How to create the PERFECT football game (2024)

The landscape of sports gaming has changed exponentially over the past two decades, with football at the very core of this shift.

FIFA is the global leader in football gaming but with EA Sports and FIFA splitting - and with other competitors staking a claim - the landscape is set for drastic change.

With that in mind, we want to take a look at how we'd create the perfect football game, combining different elements of major titles throughout the years, whilst attempting to remain realistic in our expectations.

Creating the perfect football game is a near-impossible task, with plenty to think about when it comes to producing an immersive sporting experience.

One thing we'd do straight off the bat is scrap annual releases, instead releasing bi-annually with a large update arriving at the end of the first year to introduce new kits and update the squads.

We're going to break down this creation into different elements, but here are the main modes we'd include in our perfect game:

• Fantasy Teams - An Ultimate Team alternative
• Manager Mode
• Sandbox
• Online Legends - A new and improved Pro Clubs mode

As the market leader, FIFA obviously provides the base for most of our ideas, but we hope over the course of this piece we can showcase just how much further EA - and other developers - can take these concepts.

The Ultimate Battle

FIFA Ultimate Team has become a true behemoth and is the envy of all major developers.

Ultimate Team shines in its autonomous squad building and exciting promos, but there's no doubt that the mode has become rather stale in recent years.

EA has continued to produce weekly promo cards that blow all others out of the water and at the end of FIFA 22's cycle, most people were boasting unreal teams filled with 93+ rated cards.

Our mode, dubbed 'Fantasy Teams' would combine the ideas of Ultimate Team, Match Attax, and Fantasy Football.

Squads would be built in the same way, with cards still available via a pack store, as we know this game still has to make some money.

However, the main difference would be that card boosts are dependent upon real-life performances of players, a concept utilised in sorare: Football.

In this mode, all cards would be dynamic and able to change in value.

This would make trading on the market more balanced and skilled, whilst also making you invested in real-life games.

Seasons would return, with a certain number of points needed in set games to get promoted, relegated, or remain in the division.

We'd also scrap weekly promos, instead focussing on monthly events that will drop new and exciting cards into the game based on the top performers in football that month.

Managing Frustrations

Our offline manager mode would combine the excitement of FIFA with the immersive experience of Football Manager.

Focussing on the off-field issues just as much as the actual games, we'd introduce a manager mode that is in-depth and structured.

Offering comprehensive scout reports, post-match analysis, and training updates, our manager mode would make sure that every tweak and decision you make is fully informed.

We'd also introduce an immersive youth academy system that would allow you to nurture your players in academy games, testing them out before promoting them to the first team.

Customisation would also be a key feature of our career mode, giving you the chance to create your own kits and completely re-vamping the stadium customisation tool in order to make your team feel completely unique.

Career Mode has been a major source of frustration for many years, but the easiest fix is to combine Master League, Football Manager, and FIFA, for an experience that caters to all.

We'd also include a player career, with key decisions offered throughout your journey leading to different interactions and scenarios; we'd also stick with a personality-based system, something implemented by EA in FIFA 23.

Localised Issues

The rise of Ultimate Team has meant that many modes have taken a back seat, with kick-off mode and local play not seeing enough love.

To combat this, we'd introduce an offline sandbox that brings all sorts of excitement to the game.

Harkening back to the days of lounge play, we'd introduce a number of elements on top of the normal kick-off mode, giving you the chance to draft a dream squad and face off in a mini-series, or even compete against one another in weird and random skill games.

One thing that the sandbox mode would introduce is complete customisation, giving you the chance to design games of any kind, from GK vs GK on an 11-a-side pitch to a no-rules heads and volleys extravaganza.

The main aim of our local play would be to provide weird and whacky elements you can't experience online, whilst also allowing you to simply kick back and play a normal match.

Fan Focus

Our final mode, Online Legends, will take the pre-conceived notions of Pro Clubs and blow them out of the water, making this a cross-play mode that you can experience online with your mates.

From crazy skill games like foot golf and dodgeball to climbing the ladder and attempting to win division 1, the Online Legends mode will reward time invested, whilst also allowing your player to grow naturally alongside your team.

One thing we would introduce is the ability to create an eco-system around your club, using an in-game currency earnt through wins and promotions to open new buildings in your club's town and unlock new games and perks.

Online Legends, like our Sandbox mode, can be a more arcade-like experience, catering to casual football fans whilst also enticing those that want to have a laugh with mates.

Conclusion

Four simple modes.

One that continues the legacy of Ultimate Team and utilises micro-transactions, one that exists for football purists, one that enables you to enjoy local play and one that creates a buzz online without the stress.

These four simple modes would provide more than enough for the average football fan, without any more fluff and features needed, just simple gaming brilliance.

A bi-annual release would enable these modes to shine and wouldn't lead to things needing to be rushed in future releases.

Football is a game that is becoming more inclusive to all and we feel that needs to be reflected in the games available on the market.

We'd simply call this game TBG - The Beautiful Game.