Best FIFA Games

Key Takeaways

• FIFA 23 marked the end of EA’s licensing agreement with FIFA, leading to a shift to EA Sports FC.
• EA Sports FC 25 is the latest entry in the franchise and includes a brand-new Rush game mode.
• The first title, FIFA 94, was a technical achievement for its time.

The FIFA series has been a cornerstone of gaming’s sports genre for decades. A video game adaptation of the world’s most popular sport is, unsurprisingly, a popular product, and EA had a monopoly on the licensing rights of teams and player names for much of the franchise’s run, which allowed the FIFA franchise to reach incredible heights of popularity.

It’s not controversial to say that the series, especially in recent times, has been divisive, especially since the introduction of Ultimate Team, a mode that generates eye-watering sums of money. Despite the series’ issues, it had some tremendous high points and has provided countless hours of entertainment for gamers all over the world.

Updated November 6, 2024 by Ben Painter: FIFA is one of the best-selling and most beloved franchises in the world. Soccer (or football) is the most popular sport in the world, so it makes sense that this game series is one of the most played. From a franchise spanning since the 90s, FIFA, or EA Sports FC, has many entries in the series, including some spin-off titles such as FIFA Street.

Some versions of the game are more favored than others, with later entries generally receiving lower ratings, often due to one of the biggest criticisms being the reliability of Ultimate Team and its play-to-win design. This update adds five more of the best FIFA titles, including the latest entry, EA Sports FC 25, which has been received well among fans.

25 FIFA 23

The Last In The FIFA Series

FIFA 23 could have been better received by fans, with no real innovation in this entry. It was EA Sports’ last title going by FIFA before losing the license to use the name it shared with the World Soccer Federation. One thing that it did was women’s domestic leagues for the first time.

The previous few games featured women’s players, but only via the National Teams. Now, fans could play as women’s sides for iconic teams such as Chelsea, Bayern Munich, and Paris Saint-Germain. However, more was needed for fans to get on board, and there was a sense that they were saving new features for the next entry when they had to rebrand as EA Sports FC.

24 FIFA 16

The First To Include Women Players

• Platform(s): Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, Xbox 360, Xbox One, iOS, Android
• Released: 2015-09-22
• Developer(s): EA Canada

This game was innovative for featuring Women players for the very first time, introducing them as national teams such as the USA, England & France. The game was also iconic for featuring several different cover stars from around the world, along with Lionel Messi, there was a different star in each country: in the UK, it was Jordan Henderson, Alex Morgan in the USA, Mauro Icardi in Italy and so on.

However, the game was heavily criticized for losing its license to the iconic Brazilian National Team. Neymar, Thiago Silva, and Dani Alves were replaced with generic players, which took away from the immersion of the game massively.

23 FIFA Soccer 96

The First To Include 3D Graphics

• Platform(s): MS-DOS, 32X, Mega Drive/Genesis, Super NES, Game Boy, Game Gear, PlayStation, Saturn
• Released: 1995-11-10
• Developer(s): Extended Play Productions, Probe Entertainment (SNES, Game Boy, Game Gear, 32X, Saturn)

On the Sega Saturn, PlayStation, and PC versions of the game, it was the first FIFA title to feature 3D graphics using the technology available on those new consoles. In the early days of a soccer game, it was also the first to include real player names and positions, which was important going forward.

New leagues were added, including the Scottish Football League Premier Division, Allsvenskan, and Super League Malaysia. Most importantly, it was the first game to include a proper introduction to the game.

22 FIFA 18

First To Include Real Motion Technology & The Journey Continues

The game, which featured then Real Madrid star Cristiano Ronaldo as the cover star, continued the Journey game mode, which was a story mode where players could control Alex Hunter, a young footballer with cut scenes, and now Hunter is fully customizable.

FIFA 18 was also groundbreaking as it was the first game in the series to use the Frostbite Engine (for Xbox One, PS4, and PC players), which was a big improvement on graphics and offered ‘Real Motion Technology. In-game players moved and behaved more realistically than ever before. The game was met with a lot of controversy, however, due to the amount of microtransactions in the Ultimate Team game mode. A trend which, sadly, has not gone away.

21 FIFA 2000

The First Game In The Series To Have Consecutive Seasons

• Platform(s): Microsoft Windows, PlayStation, GameBoy Color
• Released: 1999-10-26
• Developer(s): EA Canada

The First FIFA which was part of the new century, FIFA 2000, was innovative for being the first one in the series to have consecutive seasons. Players in career mode could compete for promotion or relegation and fight for places in European competitions for the first time.

