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

88%

Audience ScoreBased on 4,169 reviews

graphics28 positive mentions

stability25 negative mentions

Incredibly detailed and immersive football management simulation.
New training and tactics systems add depth and realism to gameplay.
Highly addictive, with endless replayability and opportunities for strategic planning.

Match engine issues lead to unrealistic results, with players frequently missing easy chances.
Repetitive press conferences and player interactions can detract from the experience.
Frequent bugs and crashes, particularly on certain platforms, hinder gameplay.

graphics
111 mentions
25 % positive mentions
68 % neutral mentions
7 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game receive mixed reviews, with many users noting that while there are some improvements over previous versions, they still fall short of modern standards, often comparing them unfavorably to competitors like FIFA and PES. Some players appreciate the visual presentation and the nostalgic charm of simpler graphics, while others express frustration over outdated animations and performance issues, suggesting that the graphics engine needs significant upgrades to meet current expectations. Overall, the consensus is that while the game excels in gameplay and depth, its graphics remain a notable weakness.
- “The graphics and presentation are well done, providing a visually appealing experience.”
- “Imho the best of the bunch in terms of overall graphics, gameplay, tactical system & structure.”
- “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.”
- “But there certainly isn't any desire to turn this game into something that could rival FIFA or PES graphically, which, let's be honest here, with how much they charge, they should be able to get close.”
- “The match engine still sucks; for a game that has a monopoly on the market and has so many players every season, I can't understand why they are still using PlayStation 2 graphics.”
- “Frist of all, the graphics suck. Yes, deal with it, it's the same graphics from 5+ years ago; they changed some interface in the tactics screen and training and charge people $60 for the same game from 5+ years ago.”
gameplay
90 mentions
26 % positive mentions
67 % neutral mentions
8 % negative mentions
The gameplay of the latest installment has received mixed reviews, with many praising its depth, mechanics, and tactical systems that enhance the overall experience. However, some players have expressed frustration over technical issues, such as crashes and slow performance, as well as concerns about unrealistic game mechanics and a lack of significant improvements compared to previous versions. Overall, while the game offers engaging and immersive gameplay, it also faces criticism for certain persistent flaws that detract from the experience.
- “Whether you're a fan of the franchise or new to the series, this game is sure to provide hours of enjoyable gameplay.”
- “Awesome gameplay and intuitive control.”
- “The tactics and training revamp really enhances the gameplay a lot!”
- “I had bad moments with such things like the gameplay catching up to what is happening, for example.”
- “Sadly, whilst on the surface it would seem an ever improved version, the mechanics, poor tactical realism, and form mechanics just make for a frustrating and unrealistic simulation experience.”
- “This is the worst football manager to date; they put so many new things in but nothing that affects the gameplay.”
stability
25 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. Players have noted that these issues affect both single-player and multiplayer experiences, leading to frustration and a lack of confidence in the game's reliability. While some enjoy the game's depth and mechanics, the overwhelming presence of bugs detracts from the overall enjoyment and functionality.
- “Such an incredibly buggy game.”
- “The game is buggy; we address it and it doesn't get fixed until the release the year after, and we spend another 50 dollars.”
- “Many freezes everywhere at any time in the game (during, before, and after football games).”
optimization
22 mentions
27 % positive mentions
59 % neutral mentions
14 % negative mentions
Overall, optimization feedback is mixed; while some users report improved performance on high-end systems and a stable experience, others experience significant issues such as stuttering, crashes, and poor 2D graphics performance. Many players express frustration with the game's inability to run smoothly on lower-end PCs and the lack of user control over performance settings. Despite these concerns, some users appreciate the clean UI and the game's ability to run well on Macs.
- “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.”
- “Runs better on high performance systems than ever before.”
- “So, the performance overall is great and optimization seems to be great!”
- “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
19 mentions
16 % positive mentions
68 % neutral mentions
16 % negative mentions
The game's story aspect is largely centered around the player's personal journey as a football manager, allowing for immense creativity and immersion in crafting one's own narrative. However, some players note a lack of depth in the overarching storylines, often leading to repetitive and unrealistic match outcomes. Overall, while the experience can be engaging, it may not satisfy those seeking a traditional, structured narrative.
- “The story you can create for yourself is immense!”
- “Reality and fiction become one as I slip into my suit and tie, my polished shoes and pressed trousers, and my life story of a football manager kicks off.”
