If you’re a soccer fan, every September means one thing and one thing only – a new EA Sports FC game, or as your dad likes to call it, FIFA. This is the third installment in the series since EA Sports fell out with FIFA, but more importantly, it’s the first to release after the arrival of the Nintendo Switch 2. Now, I’m old enough to remember when FIFA 18 launched on Nintendo Switch, and that did not go well. So, I didn’t set my expectations too high for this launch, but fortunately, EA Sports FC 26 has surprised me in almost all the right ways.
One big change for FC 26 is that there are now two different ways to play: Competitive or Authentic. Authentic, as you can likely imagine, is closer to the real-life game, with slower movement and an emphasis on tactics, while Competitive is a bit more of what you’re used to, a sort of arcade-style soccer that allows for frenetic styles of play and massive scorelines. I’ve given both a go, and for the sort of FC fan I am – the sort that should probably be playing Football Manager but doesn’t have the patience – I’m really enjoying the authentic style. It really delivers on the promise of putting tactics at the forefront, and I’m taking great joy from watching my high-pressure, high-line team go for broke in every match.
Another new feature for this iteration is the Live Manager Challenge mode. I’m one of the many who have looked scornfully at the game’s Ultimate Team over the last few years, with EA pouring its efforts into expanding the game mode while Career mode grew stagnant. That’s not the case this year, with Live Manager Challenges adding a breath of fresh air by presenting you with specific scenarios to jump into. The first challenge I tried put me in charge of Atlético Madrid on a drive to knock local rivals Real Madrid off the top of the table, and I had a great time doing my best Simeone impression, playing ultra-defensive football, and taking home the title.
Read the full story on Pocket Tactics: EA Sports FC 26 Switch 2 review – a stellar soccer simulator