Football Manager 2018

69%
Game Brain Score Based on 1,697 reviews
  • graphics
  • stability
  • gameplay
Football Manager 2018 Game Cover
The quintessential football management sim is back with its most ambitious undertaking in years.
Starting at $69.99Buy now

"Football Manager 2018" is a sports game with good graphics and gameplay, but can be grinding, buggy, and also funny. Players make decisions on club management, transfers, and tactics in a realistic footballing world with 50 countries and 2500 clubs available. The game features over 600,000 real players and staff, offering a vast and immersive experience.

  • Mac OS
  • PC
  • Windows
  • Cloud
  • Dreamcast
  • Linux
  • NVIDIA GeForce NOW
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

69%
Audience ScoreBased on 1,697 reviews
graphics17 positive mentions
stability68 negative mentions
  • Best football manager game with great depth and realism.
  • New features like Dynamics and Medical Centre add to the gameplay experience.
  • Match engine improvements make matches more engaging and realistic.
  • Game crashes frequently, making it frustrating to play.
  • UI changes are cumbersome and require more clicks to navigate.
  • Injuries occur too often, impacting squad management significantly.
  • graphics104 mentions

    The graphics in the game have seen some improvements, particularly in the match engine, but many users feel they still fall short of expectations, often comparing them unfavorably to other football titles like FIFA and PES. While some appreciate the enhancements and smoother animations, others criticize persistent graphical issues, a clunky user interface, and a lack of significant visual upgrades from previous versions. Overall, graphics are not the primary focus for fans of the series, but there is a consensus that more work is needed to elevate the visual experience.

    • “The graphics are as good as you will get in a football management game, and creating the best formation to beat that top team will give you sleepless nights, be warned!”
    • “Although, I do have to say the graphics are much better than previous years, and the depth of this game is fascinating.”
    • “The graphics look great, and I get regular 60 fps on very high settings.”
    • “For all the graphical improvements hype they've made, I think graphics look even worse.”
    • “The only clear downside I see is that the in-game graphics look ridiculous.”
    • “From graphic glitches to input lag, the most unintuitive UI that the game has ever had & some good ideas so badly implemented that they could be the faltering steps of first-year game design students, FM 2018 is quite simply not ready for public consumption.”
  • stability68 mentions

    The stability of the game has been widely criticized, with users reporting numerous bugs, crashes, and freezes that significantly hinder gameplay. Many players have experienced issues during matches, particularly in multiplayer modes, leading to frustration and a perception that the game is unplayable. Despite some fixes being implemented post-release, the consensus is that the game remains overly buggy and lacks the polish expected from a finished product.

    • “I get halfway through any campaign and the random freezes/crashes happen.”
    • “The worst thing is that from my experience this is the most buggy FM with issues with crashing a lot on multiplayer and also issues where you can't manage your team when it freezes in a 1v1 match online.”
    • “This piece of crap freezes/crashes a lot, isn't half as good as the previous version and has managed to suck out all the fun that the previous game had.”
  • gameplay62 mentions

    The gameplay of FM 2018 has received mixed reviews, with players enjoying the core management mechanics and the nostalgic feel of the game, but expressing frustration over buggy match mechanics and a lack of significant improvements from previous versions. While some appreciate the depth of player interactions and tactical options, others criticize the slow pace and inconsistencies in the match engine, leading to a sense of disillusionment for long-time fans. Overall, the game is seen as entertaining but marred by technical issues and a perceived lack of innovation.

    • “I think what's good about this game is they have stuck with the realistic old school RPG text-based approach to the core gameplay, press conferences, player interactions, training, and team morale. Everything you would expect to have a big effect does indeed have a big effect on the outcomes of games and more.”
    • “I have been very impressed with the new gameplay. Although there are a few bugs and issues here and there, the fact that the 'top teams' are difficult to beat actually makes the game more exciting and makes the tactical changes you make within the game significant.”
    • “The gameplay is entertaining and the management itself is much improved.”
    • “The match mechanics are an absolute joke.”
    • “The match mechanics really do just ruin it, because they play with such stupidity that you feel compelled to abandon any exciting tactics so they might be able to string 2 five-yard passes together.”
    • “Lazy coding means gameplay is a joke.”
  • optimization46 mentions

    The optimization of the game has received mixed reviews, with some players reporting smooth performance and no significant issues, while others experience bugs, crashes, and poor performance, particularly on lower-end systems and macOS. Although there are claims of improvements post-launch, many users still find the game unoptimized, especially in match graphics and user interface, leading to frustration with gameplay and tactical adjustments. Overall, while some players enjoy a seamless experience, a notable portion of the community continues to face performance challenges.

