In sports video games, titles like eFootball (formerly known as Pro Evolution Soccer) have carved out a significant niche, appealing to casual gamers and hardcore football enthusiasts. As a digital representation of the beautiful game, eFootball emphasizes realism, strategic gameplay, and a deep connection to the sport’s global culture. With its rich history and evolving gameplay mechanics, it sets a standard for football simulation.
However, the gaming landscape is filled with alternatives that offer unique takes on the football experience. These games cater to various player preferences, from arcade-style gameplay to hyper-realistic simulations. Titles like FIFA, Football Manager, and more niche offerings provide diverse experiences, whether you’re looking for an immersive management simulation or a fast-paced title to try.
In this exploration, we will delve into the key features, gameplay mechanics, and unique qualities of games like eFootball so you find the perfect pick for your next gaming session. Whether you’re looking for a PC soccer game or a crossplay experience to try with your friends, we will cover a variety of styles and experiences to ensure you get the perfect pick.
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What Makes eFootball Such a Great Game
Since its early days, when it was still called Pro Evolution Soccer, or simply PES, the game has already been a reference in the gaming industry when talking about sports titles. With great graphics and a big roaster of team options, it provided fun for everyone looking for a football title to play, whether a casual or competitive player.
The game has fun gameplay and a variety of modes that allow players to not only enjoy the classic mode between teams in friendly games but also try new experiences. For example, eFootball also features a management mode where you create your own club and decide on numerous aspects, including tactics, which players will be featured in the match, and many other elements. The game provides a variety of options when it comes to gameplay, being one of the reasons why the franchise has been synonymous with glory in the virtual sports world.
The change to eFootball happened for legal reasons and because of Konami’s struggle to keep the number of sales in the last few years. Whether PES or eFootball, the essence is the same, and the fun is guaranteed either way.
Best Games Like eFootball
Now, it’s time to dive into the world of sports gaming to see some of the best games similar to eFootball. Whether you’re looking for a football management game or an arcade experience to enjoy with your friends, we will cover a variety of options and styles to ensure you find the perfect one for your next gaming session.
Make sure to take a look at each one to see how they’re similar to eFootball and make the perfect choice. Here are the best games similar to eFootball:
EA Sports FC 24
- Release Date: September, 2023
- Developer: EA
- Platforms: Playstation 4, Playstation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, Nintendo Switch, and Microsoft Windows
FIFA and PES have always been the biggest rivals in sports video games. Each game has its strengths and weaknesses. Regardless of which one is better, EA Sports FC (previously known as FIFA) is one of the best picks if you’re looking for a realistic experience. It is also the most similar pick on this list.
The game provides a variety of modes and options that will keep you busy for dozens of hours. It also solves one of eFootball’s biggest problems: licensing. While eFootball lacks some of the main leagues and clubs in the world, in EA FC, you’ll find all the teams you’re looking for without any problem. This is one of the many highlights FIFA always bragged about and is undoubtedly a great thing to see that directly impacts gameplay.
You’ll also find the famous Ultimate Team mode, where you can create your character and manage multiple aspects of the club, providing an immersive experience that will make you feel like a real player and coach. It’s a great title and surely one of the best picks if you’re looking for the most similar experience possible.
FootballTeam
Want to play as both a player and a manager? FootballTeam is the perfect pick and will give you tons of hours of fun. It is the definitive online football experience that will test your skills and knowledge in a competitive environment against players from all over the world.
You can create your own character and customize every aspect, including the appearance, the position you’ll be playing, and many other elements. But that’s not everything. Along with being a vital player of your team, you must also be prepared to manage multiple aspects of the club, including transfers, what each player does during the game, and everything else. Every decision you make impacts the overall performance and how many goals you score.
Your main objective is to develop your career and its multiple aspects, including the club you’ll be playing for and many other details. The goal is to become the best and you’ll do everything you need to achieve the top of the charts. Details like the position you’ll play and how you organize your team are crucial for achieving these objectives.
The game already has over a million registered players and over 60,000 teams to challenge and see who’s the best player of all time. You can also invite your friends to this journey and test your abilities together.
FootballTeam allows you to play with people worldwide and from almost any device, whether an Android phone, desktop, or anything else. You can have fun anywhere and show the world your abilities.
The best part is that it is browser-based, so there is no need for those enormous downloads of dozens of GBs. Just open your preferred browser and start playing it anywhere at any time.
The game is free to play, and you can start your journey to become the #1 player right now. Visit the game’s main page and register to start an unforgettable experience that will take your football passion to the next level.
Rocket League
- Release Date: July, 2015
- Developer: Psyonix
- Platforms: Playstation 4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, macOS, Linux, and Microsoft Windows
Looking for something more arcade-like? The rocket-powered cars of Rocket League might be the perfect choice for you then.
The game is the perfect mix of football and race, a unique experience that will test all your skills. The competitive scenario is also one of the hardest of all games, with ranked modes to challenge people and put your name at the top of the charts.
You have many car models and skins to choose from, allowing you to create a car that matches your style and personality. But that’s just the beginning.
Rocket League has a hard learning curve that might scare beginners. But trust me. Once you learn the basics, it becomes one of the best games you can have in your library. And the best part is that it is free to play.
Football is not the only thing you’ll find in Rocket League. The game also features basketball and ice hockey modes, so you can diversify your gameplay and play for dozens of hours without getting bored.
It is one of the best games if you’re looking for something less realistic but with a unique twist. Create your car and prepare to challenge players to see who’s the best.
