Games Review | EA Sports FC 26

The football giant once known as FIFA is back, with a renewed effort to restore its reputation.

This is a pivotal year for EA Sports FC. The franchise remains one of the most popular and lucrative in the gaming world, yet last year’s FC 25 was met with criticism.

Author | Liam C

For FC 26, EA insists it has listened to its audience and gone all out to deliver the game fans have been demanding.

First impressions on PS5 and Xbox Series X/S

The early signs are encouraging. From the first full 11-a-side match, it is clear that EA has made notable adjustments to player movement. The improvements are obvious, even if the introduction of two distinct gameplay modes feels questionable.

The options, Authentic and Competitive, are pitched towards different audiences. Authentic is intended for Player and Manager Career modes, offering a slower, more tactical experience that mirrors the tempo and style of the Premier League. The emphasis is on patient build-up play and midfield control. Yet it does not always feel like FC should: in Authentic mode, the game is more reminiscent of Pro Evolution Soccer, EA’s great rival from the FIFA years.

Part of the joy of Manager mode lies in making outlandish transfers, selling players you cannot stand and replacing them with fantasy signings. In that sense, a commitment to strict realism feels slightly at odds with the spirit of FC.

Thankfully, you can choose between Authentic and Competitive across the game’s many modes. Opting for Competitive brings out the best of FC 26. Player movement feels sharper and more responsive, defenders hold their line more effectively, while attackers make more intelligent runs in support. The much-criticised goalkeeping errors of FC 25 have been ironed out, and the chaotic pinball in the six-yard box is largely gone.

In short, when it comes to the matches themselves, FC 26 delivers. Player behaviour is consistent and natural, and the game flows with a slickness that was missing last year. Unlike previous instalments where tweaks created new problems, this time the changes simply work.

How it performs on Nintendo Switch 2

The Switch 2 version includes all the features of its PS5 and Xbox counterparts. Both gameplay styles are present, as is the revamped Manager Career mode, which now features live challenges and unlockable Icon players.

This is a genuine step forward. Previous versions of Manager Career risked becoming repetitive, reduced to season after season with the same team. The new Live option injects variety, offering scenarios such as starting with a 20-point deduction and a tight transfer budget, then attempting to escape relegation before a set deadline. It is the kind of innovation that keeps players returning.

Ultimate Team, the perennial fan favourite, also benefits. Tournaments return, alongside a new Gauntlet mode where squad depth matters as you cannot use the same player twice across a run of matches.

The result is a version of FC that feels richer and more flexible, with enough fresh ideas to keep even the most jaded players engaged. 

On our first few plays, this is the best football game ever released on a Nintendo console.