5 best alternatives to FIFA and PES you probably never heard of

EA Sports and Konami have over the years given us memories to last a lifetime. FIFA and PES video game franchises are two of the very best when it comes to football gaming and few have actually seen the world beyond them when it comes to the niche sector of football and video games.

But there have been some stellar creations over the years which have gone largely unnoticed thanks to the huge popularity of FIFA and PES. These games are unconventional and have been under the radar for way too long without proper reason. While some on this list date back to more than a decade ago, you’ll be surprised to know that some really good games still exist on the App Store and Play Store when it comes to the beautiful game.

It is no secret that EA has a monopoly over licenses and no other game will be able to have the same impact that FIFA does in terms of likeness to reality, but there are still some games that have exceeded expectations when it comes to game play and storylines within the game. Here are the 5 best alternatives to FIFA and PES you probably never heard of:

#5 Ronaldo V-Football

Few would remember what an impact this game had when it released on the original PlayStation almost two decades ago. A real renegade of its time, the game was built around the phenomenon that was the Brazilian striker Ronaldo.

The game had different modes to play with and for its time, had graphics better than one might expect. The V-football cup was one of the most popular modes in the game and allowed you to experience a world cup by playing it yourself. An underrated game no doubt, Ronaldo V-football had all the traits to be a real classic.

#4 This is Football 2002

This PlayStation 2 classic was notorious for being feisty, over the top and unadulterated when it came to football gaming. You could distract the referee and use cheap tricks to get free kicks and the ball in open play. Diving was a real speciality and two footed tackles were commonplace in a series that became very popular during its time as a healthy alternative to the family friendly world of FIFA.

While the series only lasted till 2005, the 2002 version of This is Football provided arguably the best holistic experience that a gamer at the time would have wanted. There were familiar players all around and the all-star lineup made for some interesting viewing for hardcore football fans. The game was finally ousted by the sheer power of PES and FIFA.

#3 Red Card

This is perhaps the most unique game on this list. Taking fouls to a whole new level, this particular creation allowed a gamer to have a full blown brawl in the centre of the football pitch without the referee even caring one bit! Certainly next level when it came to football, the game may have lost touch with reality sometimes but that’s what made it even more fun.

You had an option to disable these fight settings but without it, the game lost its entire reason for being made. The name red card was given along the edgy lines of the game and the fact that the rule book was thrown out of the window, made for some serious gaming excitement. Definitely, one you must try out if you’re looking for something other than the norm.

#2 Dream League Soccer 2017

First Touch Sports has emerged as a real contender as of late with its revolutionary mobile content for football gaming fans. One of these impressive creations is the Dream League Soccer series. The 2017 version has amassed huge numbers in terms of downloads on the store and continues to be a favourite among fans the world over.

The game allows you to create, customise and control your own Dream Team and challenge others in the game. You can even build your very own customised stadiums and team logos along with jerseys and kits. The realistic animations of the game matched with the limited licensed players make for a serious challenge to FIFA and PES on mobile devices and are certainly a must-play at some point of time.

#1 Score! Hero

Arguably the best gaming alternative out there, First Touch really outdid itself with this one. You may have heard of this game thanks to its sheer popularity as of late, touching massive numbers thanks to its cutting edge gameplay and levels within the game.

Despite being completely different from anything else in its competition, Score! Hero has managed a monopoly market for itself by adding over 520 levels and a career mode that is unlike any other. Of all the recent inventions in the field of mobile gaming, this one probably tops the list in terms of fan acceptance on a challenging platform like mobile gaming.