Summary
While there are plenty ofbig-budget soccer games on consoles, there are also a fair few that are just as fun and engaging on mobile too. Mobile gaming has come a very long way since its inception in the late 90s, and while there have been plenty of arcade-like soccer mobile games throughout the years, they are now at a point where many of them are much more technologically advanced and almost rival their console counterparts in terms of visuals and gameplay.
There’s also the obvious benefit thatthey can be played on the go, making it extremely easy to fit in a match while on public transport, or even during half-time for those true soccer fans who just can’t get enough of the beautiful game. These are the best soccer mobile games that have made an impression on fans for their replay value and overall fun factor.
World Soccer Leaguemight not be as big of a name asPESorFifa,and while the gameplay isn’t quite as sharp or refined, it’s still packed full of content. The game features over 60 national teams and 2,000 players, along with four game modes which are all a ton of fun to jump into. Exhibition is the typical free-play mode where players can play a quick match against an AI, but the League mode is where the game shines, ramping up the challenge and difficulty tremendously.
The game is also quite stripped back in its mechanics which might sound like a bad thing, but it does also make itvery accessibleso that anyone can play without having to learn a bunch of new mechanics. By far the biggest downside to the game is that some teams are barred behind a paywall which is a real shame because it’s great otherwise.
6Real Football
Google Play Score: 3.7
Real Footballcan initially seem pretty sub-par or even basic on the surface, but the core gameplay is very engaging, and a lot of this has to do with the smaller mechanics that help the gamefeel as immersive and intuitive as possible. For example, during a match, players will be able to control the power of their passes, and will also be able to initiate long passes and crosses to accommodate specific lineups and styles of play.
The multiple camera views also give each matcha real cinematic aspectwhich is a very neat addition. The only issue is that not all the gameplay mechanics work as they should, especially the tackling, which can be very unresponsive. Still,Real Footballhas a lot going for it, and it also features some great team-building features to add to the replay value.
Score! Herodoesn’t play like your typical soccer game where the player can control one or multiple players to navigate an entire team. Instead, the game takesan over-the-shoulder perspectiveand puts all of its focus on the skill of shooting, passing, and crossing the ball, which makes it a lot slower and more strategic compared to many other soccer titles.
Since the camera is constantly zoomed in, the graphics also need to be at least passable, and luckily,the game really does have some stunning visualsthat only help to add to the overall immersion. The way the game simulates matches and player behaviors depending on how the player interacts with the ball is quite amazing, and while there’s a severe lack of modes, it’s still a great game for soccer fans who like taking their time to plan out their next move on the pitch.
Anyone familiar with the classic arcade soccer games will be right at home playingNew Star Soccer. The game isn’t trying to be as visually impressive as possible, but instead, it’s going for a slightlymore retro lookwhich keeps things simple, but also makes it very easy to keep track of the players and how they’re going to move around the pitch.
Ultimate Soccermanages to strike the perfect balance between fast and slow gameplay which makes each match feelincredibly realistic, especially because controlling players also feels extremely responsive and intuitive. The League game mode is actually very challenging and will push even the most experienced soccer video game players to their limit, and the World Cup mode ramps this up to a whole new level entirely.
There are also plenty of small quality-of-life details that help the game stand out, such as instant goal replay, something a lot of mobile soccer games don’t include, but that helps to add some extra flare to the gameplay. The Squad Builder is alsoa lot more streamlined than many other games, though this can end up making it feel a little bare-bones for anyone who loves feeling like a true soccer manager in their games.
EA’sFC Mobilehas a ton of modes players can try out when loading up the game, and it’s this variety thatmakes it so downright addictive. While the Ultimate Team is undoubtedly the highlight of the game and is just as engaging as it is on the console versions, the Manager Mode is also in-depth and allows players to experiment with different players, lineups, and tactics to counter the other team.
EA has also done an excellent job at keeping the experience fresh by providing constant updates which not only improve the basic mechanics and visuals but also introduce new Events and rewards depending on how well players perform in a season. There are also no restrictions on which soccer players can be used, so whether it’s teams from the UEFA Champions League, or the Bundesliga, all of them are fully usable. The game canrandomly start to stutter now and again, and there is a rather unusual blurriness to the graphics which can be pretty noticeable in certain matches, but it’s nonetheless a great mobile adaptation of the most popular soccer console series ever.
There was once a time when Konami’sPESgames were seen as little more than an underwhelming replica of its main competitorFifa, but since the series has been rebranded toeFootball, it’s been clear that the developers are putting much more effort into improving the overall quality of the gameplay. There isn’t too much bad to say abouteFootball 2024. Not only isthe general movement and dribbling incredibly fluidand the best of any mobile soccer game but some deeper mechanics give the game a pretty steep learning curve to master.
The graphics are also outstanding, with even the smallest details like the player’s boots or the fans in the crowd all looking incredibly realistic which helps add to the immersion. While a lot of soccer games also struggle with their AI, the several difficulties ineFootballprevent them from ever feeling too unfair or a pushover. Combine all this with a plethora of game modes, an easy straightforward UI, and a massive online competitive scene, and there’s something here for every soccer fan to enjoy.
