In search of that best soccer games? The beautiful game is one of the biggest global sports, so there are tons of soccer games for PlayStation, Xbox, Switch and PC. As we play, these titles also help us learn more about the games we’re watching – that’s right mom, games are educational.
The Loadout is always looking for the best games to recommend, and our list of the best soccer games has taken us across different platforms and playstyles. Whether you want broadcast-quality realism in your soccer game or a laid-back arcade-style kick when you have 10 minutes to spare, we’ve got you covered.
The best football games are:
- FIFA 23
- Football manager 2023
- eSoccer
- rocket league
- retro gate
- Soccer: Tactics and Glory
- football history
- Nintendo Switch Sports
1.FIFA 23
FIFA 23 is the king of virtual soccer, and rightly so. EA Sports’ annual release tops bestseller lists every year.
Unmatched in its authenticity, there are more than 18,000 footballers in nearly 700 real clubs in the game, and some that aren’t. While the franchise has its critics – mostly because of the heavy focus on microtransaction-infused FIFA Ultimate Team – it offers something for every gamer – which is what we’re talking about in our FIFA 23 review.
Casual, Ranked, Online, Offline, Career Oriented; However you want to play football, FIFA has it covered. It also has an in-depth trainer that can hold your hand as you learn the beautiful game.
It’s also one of the best co-op games to play with friends on the sofa or in the legendary Pro Clubs mode where you can live out your dream of becoming a global superstar. Just don’t be the one to give away a penalty at the last minute…
If you haven’t heard, FIFA 23 is the last edition of the game that includes the FIFA game. The title of the 23/24 season will be called EA SPORTS FC.
FIFA 23 is available on all major platforms.
2. Football manager 2023
If you think your football knowledge is among the best, Football Manager 2023 is the ultimate test of your management skills. Sports Interactive’s legendary management sim has come a long way since there were transfers, team selection, and watching 2D dots roll around. The game now features a 3D match engine, an intelligent opponent, and a player database so legendary teams have used it to scout players in IRL.
FM fans know there’s nothing more satisfying than leading a team from obscurity outside of the league to the exhilarating heights of continental football. Sure, you can take over your favorite club, but winning it all and signing every South American prodigy to cross your desk can get boring. No, the joy of Football Manager is the story you build in your head as you kick and yell as you drag Nuneaton Borough into the Premier League with nothing but 35-year-old alumni and freelance talent spotted from Scandinavia.
Football Manager 2023 is available for PC, Xbox, PS5 and Switch.
3. E-football
eFootball is Konami’s free-to-play soccer game that was plagued at launch with bugs including invisible players and pancake referees, but is slowly maturing into a contender on the best sports gaming scene. The move away from an annual release and towards an evolving live service ‘soccer platform’ offers something radically different from old rival FIFA.
Live events and seasonal content are at the heart of eFootball, based on the football calendar. There’s a lot of free content to earn, but as with any F2P game, there’s also a lot to spend virtual currency on.
eFootball holds licenses for some of the world’s top football clubs including Manchester United, Barcelona, Bayern Munich and the two Milan clubs, along with real leagues and a handful of stadiums. You can continue to play as your soccer heroes in Dream Team (a variant of EA’s Ultimate Team), where players build their fantasy soccer club and aim to dominate in ranked matches.
Not many games also have a game mode that has legendary status, but Konami does with Master League. It’s not currently available, but it’s coming as paid DLC. If it can bring offline PES vibes back to eFootball, we’re in.
eFootball is available on all major platforms.
4. Rocket League
Rocket League is a football game and you can’t change our minds. What makes Rocket League one of the greatest football games of all time is that old cliché; It’s easy to play but difficult to master. Those buzzing five-minute games fly by, and before you know it, hours have passed. Now free to play and cross-platform, Rocket League is just as popular as it was seven years ago. It even has a thriving esports scene.
