EA Sports FC 26 review – The best football game in years

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EA Sports FC 26 is a significant improvement over previous games, offering fantastic gameplay that truly captures the excitement of football. While some game modes could use updates, the game’s overall stability and solid foundation are a real strength – much like a well-managed team like Arsenal. It proves that consistent performance is key to success.

It’s common to hear people complain that yearly sports game releases are just repeats of the previous version. At first look, the newest FC game, FC 26, might seem the same as EA FC 25. This year’s version focuses on improvements to existing features instead of adding big, new changes.

Beyond just a standard update to the team, this version features numerous enhancements and a brilliant choice to allow players to customize their experience – switching between realistic gameplay and fast-paced, arcade-style action.

EA FC 26 screenshots

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What’s new in EA FC 26?

This year’s biggest change is the addition of two distinct ways to play, depending on the game mode. Ultimate Team and Pro Clubs feature a polished and refined gameplay experience – the kind of football we’ve come to expect from the series – making it smoother and allowing for precise, long-range passing.

Players move incredibly quickly and precisely, controlling the ball flawlessly and shooting with pinpoint accuracy. This makes games feel fair, as outcomes depend on skill rather than luck.

While not based on any specific real game, the controls feel fantastic and it’s really fun to play. The return of low-driven shots – activated by quickly pressing the shoot button twice – is particularly rewarding, letting you powerfully and accurately shoot the ball low to the corner, just like a professional player.

It can get a little repetitive with its focus on constant attacks. Games are incredibly quick, constantly switching between defenses, resembling a basketball game in speed. This leaves defenders feeling weighed down, while attackers move freely.

Games often ended with me scoring and conceding at least four goals each, and honestly, it stopped being fun. When every match is a high-scoring blowout, the excitement of scoring just disappears.

Look, I love getting into the nitty-gritty of football management, and honestly, the most fun I have is in Career Mode when I choose the ‘Authentic’ settings. It’s where the real challenge – and the real satisfaction – comes from.

The game feels slower and more chaotic. Players struggle with accurate passes if they aren’t well-positioned, often mishandle the ball in crowded areas, and clearances become frantic as defenders try to get it away from the goal.

Teams now defend in a more believable way, making players carefully consider their passes and work to create openings. This increases the difficulty, but succeeding and breaking through the defense with a great pass to create a scoring opportunity is incredibly satisfying.

The weather significantly changes how matches play. In winter, the ball bounces faster on hard ground, while rain makes the pitch slower and more challenging. These conditions made games feel more like casual park football than professional matches at Old Trafford, and it created the most enjoyable experience the game has ever offered.

Fans have long been split between wanting a flawless, visually stunning football experience and a more raw, authentic one. This new approach successfully combines those two styles, and it’s something many wish had been implemented sooner.

Career Mode is fun but familiar

Outside of gameplay, Career Mode hasn’t changed much from EA FC 25, but it now includes some new features designed to better simulate the experience of managing a real football club.

The biggest new feature is Unexpected Events. These random occurrences throughout the season will challenge your skills as a manager. They could include things like a team-wide illness causing several players to be unavailable, or disagreements with the club’s board leading to budget cuts.

These players really energize the season, which could become monotonous after the transfer window shuts.

The game also includes several smaller enhancements, like a ‘Deeper Simulation’ feature that provides more detailed stats for other leagues and players, and a new option allowing managers to switch clubs, similar to how players transfer. While it doesn’t yet reach the level of detail found in Football Manager, that’s understandable.

I’m really enjoying the actual gameplay – I’ve already spent way too many hours in Career Mode! However, I’m a little concerned I’ll eventually get bored once the initial excitement fades.

Ultimate Team respects your time (hopefully)

Ultimate Team continues to make small adjustments instead of introducing major changes. The reintroduction of Tournaments is a nice addition, providing a temporary escape from the repetitive Rivals and Champions modes, but they probably won’t become a long-term favorite for most players.

This year’s FIFA Ultimate Team (FUT) is designed to be less frustrating and expensive. It’s now easier to move down a division in Rivals if you’re struggling, and rewards are a bit more limited to make the best cards more challenging to obtain. A new Weekend League, Challengers, is also available for players of all skill levels.

EA Sports has promised players a more balanced experience this year by avoiding drastic changes to the game with each weekly update. This is already noticeable in the less extreme player upgrades and Squad Building Challenges they’ve released so far.

This should ultimately save players time and money, helping them stay competitive – a welcome change after past games caused financial difficulties for some.

Ideally, the game would eliminate purchases within the game entirely, and it’s still uncertain if this more player-friendly approach will last. However, right now, it makes the game much less insistent on spending money than it used to.

Verdict

EA FC 26 might not look dramatically different at first glance. However, as football manager Brian Clough famously pointed out, the real game happens on the field, and that’s where this version truly excels.

Splitting the gameplay into two separate styles for different modes is a brilliant move, and it makes this the most fun football game we’ve seen since FIFA 17.

While the core gameplay is quite similar to the previous version, the small improvements and new features are enough to make it worth playing again.

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2025-09-26 15:23