FIFA 21 Reviews
FIFA 21 is still a solid football game, but it feels far too similar to last year's entry. With minor improvements to the gameplay, modes, and the visuals, it's about time the series had an overhaul.
Everything that is delivered in this year’s release is a decent offering for those looking to essentially make the ‘upgrade’ from FIFA 20. A updated roster, with new features and some contextual upgrades applied makes FIFA 21, a valuable Football title for 2020.
FIFA 21 also sees the return of the VOLTA mode that was introduced in FIFA 20. VOLTA is the street football mode akin to the old FIFA Street games. My biggest criticism of VOLTA in FIFA 20 was the fact that it couldn’t be played online with friends. Thankfully, that has since been rectified in FIFA 20. VOLTA Squads allows you to play with up to three friends online. Modes range from 3v3 up to 5v5 and whilst it’s not my go-to mode, VOLTA offers something different and fun.
FIFA 21 offers a wealth of content and authenticity, and the new gameplay tweaks make a positive difference. However, this year's game is uncharacteristically bogged down by AI issues and technical hiccups.
FIFA 21 comes off as a straightforward update to last year’s game, with quality of life improvements that in any other game would have been implemented via a title update.
If you're not an Ultimate Team addict, I don't suggest the game in its current condition. Still, after a few more patches you can give it an another chance.
Review in Turkish | Read full review
FIFA 21 does not do enough to show the power of the franchise. It remains an experience just like the previous ones, but still fun in some points. Gameplay still favors individualism more than the collective, this in a sport where the collective is everything. The career mode is certainly the most benefited in this version, but most players will still invest in the FUT mode, which is unbalanced and prioritizes the microtransaction market.
Review in Portuguese | Read full review
EA should think more about the situation with the current gen version of FIFA 21 and be more honest with its audience, as PES 2021 did and succeeded. Essential. Especially when asking for €60 and not €30. Hopes are now being dashed in the next-gen version of FIFA 21, where all development resources appear to have been spent.
Review in Greek | Read full review
Enough has been done to keep players interested until the next-gen consoles arrive, but unless you’ve skipped the last couple releases, there’s nothing that screams must-buy this year.
FIFA 21 fixes some on-pitch issues, though it stops short of giving the series the meaningful overhaul it needs.
FIFA 21 is full of goals. With FIFA, EA Sports is constantly engaged in a balancing act between attack vs defence. And it's a process that continues after release, with some FIFA titles transforming into a whole new beast by the time we're ready for the next annual iteration. At launch, FIFA 21 is a goal fest. I've had a lot of high-scoring games on FIFA 21 where the result looks more like cricket scores, and I've also broken my personal best scoring record, with a final score of 20-0.
FIFA 21 does little to innovate and has almost no meaningful gameplay changes, making it little more than a roster update to FIFA 20 that most players could happily miss.
It's hard to shake the sinking feeling that FIFA 21 has almost been frozen in stasis since last season. While there are the expected seasonal enhancements, nothing stands on its own to make this a "must buy" installment. If you picked up the game in 2019, you'd probably be forgiven for taking a pass this time around. Hopefully they have more innovation in store for next year, because it definitely feels like EA is trying to run out the clock on this generation.
Stop us if you've heard this one before: FIFA 21 isn't a huge upgrade on FIFA 20, but a boatload of small improvements do help it rise above its predecessor. The on-pitch action arguably feels more arcadey than it has done in years, but there's no denying the excitement that comes with playing through a 5-4 thriller. FIFA is still king in delivering a robust and accessible footballing package, but the series needs to step up its game on PS5 - particularly when it comes to presentation.
FIFA 21 is an overpriced full price update that should be considered very carefully.
Review in German | Read full review
Apart from lacking in innovation, FIFA 21 still is a football game that could keep you be engaged for hundreds of hours just like its predecessors do.
Review in Chinese | Read full review
So, FIFA 21 doesn’t have any ground-breaking new modes or revolutionary gameplay innovations, but it doesn’t need them to impress. The plentiful tweaks to gameplay and AI, along with worthwhile new features spread across all primary modes, accumulate to make FIFA 21 a must-have for football fans. And if they’re planning on picking up a next-gen console in the near-future, there’s possibly even more for them to look forward to.
Look, at the end of the day Fifa will sell regardless of review scores. There are incremental changes across the different games but this is largely the same package, designed to encourage seasoned players to settle in like a comfy, tatty, serviceable pair of shoes – even if those shoes are full of holes and barely stay on your feet. It doesn’t matter what score critics give Fifa 21. It could get a 1/10 from every publication and fans will still buy Fifa. However, it’s hard not to come away from this one disappointed.
FIFA 21 is a game with few interesting new features but they're not so extensive as to require a year of development. This should be a simple content patch. Still, the game itself is very good and satisfying, capable of elevating a house party and thrilling core fans.
Review in Polish | Read full review
It’s beautiful and a lot of action for all sports lovers out there. As I’ve mentioned in the beginning of this review, FIFA 2021 is a true testament to every fan of the game in the world—and that’s hugely important for a sport well beloved.