Pro Evolution Soccer 2019
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Rating Summary
Based on 72 critic reviews
OpenCritic Rating
Top Critic Average
Critics Recommend
Score Distribution
Unscored Reviews
Top Critic
The football is as sublime as ever, but PES's lack of progress elsewhere pulls it back.
Top Critic
Pro Evolution Soccer remains the best, most accurate representation of football you can play without suddenly realising you can play out from the back like Harry Maguire.
Scored Reviews
PES 2019 is the next big thing in soccer simulation; possibly, the greatest way a soccer game is presented thus far.
Top Critic
Pro Evolution Soccer 2019 continues the series' excellent run of form, introducing smart improvements that enhance the on-pitch action.
Pro Evolution Soccer 2019 is without a doubt the best addition to the PES series. rapid and appealing gameplay, precise modelling of the players, great sense of competition, diverse animations for players moves and lots of other factors all made us think why can't we have official licences for teams and premier leagues, if Konami wants to turn PES into the best sport game in the market, it should definitely think about acquiring the necessary licenses.
Review in Persian | Read full review
PES 2019 is one of the best football games in recent memory. On the pitch, the core gameplay is absolutely superb - Konami's constant iteration really shows. It's a joy to play with each match feeling dynamic and exciting. It's not perfect however, off the pitch there's still certainly room for improvement - the game's menus and presentation overall could still use some serious work.
Top Critic
While there are some areas where the game sadly hasn't changed since the last game, there's enough minute improvements that really bring this football simulator to an entirely new level. Pro Evolution Soccer 2019 is the definitive soccer game for gamers wanting that extra oomph in their kick, quite literally.
Top Critic
On the pitch, PES 2019 is a winner, apart from that there is still a lot to do.
Review in German | Read full review
Top Critic
The season has already started for PES 2019 and it could not have set off in a better way. We are delighted to guarantee that we are in front of the best entry up until now regarding gameplay, as it leaves the impression of being the most realistic football simulator.
Review in Spanish | Read full review
Top Critic
PES 2019 is a great soccer game, has excellent graphics and great gameplay, but it is still evolving and needs improving in some ways to be considered THE soccer game. The lack of licenses and innovations weighs on the purchase decision for those who have the previous version. Playing PES 2019 can be a lot of fun, especially for online and local multiplayer, but for the lonely player there are some modes missing and the challenges end quickly.
Review in Portuguese | Read full review
Top Critic
PES 2019 is an evolution of the previous title improving what was seen and offering one of the best experiences of the saga.
Review in Spanish | Read full review
Top Critic
On the pitch PES 2019 it really is the beautiful game. But it needs some serious improvements in the game modes and online options.
Review in Italian | Read full review
Top Critic
Gameplay novelties are appreciated, but they are not so important as to consider that they are more than a patch of PES 2018. Regarding game modes, it seems that we are facing a new déjà vu.
Review in Spanish | Read full review
Top Critic
PES 2019 may be one of the best soccer simulators of all time. The matches are authentic and can be enjoyed with a realism that few titles have been able to transmit. The problem is that it is a Konami conformism when it comes to fighting for licenses, and it is a pity; otherwise it would be almost perfect.
Review in Spanish | Read full review
Top Critic
PES 2019 is by far and away the best football sim money can buy, boasting an enviable level of depth and authenticity FIFA simply can't hope to match. While the sheer variety of game modes ensures players will be enjoying Konami's latest for months to come. The biggest drawback is clearly the lack of official licences. Which, unfortunately, will make it exceedingly difficult for PES to win over any but FIFA's most lukewarm fans.
Top Critic
After some setbacks in this generation, PES 2019 represents the moment in which the series has resumed the path and is aligned correctly to compete directly. In PES 2019 no match is the same and each encounter will give you experiences full of emotion, difficulty and satisfaction. Despite the presence of some specific details, in general the new installment of the series is very well delivered regarding previous editions and it is definitely an option that you should consider, because the challenge and fun are guaranteed for the entire season. Yes, Pro Evolution Soccer has returned and that is great news for all of us who are fans of football games.
Review in Spanish | Read full review
on the pitch, PES 19 truly is the representation of the beautiful game
Top Critic
The gameplay is as engrossing as ever, but it and the marquee Master League mode are still looking for a few changes to take the series to the next level.
