FIFA 22

Pros

• The only PC football simulator with official FIFA branding
• A huge range of single player and multiplayer modes in both local and online play
• Expanded Volta mode captures the feel of pick-up-and-play football

Cons

• Franchise mode lacks some of the major FIFA leagues and clubs
• Football Ultimate Team Mode prominently encourages spending real money
• Team customization options remain a bit shallow

Electronic Arts' latest iteration in their long-living sports franchise continues to be the only modern football game with licensing for the FIFA, and it continues to offer strong fundamentals while also offering the most realistic representation of teams and players from all over the world. This latest entry in the series doesn't reinvent the wheel, but it comes with minor changes that improve the experience and a whole host of different game modes. FIFA 22's most publicized new addition is the game's trademark HyperMotion technology, which leverages the latest developments in motion capture technology to create player movements that feel smoother, more accurate to the recognizable mannerisms of specific real world players, and more responsive to player input. Combined with the addition of a new sprint mechanic, and you're left with a sense of play that feels more natural and benefits quick decisions in addition to higher level strategizing.

But the amount of management and strategizing you'll need to do is largely predicated on the game mode you choose to play. Volta mode offers the most stripped down experience by trading in real world FIFA stadiums for impromptu fields that accurately reflect pick-up-and-play style of street football. It's an ideal choice if you're simply looking to play with friends in an environment that's more visceral than strategic. On the other end of the spectrum are management and career modes. The latter puts you in charge of a team and lets you play out full seasons against existing teams. You can either pick your existing team from a wide variety of real world options or create your own club and help them fight their way to the World Cup. If you prefer a more in-depth approach to overseeing your team, opting for manager mode folds in a larger narrative that has you dealing with injuries, recruitment, and public relations. It's not the most fully featured manager mode in a sports franchise, but the fundamentals are there. Additionally, career mode lets you create your own player and follow their rise to glory. A robust set of RPG mechanics allow you to carefully build out your player in terms of both personality and competencies on the field. The character creation mode here is expansive and allows for the development of both male and female players.

Among the more controversial modes among the FIFA community is the FIFA Ultimate Team mode, and that's not any different this year. FUT continues to be the flagship mode for online play, but it's rooted in a meta-game that has you acquiring in-game currency that can then be spent improving your roster and other aspects of your team. It's an approach that allows you to acquire coins either through winning games and completing achievement or by spending real money. The microtransactions can sometimes make it feel like players can simply buy their way to success, but currency is awarded pretty generously and skill and strategic team-building can still overcome raw spending in most instances.

Pros

• The only PC football simulator with official FIFA branding
• A huge range of single player and multiplayer modes in both local and online play
• Expanded Volta mode captures the feel of pick-up-and-play football

Cons

• Franchise mode lacks some of the major FIFA leagues and clubs
• Football Ultimate Team Mode prominently encourages spending real money
• Team customization options remain a bit shallow