- “Both in terms of realism (to an extent) and the capacity of building storylines from basically scratch.”
- “Lost too many hours to this game by getting too attached to nonsensical storylines.”
- “Poor teams vs. superior teams is nearly always the same story, minimal shots vs. many goals.”
- “Long story: 25-3 shots in my favor, 10 on goal inside the box, 5-0 clear cut chances, still 4 out of 5 matches end with 0-0, 1-1 or 0-1.”
grinding
15 mentions
7 % positive mentions
20 % neutral mentions
73 % negative mentions
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be extremely tedious and time-consuming, often requiring hundreds of hours to achieve desired results. The repetitive nature of tasks, such as managing player interactions and navigating press conferences, detracts from the overall enjoyment, particularly due to a lackluster match engine that many describe as frustrating and boring. While some appreciate the depth and detail involved, the grind is seen as a significant drawback that can overshadow the game's potential.
- “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
- “Of course, the repetition of conversations can get tedious, just as I imagine it does in real life football management.”
- “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.).”
- “The main reason: the match engine is a soul-sucking, enjoyment-destroying, mind-numbingly tedious horror.”
humor
13 mentions
100 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is frequently highlighted as a standout feature, with players finding the absurdities of gameplay—such as ridiculous player demands and comical in-game events—hilariously entertaining. Many reviews note that the game's quirks and unexpected moments lead to genuine laughter, making it a memorable experience despite some frustrations. Overall, the humor adds a lighthearted touch that enhances the enjoyment of the game.
- “Great game with the in-game editor to make funny experiments.”
- “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, and even funnier than that, Joe Gomez demanded he went from 20k odd a week to 160k, and Trent from 40k a week to 250k a week, 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.”
music
10 mentions
20 % positive mentions
50 % neutral mentions
30 % negative mentions
The music aspect of the game has received mixed feedback, with some players expressing disappointment over the lack of menu and background music, while others find the existing soundtrack to be mediocre. Users suggest that adding music could enhance the overall experience, especially during loading screens and menus. Additionally, the clarity of sound and live commentary is appreciated, but many feel that the game could benefit from a more engaging musical presence.
- “I'd suggest adding a song when you load the game.”
- “The game is very addictive, it's nice and slow paced so it's definitely something you can play while not really focusing too much and it's just a good thing to have on in the background while web browsing, listening to music etc.”
- “You did not manage to have enough money to fix graphics, code and add music?”
- “Sound and live commentary is clear, soundtrack is okay but nothing special.”
- “-no music???”
replayability
8 mentions
38 % positive mentions
25 % neutral mentions
38 % negative mentions
The game boasts high replayability due to its diverse tactics, custom team and player creation options, and extensive features, allowing players to explore various strategies and teams from major leagues. Many users report spending hundreds to thousands of hours enjoying the game, highlighting its engaging and evolving nature. Overall, it offers a rich experience that remains fresh and exciting over time.
- “From the various tactics and formations available, to the option to create custom teams and players, the game offers a high degree of player choice and replayability.”
- “Amazing game just gets better and better and has lots of replay value.”
- “Great game with perfect real-life simulation, never gets boring; I probably have thousands of hours of replayability.”
- “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.”
monetization
6 mentions
0 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
100 % negative mentions
The monetization strategy of the game has drawn significant criticism from users, who feel frustrated by the mandatory in-game advertisements despite having paid for the game. Many express confusion over the requirement to opt into ads and are displeased with the focus on advertising and data collection, which detracts from the overall gaming experience.
- “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.”
- “Sports Interactive are only focusing on ads and collecting data; it feels like I'm now just a bunch of randomness.”
- “Upon installation and booting up the game, the very first thing you will be asked to do is accept these conditions and enter your age so they can send it (together with other data) to third parties which will then show you 'appropriate' advertisements in-game.”
emotional
4 mentions
100 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
Players find the emotional aspect of the game to be surprisingly impactful, fostering deep attachments to fictional characters and settings, even among those who initially had no interest in football. While some elements may feel overly sentimental, the game's ability to evoke strong feelings and investment in the narrative is widely praised, leading to both joy and frustration.
- “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 to successfully get 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 report 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 decline in the overall morale 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.”