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Updated daily · 3 Nov 2026

Player reception, side by side

FM26 vs FM24

Football Manager 26 moved the series to a new engine and a new interface, and most players who compare it with Football Manager 2024 prefer the older game. Many say they went back to FM24. FM26’s latest reviews are much warmer than its early ones, and Football Manager 27 arrives on 10 November.

In short

As of 3 November, 37% of 21,852 player reviews recommend Football Manager 26, and 91% of 28,713 recommend Football Manager 2024. FM24 suits players who already own it and want the menus, match data and features they know, and many of its players have put more than 1,000 hours into it. FM26 suits players who want the new in-possession and out-of-possession tactics and smoother 3D matches, and can live with menus that take more clicks and bugs that patches have only partly fixed.

Football Manager 26: recommend it

37%of 21,852 reviews, as of 3 November223

Football Manager 2024: recommend it

91%of 28,713 reviews, as of 3 November224

Side by side

The two games at a glance.

Game
Football Manager 26
Football Manager 2024
Released
223
224
Price at launch
$59.99
Not listed
Developer
Sports Interactive
Sports Interactive
Publisher
SEGA
SEGA
Players recommend it
37% of 21,852 reviews
91% of 28,713 reviews
Our reading
80 most helpful and 40 latest reviews, read 3 November
80 most helpful and 40 latest reviews, read 3 November

What players praise

What players like most.

Football Manager 26

  • The new tactics earn praise.

    Separate in-possession and out-of-possession setups, shown on a tactics visualiser, are the feature players like most.

  • Matches look smoother.

    Players find the 3D match smoother and better animated, though several say the logic underneath is unchanged from FM24.

  • Recent players are warmer.

    Most of the latest reviews recommend it, and some credit patches and the new engine as a base for later editions.

Football Manager 2024

  • It takes over players’ lives.

    Players joke about lost sleep and one more day, and many have logged more than 1,000 hours.

  • Players call it the last good edition.

    Many of its latest reviews rate it above FM26, and several say they still play it alongside the newer game.

  • Saves turn into stories.

    Players recount long climbs up the leagues and first trophies with small clubs.

  • The match engine plays like football.

    Players praise its movement and realism, and say tactical choices make a difference.

What players criticise

What players complain about.

Football Manager 26

  • The menus slow everything down.

    Players say basic tasks take several times the clicks they took in FM24, with stats hidden behind pop-ups and tiles.

  • It launched unfinished.

    Players report crashes, freezes at half time, saves that won’t load and broken set pieces, and many call the release a beta.

  • Features and data are gone.

    Heat maps, pass maps and touchline shouts are among the features players miss, and they find the match data thin.

  • It feels built for consoles.

    Many find the interface designed for controllers and awkward with a mouse, and the game simplified for casual players.

Football Manager 2024

  • Player interactions misfire.

    Promises and player requests break so often that many players avoid them.

  • Long-requested features are still missing.

    Players want stadium design, match commentary and youth teams below under-18s.

  • Some content was removed after purchase.

    A few object to licensed content that later updates took out.

Which to pick

Which one is for you.

Football Manager 26

Pick Football Manager 26 if you want the new in-possession and out-of-possession tactics and smoother matches, and can live with the menus and bugs.

Football Manager 2024

Pick Football Manager 2024 if you already own it and want the familiar menus, the fuller match data and the features FM26 dropped.

Questions

FM26 vs FM24, in short.

Is FM26 better than FM24?

Most players say no. As of 3 November 2026, 37% of FM26’s 21,852 reviews recommend it and 91% of FM24’s 28,713. Players who compare them prefer FM24’s menus and match data, though FM26’s latest reviews are warmer and praise its new tactics.223224

How does FM26’s match engine compare with FM24’s?

FM26’s 3D matches look smoother and better animated. Several players say the logic underneath is the same as FM24’s, and they still see odd decisions from referees, playmakers and full-backs. FM24’s players praise its engine for realistic movement.223224

Should I switch from FM24 to FM26?

Many FM26 players went back to FM24, mostly over the menus, the missing data and the bugs. Those who stay point to the in-possession and out-of-possession tactics and smoother matches. FM24 is no longer sold on the PC store, so it’s an option only if you already own it.223224

Should I buy FM26 or wait for FM27?

Football Manager 27 comes out on 10 November 2026 on PC and Mac, and its free Launch Preview ran from 29 October to 3 November. Several FM26 reviewers say they’re waiting to see whether FM27 fixes the interface. We’ll read FM27’s player reviews once it’s out.195198223

How much is FM26, and can you still buy FM24?

FM26 is $59.99 on PC and Mac. FM24 is no longer sold on the PC store, though players who own it can keep playing.223224

Each game’s figure is the share of all its player reviews that recommend it, counted daily. Praise and complaints come from our own reading of its reviews, each judged from what the player wrote.

Sources

  1. 195Steam: Football Manager 27, store page and user reviews (opens in a new tab) Accessed 22 Oct 2026
  2. 198Sports Interactive: Football Manager official site (opens in a new tab) Accessed 22 Oct 2026
  3. 223Steam: Football Manager 26, store page and user reviews (opens in a new tab) Accessed 3 Nov 2026
  4. 224Steam: Football Manager 2024, store page and user reviews (opens in a new tab) Accessed 3 Nov 2026

More research

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