Football Manager 2019

The Football Manager series just goes from strength to strength. This is superb, sublime, and irresistible. It’s not a game you play, it’s a game you live.

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In Football Manager 2019, you are the author of your team's story, with the power to control every aspect of your club's operations. The revamped tactics module and overhauled training system offer new ways to build your squad and implement your footballing philosophy, allowing for a more authentic and immersive experience. Create your unique success story in this extensive football management simulation.

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Reviews

85%

Audience ScoreBased on 2,565 reviews

graphics17 positive mentions

stability17 negative mentions

The game features an impressive level of detail and realism, making it highly immersive for football fans.
The new training and tactics systems provide more control and customization, enhancing the overall gameplay experience.
The game is addictive, with many players reporting hundreds of hours spent managing their teams.

The match engine has significant issues, with players often missing easy chances and unrealistic outcomes in matches.
There are numerous bugs and glitches, including crashes and problems with saving games, which can frustrate players.
Player interactions and press conferences are repetitive and lack depth, making them feel tedious over time.

graphics
69 mentions
25 % positive mentions
67 % neutral mentions
9 % negative mentions
The graphics in the game have received mixed reviews, with some players appreciating the improvements over previous versions, while others criticize them as outdated and lacking detail. Many users express a desire for better animations and more realistic visuals, particularly in the 3D match engine, which they feel falls short compared to competitors like FIFA. Overall, while there are some positive aspects noted, the consensus is that significant improvements are still needed in the graphical presentation.
- “Imho the best of the bunch in terms of overall graphics, gameplay, tactical system & structure.”
- “Very good love the game.... match day graphics lots better than 2017 and training realistic.”
- “Good game, much better graphics than previous versions which is to be expected but there are also more enhanced elements to the game that give it a bit more depth and complexity.”
- “Even if the graphics are miles away from this gen games...”
- “Frist of all the graphics suck, yes deal with it, it's the same graphics from 5+ years ago, they change some interface in the tactics screen and training and charge people 60 for the same game from 5+ years ago.”
- “The graphics for the game haven't changed at all, it's still a simplified mess and has 0 detail as every version of the game has had since they added it.”
gameplay
50 mentions
36 % positive mentions
58 % neutral mentions
6 % negative mentions
The gameplay of the latest football manager game has received mixed reviews, with many praising its depth, tactical mechanics, and overall addictiveness, while others criticize issues like slow pacing, technical glitches, and unresponsive player actions. Some players appreciate the intuitive controls and immersive experience, but frustrations arise from gameplay inconsistencies and a perceived lack of improvement over previous titles. Overall, while the game offers a rich tactical experience, it also faces significant criticism regarding its execution and performance.
- “Awesome gameplay and intuitive control.”
- “Great game, the gameplay is very in-depth and it feels like your tactical decisions have a lot of influence on the players.”
- “Probably the best football manager game in the last few years, the tactical style mechanic allows for a less steep learning curve for newer players, and arguably allows those more experienced to experiment more and adapt better to new opponents or situations in match.”
- “I play on Mac, and once I surpassed 50 hours of gameplay, the game repeatedly crashed.”
- “The one problem I have with this game is that I spend so much time pouring through articles about tactics and perfecting my team instructions, and I can never see much of a difference in the gameplay.”
- “This is the worst football manager to date; they put so many new things in, but nothing that affects the gameplay.”
stability
17 mentions
0 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
100 % negative mentions
The game's stability has been widely criticized, with numerous reports of glitches, freezes, and crashes that significantly hinder gameplay. While some players appreciate the depth and enjoyment of the game, many express frustration over the frequent technical issues, suggesting that it feels less stable compared to previous versions. Overall, the consensus indicates that while the game has potential, its current state is marred by instability.
- “Such an incredibly buggy game.”
- “It just freezes until I kill it in task manager.”
- “Many freezes everywhere at any time in the game (during, before, and after football games).”
optimization
16 mentions
31 % positive mentions
50 % neutral mentions
19 % negative mentions
The optimization of the game has received mixed reviews, with some users experiencing significant performance issues, particularly on lower-end systems, while others report smooth gameplay and improved performance on higher-end machines. Despite some complaints about stuttering and crashes, particularly for those upgrading from previous versions, there are also positive notes about the game's overall performance and user interface. Overall, while some players are hopeful for future fixes, others are satisfied with the current state of optimization.
- “Performance is much better and I'm playing on a low-end PC, anyway.”
- “So, the performance overall is great and optimization seems to be great!”
- “The all-round performance is great, with the UI sensibly remaining as clean and user-friendly as it has been for a number of years now.”
- “But, the 2D view is getting worse, both in performance and visuals.”
- “The only improvement in performance is that it crashes before I get to load a game now!”
- “Despite having a new computer with five-star graphics, I cannot play this game since the matches are stuttering even at the lowest quality.”
story
11 mentions
0 % positive mentions
73 % neutral mentions
27 % negative mentions
