1
Squirrel's Pick Squirrel's PickThe best game on this page. If you only try one, try this.
Turn-Based CombatFootball (Soccer)Economy
Strong Mods Strong ModsA deep, active modding scene extends it past its base content.
$24.99 ~119.3 hr median no co-op complexity: moderate 87.1% of 4k
The Squirrel's verdictTurn-based tactical combat replaces FM's simulated match engine here: each game on the pitch resolves like a strategy encounter, with you moving players and choosing actions per turn. Off the pitch, FTG still covers transfers, contracts, and facility upgrades. Median playtime runs around 119 hours. Some reviewers find the on-field system frustrating; mid-game video ads have been reported in reviews.
Not for you if you want realistic football simulation rather than a turn-based puzzle resolving each match.
2
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 verdictCard-based mini-games and mouse-driven match control replace FM's spreadsheet-heavy systems here. New Star Manager keeps the season structure and squad decisions but strips granularity from transfers, player data, and tactics. Median playtime sits at around 48 hours. Reviews describe it as arcade-adjacent rather than a simulation, with success partly tied to random card draws alongside genuine tactical thinking.
Not for you if you want FM's full statistical depth, granular player data, or management systems not reliant on card-draw randomness.
3
Closest Match Closest MatchThe most similar game to the anchor, by what players say.
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 verdictSame core loop: transfers, training, team talks, match-day sims across seasons. We Are Football adds stadium management, a friendlier interface, Steam Workshop for names and kits, and runs faster per match. Transfer negotiations are more basic, and it lacks FM's data depth. Suits managers who want breadth and speed over spreadsheet-level realism.
Not for you if you rely on FM's deep transfer negotiation system or want granular real-world licensed data without modding it in yourself.
4
Football (Soccer)SportsTime Management
$24.99 ~58.1 hr median no co-op complexity: moderate 77.5% of 1k
The Squirrel's verdictSame football-management core: transfers, tactics, multi-season saves. Different lens: WE ARE FOOTBALL puts you above the manager, running the club rather than picking every training drill, with lighter micromanagement and a match engine that shows only the ball carrier rather than full pitch views. Suits players who want club-building over tactical minutiae.
Not for you if you need to watch full pitch shape during matches or want FM's depth of individual player-level management.
5
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 a free PC release built on a mobile game foundation, carrying over a mobile interface and a gold-bar currency used for things like agent fees. Real player names are present. Median playtime is 16.8 hours. It suits players who want a no-cost, lighter management experience across transfers, team talks, and match simulation.
Not for you if you want a PC-native interface or management features — including agent transactions — ungated by microtransaction currency.
6
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 is a deliberate streamlining of FM, cutting the deep staff and training micromanagement to suit managers who find the full game's layers excessive. The match engine and multi-season squad-building remain intact. It's a 2017 release with a database from that year and none of FM24's newer systems; reviews also note the removal of the classic text commentary with flashing GOAL indicator.
Not for you if you want current squads, deep staff management, or the classic text commentary that earlier FM and CM versions included.
How the Squirrel matches games
Not tag overlap. We compare what players actually say across hundreds of
thousands of reviews about how each game feels to play, then break
the comparison into the mechanics you can see in each card. The mark on
every bar is Football Manager 2024's own score, so you can read where a match runs
hotter or cooler than the anchor.
Verdicts are written against a fixed editorial standard, machine-audited,
and human spot-checked. Which games make the cut is a human call. Prices
and review data refresh automatically. Full method & AI disclosure →