Retro Football Boss

About

"Retro Football Boss" is a historical football management simulation, allowing you to manage English professional leagues from 1888 to 1998, with German leagues coming soon. The game features over 40,000 players, 130 teams, and 8,000 options for when and where to start your career, all meticulously researched and compiled. Experience the thrill of managing all senior competitions, from domestic leagues to the European Cup, and lead your team to victory in this nostalgic trip down memory lane.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player Play through the game's story or campaign solo

53%

Audience ScoreBased on 60 reviews

stability12 negative mentions

The game has a fantastic concept that allows players to rewrite football history and manage iconic teams and players from the past.
There is a rich database of historical clubs and players, showcasing a labor of love in research and detail.
The nostalgic feel reminiscent of classic Championship Manager games appeals to fans of retro football management.

The game is plagued by numerous bugs and crashes, making it nearly unplayable and frustrating for users.
It has been in Early Access for several years without significant updates, leading to concerns about developer support and interest.
The user interface is clunky and unintuitive, with many features lacking depth and causing confusion during gameplay.

stability
12 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game suffers from significant stability issues, including numerous bugs and interface glitches that hinder gameplay, such as stuck buttons and unreliable saving mechanisms. While some players have managed to enjoy the game despite these problems, many agree that it feels unfinished and requires further development to reach its potential. Overall, the current state of stability is a major concern for users.
- “The game is absolutely riddled with bugs and menu glitches.”
- “Ok, onto inaccuracies and glitches, many of which I would have put up with if the game had a stable way to save weeks of play.”
- “Some interface glitches - for example, I once had a return button stuck on screen, blocking other buttons, and leaving me stuck with no option but to kill the process.”
graphics
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
50%
The graphics in this game are not a primary focus, with users emphasizing that database depth and immersion take precedence over visual fidelity. While the graphical interface may not match the standards of contemporary titles, it is deemed sufficient for players who prioritize gameplay and historical engagement over aesthetics.
- “Maybe I'm a person that thinks that database and immersion are more important than last generation graphics.”
- “If you like to return back and rewrite all (or any decade) of the English football league history, without being annoyed and disappointed by the lack of graphical/interface beauty compared to other games, this is the right choice.”
gameplay
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
75%
25%
The gameplay is characterized as simple and reminiscent of the mechanics found in CM2 up until the 2001/2002 period, suggesting a nostalgic feel for players familiar with that era.
- “In terms of gameplay, it's simple.”
optimization
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
25%
25%
50%
The game is currently in early access, with developers actively engaging with the community to address bugs and improve performance. While there are many positive aspects and potential for growth, users note that optimization and stability still require significant work.
- “There are many positives about the game; it is currently in early access, so the performance will be improved and new features will be added. The developers are always on the forums answering questions, and they do their best to squash bugs and improve the game. You want this game to be successful for them as they put so much work (and research) into it, and it has so much potential; just need to fix a couple of things.”
- “But still a bit of work to be done, particularly in terms of performance and stability.”
- “There are however many positives about the game, it is currently in early access so the performance will be improved and new features will be added, and the devs are always on the forums answering questions and they do their best to squash bugs and improve the game, and you want this game to be successful for them as they put so much work (and research) into it and it has so much potential, just need to fix a couple of things.”
grinding
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players find the grinding aspect of the game enjoyable as they explore various squads and discover famous players before they became stars; however, this process can become tedious over time.
- “It is quite good fun trawling through the different squads in different seasons and finding the famous players before they became stars, but it does get a little tedious.”
story
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
150%
The game's story aspect offers players a rich historical experience, allowing them to alter the real-life narratives of their favorite football clubs from 1888 to the present. With a plethora of options, players can engage with iconic moments, legendary players, and significant tactical evolutions, providing a deep and immersive journey through football history.
- “You will have the chance to change the real-life story of your favorite clubs; the ability to play and see old 2-2-7 tactics; the tactical and rules changes; going back to players' £1 wages in 1888; an incredible amount of options (choose any club from 1888 to almost nowadays); see old Stanley Matthews in action and try to get him out from Stoke; the return of the league after World War I and II; be the Huddersfield manager and try to maintain the champions' status back in 1923 and the following years; Billy Bremner arriving at Leeds in 1959; be able to beat the best Liverpool's dominance from the 70s to 90s; see Shearer's career from the start; and so, so much more.”
- “You will have the chance to change the real-life story of your favorite clubs; the ability to play and see old 2-2-7 tactics; the tactical and rules changes; going back to players' £1 wages in 1888; an incredible amount of options (choose any club from 1888 to almost nowadays); see old Stanley Matthews in action and try to get him out from Stoke; the return of the league after World War I and II; be the Huddersfield manager and try to maintain the champions' status back in 1923 and the following years; Billy Bremner arriving at Leeds in 1959; be able to beat the best Liverpool's dominance from the 70s to 90s; see Shearer's career from the start; and so, so much more.”
- “The story is convoluted and lacks coherence, making it hard to stay engaged.”
- “Character development is shallow, leaving players feeling disconnected from the narrative.”
- “The plot twists are predictable and fail to deliver any real surprises.”