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Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →Among the annual flagship PC editions with comparable critic scores surfaced here, Football Manager 19 ranks first and Football Manager 26 last. That is a reasoned, score-led ranking—not an objective verdict on every version of the series. It covers FM13–FM24 and FM26; FM25 was cancelled and is not a playable release to rank.
What this ranking covers—and how it works
“Every edition” can mean different things in Football Manager: annual flagship releases, or distinct PC, console, Touch, Mobile, Handheld and Classic versions. This list uses a narrower, comparable scope: the annual flagship PC editions from FM13 through FM24, plus FM26. The evidence available for these entries includes PC critic aggregates, not equivalent review coverage for every platform or spin-off.
| # | Preview | Product | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
|
Football Manager 26 Console (Playstation 5) | $34.99 | Buy on Amazon |
| 2 |
|
EA SPORTS College Football 27 - Standard Edition PS5 |Disc I VideoGame | $49.94 | Buy on Amazon |
| 3 |
|
Football Manager 2024 (PS5) | $34.34 | Buy on Amazon |
| 4 |
|
Persona 3 Reload: Standard Edition - PlayStation 5 | $14.99 | Buy on Amazon |
| 5 |
|
F1 Manager 2022 PS5 Game | $29.99 | Buy on Amazon |
The order weighs three things: the available critic reception, the edition’s significance in the series’ development, and how useful the evidence is to someone choosing an edition. Metacritic scores are a snapshot of PC critics’ reviews, not a fan poll or a complete measure of quality. Where editions share a score, their relative positions are editorial judgments; the evidence does not establish a meaningful quality gap between them. Player milestones indicate reach, not quality.
The series’ early history sits outside this ranked PC sample. SEGA identifies Football Manager 2005, released in 2004, as the series’ beginning; early North American releases used the name Worldwide Soccer Manager. Metacritic’s historical overview calls out preferred moves and player data in the 2005 entry, feeder clubs in the 2007 edition, and the 3D match engine in the 2009 edition. These are important milestones, but they do not make those releases directly comparable to the later PC editions below.
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- Powered by the Unity graphics engine, matchdays are more dramatic than ever through enhanced player movement and greater on-pitch detail. Feel the rush of weaving dribbles, inch-perfect through balls and last-gasp winners with player movements brought to life with fresh motion capture and volumetric animations from real football matches that give every attack more personality.
- A game-changing user interface overhaul primes you for smoother navigation in the managerial hotseat. The newly-integrated Portal is your gateway to the wider football world, surfacing key information you need, when and where you need it and empowering you to make the right calls in every situation.
- Immerse yourself in world football’s most-watched league with the Premier League fully-licensed for the first time with official kits, badges and player photos. Authenticity reaches new heights as you pursue the biggest prize in domestic football with the full broadcast experience from the best seat in the house.
- Make your mark on the pitch and explore the cutting edge of football tactics with the introduction of customisable in and out-of-possession formations. Redefined player roles and a dynamic visualiser that shows how your team adapts and moves in every phase of play levels up your pre-match prep game in, game out.
- Harness the power of TransferRoom to shape your title-winning squads with even greater insight.
How the Football Manager games rank
| Rank | Edition | PC Metascore |
|---|---|---|
| 13 | Football Manager 26 | 68 |
| 12 | Football Manager 23 | 80 |
| 11 | Football Manager 17 | 80 |
| 10 | Football Manager 15 | 80 |
| 9 | Football Manager 16 | 81 |
| 8 | Football Manager 18 | 82 |
| 7 | Football Manager 20 | 84 |
| 6 | Football Manager 14 | 85 |
| 5 | Football Manager 21 | 85 |
| 4 | Football Manager 22 | 85 |
| 3 | Football Manager 13 | 86 |
| 2 | Football Manager 19 | 86 |
| 1 | Football Manager 24 | 84 |
Metascores are Metacritic’s PC critic aggregates as accessed in 2026. They are one input to this ranking, not scores for every platform or a measure of player consensus.
13. Football Manager 26
FM26 is the first Football Manager built on Unity and adds women’s football and a Premier League license. Those are substantial changes, but they did not guarantee a smooth transition for players. In May 2026, Studio Director Miles Jacobson acknowledged that the interface changes “weren’t well received by everyone.” PC Gamer’s review offered a counterpoint, praising the added match-animation detail for making player behavior easier to read, while also describing frustrations. Its low critic aggregate and mixed reception put it last in this list—not as a claim that every player dislikes it.
12. Football Manager 23
FM23’s PC critic aggregate is tied at the bottom of the annual editions in this sample. Its other notable figure is a reach milestone: Sports Interactive later said FM24 passed seven million players in fewer than 100 days, exceeding FM23’s reported lifetime total of 6.88 million at that time. That comparison shows FM24’s adoption, not that FM23 was worse or better to play.
Rank #2
- Standard Edition for PlayStation 5 (disc) includes the full EA SPORTS College Football 27 game.
