Soccer Manager 2015

If you love football as much as we do, you live and breathe it. Start managing your favourite club in a matter of minutes. Play in 48 leagues from 36 countries around the world and choose from over 800 clubs. Lead living legends to victory in this fast-paced, action-packed single-player game.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

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

Reviews

69%

Audience ScoreBased on 222 reviews

humor3 positive mentions

graphics3 negative mentions

The game is free to play and offers a decent amount of depth for a management simulator.
It features a wide variety of leagues and teams, allowing players to manage their favorite clubs.
The gameplay is simple and easy to understand, making it accessible for newcomers to the genre.

The game lacks sound and visual elements, making the experience feel dull and lifeless.
There are numerous bugs and issues, including unrealistic player ratings and frequent injuries.
Microtransactions are heavily integrated, which can detract from the overall enjoyment and lead to a 'pay-to-win' feel.

gameplay
12 mentions
25 % positive mentions
50 % neutral mentions
25 % negative mentions
The gameplay is generally well-received for its simplicity, nostalgia, and quick pace, making it accessible and enjoyable, especially for free-to-play users. However, some players note issues with balance and randomness, particularly regarding the morale mechanic and goal-scoring inconsistencies, which can lead to a frustrating experience. Overall, while it may lack the depth of more complex simulations, it offers a solid and addictive experience for casual play.
- “Pros: free-to-play; simple; nostalgic; updated rosters; quick gameplay.”
- “Not as in-depth gameplay-wise as FM, but it is still pretty solid.”
- “Simple, addictive gameplay.”
- “However, I feel that there are some issues in the gameplay that I hope will be addressed.”
- “The morale mechanic in the game seems random.”
- “Hence, I believe that this makes gameplay more stale and lifeless.”
graphics
5 mentions
20 % positive mentions
20 % neutral mentions
60 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game receive mixed reviews; while some players praise the smooth gameplay and impressive visuals, others criticize the absence of 3D graphics and sound, which detracts from the overall experience. Despite these shortcomings, the game is appreciated for being free and engaging enough to keep players entertained for extended periods.
- “Next gen in my opinion, lucky it's free because they could be charging loads for it. Best game of the year for me, 10/10. Brilliant gameplay, so smooth when running and unbelievable graphics. Such a gripping game; where am I going to finish in the league? Who knows! Hopefully with Rom in attack and Jags at the back, we will win! COYB!”
- “The lack of 3D visuals and lack of sounds makes me stop playing prematurely.”
- “Virtually no graphics; even matches themselves are simulated with sports commentary-style text notes.”
- “It lacks 3D visuals and online mode, has some bugs here and there, and just one language available.”
monetization
5 mentions
40 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
60 % negative mentions
The monetization strategy of the game has drawn criticism for being a cash grab, particularly with the disabling of older versions to push players towards newer, paid versions. While the presence of numerous microtransactions is typical for free-to-play games, they can detract from the overall experience, although players can still progress without spending money, albeit at a slower pace.
- “If you don't pay for the microtransactions, it's not the end of the world because you can still achieve your goals, but it might take longer.”
- “Like all free-to-play games, there are microtransactions that can hinder the game's experience.”
- “However, they disabled the game because they want you on the higher year version, which is their cash grab.”
- “But like all free-to-play games, there are always microtransactions that will hinder the game's experience.”
- “There are a ton of microtransactions, which is expected from a free-to-play game.”
story
4 mentions
0 % positive mentions
75 % neutral mentions
25 % negative mentions
The story has been criticized for being poorly executed, with some users noting that it feels like a direct translation of a narrative that fails to engage or resonate effectively.
- “Translation - same story - just awful.”
music
4 mentions
25 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
75 % negative mentions
The reviews highlight a significant lack of music and sound in the game, with players expressing that the absence of audio detracts from the overall experience. While the gameplay is praised, the silence leaves many feeling bored and unengaged.
- “Game is good, but playing a game without sounds and music is pretty disappointing; the commentary is awesome.”
- “This is a good game and it's free... there is only one problem - there's no sound or music.”
- “Game is good, but playing a game without sounds and music is pretty bad; commentary is awesome.”
- “- No soundtrack leaves you sort of audibly bored.”
humor
3 mentions
100 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is characterized by its unintentional comedic elements, such as glitches and absurdities, which players find amusing. Additionally, the inclusion of real teams and leagues adds a layer of authenticity that enhances the overall comedic experience.
- “The 2019 version is hilariously bad.”
- “Funny thing is, as I am writing the review, the first glitch appeared.”
- “This game is funny! I can build a career with my favorite teams, Steaua Bucharest and Man Utd, and all the teams and leagues have real names!”
stability
3 mentions
0 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
100 % negative mentions
Users report significant stability issues, particularly with the Steam version freezing during in-game purchases, leading some to switch to the browser version, which is plagued by excessive pop-ups. While there are no major bugs or glitches noted, players believe that ongoing updates and improvements could enhance overall stability.
- “I played about 5 seasons so far, and the game time in the Steam version usually freezes when I start buying 'SM credits' with real money. After I tried fixing it several times with no luck, I decided to switch to playing it in a browser, which is almost unplayable due to the ridiculous amount of pop-ups. Yes, there is an option to pay to have the pop-ups removed.”
- “It's somehow buggy in many aspects, but I think time and work will polish those errors.”
optimization
3 mentions
33 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
67 % negative mentions
The optimization of team performance is heavily influenced by momentum, where low morale leads to poor performance, creating a negative feedback loop. Players must navigate various factors such as tactics, individual health, morale, skill levels, and aging to enhance their team's effectiveness, adding a layer of realism to the gameplay.
- “There is plenty of realism and opportunities to affect your team's performance by finding the best tactics for your players, considering individual health, morale, skill levels, and the eventual retirement of players.”
- “Your team's performance seems to be very much based on momentum.”
- “It feels like a vicious cycle where the player is not happy, then the low morale impacts the player's performance, then the poor performance by the player makes his morale drop even lower.”
atmosphere
3 mentions
33 % positive mentions
-33 % neutral mentions
100 % negative mentions
The atmosphere in the game is criticized for being largely non-existent, with a lack of sound and visual engagement during matches, such as missing audience cheers and player visibility. However, some users appreciate the realistic portrayal of player transfers, which adds a sense of tension and immersion to the overall experience.
- “The transfers are really realistic and you can really feel the atmosphere and the nerves of the matches.”
- “Non-existent atmosphere.”
- “No sound is pretty self-explanatory, but what I meant by non-existent atmosphere was that you are unable to see your players actually playing on the field whenever there is a match ongoing, and there are no sounds of audiences cheering in the background.”
- “The transfers are really realistic, and you can really feel the atmosphere and the nerves of the matches.”
grinding
1 mentions
0 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
100 % negative mentions
Players find the grinding aspect of the game somewhat tedious, particularly due to the limited save slot that restricts variety in gameplay. This lack of options can lead to monotony, prompting some to take breaks after extended play.
- “Apart from this, my only other gripe is that it can get a little tedious (but that's probably just the nature of the beast, so to speak). Having played through a few seasons, I had to take a break. The fact that you only get one save slot means you can't mix things up by managing different teams, which would help to keep things interesting.”