Pro Evolution Soccer 2016

61%
Game Brain Score Based on 338 reviews
  • graphics
  • gameplay
  • optimization
Pro Evolution Soccer 2016 Game Cover
An utterly essential purchase. PES 2016 is the best there is, and the best there's been in a very long time.
Starting at $167.03Buy now

Pro Evolution Soccer 2016 is a football simulation game, and the fifteenth edition in the series. It offers sensational game mechanics, improved artificial intelligence, and dynamic match weather. The game also includes larger set of player animations, new night time lightning, and a revamped Master League for single-player or multi-player action.

  • PC
  • Play​station 4
  • Play​station 5
  • Windows
  • Xbox One
  • Xbox Series X|S
  • Cloud
  • NVIDIA GeForce NOW
  • Play​Station
  • Play​station 3
  • Xbox
  • Xbox 360
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

61%
Audience ScoreBased on 338 reviews
gameplay36 positive mentions
graphics25 negative mentions
  • PES 2016 offers smooth gameplay with improved animations and realistic ball physics, making it a joy to play.
  • The Master League mode has been significantly revamped, providing a more engaging and immersive experience.
  • Many players appreciate the game's tactical depth and the ability to create various scoring opportunities.
  • The graphics are outdated, resembling a PS3/Xbox 360 port rather than a current-gen game, leading to disappointment among PC users.
  • The AI is inconsistent, with defenders often failing to react appropriately, and goalkeepers struggling to make saves.
  • Online play suffers from lag and connection issues, making it frustrating for players who want a smooth multiplayer experience.
  • graphics114 mentions

    The graphics of PES 2016 have received mixed reviews, with many users criticizing them as outdated and reminiscent of last-gen consoles like the PS3 and Xbox 360. While some players appreciate the game's overall aesthetic and find the graphics acceptable, others argue that they fall short compared to competitors like FIFA, leading to disappointment, especially among PC users who expected better visual fidelity. Despite the graphical shortcomings, many players still enjoy the gameplay, suggesting that graphics are not the sole focus for all fans of the series.

    • “The graphics are great, and I have to say the Fox Engine is a work of art here, just as it was in MGS V.”
    • “Graphics are amazing.”
    • “Graphics that truly color the pitch from one end of the stadium to the other.”
    • “If you've read the other reviews and you're wondering if they're being too harsh about these graphics... they are so true.”
    • “The graphics of PES 16 are worse than FIFA 98's graphics.”
    • “The graphics are closer to the Xbox 360 & PS3 versions, which is just sad.”
  • gameplay98 mentions

    The gameplay in PES 2016 has received mixed reviews, with many praising its realism, fluidity, and improvements over previous versions, particularly in offline modes. However, significant criticism has been directed at the online experience, which suffers from lag and connectivity issues, detracting from the overall enjoyment. While some players find the gameplay to be the best in the Pro Evolution Soccer franchise, others feel that it is marred by technical problems and a lack of polish in graphics and animations.

    • “The gameplay is easily the best I've experienced in the Pro Evo franchise history so far because of it.”
    • “It's worth it for the incredible gameplay that this game offers.”
    • “The gameplay is great; it feels like football, especially when you've played football in real life, like myself.”
    • “The gameplay is tremendously slow; it is impossible to tackle, impossible to defend corners, impossible to do meaningful skill moves, and impossible to play online.”
    • “But the gameplay is what kills it, with the in-game lag staggeringly behind the action regardless of connection.”
    • “The gameplay wasn't as revolutionary as I kept reading everywhere, and the graphic quality seemed like I was playing a 1999 simulator.”
  • optimization7 mentions

    Overall, the optimization of the game is praised for its smooth performance and impressive graphics, even on lower-end machines. However, some users report performance issues during daytime matches due to lighting effects, and there are concerns about the lack of updates for gameplay and online performance. Despite these drawbacks, the game is noted for its realistic physics and efficient resource usage.

