EA Sports FC 26 Reviews
For the majority, however, a new FC game all comes down to Ultimate Team – and this year it's going to prove more divisive than ever. Not, for once, because of its pack-opening mechanic, but those tweaks to gameplay speed, and fatigue, and any hope of smart, sound defensive play. The community has spoken, and EA has answered with all the pace and tricks and goals demanded of it. The move is, in one swoop, both understandable and deflating. Online, FC 26 is categorically not a game for the footballing purist – but how many of them are actually left?
EA's Switch 2 football debut is a night-and-day difference from its half-hearted Switch one, setting a great precedent for the future of the series. EA Sports FC 26 delivers a fully-featured version of the game, and while it only runs at 30fps and has a gated-off Ultimate Team mode which doesn't tap into the series' larger crossplay community, it still plays a fantastic game of football and offers more game modes than you'll ever know what to do with.
By truly dividing the gameplay between two very distinct presets, EA Sports FC 26 is trying to appeal to everybody. The more methodical Authentic toggle will attract offline Career mode tinkerers, who want to work hard for those scrappy 1-0 wins. Meanwhile, the snappier Competitive option is built for online sweats, who want to force their opponents into submission by burying them in goals. Both feel good in their own ways, and when paired with several new features and refinements, you get a flexible game of football that should please everyone – well, aside from those who simply can't jive with the franchise's over-reliance on monetisation.
EA SPORTS FC 26 provides, without doubt, the best and most authentic gameplay experience in franchise history, even though it's not quite perfect. The improvements and revamps across many modes offer refreshing play options that enhance replayability more than ever before. It's just a shame that Player Career Mode didn't receive the same level of care and attention. Ultimately, EA FC 26 is an easy recommendation and has given me the best experience I've had with the franchise in over a decade.
EA Sports FC 26 refines the formula with Authentic mode and better defending, making it a strong entry for fans. Still, it's an iterative release with limited appeal for newcomers or those seeking major changes.
With some gameplay updates and quality-of-life improvements, EA Sports FC 26 could be one of the better titles of the last few years, but it depends on what game mode you play.
EA SPORTS FC 26 is a fantastic football package. Not only is this the best the franchise has looked in years, its nuanced yet worthwhile gameplay improvements keep every match fresh and exciting.
With its rich rivalry matches, extensive club features, and polished gameplay, EA FC 26 has surpassed its predecessor. Already visually impressive, the game is even more appealing, especially for Turkey, with the addition of a Turkish commentary.
Review in Turkish | Read full review
EA Sports FC 26 feels like it has made some exceptional strides forward this year. Having played for approximately 25-30 hours since Early Access was released and having invested a similar amount of time in the Closed Beta build, I can confidently say it’s the best version of the game we have had in several years. The key feature is the introduction of two gameplay modes: Authentic and Competitive. It’s nice to see that a lot more attention has gone into Career Mode as well as Ultimate Team. EA have for sure put the work in this time around to try and please every player type that dives into the yearly release. The game is almost polished to perfection this time around, and whilst I have struggled finding my feet in Ultimate Team so far, I am having a bloody great time. If you haven’t dipped into the series for some time, then this year is an ideal opportunity to return. If you’re a regular, then you’ll be right at home with a sprinkle of exciting new features.
FC 26 feels like a true step forward for the series, finally striking the right balance between competitive sharpness and authentic realism. From the overhauled gameplay fundamentals to the smarter Career Mode features, refined Archetypes, and a deeper FUT experience, EA has clearly been listening to the community. The presentation is slick, the sound is immersive, and the controls are fine-tuned for both newcomers and veterans.
EA Sports FC 26 is one of the biggest steps forward in terms of gameplay, with the Authentic Play mode offering more realism than ever before. In terms of content, the game doesn't offer any unprecedented new features; in fact, it's mainly limited to slightly expanding on existing content. With some fine-tuning, it would be great if the minor bugs that are clearly present here and there could be resolved quickly. EA has therefore primarily focused on improving the overall gameplay with the two modes now present in the game. In my opinion, that's a good move, and it leaves you wanting more.
Review in Dutch | Read full review
There is plenty to enjoy in EA Sports FC 26 for soccer fans of all backgrounds, creating a truly excellent experience. Minor changes going forward will only help turn a very good game into something special.
Without the shadow of multiplayer balancing looming over things, you have gameplay that is likely to stay the same until FC 27 inevitably comes along. I've been having a blast with the current implementation, and was quick to uninstall FC 25 after a single match. If you like to play it slow, pass around, and fist-pump after tight wins, this is the football game for you.
EA SPORTS FC 26 marks a step forward from its predecessor. Balanced in gameplay dynamics and built around a fluid structure that's genuinely fun, it also brings several changes to the Ultimate Team and Career modes (both Player and Manager), consistently hitting the mark. The hope is that this holds true throughout the year-fingers crossed that any future patches won't bring the kind of disruptive changes we've seen in the past.
Review in Italian | Read full review
And while on-pitch gameplay feels sharper than ever, the surrounding modes remain too familiar to past iterations, weighed down further by aggressive monetization through FUT’s premium season pass. EA Sports FC 26 takes meaningful steps forward on the pitch, but it still needs bolder changes off it to truly move the series ahead.
You can have all the bells and whistles, but gameplay is what matters most. FC 26 has once again got the bells and whistles, but this time, the gameplay is on par to create the best football gaming experience out there.
EA has listened to fans and incorporated many of their requests, which is noticeable from the start. It may not be surprising in the first few hours, but the more you play, the more you appreciate the changes, and the harder it becomes to put down the controller.
Review in Spanish | Read full review
One year after an episode that attracted a great deal of criticism, EA FC is back with a new version that serves as an apology and a gesture of reconciliation with the players. The result is a more beautiful and immersive game designed to please everyone and frustrate as few players as possible. While the changes made are not revolutionary, they are necessary and provide a much better overall understanding of the game. If it deserves to be judged on its merits, EA FC 26 certainly deserves to be played this year.
Review in French | Read full review
As another season of the beautiful game gets underway, so too does another season of EA Sports' FC franchise. FC 26 is the third iteration of the ...
EA Sports FC 26 doesn't radically change the formula it has stuck to for years, but it refines it, smoothing out the rough edges and making good use of the wealth of feedback received in recent times. This is a more self-aware and diplomatic entry, clearly aiming to please everyone, striving to be a safe space both for online competition enthusiasts and for lone wolves who love long career modes. Once again, it offers a polished playground, ready to entertain players throughout the entire football season with its most proven and beloved features.
Review in Italian | Read full review