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MONSTER

Football Manager 2024

Name: Comprehensive Review and Analysis of Football Manager 2024
Item: Football Manager 2024
Author: MonsterCritic Editorial Team

2023

GenresSimulation, Sports, Strategy, Single Player, Multiplayer

AvailableNov 6, 2023

PlatformPlayStation 5, PC, Nintendo Switch, Xbox Series X, Xbox One

DeveloperSports Interactive

Overview

Progress never stops when you're pursuing footballing greatness. Gameplay upgrades empower you to develop a blueprint for success on and off the pitch. Pre-order for 10% off and Early Access*.

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Game analysis

Monster Scorecard

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Story and Narrative

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TL;DR

Football Manager 2024 thrives on player-driven storytelling, offering emotional highs, realistic challenges, and boundless narrative freedom—whether building a career from scratch or reshaping club legacies. While some criticize its lack of a central plot, the game’s focus on agency, realism, and personal triumphs cements it as a deeply immersive, emotionally resonant football management experience.

SCORE DISTRIBUTION FOR STORY

Story Score

Positive Reviews (80-100)

64%

Mixed Reviews (50-79)

36%

Negative Reviews (0-49)

Based on analyzing reviews that specifically scored or critiqued the story and narrative.

The majority of critics highlight Football Manager 2024’s strengths in storytelling through player agency and emotional engagement. Cubed3 emphasizes its “emotional rollercoaster” of managing a team, capturing the highs and lows of seasons, while Gfinity praises the game’s dedication to realism for creating “unique and emerging stories.” Jeuxvideo.com and TechRadar Gaming both commend the ability to craft personal narratives, whether through building a career from scratch or guiding a club to success. Movies Games and Tech note the flexibility to write one’s own story, whether starting at the bottom or elevating a favorite team, while TheXboxHub humorously underscores how the game fosters deeply personal experiences. Gamersky’s “parallel world mode” adds a creative twist, allowing players to reshape Manchester United’s destiny, further enriching the narrative possibilities. These reviews collectively celebrate the game’s focus on player-driven storytelling and its capacity to simulate the pressures and triumphs of football management. However, some critics point out limitations in the game’s narrative structure. Checkpoint Gaming notes that FM 2024 lacks an overarching storyline, instead offering a more open-ended experience where players set their own goals by managing a club and striving for success. Everyeye.it describes the title as a “transitional episode” before significant changes, suggesting it may not fully satisfy those expecting major innovations in storytelling. While these critiques are relatively minor, they reflect a shared sentiment that the game prioritizes depth of simulation over structured narrative arcs, leaving players to construct their own stories rather than follow a predefined plot. Overall, the consensus among critics leans heavily toward appreciation for Football Manager 2024’s narrative flexibility and emotional resonance. Despite some acknowledging its lack of a central storyline, the majority praise its ability to let players shape their own journeys, as highlighted by Cubed3’s “rich narrative experience” and Jeuxvideo.com’s emphasis on personal career creation. The game’s focus on realism, player agency, and evolving challenges—whether through Gfinity’s unique stories or Games.cz’s continuity with previous versions—solidifies its reputation as a deeply immersive simulation. While it may not offer a traditional story, the reviews collectively affirm that FM 2024 succeeds in delivering a compelling, player-driven narrative experience that resonates with football management enthusiasts.

TL;DR

story and narrative

Gameplay Mechanics

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TL;DR

Football Manager 2024 dazzles with hyper-detailed tactics, immersive management, and a refined match engine, but its complexity and clunky mechanics test newcomers—proving a masterclass in depth for die-hards.

SCORE DISTRIBUTION FOR GAMEPLAY

Gameplay Score

Positive Reviews (80-100)

91%

Mixed Reviews (50-79)

Negative Reviews (0-49)

Based on analyzing reviews that specifically scored or critiqued the gameplay mechanics.

