Football games are very popularWhile there are some people who would like to boast off their skills in real life with the ball at their feet making themselves almost invincible, there are also some people who nutmeg their opponents with step-overs and roulettes and score with an overhead kick with controllers in their hand in 'virtual reality'.These games are chosen carefully on the basis of their popularity and unique animations. To make it more realistic, only one game is picked from each series.Here, we countdown the 7 best football simulation video games that are appreciated by gamers worldwide:
#7 Sensible World of Soccer
Developer: Sensible Software
Publishers: Codemasters, Microsoft
Platforms: Amiga, Windows, MS-DOS, Xbox 360
We start off our list with sports classic, Sensible World of Soccer. There are season and career modes to play and coach your way through, smaller competitions, custom team options and a wonderful tactic editor in which you can lay out your own plans of attack. Depending on your success, you will get job offers from clubs and also from a national team.
The controls are quite simple and easy to access which makes the game quite easy to understand for a new user. If you are a hardcore football fan who still loves the 90s game, check this one out.
#6 Red Card 2003
Developer: Point of View Inc. ( dissolved in 2010)
publisher: Midway Games
Platforms: Xbox, GameCube, PS2
Even though Red Card 2003 was released in the early 2000s and lacks some advanced simulations, it has some unique features like players being able to play as or against not only actual footballers but SWAT, penguins, dolphins, seals and so on, on a variety of fantasy pitches including the South Pole and an aircraft carrier. They can also go all out on the opposition and make some hard tackles without being penalised.
It has some motion-captured animations such as bike, flip, and scissor-kicks as well as extreme footwork, dekes and quick passing from the feet and head with interesting game modes that makes users addicted to it.
#5 Pure Football
Developer: Ubisoft Vancouver
Publisher: Ubisoft
Platforms: PS3, Xbox 360
Pure Football is an arcade style football game in which players can select teams from around the world. The game includes 17 national teams, and 3 special teams (US all-time team, Germany, and World One). Players compete in exhibition and campaign modes, which are highlighted with visual effects and slow-motion instant replays.
Matches are 5-a-side and take place in novel locations, including the port of Marseilles, the canals of Amsterdam and glass house of Liverpool. Players, interestingly, will have the opportunity to create their own customized athletes who can progress through the campaign mode to ultimately test themselves against the world’s best players in the final tournament.
You are able to do all the traditional football moves such as passing, crossing and through balls. However, the way the game handles these simple moves is where the ‘Pure’ title lives up to its name.
#4 FIFA Street 4
Developer: EA Canada
Publisher: EA Sports
Platforms: PS3, Xbox 360
FIFA Street 4 is the latest installment of highly recognised EA Sports FIFA Street franchise based on street football. The game features a large number of real life players from 3000 teams of many of the world's biggest leagues, and 2012 locations from around the world ranging from the streets of Amsterdam to the beaches of Rio de Janeiro.
The game focuses on fast-paced games involving small teams of 5-6 players per side, one-on-one, and game modes based on panna, with futsal also included. In the world tour mode, players can create their own team and add their friends onto their team or play against them.
In an effort to make the game more ‘authentic’, the players are made more realistic using the FIFA 12 engine. Like real street football, the game is all about showing off your skills, scoring spectacular goals and humiliating your opponents in the process.
#3 Football Manager 2015
Developer: Sports Interactive
Publisher: Sega
Platforms: Microsoft Windows, PS Vita, OS X, Linux
Football Manager 2015 is a football management simulation video game that offers players to choose a club to manage from 117 initially playable leagues across 51 countries. Players can create their own formations, choose tactics over a variety of options, make their own strategies and also interact with players, managers, their rivals and the media.
FM 15 has always been known for its scouting engines and exclusive player facts and, therefore, real-life football clubs like Everton use it as a source for scouting players. It also features revamped transfer module including 'real world' transfer clauses.
The 3D match engine features extensive improvements, including enhanced AI, improved lighting and player animation, individual player character and kit models, more realistic player reaction to on-field incidents and a range of optimisations making it even more lively.
If you want to feel the experiences of being a manager, this is the game you should definitely go out for.
#2 PES 2015
Developer: PES Productions
Publisher: Konami
Platforms: Microsoft Windows, PS3, PS4, Xbox 360, Xbox One
Konami lived up to its expectation and challenged its opposition through PES 2015. With an intelligent AI, and pretty realistic animations, the game stands out as one of the best football simulation games ever made.
Fluid controls and formation system enables different setups for when you're attacking and defending alike, the attackers can slot into deep-lying roles if you're under pressure or full-backs can aid sweeping moves when gaining momentum which is more tactical and rewarding.
Though there are various interesting modes, the online mode is the one that does impress gamers. Players can create their own team and play in tournaments by opening packs where football maestros like Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi are pretty rare to get.
#1 FIFA 15
Developer: EA Canada
Publisher: EA Sports
Platforms: Microsoft Windows, PS3, PS4, PS Vita, Xbox 360, Xbox One, Wii, Nintendo 3DS
It will come as no surprise that FIFA 15 tops this list with its astounding gameplay bringing football into life. EA Sports FIFA franchise has again dominated the virtual football arena and showed why they have been dominating the top spot from the past decade with its latest installment.
The crowds are made more realistic with their chants and animations. The players can feel the game like never before with features like moving goal posts, players' emotional reactions, authentic player visuals, various celebrations, which are true to their real-life appearances making the game even more lively.
The game has 'masterful attention' to detail where gamers can do almost anything they can on a football pitch featuring 35 licensed leagues, over 600 clubs, 16,000+ players and 41 licensed stadiums and various of modes to play with. But like PES 15, the ultimate team stands out at its best where even legends like Pele and Michael Laudrup are included.
