by October 2016, I had developed young home-grown talents like Jon Desormeaux and James Errington, both with the potential to become world-class players.”
- “The narrative of my game experience has been engaging, showcasing the growth of my team through the development of promising regens.”
- “I love how the story unfolds as I nurture young talents, creating a rich and immersive experience in my save.”
- “The story is so poorly executed that I want to ask for a refund of my money.”
- “The narrative is lacking depth and engagement, making it hard to stay invested in the game.”
atmosphere
1 mentions
0 % positive mentions
-200 % neutral mentions
300 % negative mentions
The atmosphere in the game is criticized for its lack of realism, with crowds resembling inflatable dolls and minimal crowd sound effects, such as missing chants and reactions to gameplay. Players express disappointment over the absence of engaging audio elements that could enhance the overall experience.
- “The crowd looks like a bunch of inflatable dolls in the stands, and just like previous versions, there is hardly any atmosphere in terms of sound from the crowds. Where have the good old 'sack the boss' chants gone? Why can't the crowd whistle or boo at the ref? For that crippled engine, we get the amazing gift of hot dog stands outside the stadium?”
- “The overall atmosphere feels lifeless and uninspired, lacking the energy and excitement that one would expect from a game of this caliber.”
- “Despite the visuals, the game fails to create an immersive atmosphere, leaving players feeling disconnected from the action on the field.”