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Squirrel's Pick Squirrel's PickThe best game on this page. If you only try one, try this. Closest Match Closest MatchThe most similar game to the anchor, by what players say.
Football Manager 2021 Touch
PCMac
SportsFootball (American)Football (Soccer)
~197.9 hr median no co-op complexity: moderate 89.8% of 715
The Squirrel's verdictSame streamlined Touch format: simplified match engine, faster saves, no press conferences or long team-talk trees, built for managers who want to simulate matches and run transfers without the full-fat time commitment. Reviewers report injuries and player demands feeling more reasonable than prior entries, and mid-match shouts add a control option Touch previously lacked.
Not for you if you want deep player interaction and dynamics rather than the stripped-down Touch feature set, or you're wary of paid DLC quality after purchase.
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Budget Pick Budget PickThe best game here for the least money.
SportsFootball (Soccer)RPG
$19.99 ~47.7 hr median no co-op complexity: moderate 87.4% of 522
The Squirrel's verdictNew Star Manager puts you in the same role — balancing squad decisions, fan expectations, and match outcomes — but replaces FM's data-heavy systems with a card-based structure and mini-games. The PC version has no microtransactions. Reviewers describe it as demanding real thinking beneath an arcade surface, with a median playtime around 48 hours. Suits players who want a lighter, more structured approach to football management.
Not for you if you want granular tactical controls, detailed player statistics, and deep transfer market simulation.
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Football Manager 2019 Touch
PCMac
SportsFootball (American)Football (Soccer)
~289.2 hr median no co-op complexity: moderate 82.5% of 406
The Squirrel's verdictFootball Manager 2019 Touch trims the full game down to its tactics-and-transfers core: simplified scouting, simplified training, no press conferences, faster season progression. Reviewers describe it as the strongest Touch entry in several years, with a median playtime around 289 hours. Transfer market mechanics drew criticism requiring patches, and team talks are absent from this version by design.
Not for you if you want team talks, full scouting depth, or a transfer market that reviewers found functional without workarounds.
4
Football (Soccer)SportsEconomy
Strong Mods Strong ModsA deep, active modding scene extends it past its base content.
$39.99 ~61.1 hr median no co-op complexity: moderate 80.2% of 1k
The Squirrel's verdictStadium construction and an included editor with workshop support for custom teams and players set WE ARE FOOTBALL 2024 apart from most management sims on this page. The interface is more visual than spreadsheet-driven. Player fee negotiations are reported as basic, and some reviewers note the game needs better explanations of its systems. Median playtime sits around 61 hours.
Not for you if you want FM-level depth in transfer negotiations and tactical granularity rather than broader club and stadium management.
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Football (Soccer)SportsTime Management
$24.99 ~58.1 hr median no co-op complexity: moderate 77.5% of 1k
The Squirrel's verdictWE ARE FOOTBALL covers squad building, tactics, and multi-season progression, but positions the player at a higher club-management level rather than on granular matchday instructions. Match visibility is limited to the player on the ball rather than the full pitch. Reviewers note some rough design choices, including timed in-game decisions and an interface that takes time to navigate.
Not for you if you want to monitor full team shape during matches or need a polished, deeply tactical micromanagement experience.
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Football (Soccer)SportsImmersive Sim
Monetized MonetizedHeads up: leans on microtransactions or free-to-play hooks.
Free ~16.8 hr median no co-op complexity: light 73.6% of 4k
The Squirrel's verdictSoccer Manager 2026 is free, runs on PC, and uses real player names across its transfers, tactics, and season structure. It is built on a mobile-game foundation — the interface mirrors the mobile version directly — and uses a gold-bar currency for agent fees with no option to skip match simulation. Median playtime is around 17 hours.
Not for you if you want a PC-native interface, the ability to skip matches, or a management sim without mobile-style currency for routine tasks.
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SportsFootball (Soccer)Football (American)
Monetized MonetizedHeads up: leans on microtransactions or free-to-play hooks.
~26.6 hr median no co-op complexity: light 76.2% of 698
The Squirrel's verdictLicensed teams and players, contract management, training, tactics, and simulated matches across a season — Soccer Manager 2019 covers the same ground as FM Touch but at a simpler level, with a 3D match view and a shorter median playtime of around 27 hours. Advanced features are thin by design, and several reviewers describe match outcomes as feeling scripted rather than simulation-driven.
Not for you if you want tactical depth or realistic match simulation, since reviewers report scripted-feeling results and limited advanced features.
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Football Manager Touch 2018
PCMacLinux
SportsFootball (Soccer)
~175.8 hr median no co-op complexity: moderate 70.6% of 194
The Squirrel's verdictFootball Manager Touch 2018 suits the casual manager who finds the full game too demanding but wants more depth than the mobile version offers. Released in 2017, it carries the same tactics-and-transfers focus and the same season-long pull — median playtime runs around 176 hours. Reviewers note the yearly update adds little beyond a database refresh and personalized tactics settings, and text commentary was removed without return.
Not for you if you want current-season player data, audio commentary, or meaningful year-on-year feature additions.