Football Manager 2016 Reviews
Still untouchable on the footy front - but shelf life and that inconsistent 3D engine chip away at its tender achilles.
Despite a couple of neat additions, Football Manager 2016 is an iterative release that's sadly short on big new ideas.
Football Manager 2016 enjoys a few smart incremental updates, as well as a new take on Classic Mode that trims some of the series' more laborious features.
This is the most complete version of Football Manager yet, offering up something new for both seasoned veterans and newcomers alike.
The lack of improvements in areas that have stagnated, most notably dealings with the media and team talks, is frustrating though. There are seeds of good ideas in the drift toward an RPG-like system of relationships and stats, but they're slim and seem half-conceived in some areas. In fact, where the game is improved it may well benefit in Touch (formerly Classic) mode more than in the full-fat simulation. And for the first time, I'm considering spending my time there, and in the entertaining new multiplayer draft mode. I probably won't stick with the multiplayer until Christmas, let alone next season, but at least it's something new to sink my teeth into before settling into the usual decades of toil.
Football Manager 2016 makes you care about your team just as much as in the real world, providing the most realistic football manager experience to date.
Football Manager 2016 is complete misery, heartache, and bouts of pure anger – directed at a bunch of numbers. But I love it.
A microscopic improvement on Football Manager 2015, that is as addictive and engrossing as ever but seems to have run out of steam in terms of new ideas.
Football Manager 2016 may not be a huge overhaul over previous titles but the game feels a lot more accessible for anyone to pick up and play. Sports Interactive continues to show why Football Manager is the most dominant of sports management sim. 2016 isn't a game you can just switch off and leave behind. At moments during the day you'll be thinking of tactics to use, potential signings to bolster your defence, and who to drop. Most of all you'll be looking most forward to match day as you wait to see if your preparation is good enough or not. Football Manager 2016 isn't just a game, it becomes a major part of your life.
With two new modes and a ton of improvements and additions, Football Manager 2016 is another great entry into an already stellar series.
The moreish management sim is back featuring its usual tactical depth, but with a more user-friendly road to success – which is bad news for your loved ones
Football Manager 2016 may not be heavy on new features, but its increased transparency and accessibility make it the most enjoyable and immediate entry in the series to date.
Football Manager 2016 is far from the most revolutionary entry in the series, but it's still an addictive game that'll have you signing away the next few months of your life.
Solid. Dependable. This edition of Football Manager has set itself up not to concede, and to make occasional expressive forays into new territory. The scattering of innovations (hilarious character creator aside) are worthwhile, but some old, persistent quirks still rankle.
Football Manager 2016 makes accessing the more complex features easier: it's both deeper and more user friendly.
This is the finest football management game around and should be on everyone's Steam list.
The most educational and exhaustive edition yet
A solid game which you'll find plenty of reason to invest into if you are a fan of soccer text-sims.
Football Manager 2016 is another successful entry into a series that is perhaps struggling to find new things to innovate. Changes to tactics, player interaction and the 3D match engine are much welcomed and definitely mark an improvement from last year's game. It will keep fans of the series more than happy (that is until 2017 rolls off the production line next year).
Overall, Football Manager 2016 is definitely an improvement over last year's submission. It does a nice job of catering to those who want a faster-paced experience, whilst offering those who want to micro-manage every possible aspect of the game, a perfect sandbox with which to scratch that itch. Moreover, Sports Interactive has seemingly brought both experiences closer together, allowing an easier path for those playing Touch to promote themselves to the full experience at their leisure. The overall detail is astonishing and it will take far longer to get through a season. Gone are the days off finishing off a league in a night, but the satisfaction of reaching the summit of a league table after the arduous road preceding it, is that much greater. Aside from a couple of slight blemishes, with an under polished avatar system and a few presentation issues, Football Manager 2016 is without doubt a great accomplishment, which deserves anyone's attention. Just don't be surprised to watch your social life get relegated…