    • “So far so good, 64-bit support has really helped performance on high-end PCs.”
    • “Ui aside, the game runs smoothly; the matches are much more realistic in outcome and the overall game is back on par with the game we all know and love.”
    • “Yet I've been getting consistent good performances from my team (save with Arsenal); tactics feel more effective and formations can be game-changing.”
    • “Despite claiming it's optimized, especially the match interface!”
    • “I am horrified at how terrible the game was optimized.”
    • “Very poor match optimization in 3D mode even with high-end computers.”
  • grinding19 mentions

    Users consistently describe the grinding aspect of the game as tedious and repetitive, with many tasks feeling unnecessarily time-consuming and frustrating. The need to manually navigate through various systems, such as scouting and tactical adjustments, adds to the annoyance, making the overall experience feel more like a chore than enjoyable gameplay. Despite some improvements, the overwhelming sentiment is that the grinding elements detract from the game's enjoyment.

    • “This has always been a tedious part of the game.”
    • “The getting 5-star coach part is tedious and repetitive.”
    • “The new scouting system is so tedious.”
  • music18 mentions

    The music in the game has received mixed feedback, with some players appreciating the new menu and loading screen tracks, while others criticize the limited use of music, noting that it only plays on the title screen and can be repetitive or annoying. Many users express a desire for more diverse and engaging music throughout the entire game, rather than just in select areas. Overall, while there are positive elements, the music aspect is seen as needing significant improvement.

    • “Oh, and the new music at the loading and menu screen is a nice touch too!”
    • “It's good - new database is nice, new UI is nice, menu music is actually cool.”
    • “Please add more music for the entire game, not only in the main screen.”
    • “The first thing I have to do is mute that stupid girly intro music.”
    • “Annoying music at load... they could've chosen better music in my opinion.”
  • humor10 mentions

    The humor in the game is generally well-received, with players finding it both hilarious and absurd, particularly in the unpredictable dynamics of gameplay and the antics of inept strikers. However, technical issues like frequent crashes detract from the overall enjoyment, leading some to feel that the game's shortcomings overshadow its comedic elements. Overall, while many appreciate the humor, frustrations with performance can dampen the experience.

    • “It's so ridiculous that it's actually funny.”
    • “Dynamics swings wildly based on just one result either way and the match plays hilariously as well.”
    • “Anyway, if you are interested in seeing funny strikers who cannot score, I strongly recommend you guys to play this game.”
  • story7 mentions

    The game's story is a mixed bag, with some players appreciating the depth and variety of narratives that keep the experience engaging, while others criticize it for becoming overly linear and disconnected from the realities of football. Despite these criticisms, many players find personal achievements within the storylines to be memorable and rewarding, suggesting that a passion for soccer enhances the overall experience.

    • “Best game of all time, 3k+ hours every year tells my story enough.”
    • “Some interest in soccer is recommended for players of this top-notch sports title and uniquely capable storytelling vehicle.”
    • “The game has become nothing more than a linear 'oh they've bottled it' football story, and is in no way representative of actual football anymore.”
    • “Story was more or less the same for the other teams I tried, but some of it may be due to me using a higher training intensity than standard.”
    • “Over the years of your manager's story, you learn about the world.”
  • atmosphere4 mentions

    Reviewers appreciate the new dynamics system for enhancing the understanding of squad atmosphere and player interactions, contributing to a more cohesive locker room environment. However, some feel that while the feature offers depth in assessing team dynamics, it remains somewhat niche and does not significantly impact the overall management experience.

    • “The new dynamics system is a welcome change, and I do like the fact that you can have a better understanding of your squad's overall atmosphere.”
    • “The new dynamics help explain the player interactions and maintain a better locker room atmosphere.”
    • “The next new thing you will come across is probably 'dynamics' where you can see the dressing room atmosphere in depth and the social groups of players and whatnot. While I haven't utilized this feature to the maximum, I still think it's only niche and adds barely anything to the actual managing experience.”
    • “Personally, I have turned to training and buying similar players (nationality and personality) to create this atmosphere.”
    • “The new dynamics helps explain the player interactions and helps maintain a better locker room atmosphere.”
  • emotional3 mentions

    Players report that the emotional aspect of the game is profound, with many feeling deeply invested in their teams throughout their gameplay experience. This emotional engagement is highlighted as a standout feature, making it a unique and impactful experience compared to other games.

    • “I’m moving over to FM19 today, and it’s been an emotional rollercoaster these last 12 months with FM18.”
    • “There are few games where I get emotionally involved.”
    • “I personally find myself emotionally invested in whatever team I manage, which is an experience that very few games have managed to achieve.”
  • monetization2 mentions

    Reviewers express frustration with the presence of ads in a full-priced game, deeming it inappropriate and suggesting that a subscription model would be a more acceptable alternative.

    • “Having ads in a full-priced game is embarrassing.”
    • “They already put ads in the game in the stands; why not just do a subscription and get it over with?”
  • replayability1 mentions

    Users feel that while certain irrelevant features, such as the data analyst role, detract from the experience, the overall gameplay offers enough depth and engagement to warrant replayability in the football management simulation.

    • “The irrelevant staff features, like the data analyst, could be forgiven for a much more playable football manager simulation.”
    • “Once you've completed the main storyline, there's little incentive to dive back in.”
    • “The lack of diverse gameplay options makes it hard to justify multiple playthroughs.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

Critic Reviews

72% average critic score

Buy Football Manager 2018

Play time

112hMedian play time
365hAverage play time
11-400hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 16 analyzed playthroughs

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