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How this score was computed
The VGC Score is a weighted blend on a press-comparable 0-100 quality scale. Steam approval rates are first calibrated (95% positive on Steam ≈ 89.5 quality, since Steam approval skews high). Press and tracked creator reviews each count ~2x a player review and share one cap against player evidence (creator buy/skip calls pool into an approval rate, calibrated like Steam approval); all-time sentiment is capped and halved (it's context, not verdict); reviews of the current build carry the most weight when a fresh patch anchors the window; and a 'typical game' prior keeps small samples from pegging the scale. Because press reviews and Metacritic user aggregates describe the launch build, their weight decays as the game ages (3-year half-life after a 1-year grace). That's how a game that launched rough can outgrow its old reception once updates win players over. Reviews under 2h playtime (the refund window), non-Steam activations, and free copies are downweighted.
| Component | Positive | Quality (0-100) | Weight (pseudo-reviews) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Press reviews (Metacritic) | – | 72 | 20 |
| All-time Steam reviews | – | – | 0 |
| Metacritic user ratings | – | 23 | 750 |
| Backloggd ratings | – | 48 | 750 |
| Post-patch Steam reviews (trust-weighted) | – | – | 0 |
| Calibration prior (typical game) | – | 72 | 50 |
Scoring window: last 30 days (no significant patch detected) · 0 reviews sampled · 0 total reviews in window · weighted 0 up / 0 down · computed 2h ago · full methodology →
Press & Creators reviews (60)
Individual verdicts from outlets we track: scored reviews first, most trusted outlets first among them. The small badge is each outlet's trust score: how well its scoring history aligns with players.
- 70
“FIFA 21 marks another update to the formula without major innovations. But it's still a fun game.”
read full review ↗ - 60
“More expensive with fewer changes, FIFA 21 is a sad entry for the franchise. Unless the PS5 version you’re getting with this one does not improve the formula by a lot, there is little to no reason for you to get this edition of FIFA. Especially if you already own FIFA 20.”
read full review ↗ - 70
“FIFA 21 is a game with few interesting new features but they're not so extensive as to require a year of development. This should be a simple content patch. Still, the game itself is very good and satisfying, capable of elevating a house party and thrilling core fans.”
read full review ↗ - 70
“FIFA 21 provides enough new content and changes to set itself apart from FIFA 20 but ultimately this feels like an entry that plays it safe. This is totally understandable; the new console generation is just around the corner and will allow EA to take this series to the next level. Truly, it needs exactly that - the graphics and presentation are in dire need of an overhaul. Nevertheless, the bolstered Career Mode and gameplay balances contribute to this being a decent swan song for the current generation of football simulators.”
read full review ↗ - 70
“Stop us if you've heard this one before: FIFA 21 isn't a huge upgrade on FIFA 20, but a boatload of small improvements do help it rise above its predecessor. The on-pitch action arguably feels more arcadey than it has done in years, but there's no denying the excitement that comes with playing through a 5-4 thriller. FIFA is still king in delivering a robust and accessible footballing package, but the series needs to step up its game on PS5, particularly when it comes to presentation.”
read full review ↗ - 70
“In the end, as a football fan, I can't find a better expression that synthesizes FIFA 21 than the shout for a goal that was disallowed by the referee.”
read full review ↗ - 50
“There’s so much work to be done to make FIFA a viable contender again as a genuinely great sports game. The sad part is, I don’t think EA Sports really care anymore.”
read full review ↗ - 80
“Career mode is still a mixed bag, then, but it's reassuring that EA has made some additional moves to try and freshen it up. If you do grow tired of simming through training sessions and managing sharpness, FIFA 21 is still chock full of other stuff to do, whether you want to head to the streets of Paris to show off your skills, hop into Ultimate Team with a friend, or play through a season on Pro Clubs. This is a substantial package that's propped up by exciting gameplay that puts the onus squarely on attacking football. There are moments of frustration on defense when the balance doesn't feel quite right, but then you'll go down the other end and score a Puskás Award contender that makes you forget why you were mad in the first place.”
read full review ↗ - 80
“On the pitch, FIFA 21 is an incremental improvement over FIFA 20, but doesn't address some of the biggest issues with defending and the high-scoring matches this leads to. With Volta still missing a certain spark and Ultimate Team not really changing much, it's the Football Manager-inspired Career mode that takes the biggest step forward. It's still a good football game, but it feels like the real focus is on next-gen. ”
read full review ↗ - 70
“On the pitch, FIFA 21 remains the best it's ever been, but it's arguably not changed enough for longtime fans in almost any other way. ”
read full review ↗ - 70
“Probably the most innovative FIFA in years, that leaves the door open for further improvement in the next gen, even if the grim shadow of Ultimate Team is never likely to leave.”
read full review ↗ - 75
“Apart from lacking in innovation, FIFA 21 still is a football game that could keep you be engaged for hundreds of hours just like its predecessors do.”
read full review ↗
GameMAG
PLAY Zine
GRYOnline.pl
Cubed3
Push Square
LevelUp
FingerGuns
GameSpot
TheSixthAxis
GameSkinny
Metro GameCentral
Gamersky…and 48 more tracked reviews.