Top Critic
PES 2019 might be the best football game already but the huge ad campaigns and exclusive deals of Electronic Arts with the well-known leagues will probabaly cause FIFA to be the winner, again.
Review in Persian | Read full review
Top Critic
PRO EVOLUTION SOCCER 2019 is an impressive game in terms of the visual. The game mechanics combined with an almost perfect physics, result in one of the best sports simulators ever made. For the fans it will be a delight to play it; however, it lacks many licenses like every year and is something that prevents it from reaching its peak
Review in Spanish | Read full review
Top Critic
Light on features it may be, but PES 2019 shows the proof in the pudding is, and always will be, out on the (virtual) pitch.
Top Critic
For now though, if it's online, co-op or gameplay with your mates, PES 2019 is still very much worth your money and deserving of the the accolades coming its way. PES 2019
Top Critic
If Konami somehow managed to steal EA's longstanding official partnerships away, it would be no question as to who the king of soccer sims is. It's just a shame that they probably never will.
Top Critic
PES 2019 is a good football game. It isn't a major improvement over last year's title, but despite the lack of the Champions League it isn't worse either. The matches play well, the modes are well crafted for the most part, and there's plenty of fun to be had. There are some things that do need addressing which haven't been touched since over recent iterations, but hopefully they can be fixed in future patches and updates.
Top Critic
I love the way PES 2019 plays. The gameplay is the biggest selling point, but not the only thing that matters–especially in the face of formidable competition. Konami can't escape the negative effect of losing the licensing battle, its shallow modes, and bland presentation.
Top Critic
PES 2019 is an excellent step in the right way at the terms of gameplay, but Konami must focus on delivering more exciting and complex gameplay modes.
Review in Arabic | Read full review
Top Critic
PES 2019 may lack the fancy presentation of FIFA, but when it comes to gameplay, PES 2019 can more than hold its own. Smooth gameplay, a variety of animations, and interesting game modes take the sting off of the lack of licensed teams. FIFA may wear the crown, but PES is a worthy rival.
Top Critic
Pro Evolution Soccer 2019 is a good title, which would have deserved a much higher rating with more courage on the options and game-modes.
Review in Italian | Read full review
Top Critic
New animations and updated physics have made Pro Evolution Soccer even more realistic. If you are a fan of the genre, then it's necessary to play. Sadly, there's still problems with a PS4 version in Russia.
Review in Russian | Read full review
Top Critic
With a very well crafted gameplay, PES 2019 is able to deliver some intense, gratifying, gorgeous looking soccer games. The fact is that it is as fantastic on the pitch (except for a referee that can forget to let the game play instead of whistling), that it's lame on the content side. Nothing really new in terms of content or UI, which is not harmful for soccer games evenings with friends but can start to annoy those who wait for more from Konami.
Review in French | Read full review
Top Critic
Overall, PES 2019 is still a fantastic game. The on-field experience is one of the most authentic, impressive portrayals of football you are ever likely to see. It's what happens when a team is finally completely comfortable with the engine and system. Every match feels like it offers something different and that adds to the whole experience. The on-field additions certainly make up for the lacklustre menus, the loss of licenses and the lack of innovation, but only just.
Top Critic
Pro Evolution Soccer 2019 is the most polished football game on the market. Full stop. And despite all my nitpicking, FIFA will have a lot to prove when it rolls out later this month. Although PES 2019 takes some major blows, they make up lost ground with added variety and fine-tuning an already tight system.
Top Critic
Last year, we said that PES 2019 needs to go big or go home. And while Konami has indeed gone big on refinements and minor changes, the same modes, presentation and lack of licenses holds this year's game back again somewhat. Which is why it's fortunate that PES 2019 still plays a mean game of football. Your move, FIFA.
Top Critic
PES 2019 excels when it's left to do what matters most in a football title — simulating the beautiful game. Outside of that, its rough edges are starting to show, but for many that simply doesn't matter.
Top Critic
PES 2019 does make a progress in terms of gameplay details, and it successfully makes the game full of surprises. However, I still feel those improvements are too conservative or lacking in brand new ideas especially compared with recent year's FIFA series.
