EA Sports FC 24: PS5 Review

Developed by EA Vancouver, EA Romania
Published by EA Sports
Platform: PS5

The football simulator has predominantly been confined to the excellence of EA's FIFA titles through the years, but the complete rebranding of the genre in 2024 had some worried about whether the quality would drop.

Those fears are completely misplaced as the 2024 iteration of the brand new game is utterly brilliant, a triumph of what makes a football simulator such a success in the first place.

With slick simple gameplay, a compelling and challenging skills curve, EA Sports FC 24 lets the sport do the talking on the field, rather than off. However, what it does do off the pitch is offer such a wide variety of possibilities for the game, as well as showcase the depth of the players and the various franchises.

It's also worked to bring the women's game to the forefront as well, and the UEFA Women's League games feel as vital as their male counterparts and as challenging as any normal game, depending on the level of play you've set it up at.

Replays sizzle with the introduction of the Hypermotion V Technology that shows off details from either goals, strikes or players in general, offering up statistics of where on (or off) target shots have been. It's thrilling stuff that just adds to the realism of the game. And while some of the facial captures feel a little off in parts, the large majority of the likenesses feel like the people they're based on.

Of course, none of that matters if the game doesn't play well. 

But that's something EA Sports FC 24 doesn't have to worry about (despite that cumbersome title). Matches feel both lithe and alive, with tensions on the field spilling over into minor mistakes. Make one and the opposite seizes on it, leading to the frustration being both on the field and at home on the couch where you're playing.

If you've not picked up a football simulator in years then perhaps EA Sports FC 24 will feel like the best thing ever. And while EA has previously spent decades with the FIFA brand, churning out titles every year to varying degrees of success, this is the one that feels the most like it's done the best it can by every sub-genre within.

The atmosphere with EA Sports FC 24 is the thing - and this has it in spades. Whether you want to sink hours into a career style mode or just want to play some quick games, EA Sports FC 24 more than covers the bases. 

But more than that, for the 90 minutes simulator time you spend with the game, you feel deeply immersed and utterly swept up in the beautiful game. The games are so fluid, control feels a lot more responsive and slicker, and it's just enjoyable.

It feels in many ways like the series has gone back to basics, has upped some of the skills that made it work, and just concentrated on being the best it can be and being a game that's about what's on the pitch, and avoided all and any other distractions.