The concept is that simple. Take a juiced up rocket-powered car, choose between 1v1, 2v2 or the classic 3v3 showdown and put the big ball in the big goal. The controls may feel odd at first, but you’ll be whizzing, drifting, and accelerating like the pros in no time. Also, if you’re a fan of cosmetics and customization, you’ll love Rocket League’s endless combinations for designer cars.
Want to pick up Rocket League and don’t know where to start? Check out our guides to the best Rocket League cars and Rocket League ranks.
Rocket League is available on all major platforms. 
5. Retro gate
Retro Goal brings ’90s soccer vibes to Nintendo Switch, and we’re here to help. 16-bit graphics take us back to a simpler time before VAR existed in football. The already popular mobile game has made its way to consoles, with an attack-only approach to gameplay where scoring goals is your sole responsibility – defense is left to the simulation.
What sets Retro Goal apart from the dozens of soccer games is its surprising depth. Not only do you take control of the field with simple controls and hit 30-meter evasive goals for fun, you also take on responsibility as a boss for managing a budget, improving facilities and extending contracts. It’s enough to keep the gameplay interesting between games without entraining you in tasks. Remember, you are here to score world stars, not attend press conferences.
Retro Goal is available for Nintendo Switch.
6. Soccer: Tactics and Glory
Soccer: Tactics and Glory brings turn-based strategy to soccer, and it works so well even though it shouldn’t. Ukrainian developers Creoteam call it: XCOM meets Football Manager. You won’t have the depth and micro-tinkering of a full management sim, but you can still take your amateur side to the big leagues, run the transfer market, and win it all while making the big decisions that matter. Turn-based soccer seems bizarre at first, but thinking three moves ahead of your opponent can be oddly enjoyable.
It would be easy to write this off, especially on the vanilla console version. Some of the graphics are reminiscent of Championship Manager, but the player editor is brilliant. If you want to enforce a strict “Bald Only” approach for your next campaign mode, you can do so with Tactics and Glory.
Football: Tactics and Glory is available for Playstation, Xbox, Switch and PC. The game only received full expansions and updates on PC in winter 2022. So if you can run it, it’s best to play it there in all its glory, rather than the basic console editions.
7. Football History
Soccer as we know it is outlawed in Soccer Story, and it’s up to you – and your magical soccer ball – to restore it. Soccer Story isn’t really a sports game, it’s an RPG about soccer. You’ll immerse yourself in an open world and follow the single player adventure, talking to the townsfolk about how to bring the beautiful game back into their lives and defeating many villains.
This cute, story-driven RPG is packed with puzzles, quests, NPCs, and challenges better found in the open-world games The Legend of Zelda or Mario. The graphics are lovely too.
Perhaps most disappointing is the arcade soccer game you play in the game. On your journey you will meet teams of children, sharks, ninjas and OAPs. If you are expecting FIFA 23 soccer game, avoid it. The soccer mini-games are much more straightforward and require less guesswork. Don’t play for football; game for the narration.
If you are friends with Soccer Story, you can also play multiplayer matchups. You can pick up Soccer Story on Playstation, Xbox, Nintendo Switch and PC.
8. Nintendo Switch Sports
Nintendo Switch Sports is the only title in our best soccer games that allows you to get physically active. The included leg strap allows you to attach a joycon to your leg to play his soccer game. Coming to the gameplay, you can play 1v1, 4v4 or penalty shootout. If you have an injury or don’t feel too physical, you can also play with your hands.
Timing is key in Switch Sports, where you’ll be rewarded in arcade-like showdowns, literally setting the ball on fire when you land a shot or header. Reminiscent of the old Wii Sports game, this is one for breaking out at parties rather than sitting and playing for hours, but it will surely make you want to score goals and celebrate.
Just try not to break anything in the heat of the game.
Nintendo Switch Sports is only available on Nintendo Switch.
This is us full-time on our list of the best football games. There should be something here for you, but if not, check out our lists of the best PS5 games, best Xbox series games, and best Nintendo Switch games for more triple-A options.