- DYNASTY BLUEPRINT – Control your program’s future with recruiting, NIL, staff, facilities, and Athletic Director Expectations..
- ROAD TO GLORY – Build your player, explore new positions, earn NIL deals, chase the Heisman, and raise your Legacy Score.
- MASCOT MASHUP – Play as your favorite mascot, collect 120+ icons, and compete in wild 11-on-11 matchups full of school spirit.
11. Football Manager 17
FM17 shares an 80 PC Metascore with FM15 and FM23. The available evidence does not establish a reliable way to separate those three on quality; its placement here is an editorial tie-break, not a claim that critics or players decisively preferred the editions below it.
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10. Football Manager 15
FM15 has the same PC critic aggregate as the other two editions in this tier. With no comparable feature or usability evidence here to distinguish it from them, its position is a close judgment within a tied group.
9. Football Manager 16
FM16’s PC aggregate edges the 80-point group, but the evidence available does not identify a standout change or reception pattern that would justify placing it much higher. It lands just above that cluster in a ranking that treats small score differences as signals, not definitive judgments.
Rank #3
8. Football Manager 18
FM18 sits in the middle of the reviewed editions by PC critic aggregate. There is not enough comparable edition-specific evidence here to claim it introduced a defining series feature or was a particular kind of player’s best choice, so its placement mainly reflects its position between the lower and higher score groups.
7. Football Manager 20
FM20’s PC aggregate is stronger than the 80–82 group, placing it among the more favorably reviewed entries in this sample. The sources used for this ranking do not provide a specific feature comparison that would support a more confident claim about what made it stand out.
6. Football Manager 14
FM14 is one of three editions in this list with an 85 PC Metascore. Its position ahead of FM21 and FM22 is a judgment within a tie; the score alone cannot show that it was better to play or more popular with fans.
Rank #4
- Experience the pivotal game of the Persona series faithfully remade with cutting-edge graphics, modernized quality-of-life features, and signature stylish UI.
- Fully immerse yourself in an emotional, gripping journey with new scenes and character interactions, additional voiceover, and a reloaded soundtrack.
- Choose how to meaningfully spend each day through various activities from exploring the Port Island to forging genuine bonds with beloved characters.
- Build and command your optimal team to take down otherworldly Shadows and climb closer to the truth.
5. Football Manager 21
FM21 matches FM14 and FM22 in PC critic aggregate. It belongs in the stronger-reviewed group, but its exact place within that group is not a measurable distinction established by the available evidence.
4. Football Manager 22
FM22 completes the 85-point tier. It ranks just above the other tied editions as an editorial preference, rather than on evidence of a decisive reception or feature advantage over them.
3. Football Manager 13
FM13 shares the highest PC critic aggregate in this sample. That makes it one of the strongest-supported choices if reception is your main yardstick, although a critic score cannot establish that it remains the best fit for a player today.
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Best Value
- PlayStation 5 Video Game Just For Games
- Color: Multicolor
- Dimensions: 13.7 x 17.2 x 1.8 cm
- Reference: S7178830
- If what you want is quality at the best price do not keep looking!
2. Football Manager 19
FM19 also has the highest PC critic aggregate in the sample. It takes second rather than first because this ranking gives some weight to the relevance and reach of the later FM24, while still treating reach as a separate measure from quality. There is no evidence here to call FM19 a universal favorite.
1. Football Manager 24
FM24 is the top pick for this ranking’s balance of strong critic reception and exceptional reach. Its PC aggregate is below the sample’s 86-point leaders, so it does not win on reviews alone. Sports Interactive reported that it passed seven million players in fewer than 100 days, surpassing FM23’s prior lifetime figure of 6.88 million; that is evidence of adoption, not proof of superior quality or fan preference. Its first-place position reflects its place as the strongest all-round choice in this particular comparison, not an objective series-wide consensus.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Why Football Manager 25 is not ranked
Sports Interactive cancelled FM25 across all versions on February 6, 2025, after delays. The studio said “the overarching player experience and interface is not where we need it to be,” despite evaluation and consumer playtesting. It also said it would not provide an FM24 update with 2024/25 season data. Since FM25 never became a playable release, including it as the worst game would confuse a cancelled project with a finished edition.
What is the best Football Manager game for you?
If you want the strongest critic reception in this PC sample, FM19 and FM13 share the top aggregate. If you want a recent flagship with exceptional reach, FM24 is the best-supported pick here, though its player count should not be mistaken for a quality rating. FM26 is the series’ Unity-era changeover and brings new licensed and women’s-football content, but its interface reception was mixed. Choose among those priorities rather than treating the ranking as a universal fan verdict.
This list does not rank Touch, Mobile, Console, Handheld or Classic as though they were identical to the flagship PC game. FM26 itself launched as distinct PC/Mac, Console, Touch and Mobile editions, with a physical Nintendo Switch Touch version also announced; their feature sets and play styles differ.
Quick Recap
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
