Football Manager 2022

Football Manager 2022 is about as close to the real thing as you can get, with some nice improvements that make it the ultimate experience.

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FM22 brings new, progressive ways to find your winning edge, instil your footballing style and earn it for the fans. Pre-purchase now for 10% off and Early Access*.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Reviews

90%

Audience ScoreBased on 12,075 reviews

graphics26 positive mentions

stability36 negative mentions

graphics
148 mentions
18 % positive mentions
76 % neutral mentions
7 % negative mentions
The graphics in the Football Manager series have received mixed reviews, with many players noting a lack of significant improvement over the years, particularly between recent iterations like FM 2022 and 2023. While some appreciate the realistic gameplay and minor enhancements in match visuals, others criticize the outdated graphics and animations, suggesting that they fall short of modern gaming standards. Overall, there is a consensus that while graphics are not the primary focus of the game, a more substantial upgrade is needed to meet contemporary expectations.
- “Great graphics and realistic gameplay.”
- “The graphics engine gets better each year with new animations.”
- “I think the graphics for '22 are much better and more fluid, nice to see they've added a lot more animations to the characters.”
- “The graphics are bad for a 2022 game from a big developer.”
- “Years later, and the graphics have not improved at all.”
- “Any other game, literally any other game in any series has improved their graphics, except Football Manager.”
gameplay
117 mentions
32 % positive mentions
64 % neutral mentions
3 % negative mentions
The gameplay in this installment has received mixed reviews, with many praising the enhanced match engine and immersive managerial experience, while others criticize persistent bugs and a lack of significant innovation compared to previous versions. Players appreciate the depth and realism, noting improvements in animations and user experience, but some feel that core mechanics remain unchanged and can become repetitive. Overall, the game offers a captivating experience for both new and returning players, though it still has room for improvement in certain areas.
- “This latest installment in the series takes the already immersive and addictive gameplay to new heights, offering a truly authentic and captivating managerial experience.”
- “One of the standout features of Football Manager 22 is the enhanced match engine, which provides incredibly realistic and dynamic gameplay.”
- “The depth is fantastic, and while it does take some time to become familiar with the gameplay, when you do begin to figure it out it becomes one of the most enjoyable games I have ever played.”
- “Honestly, a lot of lazy coding in there, bugs, and broken mechanics, which can't be spotted immediately but only after many hours of playing, testing, and observation.”
- “Same bugs from year to year, same gameplay as the last 7 years, can't even improve UI for wide screens, barely worth it with a 50% discount.”
- “All the reviews criticizing the gameplay/match engine, headers, 5 back formations, whatever it may be, for the most part are understating just how below standard this piece of rotten game is in the context that the creators wish for this to be an accurate representation of real-life football.”
optimization
42 mentions
24 % positive mentions
62 % neutral mentions
14 % negative mentions
The game's optimization has received mixed reviews, with some players praising its smooth performance and improved match engine, while others criticize it for poor responsiveness, long loading times, and outdated graphics. Issues such as significant performance drops in later seasons, particularly on lower-end machines, have also been noted. Overall, while there are advancements in certain areas, many users feel that the game still suffers from optimization flaws that detract from the overall experience.
- “I can safely say the optimization is very good.”
- “As with every year, Sports Interactive deliver a truly brilliant game with new features and improved performance.”
- “The game plays wonderfully and the new data hub is a wonderful and diverse feature that allows you to really hammer down into the reasons behind your team's performance.”
- “Other cons for the game include bad optimization or lack of responsiveness, regular loading times that definitely could've been eliminated or at least shortened with smarter code, outdated graphics, horrendous animations, and an obvious lack of user-friendliness in the UI design, like too many clicks to achieve things that could've been achieved with half the clicks if the developing company stops being greedy and hires competitive UI, UX, and user-friendly design experts to help design the interface and the whole game.”
- “If you start playing 9th or 8th Premier League, performance issues in the second season are huge even on a strong machine.”
- “Tactics aren't followed, teams always concede late despite defensive instructions, games are nearly impossible to win, prior years' tactics have no positive effect, and there is no explanation given for why results go bad or how to resolve poor performances.”
stability
36 mentions
0 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
100 % negative mentions
The game is plagued by numerous bugs and glitches, leading many users to feel it resembles an early beta version rather than a polished release. Issues include unclickable dialog options, freezing during gameplay, and persistent problems with the match engine and user interface, which have remained largely unchanged for years. Overall, players express frustration over the lack of timely fixes and the game's stability, detracting from the overall experience.
- “It feels like this is a buggy early beta build, not a fully released product.”
- “The game remains to this day very buggy, the pre-game editor remains to this day broken and several important features are unusable as they ruin the data with any change you make and the game overall feels more like a full-time job than a video game, with unnecessary time-consuming features that add no flavor to the game, the user interface has taken a nosedive since fm20 with information scrambled around the screen rather than focused in one place.”
- “Never have SI released a game as buggy as FM22.”
story
28 mentions
21 % positive mentions
64 % neutral mentions
14 % negative mentions