Review in Chinese | Read full review
Top Critic
I still recommend PES 2019 to anyone who is a fan of "The beautiful game" even if your favorite club is not licensed in the game this year.
Top Critic
Pro Evolution Soccer 2019 is the most real football simulator currently available on the market, and it offers a great football experience to both hardcore and arcade players. Nevertheless, the same old problems and issues such as teams and players lisenses kick back in and prevent PES2019 from becoming the most complete football simulator too.
Review in Persian | Read full review
Top Critic
Pro Evolution Soccer 2019 offers a great gameplay, which is full of unpredictable and magical moments. but despite this, lack of content and problems like bad commentators stop this game from reaching its full potential.
Review in Persian | Read full review
Top Critic
A lot of game modes, great animations and tactics, but also poor AI of teammates and missing licence. Anyway still nice soccer.
Review in Slovak | Read full review
Top Critic
'PES 2019' feels as though it continues to tread water for the series. The gameplay experience is brilliant and that alone makes it worthwhile for any soccer fan, but the lackluster feature set and missing licenses complicate its approachability.
Top Critic
If you're looking for an online and varied experience with great servers that don't waste your time, I don't recommend PES 2019 to you. But if you're looking for playing with your friends and experiencing a highly realistic game, PES 2019 can be a fantastic choice for you.
Review in Persian | Read full review
Top Critic
If you are a fan of PES series, then you shouldn't miss it.
Review in Turkish | Read full review
Top Critic
The most important thing about PES 2019 is that the game has the "Football Soul" in it. if you are more attracted to "deep and real Football experience simulating" or "players individuality" than "team names" or "some license issues", then PES 19 is one the best football simulator games that has ever made. PES 19 is a game that every football fan in the world must experience it.
Review in Persian | Read full review
Football, in essence, is all about control, precision, strategy and creativity. You are in control of your team and its players and you determine how well they work together on the pitch. PES 2019 is football.
PES 19 is a great simulation of the sport presenting expanded licenses and improved gameplay.
Pro Evolution Soccer 2019 continues Konami's mission to provide the alternative football experience through on-pitch innovations and very little else.
Top Critic
PES 2019 is a great addition to the series that should keep veterans happy and enthral new players alike. While not moving forward in areas where it should, it does advance in others to great effect.
Top Critic
PES 2019 delivers fantastically fluid football to fans, but some may feel a little frustrated at the lack of improvements overall.
Pro Evolution Soccer 2019 is a great football game that's meant for hardcore players that want to see slow accurate football. If you want to have fun with friends during a party, pick up FIFA instead.
Review in Czech | Read full review
Top Critic
Quote not yet available
Pro Evolution Soccer 2019 doesn't manage to keep up with the pace they established last year and doesn't really offer anything groundbreaking besides the usual good gameplay mechanics. The bad A.I. and missing modes from the off and online part will make it hard for PES Fans not to switch to the competition.
Review in German | Read full review
Top Critic
This year's game feels like a transition year. Small changes make it better overall, but other issues drag it down with a bang.
Top Critic
The gameplay seems real football, but online modes and contents in general are too stuck with the past.
Review in Italian | Read full review
Top Critic
While I can say, with certainty, that Pro Evolution Soccer 2019 is the best one in the series, I can also say that it’s still not as good as it should be. In theory, all of the problems for PES 2020 would be fixed by not releasing the game next year. Ideally, the next game should be PES 2021.
With fantastic action on the park and ever improving graphics, it does feel like PES is moving in the right direction. With a few more tweaks to the little things such as menus and team management screens, I see no reason why it can’t upset the big boys and one day become the football game on everyone’s lips. For now though it’s still a work in progress. Much like Steven Gerrard’s Rangers.
Top Critic
PES 2019 makes minor tweaks to the formula, mostly for the better, and still strives to offer its own take on soccer simulation. However, that alone is not enough to overcome the obvious weak spots that seem to grow more noticeable year after year.
Top Critic
Pro Evolution Soccer 19 is a fun one to play. Unfortunately, I'm already thinking of ways Konami can improve it for next year's version (I'll still be playing PES 19 though!).
Top Critic
Rather than overhauling the experience, PES 2019: Pro Evolution Soccer continues to refine its gameplay loop with intricate features that fans will come to appreciate in the long term. With no major additions in terms of modes or licences, however, this 2019 edition feels a little light in terms of real talking points. What Pro Evolution Soccer is known for returns, but it's not stocking many new bells or whistles.
