Football Manager 26

I booted up FM26 expecting the usual comforting spreadsheet-therapy — instead I found a game trying to be cinematic and console-friendly at the cost of core usability. The revamped match engine and in/out-of-possession ideas are genuinely exciting, but the new UI and launch bugs turn many moments from satisfying to annoying.

The core loop is still gloriously familiar: sign players, set tactics, watch games, repeat — but FM26 layers new systems on top. The match engine looks and moves better than before: motion-captured animations and volumetric tweaks make that last-minute winner feel cinematic. Tactically the split between In and Out of Possession formations finally lets you have different shapes when attacking and defending, and the visualiser helps you preview how the team will behave. TransferRoom™ and smarter recruitment tools make targeted signings less guesswork and more strategy — when they work. The Portal and bookmarks try to streamline access, but in practice important data often ends up behind extra clicks. Manager creation and the integration of women's leagues are welcome additions; licensing improvements (Premier League clubs, kits and photos) lift immersion. Sadly, those positives are dragged down by a tile-based UI that reduces data density, awkward pop-ups, occasional crashes and multiplayer instability. If you like tinkering with tactics and watching matches, there’s a lot to love; if you live for spreadsheets and fast navigation like I do, expect a rough start.

FM26 is ambitious and fun in bursts — the tactics and match engine are worth exploring, but the UI and stability issues hold it back. Buy cautiously, try the demo or wait for patches and mods if you’re a veteran who values fast, data-rich workflows.