Has any game cornered the market quite like FIFA? Even the phenomenon that is Fortnite has well-known alternatives such as PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds. But if soccer is your passion, FIFA is the go-to on PC, PlayStation and Xbox. That’s a position it has held since the very first FIFA game was launched for the Sega, Amiga and Nintendo, way back in 1993. 

It puts the game in a unique position. Soccer, or football if you hail from outside North America, is by far the most popular game on the planet. Its market-leading position has given FIFA an almost mystical reputation, and each new release of the game has the sort of hype usually associated with a new iPhone. 

The rise of FIFA as an eSport platform has only strengthened its position. But the idea that there are no other soccer games worth playing is a complete fallacy, and is simply an impression we get from the mighty FIFA marketing machine. Do you really need to pay $60 for a soccer game in this day and age? Of course you don’t. If you want all the fun without the hype or the stiff price tag, try these alternatives. 

Football Manager

Here’s a game that actually has a history even longer than FIFA. The first version came out way back in the early 80s and featured English soccer legends like Kenny Dalglish and Glenn Hoddle. It’s far more cerebral than FIFA, and the 2020 version can be a lot to take in with its social feeds, big data analytics and the rest. If you’re approaching it for the first time, start with the mobile version, which is reminiscent of the 1990s classics. Be warned, Football Manager is hugely addictive. But once you start, you’ll never look back.

football manager 2015 screenshot Three FIFA alternatives for 2020 | VGLeaks 2.0

Football Cup

Wouldn’t it be great if all that effort you put into your virtual gaming had some tangible payoff? Well, in the brave new world of igaming and online casinos, that’s always a possibility. Football Cup is one of the most popular slots at the ComeOn betting and casino site. It’s actually been around since 2012, but like Starburst and Cleopatra is one of those games that people just keep playing. 25 paylines and special features that include the Lucky Locker bonus game are a good clue as to why it’s so enduringly popular.

Super Arcade Football

Both of the above choices are engaging alternatives to FIFA. But neither feature arcade style action. If you want to get out there scoring virtual goals, Super Arcade Football could be just the thing. It takes the classic top-down format that was so popular in the late 20th century and reinvents it for the 2020s. For classic gaming with a modern twist, it’s hard to beat. OK so it’s not free, but at $9.99, it’s a fraction of what you’d pay for FIFA. 

These three soccer games could not be more different from one another. However, they have one factor in common in that they are not FIFA. Dare to be different and give them a try!