Top Critic
Whether PES 2019 is a good proposition will depend entirely on the gamer. For me, I can forgive its jankiness. The football, especially going forward, is just so good. Despite this, my admiration of the series will always be stained with a bit of disappointment, wondering what it could be with just a little more evolution.
Top Critic
Pro Evolution Soccer 2019 is a great entry in the franchise, even if it's held back by a few organization and licensing issues.
Top Critic
If you take a step back and look at the big picture, it's hard to shake the feeling that Pro Evolution Soccer 2019 may actually be taking a step backwards this season. However, upon closer examination, a vast majority of the criticism consists of minor problems in an otherwise stellar football simulation. Unless the loss of Champions League is a deal breaker, at least on the pitch, this remains the premier choice for the discerning hooligan.
Top Critic
Pro Evolution Soccer 2019 is absolutely amazing on the pitch, proving that as far as pure simulation goes, Konami's franchise still reigns supreme. But in all other areas, its refusal to improve is starting to become increasingly frustrating, to the point where several such flaws are actively damaging the experience in many ways.
Top Critic
Konami will be able to appease the PES fanbase with PES 2019.
Top Critic
That said, there are aspects of the game that don't need that kind of money to be made better – be it gameplay that's stuck in a weird balance of realism and arcade-y fun, the nonsensical transfers or the lacklustre presentation – but it's starting to feel like PES might have conceded one too many.
Top Critic
Every year I see a major evolution From PES Production Team, but in return the continued loss of the real life football licenses "Teams Kit, Logo, Tournaments Etc" by the competition and the continued weakness of the game's Online servers makes this year Launch of PES 2019 Not So Impressive , but still does not diminish the fun of the gameplay and the realism that is developed in every part of the Pro Evolution Soccer Experience
Review in Arabic | Read full review
Top Critic
PES is always such a hard game to review and a frustrating one to score. Pro Evolution Soccer 2019, despite the issues mentioned previously, is by no means a bad game. In fact, this is a very good game. It is probably the single best representation of the sport of football that someone has created in the videogame medium. It represents the beautiful flowing moves and the tough as nails tackles. It represents the skill and movement of a variety of different types of players. It makes it a challenge to score great goals past strong AI defenders and rewards putting time and dedication into developing teams and tactics. All of this is wonderful and just what a football title should be. The issue is that whilst people can appreciate this for a few years, standing still is not acceptable when charging full price for a new version every year. There are some glaring flaws that need real focus and attention in order to elevate PES back to the glory days as the king of football.
Top Critic
Pro Evolution Soccer 2019 is solid enough in its footballing fundamentals, but it seems to have regressed in terms of its polish and immersion. Picking up nine more minor league licences is a consolation, but now that football games have reached a point of extreme high fidelity, with lifelike player models and animations, the fickle issues of its lack of aesthetic consistency is more jarring than ever. With the loss of the Champions League licence, it might have been expected that Konami would nurture the neglected elements of the series, such as the Master League, and the sloppy presentation and online connectivity issues. That doesn't seem to have happened, though. Consequently, it's difficult to sing the praises of the core gameplay as much as last year. That's especially the case as the AI isn't as sensible as it was previously, with too many reckless challenges and questionable keeper decisions. PES 2019 underperforms, despite its quality.
Top Critic
A mostly fun, realistic football sim with wonky AI.
Top Critic
PES 2019 is a marvelous soccer sim on the field, and remarkably dated off of it. Those willing to forgive its still-awful user interface and simplistic modes may find magic, but its ramshackle presentation doesn't do justice to the hard work put into the gameplay.
Top Critic
Outgunned by FIFA's club licensing deals and star power, PES starts a new season still on the back foot
Top Critic
As an online and local multiplayer game, PES 19 is definitely worth playing, however the AI problems are so bad that you shouldn't even consider purchasing the game until these issues have been addressed. Football fans will need to wait for a patch or wait a few weeks until FIFA 19 comes out.
Although Pro Evolution Soccer 2019 is giving away potential in many respects, it is convincing on the pitch once again, so that annoyed FIFA players are welcome to consider a change.
Review in German | Read full review