The game's story aspect is polarizing, with some players appreciating the freedom it offers to create unique narratives, particularly in a football management context, while others criticize the lack of a structured storyline. Many highlight the potential for engaging personal stories, such as team-building and character relationships, but some express frustration over inconsistencies in the game's narrative mechanics. Overall, the experience varies from a rich, emergent storytelling potential to a perceived absence of a cohesive plot.
- “The freedom and the details generate an unlimited amount of fantastic storylines.”
- “It's a football management sim, but it's also a great RPG with a non-linear story, a 'real-time with pause' battle system, status effects, social links, and a huge number of NPCs that can decline or improve with time.”
- “But in that fateful moment, that game changed lives, and gave the world a story to be told for generations to come.”
- “This game has no story.”
- “What makes no sense is why a player that is wanted by absolutely nobody gets an offer from me outside of a transfer window. The transfer story doesn't leak, and a week later he still hasn't accepted my contract offer. I think it's suspicious and go check, and I find out that in the meantime even Jesus Christ put a bid on that player.”
- “Your storyteller board is brutal.”
humor
18 mentions
100 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is widely praised, with players finding the visuals and sound design to be hilariously entertaining, often leading to amusing situations during matches. Fans and media interactions add a comedic layer, as players navigate absurd transfer budgets and quirky fan reactions, contributing to an overall lighthearted experience. Despite some criticisms regarding design choices, the game's humor remains a standout feature, making it highly recommended by users.
- “I recommend this game. When in my first year I played as a Man Utd coach, Glazer was so stingy he only gave 40 million for transfers. The fans were very funny; I bought Tolisso and they said I had a lot of midfielders and Tolisso's performance was not that good. Other supporters said please buy a midfielder because that position is very critical. You know I want to buy the best player, but with a budget of 40 million, you will not be able to buy anyone. The media is always looking for enemies with me. I praise players and the media says they don't understand me, and when I insult players, the morale of the media also decreases. I hope the media is not like this in the real world. 8/10, I suggest.”
- “Lol, it’s honestly hilarious!”
- “Very funny game! I just beat Schalke 1-0 from an own goal, and in the next game, I won by another own goal from the opposing side. 10/10.”
replayability
16 mentions
38 % positive mentions
44 % neutral mentions
19 % negative mentions
Football Manager 22 offers exceptional replayability, with users noting that the game can be played endlessly due to its deep customization options and the ability to create unique football universes. Many players find that even older versions remain engaging, making it a worthwhile investment for fans of the genre. Overall, the game is praised for its balanced mechanics and rich detail, contributing to its lasting appeal.
- “Great game, never gets old, and so much detail can be both difficult and easy depending on what you're into, so worth every penny and very replayable.”
- “In terms of replay value, Football Manager 22 is practically endless.”
- “The replayability is unmatched; you can keep playing the old versions years after they come out since you end up creating your own unique football universe.”
- “Balanced game engine with endless replayability.”
grinding
12 mentions
17 % positive mentions
17 % neutral mentions
67 % negative mentions
Players generally find the grinding aspect of the game to be extensive and sometimes tedious, requiring significant time investment to achieve goals. While some embrace the grind as part of the experience, others feel it can become monotonous and overwhelming. Overall, the consensus suggests that grinding is a prominent feature that may not appeal to everyone.
- “It can be a bit grindy sometimes, but it's rewarding.”
- “You'll need a second life for grinding, but it's worth it.”
- “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
- “Hours of grinding to get Sunderland back to the top.”
- “It can be a bit grindy sometimes.”
emotional
10 mentions
100 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
The emotional aspect of the game is highlighted by its ability to evoke a wide range of feelings, with players experiencing a deep sense of achievement in victories and significant disappointment in losses. While the game can be overwhelming for newcomers, it offers resources to help navigate these emotional highs and lows, making the experience feel rewarding and impactful.
- “For that power to invoke such a vast emotional spectrum, I recommend.”
- “Every win feels like you put the work in and every loss hurts at an emotional level.”
- “While it is overwhelming for the newcomer, there are endless resources online to guide you to your next victory or emotionally shattering loss.”
music
10 mentions
30 % positive mentions
40 % neutral mentions
30 % negative mentions
The music aspect of the game has received mixed feedback, with some users appreciating the match sounds while noting the absence of music. Many feel that the lack of a musical score does not detract from the experience, although some find the background noise to be unremarkable and repetitive. Overall, the focus seems to be more on the match sounds rather than a musical accompaniment.
- “Don't be put off by the absence of music.”
- “Very good match sounds, even without music.”
- “Just filling noises, but no music included.”
- “For a while I have been doing the career mode on FIFA and it was good but not realistic; I couldn't watch the match, there were limited leagues to join, and the background music was boring.”
- “Just filling noises with no music.”
- “Don't be put off by the lack of music.”
atmosphere
2 mentions
100 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
The game's atmosphere is highly praised for its top-notch presentation, featuring sleek menus, detailed player models, and authentic stadium environments that significantly enhance player immersion.
- “The game's presentation is top-notch, with sleek menus, detailed player models, and authentic stadium atmospheres that further enhance the immersion.”
monetization
2 mentions
0 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
100 % negative mentions
The monetization strategy of the game has been heavily criticized due to the presence of intrusive ads, especially considering its high price point of 55 euros, leading many users to recommend against purchasing it.
- “There are ads in a game that costs 55 euros; I cannot recommend this game.”
- “There are ads in a game that costs 55 euros; I cannot recommend this game.”