Football Manager 2024

This game is a shining example of how annual releases should be done. FM remains the standard bearer that all football games should be following.

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Progress never stops when you're pursuing footballing greatness. Gameplay upgrades empower you to develop a blueprint for success on and off the pitch. Pre-order for 10% off and Early Access*.

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Reviews

87%

Audience ScoreBased on 8,255 reviews

graphics32 positive mentions

optimization6 negative mentions

Football Manager 2024 offers an unparalleled level of realism and depth, making it a must-play for football enthusiasts.
The enhanced match engine and improved graphics provide a more immersive experience, with fluid player movements and realistic animations.
The new tactical options and set-piece mechanics allow for greater strategic control, making each match feel unique and engaging.

The game is plagued by bugs and crashes, particularly at the team selection screen, which can disrupt gameplay after long hours of play.
Player interactions and morale management are often unrealistic, leading to frustrating situations where players react poorly to logical decisions.
Despite some improvements, many players feel that the game lacks significant innovation compared to previous versions, making it feel repetitive.

graphics
141 mentions
23 % positive mentions
74 % neutral mentions
3 % negative mentions
The graphics in Football Manager 2024 have seen notable improvements, particularly in the match engine and player animations, which enhance the overall visual experience. However, many users feel that despite these upgrades, the graphics still lag behind modern standards, with some comparing them to outdated titles. While the game offers a more immersive atmosphere and refined visuals, there is a consensus that further innovation is needed to truly elevate the graphical quality.
- “When you win cups or tournaments, the celebration graphics are awesome!”
- “Watching your meticulously crafted tactics play out in real-time, with realistic player behaviors and stunning graphics, is a thrill that never gets old.”
- “The match engine, with its refined graphics and realistic physics, brings these tactics to life in a way that's both visually appealing and strategically satisfying.”
- “This game has been around more than 20 years, but still has 1960s graphics.”
- “Moreover the graphics are terrible and the gameplay is more boring than watching paint dry, unwelcoming for new players.”
- “Graphics look like a game from 2000 but apparently these are massively improved.”
gameplay
80 mentions
31 % positive mentions
65 % neutral mentions
4 % negative mentions
The gameplay in this year's edition of *Football Manager* is characterized by its depth, realism, and intricate management mechanics, offering players a rich and immersive experience. However, many users have reported persistent bugs and broken late-game mechanics that detract from the overall enjoyment, with issues such as unrealistic AI behavior and squad happiness overshadowing tactical decisions. Despite these drawbacks, the game still provides countless hours of engaging gameplay, with improvements in fluidity and new features that enhance the managerial experience.
- “With a combination of intricate gameplay, realistic mechanics, and an expansive database, this year's edition sets a new standard for the genre.”
- “This game provides countless hours of exciting gameplay, smart decision-making, and emotional highs and lows, regardless of whether you are an experienced manager or a newcomer to the franchise.”
- “Quite literally the best management game out there; it has the most in-depth gameplay regarding most managerial type games/modes. The amount of creativity and freedom one can get from playing this game is unlimited, and I encourage all people who like managerial simulation games to try out this one.”
- “Too many broken late-game mechanics; players wanting new contracts every six months; team talks and meetings producing unpredictable and nonsensical results; AI teams always wanting above estimated value for their players but refusing to pay even 50% of the value of your players, making them unhappy and unable to offload for a reasonable fee; tactical changes and player quality having little to no effect on results compared to squad happiness, which is impossible to manage because of all of the above issues.”
- “Aside from graphics, the gameplay itself is also horrible. The match engine is unrealistic, and this game can actually increase your stress levels; it's not recommended.”
- “In conclusion, the game is full of bugs, making the gameplay almost unplayable; therefore, it's a total waste of money.”
optimization
40 mentions
8 % positive mentions
78 % neutral mentions
15 % negative mentions
Overall, the optimization of the game has seen significant improvements compared to previous versions, particularly in speed and performance, leading to smoother gameplay and more realistic match visuals. While some users experienced initial performance issues, these were often resolved through proper graphics card calibration. However, there are still concerns regarding the impact of large shortlists on squad planning performance and repetitive press conference mechanics that detract from the experience.
- “From scouting and transfers to training regimens and tactical adjustments, every decision impacts the team’s performance on and off the pitch.”
- “Tons of small optimizations, runs smoother and the matches overall look much more realistic.”
- “Great game; massive improvement compared to the last FM I played (FM22) in terms of speed and performance on the same machine.”
- “We stop scoring, we leak goals, performance levels drop and that goes on till the last month/month and a half of the season where I have now gone from automatic promotion contenders to scraping a playoff place, which I then go on to lose in the first game because my early season form never fully returned.”
- “Whenever you have really huge shortlists, the performance of the squad planner gets ruined for whatever reason.”
- “The bigger your shortlists, the less performance all these things get, since they're all under the squad planner main category.”
stability
24 mentions
17 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
83 % negative mentions
The game's stability has been widely criticized, with users reporting numerous glitches, memory leaks, and significant bugs affecting gameplay, such as the offside and penalty issues. While some players noted improvements in stability compared to previous versions, the overall consensus is that the game remains highly unstable and buggy, particularly in the pre-game editor.
- “I play from day one of the beta, and after 40+ hours of playtime, I must say that this year's FM is the most stable and bug-free compared to the previous two years' series.”
- “It's quicker than it's ever been, and it still runs great on both my laptop and my PC.”
- “The game is a buggy mess, the most notable ones being the offside bug and the penalty bug.”
- “I've never seen the editor as buggy as it is this year; even basic, easily noticeable features don't work (such as country names, kits).”