The gameplay of Football Manager 2024 has been widely praised for its depth, innovation, and immersive management experience. Critics highlighted significant improvements in tactical customization, particularly with the Set Piece Creator, which allows for intricate setups and player positioning, as noted by But Why Tho? and Gamersky. The game’s enhanced match engine, featuring realistic player motion and diverse playing styles, was lauded by Cubed3 and Games.cz, while Eurogamer and IGN Portugal emphasized refined systems for transfers and negotiations. Many reviewers, including Push Square and Checkpoint Gaming, praised the balance between micro-management and strategic decision-making, with GamingBolt calling it an “addictive loop” of club management. The inclusion of features like imported saves from previous editions (Areajugones) and AI-driven transfer markets (Eurogamer Germany) further enriched the experience, offering both veterans and newcomers a sense of continuity and progression. Despite its strengths, some critics pointed to challenges in accessibility and minor frustrations. Push Square noted that the game’s complexity can be daunting for newcomers, requiring patience to master, while Digitally Downloaded echoed this sentiment, calling it “complex and requires patience.” Issues with specific mechanics, such as clunky set piece taker selection (Cultured Vultures) and overwhelming menu systems (GameStar), were mentioned as areas needing refinement. Additionally, console versions like Football Manager 2024 Touch (reviewed by Nintendo Life and Generación Xbox) faced criticism for simplifying gameplay at the cost of depth, with some feeling they lacked the tactical richness of the PC version. While these critiques highlight room for improvement, they were often framed as minor drawbacks rather than deal-breakers. Overall, the consensus among critics is overwhelmingly positive, with the majority deeming the gameplay “very good” and a significant step forward for the franchise. Reviews from Cultured Vultures and PC Gamer emphasized that while not perfect, the game’s enhancements in realism, tactical depth, and player engagement solidify its status as one of the best entries in the series. The combination of new features like set pieces (But Why Tho?) and refined core mechanics (Games.cz) created a simulation that feels both authentic and rewarding. Even critics who noted limitations, such as TechRadar Gaming’s observation about the learning curve, acknowledged the game’s ability to captivate long-term fans. Ultimately, Football Manager 2024 is seen as a triumph of depth and detail, balancing complexity with accessibility in a way that satisfies both hardcore enthusiasts and casual managers.

TL;DR

gameplay mechanics

Graphics and Visual Design

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TL;DR

Football Manager 2024’s visuals improve incrementally with sharper animations, physics, and lighting, yet still feel outdated versus elite sports games, balancing progress with persistent polish issues and cautious optimism for future Unity-driven upgrades.

SCORE DISTRIBUTION FOR VISUALS

Visual Score

Positive Reviews (80-100)

Mixed Reviews (50-79)

92%

Negative Reviews (0-49)

Based on analyzing reviews that specifically scored or critiqued the graphics and visual design.

The Graphics and Visual Design of Football Manager 2024 received mixed but generally positive feedback, with several critics highlighting incremental improvements. Areajugones praised "significant graphical improvements" and better player animations, while Cubed3 noted enhanced "player motion and ball physics." Push Square acknowledged slight upgrades to lighting and match engine fluidity, and God is a Geek appreciated refined lighting and crisper stadiums. Hooked Gamers and Twinfinite emphasized realism in player movements and on-field physics, with Screen Rant praising the cleaner UI and "best 3D representations in the series so far." These improvements suggest a more polished visual experience compared to previous iterations, particularly in areas like animations, ball dynamics, and match-day lighting. Critics like Gamereactor UK and God is a Geek also expressed optimism about future enhancements, especially with the upcoming Unity engine transition. However, many reviewers pointed out persistent shortcomings that limit the game’s visual appeal. Gfinity called the graphics "dated and in need of improvement," while Eurogamer Germany described them as "simple and not modern," noting a lack of visual polish. Games.cz and PC Gamer criticized the match engine for still feeling "basic" despite upgrades, with Metro GameCentral highlighting rigid player movements and underdeveloped crowd visuals. Multiplayer.it and PCGamesN argued that the game falls short compared to other sports simulations, and Windows Central described the UI as "basic" with limited customization options. Critics like Jeuxvideo.com and IGN Adria also noted that while there are improvements, Football Manager 2024 remains far from elite-class visuals, with some aspects—like newgen faces or stadium details—still needing refinement. Overall, the consensus among critics is that Football Manager 2024 represents a step forward in visual design but remains focused on gameplay over graphical spectacle. While improvements in animations, lighting, and physics are widely acknowledged (as noted by Areajugones, Cubed3, and God is a Geek), most agree that the game’s visuals lack the polish of high-budget football titles like FIFA. The transition to Unity in future updates offers hope for more substantial changes, as mentioned by Push Square and Screen Rant. Despite criticisms about dated aesthetics or technical inconsistencies, many reviewers acknowledged that the game’s strengths lie in its data-driven mechanics and immersive simulation rather than cutting-edge graphics. This balance between incremental progress and persistent limitations reflects a broader industry trend where Football Manager prioritizes depth over visual flair, appealing to fans who value strategy over spectacle.