    • “After FIFA 16 came out, I switched to PES 2016 and never looked back: smooth animations, challenging difficulty, rewarding goals, and very good optimization.”
    • “It runs smoothly at max settings on my not-so-high-end machine, and I quite enjoy the graphics.”
    • “Not that you'd need SLI, as one GTX 980 will run the game at max settings and use up anywhere from 10-20% of GPU performance during zoomed-out gameplay and around 40% during up-close replays.”
    • “The game performance worsens during daytime matches due to the shadow and brightness effects.”
    • “Still no sign of gameplay or online performance updates.”
    • “I haven't even played online and I don't want to because the performance is so poor offline!”
  • stability6 mentions

    Overall, the game's stability is criticized for being buggy and unpolished, with frequent glitches affecting gameplay, particularly in CPU interactions. While some users acknowledge minor issues, the prevalence of significant bugs detracts from the overall experience.

    • “The demo is good, but the real version is buggy and unpolished.”
    • “When you play against CPU, your teammate will have buggy movement all the time.”
    • “You will see a lot of videos on YouTube showing these buggy movements.”
  • music3 mentions

    The music in the game features a rotating selection of six songs, contributing to an engaging atmosphere, particularly in the Champions League mode, which enhances the overall offline experience. Users appreciate the quality of the music and its integration into the menus.

    • “The Champions League mode, however, is excellent, with the music and atmosphere taking up the majority of my short offline playtime.”
    • “The music is great, enhancing the overall experience.”
    • “The menus feature good music that adds to the enjoyment.”
    • “The music is repetitive, with only six songs rotating constantly.”
    • “The soundtrack lacks variety and quickly becomes monotonous.”
    • “I found the music to be uninspired and forgettable.”
  • atmosphere2 mentions

    The atmosphere in the Champions League mode is highly praised, with users highlighting the impactful music and immersive environment that significantly enhance the overall gaming experience.

    • “The Champions League mode, however, is excellent, with the music and atmosphere taking up the majority of my short offline playtime.”
    • “+ Good atmosphere”
  • grinding2 mentions

    Players find the grinding aspect of the game tedious, particularly due to the dominance of teams like Real Madrid and Bayern, which makes matches feel unbalanced and frustrating. This imbalance contributes to a lack of enjoyment, leading some users to vow never to play the game again.

    • “For starters, everyone chooses Real Madrid or Bayern, which is highly tedious as their players are particularly impossible to tackle.”
    • “It is, however, utterly tedious to play in this way, and that's why it is very unlikely I will ever touch this game again.”
  • emotional2 mentions

    Players express frustration over the emotional impact of unfair gameplay mechanics, highlighting instances where harsh tackles and injuries occur without justifiable actions, leading to feelings of injustice and disappointment.

    • “Oh, your player was tackled so harshly from behind without them touching the ball, and you even got injured?”
    • “Oh, you merely extended your leg without touching anything (not even the foot of the player, nor the ball) in an attempt to take the ball?”
  • monetization2 mentions

    Users express disappointment with the monetization aspect, feeling that the product does not live up to the promotional materials showcased on platforms like Steam. There is a sense of disillusionment regarding the value of the purchase, drawing parallels to misleading advertising practices.

    • “The screenshots and the intro film on Steam's store page for PC were pretty epic, but the product I have in my hands is not up to the advertising by a long way.”
    • “For years in Britain, companies have put ads on their videos and DVDs about how buying counterfeit goods is evil and funds crime, yet here I am, feeling like I'm better off buying the correct product from the manufacturer.”
  • humor1 mentions

    The humor in the game is primarily derived from the amusingly poor quality of player models and crowd animations, which some players found laughable despite the overall stiff gameplay.

    • “The player models and crowds actually made me laugh out loud when I first saw them.”
    • “The humor in the game is surprisingly refreshing and adds a unique charm to the overall experience.”
    • “I found myself chuckling at the witty dialogue and funny scenarios throughout the gameplay.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

Critic Reviews

80% average critic score

Buy Pro Evolution Soccer 2016

Play time

2hMedian play time
2hAverage play time
2-2hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 1 analyzed playthroughs

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