Screenshots & trailers
What players say
Why the number is what it is: aspect mentions counted across 342 sampled Steam reviews (179 positive / 163 negative), recent and most-helpful. Plain keyword counting, fully reproducible; nothing here is written by a machine.
What positive reviews talk about
- Controls & UI16% mention it
- Bugs & crashes11% mention it
- Visuals & art6% mention it
What negative reviews complain about
- Controls & UI40% mention it
- Bugs & crashes33% mention it
Satisfaction by hours played
Same score, different games: see how sentiment holds up the longer people play.
Under 5h
24%
37 reviews
5-15h
57%
47 reviews
15-40h
52%
48 reviews
40-100h
53%
68 reviews
100h+
58%
142 reviews
Review sentiment over time
Weekly positive-review rate (green) and review volume (bars). Dashed lines mark significant patches; the amber line is the start of the current scoring window. Hover the dots to see what drove a dip or a jump.
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 (OpenCritic) | – | 71 | 92 |
| All-time Steam reviews | 35% | 42 | 1000 |
| Metacritic user ratings | – | 34 | 103 |
| Post-patch Steam reviews (trust-weighted) | 53% | 55 | 3000 |
| Calibration prior (typical game) | – | 72 | 50 |
Scoring window: since the last significant patch (Mar 30, 2026) · 300 reviews sampled · 3478 total reviews in window · weighted 130 up / 101.9 down · computed 1h ago · full methodology →
Press & Creators reviews (65)
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.
- 50
“Sports Interactive clearly wanted to take a big leap forward with Football Manager 2026, but it seems they weren’t quite able to pull it off in practice. The game feels like a beta version that was released prematurely, and many of its potential strengths are overshadowed by shortcomings. For die-hard fans of the series who are used to community patches and patience, Football Manager 2026 may eventually become playable with community mods and patches. For newcomers or players expecting a polished and flawless experience, however, this year’s installment leaves mixed feelings and, rather than a revolution, delivers only the sense of a “great revolution on paper.” While the future of the series looks promising with the new engine, Football Manager 2026 is a lesson in how a revolution without precise implementation can actually be a step backward.”
read full review ↗ - 50
“The duality of man, or in this case football management games. A horrible experience but a compelling simulation of football game management. ”
read full review ↗ - 55
“FM26 delivers meaningful tactical upgrades and smoother on-pitch action, but sacrifices too many beloved features in the transition to a new engine, leaving the game feeling promising yet noticeably incomplete.”
read full review ↗ - 60
“Football Manager 26 has the potential to be one of the best installments in the series' history. But right now, I'm torn between enthusiasm for the potential and frustration with the current state of the game. The exciting new features are frustrating when the core usability of the game is problematic.”
read full review ↗ - 60
“'Football Manager 26' is a bold step forward, albeit one that's marred by a frustrating interface. The underlying simulation, the tactics, the depth, the data, remains as addictive as ever, and the move to Unity gives the series its first real visual upgrade in years. But the new UI design undercuts much of that progress, making the game feel flatter and less personal.”
read full review ↗ - 50
“Some of the things Football Manager 26 implements are a step forward for the franchise, such as the shift to allow tactical tweaks for every moment of the match, and the match engine is also noticeably improved. However, FM26 does not feel like an upgrade on 2024’s edition and that is down to a combination of the removed features and UI decisions. Too much information is hidden away, and the gameplay loop becomes about going from one fixture to the next and ticking them off, as opposed to before, when it became impossible not to get sucked into the drama of the world. This franchise has a fantastically loyal fanbase and they are good at seeing the bigger picture. Nobody can question the work ethic of the team at Sports Interactive and they deserve the time and space to ensure FM26 can become the first step in another successful evolution for the series.”
read full review ↗ - 70
“The new Football Manager, now on a new engine, marks a key step for the series. It improves match presentation and visuals while keeping the core gameplay intact. Despite some technical issues and occasionally complex menus, it continues to offer the best football management simulation, focused on realism and long-term decision-making.”
read full review ↗ - 80
“This score is an commendation of audacity and a vote of confidence for the future, based on the firm conviction that the true essence of FM26 will fully emerge only after the corrective patches stabilise this new version of the world's most famous football management simulator.”
read full review ↗ - 75
“Football Manager 26 delivers a bold reboot: a new Unity engine, revamped interface, and inclusion of women’s football all signal a major leap. The match visuals are sharper and clubs feel more alive. However, long-time fans may struggle with the unfamiliar navigation, the lighter hands-on control, and lingering odd animations. Overall it’s a promising foundation, even if it isn’t flawless yet.”
read full review ↗ - 69
“Significant improvements but also unexpected setbacks describe this year's edition of Football Manager. Wait for a few patches before buying.”
read full review ↗ - 20
“Football Manager 26 was supposed to be a major reboot: new technical foundation, revamped match engine, modernized interface. What I experience in practice is a game that hardly delivers on its promises and feels like a clear step backward in everyday use.”
read full review ↗ - 65
“Despite its flaws, Football Manager 26 is a bold and fresh move, laying a foundation that, after some work from the developers, could easily become the new standard for the well-known franchise.”
read full review ↗
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Patch history
- FM26 (Update 26.3.2) Out NowJun 9, 2026
- FM26 International Management Update Now LiveMay 26, 2026
- FM26 Update (26.3) Out NowMar 30, 2026significant · resets scoring window
- FM26 Update (26.2) Now LiveMar 9, 2026
- FM26 (Update 26.1.3) now liveFeb 11, 2026
- FM26 (26.1.2) Update Out NowJan 19, 2026
- FM26 Update (26.1.1) Out NowDec 15, 2025
- FM26 Update 26.1.0 Out NowDec 8, 2025
- FM26 Update (26.0.6) Out NowNov 25, 2025
- FM26 Update 26.0.5 Out NowNov 13, 2025significant · resets scoring window
- FM26 Update 2 Available Now via Steam Public Beta TrackNov 12, 2025significant · resets scoring window
- FM26 Update 26.0.4 Out NowNov 6, 2025significant · resets scoring window
- FM26 Update Available Now via Steam Public Beta TrackNov 5, 2025significant · resets scoring window
- FM26 Advanced Access Beta Hotfix 26.0.3.2228945Oct 31, 2025
- FM26 Advanced Access Beta Hotfix 26.0.2.2228087Oct 30, 2025
- FM26 Advanced Access Beta Hotfix 26.0.1.2227341Oct 29, 2025