Games like Football Manager 2023

The Squirrel's verdictFTG keeps the club-building loop FM players know: sign and sell players, manage contracts, upgrade facilities, climb divisions. The difference is on match day, which plays out as a turn-based tactical puzzle with player positioning and abilities rather than a simulated engine. Squad depth and player development carry the same weight; the matches themselves are a different genre entirely.

Not for you if you want FM's simulated matches rather than direct turn-based tactical control over every play.

The Squirrel's verdictSame club-management framework of squad decisions, board expectations, and season-long progression, but stripped down: card-based systems and mini-games replace deep tactical granularity, with mouse-driven controls and lighter scouting. Fits players who want FM's management loop without its overwhelming depth, or who bounced off its learning curve.

Not for you if you want FM's granular tactics and deep scouting rather than a simplified, card-and-minigame-driven management layer.

The Squirrel's verdictWE ARE FOOTBALL 2024 adds stadium construction and Steam Workshop support for custom names and teams — two features absent from FM23. The interface is widely described as cleaner, and median playtime reaches 61.1 hours. Reviewers flag player fee negotiations as basic and poorly explained compared to FM. Priced at $39.99 with the editor included, it suits players who want club-building breadth, stadium development, and mod support over granular scouting or deep transfer systems.

Not for you if you want detailed transfer negotiation depth and the granular scouting FM built its reputation on.

The Squirrel's verdictSame club-management foundation, different altitude: WE ARE FOOTBALL puts you above the tactical weeds, running multi-season club development rather than micro-managing individual match instructions. Matches show only the ball-carrier, not full pitch shape. Priced well under FM23, with a lighter, more accessible learning curve for those who want the ownership fantasy without the tactical depth.

Not for you if you want to watch full pitch shape during matches or need FM-level tactical granularity rather than club-level oversight.

The Squirrel's verdictSoccer Manager 2026 is free and built on a mobile-port foundation, with gold bars used as a currency to cover agent fees — a microtransaction layer that reviewers single out as predatory. Real player names are present, but the interface mirrors the mobile version closely, and reviewers describe the match engine's attacking-versus-defensive logic as broken. Median playtime is 16.8 hours. Suits players taking a first look at football management without any upfront cost.

Not for you if you want FM's tactical and scouting depth rather than a free mobile-derived interface with microtransactions gating core actions like agent negotiations.

The Squirrel's verdictSoccer Manager 2021 lands closer to early-2000s management games than to FM's dense database and scouting layers — one reviewer explicitly compared it to FA Premier League Soccer Manager 2002. The interface is simpler and the learning curve shallower, but reviewers report unrealistic transfer windows, broken match simulation, and board expectations that trigger sackings even after winning trophies. Median playtime is 20.6 hours. Suits players who want a lighter management loop without FM's complexity.

Not for you if you came to FM23 for realistic transfer logic, detailed scouting, or match simulation that doesn't produce wildly skewed results.

The Squirrel's verdictAt 26.6 hours median playtime, Soccer Manager 2019 sits well below the hundreds FM players typically log, which reflects its lighter scope: licensed clubs and players, contracts, training, and tactical decisions are all present, but advanced features like detailed scouting are stripped away. Reviews praise the 3D match view and improved contract systems while flagging scripted match outcomes, with multiple players reporting identical yellow cards and goals across replayed fixtures.

Not for you if you want FM's database depth and scouting complexity, or scripted-feeling match outcomes would frustrate you.

The Squirrel's verdictSame core loop of managing a club through tactics, transfers, and league progression, but online against real managers instead of AI, free to play, and structured around persistent competitive divisions rather than a single-player save. Reviews describe steep grinding and community-driven strategy over solo squad-building depth for those wanting rivalry instead of simulation depth.

Not for you if you want single-player squad control rather than facing other real managers, transfer competition, and reported pay-to-win tension in a persistent online league.