Players praise the game's storytelling potential, highlighting the immense freedom to create personal narratives and the engaging, albeit sometimes nonsensical, storylines that can lead to significant emotional investment. The blend of realism and creative storytelling allows for a deeply immersive experience, making it easy to lose track of time.
- “Lost too many hours to this game by getting too attached to nonsensical storylines.”
- “Both in terms of realism (to an extent) and the capacity of building storylines from basically scratch.”
- “The story you can create for yourself is immense!”
grinding
10 mentions
0 % positive mentions
20 % neutral mentions
80 % negative mentions
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious and frustrating, particularly due to repetitive conversations, press conferences, and a lack of improvements in the match engine. While some appreciate the depth and detail involved in managing talent and staff, many express disappointment over the persistence of tedious elements that detract from the overall experience.
- “The worst match engine of any football manager game by far, and none of the continual problems from previous games have been fixed (player interactions, tedious press conferences, etc.)”
- “Press conferences are the most tedious, pointless aspect of the game.”
- “Liking it and definitely worth the cash but as a repeat purchaser I'm unsurprised but disappointed that the player interactions continue to be tedious and non-intuitive.”
humor
7 mentions
100 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is highlighted by its absurd and exaggerated player demands, leading to laugh-out-loud moments as users navigate ridiculous contract negotiations and player antics. Many players find themselves amused by the game's quirky scenarios, which add a lighthearted touch to the football management experience. Overall, the humor is a standout feature that enhances the enjoyment of the game.
- “You will find yourself laughing at how ridiculous the game is in about 20 minutes.”
- “Despite Alisson being a new signing in the summer, he demanded in December that I doubled his wages. Even funnier than that, Joe Gomez demanded he go from 20k a week to 160k, and Trent from 40k a week to 250k, along with a number of other players wanting new contracts. When I decline these hilarious demands, they all want to leave, and it drives morale down, but I still win every game anyway.”
- “I'd like FM 19 because many ideas can succeed in the game, making football more funny and happy. It's the best game from the last few years, better than FM 18, FM 17, and FM 16.”
music
5 mentions
20 % positive mentions
20 % neutral mentions
60 % negative mentions
Reviewers express disappointment over the lack of music in the game, suggesting that it detracts from the overall experience. Some players feel that music could enhance their focus and motivation, especially during critical moments, while others believe that professional players might prefer silence or personal music over a coach's guidance. Overall, the absence of a musical score is seen as a missed opportunity for immersion.
- “♬ music ♬”
- “You did not manage to have enough money to fix graphics, code, and add music?”
- “- no music???”
- “I'd suggest adding a song when you load the game.”
replayability
5 mentions
60 % positive mentions
-20 % neutral mentions
60 % negative mentions
Players consistently highlight the game's high replayability, noting its ease of learning and extensive features that keep the experience fresh and engaging. Many users report spending hundreds to thousands of hours playing, indicating that the game remains enjoyable over time.
- “A bit intimidating at first, but very easy to get the hang of and with a huge amount of replayability (see my hours...)”
- “Great game with perfect real-life simulation, never gets boring; probably have thousands of hours of replayability.”
- “It also has a ton of features, so it's a big plus for the replay value.”
- “A bit intimidating at first, but very easy to get the hang of and has a huge amount of replayability.”
- “Great game with perfect real-life simulation, never gets boring; I probably have thousands of hours of replayability.”
- “It also has a ton of features, so it's a big plus for replay value.”
monetization
4 mentions
0 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
100 % negative mentions
Players express frustration with the monetization model, particularly the inclusion of in-game advertisements despite having paid for the game. This has led to confusion and annoyance, as many feel that paying for a game should not require them to opt into watching ads, detracting from the overall experience.
- “In-game advertisements make me hate this game.”
- “I apparently have to opt into advertising, which confuses me because I'm pretty sure I paid money for this game, and I don't usually have to watch targeted ads when I pay for games.”
- “It's so annoying; at least in FM 18 I could put Champions League dynamic ad boards and enjoy realism. Now I'm blackmailed to watch your advertising in the Champions League, and they don't work as well.”
emotional
3 mentions
100 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
Players find the emotional aspect of the game to be surprisingly impactful, often forming deep attachments to fictional characters and teams, even if they initially had no interest in football. The game's ability to evoke strong feelings and create a sense of connection to a virtual world is praised, highlighting its effectiveness in engaging players on an emotional level.
- “I didn't even like football before I started playing, but now I'm emotionally attached to a city I have never seen, I idolize a Spaniard who doesn't even exist, and I've poured more time into a fictional management simulator than I have my post-secondary education.”
- “Simply amazing, realistic, and emotionally capable of successfully getting you to love 'a complete stranger'!”
- “Slightly over-emotional dressing rooms at times, but nevertheless a quality football manager game.”
atmosphere
1 mentions
0 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
100 % negative mentions
Players note that the atmosphere in the game can be negatively impacted by irrational player demands, which can frustrate managers regardless of their skills. This dynamic can lead to a tense and challenging environment within the dressing room.
- “No matter your managerial skills, some players will keep bringing you irrational matters that will frustrate them regardless of your response, ultimately diminishing the atmosphere in the dressing room.”