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Outbyte Driver Updater FREEFix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →Outbyte PC Repair FREEClear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →There is no objective, universally accepted order for the best PES games. This ranking uses a clearly defined editorial scope: the international mainline console and PC editions released under the Pro Evolution Soccer name, with the 2021 Season Update treated as the final PES-branded entry. It does not rank Japanese Winning Eleven editions separately, nor handheld games, mobile spin-offs, or club-management titles. Those categories have different releases and, in some cases, different content.
That scope matters because Pro Evolution Soccer is one regional name for a longer-running series. Konami dates the franchise’s first game to 1995; it launched overseas as Pro Evolution Soccer in 2001. The publisher announced eFootball as the franchise’s new global brand in 2021. Konami’s announcement and its corporate reports establish that history, but do not provide a complete, platform-by-platform archive or an official ranking. The order below is therefore an editorial judgment, not a measured consensus.
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How this PES ranking is scoped and judged
The list covers the annual international console and PC releases bearing the PES name, rather than attempting to merge every regional, handheld, mobile, and manager spin-off into one ranking. Japanese Winning Eleven counterparts belong to the same evolving franchise, but regional release dates, editions, and content can differ. A complete one-to-one regional mapping is not established by Konami’s current product catalogue.
Entries are assessed on five axes: match feel and responsiveness; breadth and quality of modes; presentation; licensing and roster context at release; and how well the game remains useful to play now. The ranking gives most weight to on-pitch feel and lasting playability, while modes and presentation help separate close entries. Licensing is considered in context rather than treated as a proxy for quality: rights and team coverage varied by edition. Platform and generation differences can also affect an edition’s performance, so this is a broad series-level judgment, not a claim that every version plays identically.
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Konami’s catalogue confirms some named editions, but it is not an exhaustive historical release database. The following order is a critical guide to the mainline run, not a claim that every platform variant or regional edition has been independently verified.
Ranking the mainline PES games
1. Pro Evolution Soccer 6
PES 6 takes the top spot for the combination that defines the series at its most compelling: responsive matches, a strong sense of momentum, and room for players to develop their own style. Its place here reflects the way its core football can remain engaging across repeated matches, not a claim that it has the richest presentation or most complete licensing. It is the best starting point for readers who want the clearest example of why PES earned a reputation for satisfying on-pitch play.
2. Pro Evolution Soccer 5
PES 5 is close behind, with a deliberate, contested rhythm that rewards patience and reading the opposition. It ranks below PES 6 because this list favors the latter’s overall balance and enduring accessibility, but players who prefer a more methodical match may reasonably reverse the two. That difference is a matter of preference rather than an objectively settled result.
3. Pro Evolution Soccer 2013
PES 2013 earns a high place for its satisfying control and the way it gives matches a deliberate, player-directed quality. It represents a strong late-era expression of the traditional PES approach, before the franchise moved through further changes in presentation and game design. Its broad appeal is the reason it ranks above entries that may offer a more modern visual package but less consistent match-to-match satisfaction.
4. Pro Evolution Soccer 2017
PES 2017 is a well-rounded entry in this editorial order: match play, modes, and presentation come together without one area overwhelming the others. It does not take the top position because the highest-ranked games make a stronger case on lasting feel, but it is a persuasive option for players seeking a more recent version of the familiar PES formula.
5. Pro Evolution Soccer 2018
PES 2018 stays competitive through its on-pitch play and presentation, though it does not displace PES 2017 in this ranking. The distinction is narrow and depends on what a player values: those who prioritize the particular feel of a single edition may prefer it, while this ranking gives the edge to the more balanced package.
6. Pro Evolution Soccer 2020
PES 2020 is a later entry with a recognizable focus on match feel, but its overall standing is tempered by the fact that this ranking values breadth and lasting appeal alongside moment-to-moment play. It is a reasonable choice for someone looking for a modern PES-branded release, though the next year’s edition was positioned by Konami as a Season Update rather than a fully new annual installment.
7. Pro Evolution Soccer 2019
PES 2019 offers a solid mainline package, but licensing and edition packaging are especially important context for this release. Konami’s announcement described league licenses and two physical editions, and gave a release date of August 28, 2018 for the Americas and August 30 globally. Those details establish what the publisher announced at launch, not current stock or availability. The release’s licensing context does not by itself make it the strongest game to play today.
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8. Pro Evolution Soccer 2021 Season Update
PES 2021 Season Update is included because it retained the PES branding and was named by Konami as the latest console edition in its September 2020 report. It sits lower as a distinct annual entry because its identity was that of a season update, not a fresh full-scale series step. Konami’s 2021 rebranding announcement marked the next chapter as eFootball, a free-to-play, digital-only global brand; that change does not make the earlier PES editions disappear from the series history.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Which Pro Evolution Soccer is best for you?
Choose based on the kind of football game you want, not just the position on a list:
- For the strongest classic all-round experience: start with PES 6.
- For slower, more tactical matches: try PES 5.
- For a later take on classic PES control: consider PES 2013.
- For a more recent, balanced PES-branded edition: look at PES 2017 or PES 2018.
- For the final console release carrying the PES name: PES 2021 Season Update is the relevant entry, with the important distinction that it was a season update.
Availability, compatibility, and the experience of a given edition depend on platform and region. A ranking cannot substitute for checking the exact version you intend to play, especially when comparing games released across different console generations.
How PES became eFootball
The series began in Japan as J.League Jikkyou Winning Eleven, which Konami says launched on July 21, 1995. The publisher says the game went overseas under the Pro Evolution Soccer name in 2001. The Japanese Winning Eleven and international PES labels are part of the same franchise, though their releases and contents can differ. In 2021, Konami announced eFootball as the new global brand for the series previously known as Pro Evolution Soccer and Winning Eleven.
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One free scan finds every outdated or missing driver and matches the right update for your exact hardware.Free scan · exact hardware matchKonami’s figures also need to be read in their stated context. A 2020 corporate report said the mobile version reached 300 million downloads worldwide in June 2020; that is a download count, not a count of unique players or console sales. A 2026 report states more than 900 million cumulative downloads as of September 2025 across home consoles, PC, and mobile devices. That is a publisher-reported cumulative figure across platforms, not a measure of distinct people.
What this ranking can and cannot establish
Konami is the primary source for its own franchise announcements, product descriptions, and release-history statements. Those sources establish the branding timeline and selected edition details; they do not settle every platform release, regional date, independent critical reception, or a universal best-to-worst order. The ranking is therefore most useful as a consistent editorial recommendation, with the scope and criteria made explicit rather than presented as a definitive verdict for every player.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which Pro Evolution Soccer game is best?
This ranking puts PES 6 first for its match feel and lasting playability. Players who prefer slower, more methodical football may favor PES 5 instead.
Is Winning Eleven the same series as Pro Evolution Soccer?
Yes. Konami describes Winning Eleven and Pro Evolution Soccer as names for the same long-running franchise, though regional editions, dates, and content can differ.
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