Football Manager 2024
- Initial release date: November 6, 2023
- Developer: Sports Interactive
- Platforms: Playstation 4, Playstation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, Nintendo Switch, Android, iOS, macOS, and Microsoft Windows
If you prefer the coaching and managerial part of the sport, this title might be exactly what you were looking for. As the name suggests, Football Manager will put you in the role of a club owner, making critical decisions that will impact not only the matches’ results but also your club’s future.
It has in-depth mechanics that let you customize every aspect of the gameplay in a realistic experience that aims to simulate everything as precise as possible. From new elements through the tactical vision to new mechanics and modes, the 2024 version of the praised game improved every aspect everyone loved about this franchise, creating the definitive experience of its kind with top-notch graphics and advanced gameplay.
One of the best things about FM2024 is that if you played Football Manager 2023, you can import and continue your career directly from where you stopped in a seamless experience. No need to grind everything again. Just log into your account and back up your progress in just a few steps.
Feel the unpredictability and emotion of a football match like never before. Start your career as the manager of your team and do everything you can to become the best league in the world.
Mario Strikers
- Release Date: June, 2022
- Developer: Nintendo
- Platforms: Nintendo Switch
Another perfect option if you like casual experiences is Mario Strikers. If you’re a fan of the classic character from Nintendo, you’ll be glad to know he also has his own football game. It mixes the main aspects we love about the sport with fantasy mechanics and striking visuals, creating a unique experience perfect for playing alone or with your friends at a party.
You can play using the main characters from Nintendo’s most famous universe, including Mario, Bowser, Peach, and many others. It provides a great time and also a feeling of nostalgia you won’t find in other games of this type.
The best part is that you can play with up to eight players online or with four friends locally using one console. It’s a great game to play at a party or invite your friends to enjoy.
The controls are also straightforward; even though you can do many powers and different actions, you can learn them very quickly. But be careful. Once you start playing, you won’t want to stop playing this fantastic game.
As expected, it is exclusive to Nintendo consoles. To enjoy the experience, you’ll need a Switch of any model.
Omega Strikers
- Release Date: September, 2022
- Developer: Odyssey Interactive
- Platforms: Playstation 4, Playstation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, Nintendo Switch, Android, iOS, and Microsoft Windows
If you liked Mario Strikers but don’t have a Nintendo Switch, don’t worry; we have another suggestion for you. Omega Strikers follows the same gameplay style and mechanics. The only difference is that here, you’ll use original characters from the developers instead of characters from the famous fantasy franchise.
The experience also mixes the main elements of football with superpowers and exciting mechanics that provide a different experience and a great option for playing with your friends. The best part is that it is not only available for a wider variety of platforms but is also free to play.
You’ll test not only your football skills but also your strategy abilities. The game is a 3v3 where each character has its own set of skills to help you score goals and reach victory.
Along with casual modes, you’ll also have competitive options to choose from and challenge players worldwide to see who’s the best. Whether you play alone or with friends, the fun is guaranteed for many hours.
Super Arcade Football
- Release Date: April, 2016
- Developer: OutOfTheBit Limited
- Platforms: Playstation 4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, Android, iOS, macOS, Linux, and Microsoft Windows
This might be a great pick for your next gaming session if you’re looking for something a little more chill and less competitive. As you might expect from the name, Super Arcade Football has a simpler approach to sports games than eFootball, with 8-bit graphics and much simpler controls. But this doesn’t mean the game is not as fun or anything like that.
This game will provide a unique experience that will keep you entertained for hours, whether when waiting for something while playing on your phone or just to kill some time at home. All of that is wrapped in a sense of nostalgia that any other game can provide, especially thanks to the top-down 2D camera.
Another advantage of simpler graphics is that you don’t have to worry about minimum requirements and whether your hardware can handle them. With games like FIFA and other realistic titles, there is always a problem when it comes to these requirements, and here, you’ll be able to run the game smoothly regardless of your graphics card or other parts. If you’re in for a more chill experience, make sure to give this game a try.
Captain Tsubasa: Rise of New Champions
- Release Date: August, 2020
- Developer: Tamsoft
- Platforms: Playstation 4, Nintendo Switch, and Microsoft Windows
Do you like anime? Then, this game inspired by a classic animation will surely catch your attention. Rise of the New Champions is the latest game inspired by the universe of Captain Tsubasa and its long history in the anime community.
The game has all the elements of a great sports game, including smooth gameplay, amazing animations and graphics, and various modes to try. You won’t be playing along with Neymar and Messi, but you will surely see some familiar faces if you watch the anime. The game features the classic names from the TV show and also original characters created especially for this title.
You’ll find two main modes to play when enjoying this game. The first one is called Episode: Tsubasa, and as the name suggests, it will follow a story involving the anime’s protagonist. You’ll see some of the main events that happened in the TV show along with some extras and details never mentioned before, making a great experience for fans. If you like the anime, this is a must-play.
You can also find the Episode: New Hero, where you’ll create your own character and play an original story full of surprises and exciting moments. You’ll feel like part of the anime and have endless hours of fun.
The game also has the classic 1v1 modes and other casual experiences to try. The variety is enormous, and you can play for tons of hours without getting bored.
Time to Become a Football Superstar
Whether you choose to become the greatest footballer in FootballTeam or join Mario in the fantastic experience of Mario Strikers, the video game world is full of incredible titles, and you can try them and spend hours having fun. We showed you some of the main ones, but there are many others to discover.
eFootball is one of the best titles in the genre and has impacted the entire entertainment industry, whether as PES or as it is today. Thankfully, if you like the game, there are hundreds of similar titles to try, not only when it comes to football but also tons of other sports, including basketball, racing, and many others. You’ll surely find something that catches your eye and suits your next gaming session.
Now that you know everything you need, it is time to pick your next football game. Make sure to look at each option above to find the one that best suits your needs.