EA Sports FC 26 Reviews
Before this review ends, I just want to showcase the amount of work that went into Accessibility. High Contrast mode allows players to customise the colour of the pitch to grey. It also gives options for teams, balls, and referees to be transformed into bold hues, making it easier for visually impaired players to differentiate teammates from opponents. This is the first competitive multiplayer PvP game to offer such a feature. Players can also disable shadows for teams and the stadiums, improving visibility and clarity. EAFC 26 is a well-rounded evolution rather than a revolution. However, bolder change will not occur until the old generation versions are retired. Meanwhile, Authentic Mode brings a more tactical approach, thereby offering fans a deeper, more immersive simulation. In addition, Pro Clubs and goalkeepers see major improvements. Although issues such as Ultimate Team monetisation and repeated trophy designs persist, they are minor blemishes on an otherwise polished experience. Overall, it is a solid, enjoyable entry that will appeal to both newcomers and long-time fans. It not only delivers refined gameplay, but also improvements across each mode, along with accessibility features that set a new standard. For players seeking a tactical, responsive, and visually stunning football experience, EA Sports FC 26 fully deserves the Thumb Culture Gold Award.
EA Sports FC 26 is finally the football game we’ve been asking for over the past decade, the culmination of years of updates and improvements.
Review in Portuguese | Read full review
EA Sports FC 26 balances refinement and familiarity, delivering its most enjoyable matches in years — but its cluttered menus and monetisation still drag down the momentum.
Still, it is a very objective game and clear in what it will deliver, being a good sports experience on the Switch 2, doing well in the aspects that really matter to the majority of the public, therefore, the best choice for anyone who wants to play a game about Brazil's most beloved sport with modern squads on a modern Nintendo platform. This all shows that, if EA invested more time and care in certain aspects of the titles, soccer would be much better represented in the world of video games.
Review in Portuguese | Read full review
By the final whistle, FC 26 stands as the most complete and confident entry of the new EA Sports FC era. It may not be revolutionary, but it’s the most balanced and satisfying football simulation EA has released in years. The divide between Authentic and Competitive play is a masterstroke, the AI and physics feel genuinely refined, and the quality-of-life improvements finally make Ultimate Team and Clubs worth investing in again.
EA Sports FC 26 brings noticeable changes to players who have criticized its lack of changes year after year, and it feels like a turning point for the franchise in terms of gameplay. It's interesting that it's tweaking its formula to satisfy its wide audience, and while it's too early to see if it will work in the long term, it at least tries something different and shows that it's listened to the community. The game breathes the DNA of soccer, but it bothers us that Latin America—one of the most soccer-loving regions—feels more and more left behind each year.
Review in Spanish | Read full review
With EA Sports FC 26, Nintendo players finally get a modern, competitive version of the world’s game. Some compromises remain, but it’s comfortably the best the series has ever been on a Nintendo console.
Gameplay is at the heart of FC 26. After years, several fundamental improvements requested by the community have been introduced. The community has been listened to and fully satisfied in this instalment, which confirms itself as one of the most ambitious in the series since before FC.
Review in Italian | Read full review
EA Sports FC 26 takes a giant step forward with the introduction of Authentic Mode, but it still has the same old problems. Lots of paid features and bugs. It's great for fans because it's the best soccer game, but not the only one.
Review in Spanish | Read full review
EA Sports FC 26 is undoubtedly the best football edition in recent years. The developers at EA Sports have listened to the feedback from the gaming community and have taken this year’s installment up a notch. However, it still isn’t perfect, and there is significant room for improvement.
Review in Slovak | Read full review
EA Sports FC 26 introduced a significant refresh to its gameplay compared to previous installments, offering smoother and more realistic on-pitch action, along with a diverse range of content that combines both single-player and multiplayer modes. Altogether, these elements have made the experience more enjoyable and immersive for football fans.