TL;DR

graphics and visual design

Music and Sound Design

Analysis Unavailable

Summary unavailable

TL;DR

music and sound design

Description unavailable

Voice Acting

Analysis Unavailable

Summary unavailable

TL;DR

voice acting

Description unavailable

Technical Performance

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TL;DR

Football Manager 2024 shines with polished performance on PC and Xbox, but PS5 struggles with glitches while PC faces quirks and outdated OS support—overall a solid foundation with lingering issues to fix.

SCORE DISTRIBUTION FOR TECHNICAL PERFORMANCE

Tech Score

Positive Reviews (80-100)

32%

Mixed Reviews (50-79)

68%

Negative Reviews (0-49)

Based on analyzing reviews that specifically scored or critiqued the technical performance.

The technical performance of Football Manager 2024 across platforms shows a generally positive outlook, with several critics highlighting improvements and stability. On PC, multiple reviewers praised its polish and functionality, noting that it runs smoothly even on older hardware (SECTOR.sk) and features improved loading speeds (PCGamesN). IGN Portugal emphasized advancements in AI and reduced issues compared to previous editions, while Games.cz described the game as "well-polished and stable." The Xbox Series X also received strong marks, with Generación Xbox and Movies Games and Tech lauding its fast load times and ability to handle large databases without crashes. Nintendo Life acknowledged adequate performance on the Switch, despite control and loading challenges, suggesting it meets expectations for a portable platform. These positives indicate that the game’s technical foundation is robust across most systems. However, technical issues persist, particularly on specific platforms. On PS5, Push Square pointed out inconsistencies and interface bugs in the console edition, signaling areas needing refinement. PC critics also noted minor but notable problems: Everyeye.it highlighted bugs related to player injuries and referee decisions, while Metro GameCentral mentioned exploits like transfer delays and corner kick glitches. TheSixthAxis warned of performance hiccups when importing saves, and Twinfinite acknowledged "minor bugs" despite overall improvements. Windows Central further flagged the lack of support for older Windows versions (7/8/8.1), which could alienate some users. While these issues are not universal, they underscore that technical polish remains a work in progress, particularly on PC and PS5. Overall, critics agree that Football Manager 2024 delivers solid technical performance, with the Xbox Series X and PC receiving the most consistent praise for stability and optimization. The Switch’s performance is adequate but less refined, while PS5 faces more hurdles despite its hardware capabilities. While bugs and glitches are acknowledged across platforms—particularly on PC—the consensus leans toward optimism, with many reviewers expecting future updates to address these issues. The game’s technical foundation appears strong, though platform-specific challenges highlight the need for continued refinement to fully realize its potential.

TL;DR

technical performance

Replay Value

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TL;DR

Football Manager 2024 dazzles with addictive depth, save continuity, and fresh modes like Japanese leagues, but critics question if its incremental upgrades and overwhelming complexity justify full price for all.

SCORE DISTRIBUTION FOR REPLAY VALUE

Replay Score

Positive Reviews (80-100)

70%

Mixed Reviews (50-79)

30%

Negative Reviews (0-49)

Based on analyzing reviews that specifically scored or critiqued the replay value.

The majority of critics highlight Football Manager 2024’s robust replay value through its extensive features and depth. Push Square emphasizes the ability to carry over old save files and the inclusion of challenge mode, while Areajugones praises new elements like Japanese leagues, negative transfer budgets, and improved AI coaches, which add variety. Cubed3 notes that the game’s “familiar experience” is enriched by enough innovations to keep players engaged, and GamingBolt and PC Gamer both describe it as a “highly replayable” title capable of consuming hundreds of hours. The addition of multiple game modes, such as those mentioned by Everyeye.it and Meristation, along with the ability to import saves from previous editions (highlighted by Eurogamer and Nintendo Life), further enhances its longevity. Critics like TechRadar Gaming and Windows Central also stress the depth of management options and the “addictive” nature of the game, which encourages repeated playthroughs. However, some critics point to limitations that could dampen replay value for certain players. Gamereactor UK argues there’s not enough new content to justify a full-price purchase, suggesting fans might prefer waiting for future updates. Screen Rant and Eurogamer Germany note that the game feels like a “small improvement” rather than a major leap, with some features—like the vast customization options—potentially overwhelming newcomers. Cubed3 acknowledges that the familiarity of the gameplay could lead to repetition over time, while Gamersky and Games.cz mention that the core mechanics, though deep, may not offer enough novelty for all players. Additionally, some reviews, like those from GGRecon and SpazioGames, do not explicitly address replayability but imply it relies heavily on individual player interest in football management. Despite these critiques, the overall consensus among critics is overwhelmingly positive regarding Football Manager 2024’s replay value. Most agree that its combination of save continuity, new features, and intricate management systems creates a compelling experience for fans. Critics like Cultured Vultures and TRG emphasize how the game can “hoover up hundreds of hours,” while Generación Xbox and Movies Games and Tech describe it as “infinite” in terms of replayability. Even those who note minor shortcomings—such as Eurogamer Germany’s caution about complexity or Gamereactor UK’s skepticism about content—acknowledge that dedicated players will find ample reasons to return. The game’s ability to blend familiarity with incremental improvements ensures it remains a staple for football management enthusiasts, cementing its reputation as a title that rewards long-term engagement.

