Games like Football Manager 2019

The Squirrel's verdictBoth cast you as manager—transfers, contracts, training, facilities—but FTG swaps FM's continuous match simulation for turn-based tactical battles, structured closer to X-com or Battle Brothers than a football sim. Squad-building carries over; match outcomes become discrete tactical puzzles instead of simulated play, appealing to those who found FM's match engine arbitrary.

Not for you if you want an actual football simulation with media interactions rather than a turn-based tactics game wearing a football skin.

The Squirrel's verdictNew Star Manager's card-based system, mini-games, and mouse-only controls replace FM's attribute-heavy tactics and granular training entirely. Squad-building and season progression are present, but decision-making is simplified throughout. At a median of around 48 hours played, it fits players who want a lighter management loop with a defined end rather than FM's open-ended depth.

Not for you if you want deep tactical granularity and attribute-level control rather than a simplified, card-driven management layer.

The Squirrel's verdictSame core loop: manage a club through tactics, training, transfers, and match simulation. WE ARE FOOTBALL 2024 adds stadium management and includes an editor with Steam Workshop support for real names, uses a cleaner interface, and reviewers describe faster save turnaround than FM. Transfer negotiations are simpler and less detailed than FM's system.

Not for you if you want FM's deep transfer negotiation mechanics or expect the interface conventions explained without trial and error.

The Squirrel's verdictWE ARE FOOTBALL shares the football management core: tactics, transfers, and multi-season squad building. It shifts focus higher up, putting you in the club manager's chair over multi-season development rather than FM's granular trainer-level micro-management, and skips FM's contested match engine entirely by only showing the player with the ball during matches.

Not for you if you want to watch full team shape and off-ball movement during matches, or want FM's depth of individual training and tactical micro-management.

The Squirrel's verdictSoccer Manager 2026 keeps the core loop that draws FM players in: squad building, transfers, tactics, real player names. The differences are structural, not stylistic. It's free on PC, runs on a gold-bar currency for things like agent fees, and offers no way to skip match simulation. Fits someone wanting a lightweight, no-cost management fix between FM releases.

Not for you if you want FM's tactical depth without microtransactions gating basic actions like paying agent fees, or need to skip matches instead of watching them play out.

The Squirrel's verdictLighter and faster than FM19, Soccer Manager 2021 covers the same ground—squad building, transfers, tactics, board expectations—in roughly 20 hours of median playtime. The interface is simpler and training is less granular. Reviewers describe unrealistic transfer windows and match simulation that produces results disconnected from shot counts and team ratings.

Not for you if you want FM's tactical granularity and training depth rather than a quicker, stripped-down management loop with reported pay-to-win pressure.

The Squirrel's verdictContracts, training, tactics, and licensed clubs and players are all present, but Soccer Manager 2019 trades FM's depth for a simpler, faster interface. Reviews flag scripted-feeling match outcomes and a transfer market that hides ratings for lesser-known players. Median playtime sits at around 27 hours, suggesting a shorter engagement than FM's typical commitment.

Not for you if you want FM's tactical granularity and transfer-market detail rather than a stripped-down interface with reported scripted match outcomes.

The Squirrel's verdictFree and built around persistent online leagues, 90 Minute Fever puts real-managed clubs against each other rather than FM's single-player career against AI. Both use tactics and player attributes to drive results, and both draw complaints about scripted match outcomes and attributes that feel irrelevant. Median playtime of around 750 hours reflects the ongoing online structure, not a finite season arc.

Not for you if you want a solo offline career rather than a persistent online league where a small group of established teams dominate.