Review in Arabic | Read full review
EA Sports FC 26 feels better to play than ever before. The new Authentic and Competitive choices allow players to set the tone for how they want to play, and the improved AI is noticeable during matches. FC 26 is the beautiful game we all love.
With a solid and fun foundation that appeals to both casual players and veterans, EA Sports FC 26 is without a doubt the best “FC” at launch so far.
Review in Portuguese | Read full review
FC 26 is not the revolution we expected; it is certainly a well-thought-out evolution, but much more could have been done. The gameplay, with its two distinct presets, allows players to choose their own experience (depending on whether they prefer online or offline). But let's not kid ourselves - FC is mainly purchased for its online modes - especially Ultimate Team (which remains the beating heart of the production); a mode (along with Club mode) that has been enriched with new events and challenges (and a Season Pass that is even more central and “premium” to the experience) that amplify the experience in terms of longevity but have lost a little in terms of gameplay. Reducing the CPU so much has led to greater control by the player (and the so-called skill-based experience), which is definitely more challenging than in the past; but on the other hand, we continue to see problematic gameplay mechanics: missed tackles, random rebounds, poorly positioned defenders, and the distinct feeling that it is still the game that decides who wins and who loses. The invasive presence of microtransactions and some missing licenses also weigh on the experience. Even the Career mode remains faithful to the past without any major revolutions. As long as these issues remain, the series will never take the decisive step forward that we have been hoping for for years. That said, on the technical front, the graphics on PlayStation 5 are top-notch, with smooth animations and an immersive atmosphere that recreates the atmosphere of a real stadium.
Review in Italian | Read full review
EA Sports FC 26 delivers a solid and consistent experience, with improvements to defense, goalkeepers, and ball physics. The introduction of distinct playing styles—Competitive and Authentic—expands the experience, but the latter remains restricted to offline play, limiting its impact. With a great stadium atmosphere, robust licensing, and increasing realism, the game maintains the franchise's relevance but doesn't achieve a revolution. It's a safe evolution that pleases the most loyal fans but leaves room for improvement.
Review in Portuguese | Read full review
The title doesn't revolutionize the franchise, but it delivers the best gameplay since the transition from FIFA to FC.
Review in Portuguese | Read full review
Although I expected EA to put in a lot more love into FC 26, and they did make some notable changes, the game still felt similar to the past two titles. The feeling of similarity is not a good thing for me in the long run, as my playtimes with both FC titles in the past two years were significantly less than usual.
EA Sports FC 26 tries to right some of the wrongs of last year, and while it's a superb football title with plenty of depth, there are some frustrations with its gameplay.
All in all, I really liked the latest edition of EA Sports FC. The introduction of archetypes adds more depth to the player career, and the challenges of the new live management give us as coaches even more goals to work towards. I also like the management jobs section, which adds a little more dynamism to our manager's job search. I also liked the in-game tactical options, which give quick access to templates and tactical adjustments, making everything a little more intuitive. But for me, the biggest highlight is definitely the authentic gameplay, which brings much more calm to the games and tones down the eSports frenzy a bit. EA Sports FC 26 feels very much like authentic soccer on the pitch, as you simply have more time for tactical considerations during the game and don't just rush around the pitch. Since we always have the choice of whether we want to play the faster or slower option, no one has to give up the old-established feel of the game if they don't want to. Apart from the areas mentioned, little has changed compared to its predecessor, as expected. Whether the optimizations are enough to justify another purchase is ultimately up to each individual to decide. For my part, I am very satisfied with the 26th edition. What I still really miss, however, is a real story mode, as we saw in The Journey or, for example, as is regularly offered in the F1 series.
Review in German | Read full review
"The strongest version of the series, but not the best." EA Sports FC 26 balances realism with arcade excitement, offering the best combination since the series' rebranding. Improvements to Career Mode and graphics, along with cross-play support, make the experience richer and more complete. Despite some flaws in Ultimate Team and the lack of certain licenses, the game remains one of the strongest versions of modern football and offers a comprehensive experience suitable for all types of players.
Review in Arabic | Read full review