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*.

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Reviews

94%

Audience ScoreBased on 6,032 reviews

graphics13 positive mentions

stability18 negative mentions

Highly addictive gameplay that keeps players engaged for hours.
Impressive level of detail and realism in managing a football club.
New features like the Data Hub and improved match engine enhance the overall experience.

Many players report bugs and crashes, particularly on certain systems.
The match engine can feel scripted, with unrealistic outcomes and player performances.
Limited significant changes from previous versions, leading some to feel it's just a roster update.

graphics
74 mentions
18 % positive mentions
76 % neutral mentions
7 % negative mentions
The graphics in the Football Manager series have received mixed reviews, with many users noting a lack of significant improvement over the years, particularly between FM 2022 and 2023. While some appreciate the realistic gameplay and slight enhancements in match visuals, others criticize the outdated graphics and animations, suggesting that they fall short of modern standards. Overall, there is a consensus that while graphics are not the primary focus of the game, a more substantial update is needed to align with contemporary gaming 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.”
- “Fm 2022 and 2023 look the exact same, and 2024 doesn't seem to be any different, other than some match enhancements with graphics.”
- “The graphics are bad for a 2022 game from a big developer.”
- “Years later, and the graphics have not improved at all.”
gameplay
58 mentions
33 % positive mentions
62 % neutral mentions
5 % negative mentions
The gameplay in this installment has received mixed reviews, with many praising its depth, realism, and addictive nature, particularly highlighting improvements in the match engine and user experience. However, some players have noted persistent bugs, frustrating mechanics, and a lack of significant innovation compared to previous versions. Overall, while the game offers a captivating managerial experience, it still faces criticism for certain gameplay elements that need refinement.
- “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 even 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
21 mentions
24 % positive mentions
62 % neutral mentions
14 % negative mentions
The optimization of the game 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 and a lack of user-friendly design have also been highlighted. Overall, while some aspects of optimization are commendable, there are notable areas that require improvement.
- “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 in the 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
18 mentions
0 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
100 % negative mentions
The stability of the game has been widely criticized, with users reporting numerous bugs and glitches that detract from the overall experience. Common issues include unclickable dialog options, problems with the match engine, and a broken pre-game editor, leading many to feel that the game resembles an unfinished beta rather than a polished release. Despite some new features, the persistent technical problems have left players frustrated, especially given the game's long-standing history.
- “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.”
- “Never have SI released a game as buggy as FM22.”
story
14 mentions
21 % positive mentions
57 % neutral mentions
21 % negative mentions
The game's story aspect is described as minimal or non-existent, with some players appreciating the freedom it offers to create their own narratives, particularly in a football management context. Others note the potential for engaging storylines through character interactions and RPG elements, while some express frustration over inconsistencies in the game's narrative mechanics. Overall, the story is seen as a backdrop to gameplay rather than a central focus.
- “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.”
- “Your storyteller board is brutal.”
- “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.”
humor
9 mentions
100 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is consistently highlighted by players, with many finding the visuals and sound design to be amusingly chaotic. Players enjoy the comedic interactions with fans and media, particularly the absurdity of managing a team with limited resources and the humorous commentary surrounding player performances. Overall, the game is described as "hilariously outdated" yet entertaining, making it a fun experience despite its flaws.
- “The visuals during the match are also hilarious.”
- “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
8 mentions
38 % positive mentions
25 % neutral mentions
38 % negative mentions
Football Manager 22 offers exceptional replayability, allowing players to create unique football universes that can be enjoyed for years. With extensive customization options and a balanced game engine, the game remains engaging and fresh, making it a worthwhile investment for fans. Overall, it is considered nearly infinitely replayable.
- “Great game, never gets old, and so much detail can be both difficult and easy depending on what you're into, so it's 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
6 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 overly time-consuming.
- “It can be a bit grindy sometimes.”
- “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
- “Hours of grinding to get Sunderland back to the top.”
- “If you are not getting tired of grinding, then start enjoying.”
emotional
5 mentions
100 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
The emotional aspect of FM24 is highlighted by its ability to evoke a wide range of feelings, with players experiencing deep satisfaction from victories and significant disappointment from losses. While some users express skepticism about the game's value, they acknowledge its potential to create meaningful emotional experiences akin to those found in FIFA, despite a steep learning curve for newcomers.
- “For that power to invoke such a vast emotional spectrum, I recommend.”
- “More than that, FM starts to remind FIFA in a bid to create emotional experiences.”
- “Every win feels like you put the work in, and every loss hurts at an emotional level.”
music
5 mentions
60 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
40 % negative mentions
The music aspect of the game has received mixed reviews, with some users appreciating the match sounds while noting the absence of music. However, others found the lack of music to be a drawback, describing it as "filling noises" and expressing disappointment with the overall audio experience.
- “Don't be put off by the lack of music.”
- “Very good (match sounds, no music included).”
- “Just filling noises (no music).”
- “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, no music.”
atmosphere
1 mentions
300 % positive mentions
-200 % 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.”
- “The atmosphere is incredibly immersive, making you feel like you're truly part of the game.”
- “Every match feels alive with the vibrant crowd noise and dynamic visuals that pull you into the experience.”
monetization
1 mentions
0 % positive mentions
-200 % neutral mentions
300 % 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 to a strong recommendation against purchasing it.
- “There are ads in a game that costs 55 euros; I definitely cannot recommend this game.”
- “The monetization strategy is overly aggressive and ruins the overall experience.”
- “It's frustrating to see so many paywalls in a game that should be enjoyable without constant upselling.”