TL;DR

replay value

Overall Verdict

MONSTER

OVERALL SCORE DISTRIBUTION

Monster Score

Positive Reviews (80-100)

85%

Mixed Reviews (50-79)

15%

Negative Reviews (0-49)

Based on analyzing all available reviews that scored and critiqued the game.

The overall reception of Football Manager 2024 is overwhelmingly positive, with many critics praising its incremental yet meaningful improvements and deep, immersive gameplay. Reviewers like Areajugones, But Why Tho?, and Cubed3 highlighted the game’s revitalization of the franchise through new features, enhanced realism, and a blend of nostalgia with modern updates. Eurogamer and IGN Adria called it the best iteration yet, emphasizing its dedication to excellence, depth, and innovation. The inclusion of Japanese football leagues, improved transfer systems, and tactical customization were frequently cited as standout additions. Gameblog.fr and Meristation noted the game’s realistic simulation and almost infinite possibilities, while PC Gamer praised its additive features that feel distinct from previous entries. For fans of the series, FM 2024 is seen as a polished, engaging experience that solidifies its status as a premier management simulator. However, several critics pointed to notable drawbacks, particularly around repetition and accessibility. Push Square criticized the console edition for being a “stripped back” and subpar port, while GamingBolt and The Games Machine argued it felt like an iterative upgrade rather than a revolutionary leap. Issues with the user interface, AI shortcomings, and a steep learning curve were recurring complaints. Gameblog.fr and Meristation noted flaws in press conferences and missing divisions, while Checkpoint Gaming warned that the complexity could be intimidating for newcomers. Gamereactor UK dismissed it as “basically the same game,” suggesting it’s only worth buying for Game Pass subscribers. Additionally, some reviewers, like Jeuxvideo.com and TheXboxHub, questioned the necessity of yearly releases, noting that while FM 2024 is strong, it lacks groundbreaking changes to justify immediate purchases for existing fans. Despite these criticisms, the consensus among critics leans heavily toward appreciation for Football Manager 2024 as a refined and immersive experience. Most reviewers, including Cultured Vultures (8/10), Eurogamer Germany, and PCGamesN, acknowledged its status as one of the best single-player sports games, even if it doesn’t fully revolutionize the formula. While some, like Gfinity and TRG, noted lingering flaws such as dull interaction systems or a lack of innovation, the majority agreed that the game’s depth, realism, and dedication to football management make it a must-play for enthusiasts. The split between “solid continuation” and “revolutionary leap” reflects the series’ iterative nature, but the overall sentiment is one of cautious optimism—Windows Central called it the “most complete in the series,” while Nintendo Life and Generación Xbox acknowledged its accessibility for casual players despite its complexity. Ultimately, FM 2024 is seen as a strong, if not groundbreaking, entry that reaffirms the franchise’s legacy.

TL;DR

Football Manager 2024 shines as a polished, immersive management simulator with incremental upgrades that elevate realism and depth, earning praise for its tactical customization, Japanese leagues, and refined mechanics. Yet it grapples with repetition, clunky UI, AI flaws, and a steep learning curve, leaving some questioning its necessity for existing fans. While not revolutionary, it’s a standout entry for enthusiasts, balancing innovation with the series’ tried-and-true formula.

MONSTER

Reviews

63 reviews found

VideoGamer

Nov 2, 2023