Football Manager 26

The main pros of the game

• New Tactics System: The introduction of a new tactics system that allows for in- and out-of-possession strategies is praised as a significant improvement. It adds depth to tactical planning and reflects modern football approaches.
• Improved Match Engine: The match visuals and animations have seen improvements, making gameplay more engaging and visually appealing compared to previous iterations.
• Potential for Future Enhancements: Some users express hope that with updates and patches, the game could improve significantly, suggesting that there is potential for a better experience in the future.

The main cons of the game

• Disastrous User Interface (UI): The new UI is heavily criticized for being cluttered, unintuitive, and poorly designed for PC players. Many essential features are buried under multiple clicks, making navigation cumbersome and frustrating.
• Bugs and Performance Issues: Users report numerous bugs, crashes, and performance lags, indicating that the game feels unfinished. Problems like freezing during matches and unresponsive menus are common complaints.
• Loss of Features: Several features from previous versions have been removed or simplified, such as detailed match statistics, player comparisons, and the ability to manage youth teams effectively. This has led to a feeling of a stripped-down experience.
• Lack of Community Engagement: Players feel that the developers have ignored feedback from the community, leading to disappointment among long-time fans who expected a more polished product after a two-year development cycle.

The features or elements that are missing from the game according to users

• In-Depth Statistical Analysis: Key features such as heat maps, pass maps, and detailed match statistics have been removed, which were vital for tactical analysis.
• International Management: The option for international management has been removed, which was a significant part of the gameplay experience for many users.
• Customizability: Options for customizing the interface and gameplay experience, such as changing color schemes or rearranging UI elements, have been greatly reduced.
• Youth Team Management Tools: The ability to manage youth teams, including training and development options, has been significantly diminished.
• Quick Access Features: Many users miss the ability to access crucial information quickly, such as player stats and team comparisons, which now require multiple clicks to view.

Conclusion

Summary

• Overall, Football Manager 26 has received a mixed to negative reception, with many users feeling that it has regressed compared to its predecessor, FM24. While the new tactics system and match engine improvements are noted positives, the overwhelming issues with the UI, bugs, and missing features have led to significant disappointment among the player community. Users are advised to wait for updates or consider playing earlier versions until the game is refined.

Summary generated on: December 1, 2025