- “Fm25 is well going to be so bug-ridden it would be a miracle if it even gets off the ground as a playable game.”
humor
18 mentions
100 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is often described as both amusing and frustrating, with players finding comedic moments in unexpected gameplay outcomes and quirky player reactions. Many reviewers highlight the absurdity of certain situations, such as achieving success with seemingly inferior teams, while also noting the humorous yet annoying tendency of players to react dramatically to criticism. Overall, the game is recognized for its lighthearted moments, despite some players feeling that it lacks significant new features.
- “No matter how much I tried to improve my tactics, mentality, etc., another very strange thing happened when I was playing a 2nd division Portuguese team whose goal was just not to get relegated to the 3rd division. I spent all season playing with a low block counter-attack team with the most subhuman players you could ever imagine and ended up on an almost 20-game win streak. In the end, I was promoted to the 1st division, and funny enough, my first 10 games in this 1st division were just draws and losses, playing the exact same football with a very similar team. Like, what the heck?”
- “Two legitimately funny (and frustrating) cases are...”
- “Scouting 16-year-olds is funny.”
replayability
12 mentions
67 % positive mentions
33 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
The game boasts exceptional replayability, highlighted by its deep mechanics, customizable features through an active modding community, and the ability to carry over saves from previous versions. Reviewers consistently praise its depth, realism, and the continuous addition of new content, making it one of the most engaging strategy simulations available. Overall, it is regarded as a top-tier game with immense replay value.
- “10/10 game with an insane amount of replayability.”
- “With an active modding community, the game is customizable and highly replayable.”
- “Unrivaled depth, unrivaled replayability, unrivaled realism, unrivaled excitement and unpredictability... it is, without a doubt, one of the most successful strategy simulations ever created in the history of our world.”
emotional
12 mentions
100 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
Players report that the game delivers a profound emotional experience, characterized by intense highs and lows that keep them engaged for hours. While some criticize the emotional maturity of in-game characters, many appreciate the game's ability to evoke feelings of triumph and frustration, enhancing their overall enjoyment and strategic understanding of football management.
- “I introduced my friend to FM24 a couple of weeks back, and he has grown into the game and suffered the emotional rollercoaster that this game so effortlessly provides.”
- “This game provides countless hours of exciting gameplay, smart decision-making, and emotional highs and lows, regardless of whether you are an experienced manager or a newcomer to the franchise.”
- “My emotional state depends on my scouts being able to explore the worlds for wonderkids.”
story
10 mentions
20 % positive mentions
40 % neutral mentions
40 % negative mentions
The story aspect of the game is generally considered good, but it suffers from a lack of variety, as many players feel that the narrative is repetitive across different games, tactics, and teams. Overall, while the core story is appreciated, its execution leaves much to be desired due to its sameness.
- “Good story”
- “The rest of the game is basically the same old story.”
- “But not every single game, every tactic, every team has the same lame story.”
- “No story.”
atmosphere
8 mentions
25 % positive mentions
38 % neutral mentions
38 % negative mentions
The game's atmosphere is highly immersive, significantly influenced by player dynamics and tactical choices, with the emotional state of individual players impacting the overall club environment. Despite dated graphics, the depth of data and statistics enhances the realism, making the atmosphere feel more authentic than in previous versions. Players must navigate the delicate balance between maintaining a positive atmosphere and managing player relationships, adding a layer of strategic complexity.
- “This version brings a real atmosphere like none before; although the game graphics are old, the data and stats are second to none.”
- “Player movements, tactical decisions, and even the atmosphere in the stadium contribute to a more immersive experience.”
- “1 angry player can get the club atmosphere from perfect to very poor even if the following talks with the player went positive.”
- “You'll have to choose between losing a player almost for free or messing up the club atmosphere.”
- “This version brings a real atmosphere like none before, although the game graphics are old, the data and stats are second to none.”
grinding
7 mentions
0 % positive mentions
29 % neutral mentions
71 % negative mentions
Players find the grinding aspect of the game, particularly in press conferences, to be repetitively tedious and stale, especially after extensive playtime. The need for significant time investment to progress is noted, with some suggesting it feels like a second life is required for effective grinding.
- “The press conferences continue to be repetitively tedious.”
- “These features can feel a little tedious after 50+ matches.”
- “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
music
6 mentions
50 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
50 % negative mentions
Users express significant disappointment with the lack of official Champions League music and UEFA Europa logos in the game, highlighting that the absence of these elements detracts from the overall playability and immersion. Many feel that including authentic music and branding is essential, especially in a 2024 release.
- “Did I mention actual Champions League music and UEFA Europa official logos, not just some skin!”
- “The music really enhances the atmosphere of the game, making every match feel more intense and exciting.”
- “The soundtrack is diverse and keeps the energy up, making it a joy to play.”
- “It's 2024 and still no music or anything in the menu.”
- “Despite the ease of doing this on any music, this destroys any playability in the game.”
- “Did I mention actual Champions League music and UEFA Europa official logos, not just some skin?”
monetization
6 mentions
0 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
100 % negative mentions
Players express frustration with the monetization strategy, feeling misled by advertisements that suggest a new game rather than an update, and are particularly upset about the presence of ads in a game they purchased for €55. This has led to accusations of dishonesty from the developers regarding the game's value and content.
- “The very least FM could have sold us an update instead of advertising a new game, which this clearly isn't.”
- “I still think Miles blatantly lied in his advertisements of the game and on Twitter, but that is a character issue for him.”
- “They are showing ads in a game I paid 55 euros for, so that's unacceptable.”