It was also the first FIFA to include a fully licensed US Major League Soccer (MLS), which has been a mainstay in the franchise ever since, as this franchise has always been massive in North America. Another interesting feature of this game was the inclusion of League One, Port Vale, despite the rest of the league being absent. This was due to the soundtrack featuring Robbie Williams’ “This Is Us” and part of this deal was to include the club that Williams supports. The game was well received on PC and PlayStation, but compared to some modern entries, this game doesn’t hold up.

20 FIFA 20

VOLTA Is Introduced

The biggest change from FIFA 19 to 20 was the removal of The Journey and replacing it with the VOLTA game mode. This took inspiration from the FIFA Street series, and it was all about small-sided, street football, performing tricks and competing in mini-games, with a fully customizable character.

Other changes included switching up how penalties and freekicks are taken (making them much harder), improvements to manager mode (press conferences, customizable manager, and improved player morale), and 15 new icons to Ultimate Team. The game was largely well-received, but criticisms lay with Career Mode, which featured a lot of bugs and prompted a social media campaign, #FixCareerMode. As this was a fan-favorite mode, a lot of players were unhappy.

19 FIFA 19

The Active Touch System & 25 New Icons

The biggest change in this one was the “Active Touch System,” which included a “timed finishing” feature. Players could click the shoot button a second time. If this was timed right, the player would strike the ball better, resulting in a better finish. Better players of the game were given even more of an edge, which was met with some disdain.

The Chinese Super League took off that summer, so it was included in this edition of the game, as players did not want to miss out on star players like Hulk, Marouane Fellaini, and Stephan El Shaarawy, who transferred to the league. A staggering 25 icons were added. Steven Gerrard, Frank Lampard, and Ruud van Nistelrooy were once again playable in the game, which fans praised. The game was praised as a step up from its predecessor, but the Active Touch System did not quite hit the mark.

18 FIFA 15

Changes To Ultimate Team

• Platform(s): PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, Wii, Xbox 360, Xbox One, PlayStation Vita, Nintendo 3DS, iOS, Android, Windows Phone
• Released: 2014-09-23
• Developer(s): EA Canada

The last of FIFA‘s early 10s golden era, the big pull in this one was the changes made to Ultimate Team. Players could now create ‘concept squads’, which were useful for planning teams and finding players who would fit with the gamer’s squad. Players could also loan players for the first time in Ultimate Team, temporary versions of Ultimate Team cards, which would only be usable for a certain number of games.

Despite not much change from FIFA 14, the improvements to next-gen graphics were well-received, but nothing groundbreaking was included, so it can’t receive too high of a ranking.

17 FIFA 22

Well Balanced Gameplay With Less Of A Focus On Pace

Considering how negative the general perception of the FIFA series has been in recent years, it may surprise some people that FIFA 22 makes it onto this list. However, to EA’s credit, the game offered some of the most well-balanced gameplay in the series, which made it the best option at the time for someone looking to purchase a modern FIFA game, provided that they aren’t fussed about having the latest player stats, kits, and transfers.

Unfortunately, though, the game is hampered by a lack of improvement and innovation to its game modes – a common theme since the Ultimate Team became a money-printing machine for EA.

16 FIFA 94 (FIFA International Soccer)

The One That Started It All

Nostalgia is a powerful feeling that can mask flaws when someone thinks back to a game that they cherished during their childhood and teenage years. For many people of a certain time, FIFA 94 (known at the time as FIFA International Soccer) is a nostalgic title, and it is notable for being the first game in the FIFA series. The game kickstarted the series with a bang, as it was a huge commercial success and an impressive technical achievement for its time.

Despite the role that nostalgia plays in the enjoyment of FIFA 94 today, it still has a charm to it that makes it worth playing today for fans of retro sports games, and the gameplay loop is surprisingly addictive. Furthermore, the infamous gameplay mechanic of being able to run away from the referee when he’s trying to book a player is still as bizarre and enjoyable today as it was when the game first hit stores.

15 FIFA 06

Renovated Gameplay And The First To Include “Classic” Elements

• Platform(s): GameCube, Microsoft Windows, Nintendo DS, PlayStation 2, Xbox, Game Boy Advance, PlayStation Portable, Xbox 360
• Released: 2005-10-04
• Developer(s): EA Canada, Exient Entertainment (DS/GBA)

FIFA 06 was a solid entry in the series, and it goes down as one of the best in the entire franchise. For this edition of the game, there was a complete overhaul in gameplay, featuring a larger emphasis on off-the-ball play, which has stayed in the game to this day.

What fans loved about FIFA 06 was its retro section, where fans could unlock the classic biographies section of some iconic players and view some memorable clips from older editions of the game. Fans could also play the first-ever entry, FIFA 94, in this game. It was also the first game to have the Classic XI squad available, a squad made up of some legendary players who came with insane stats.

14 FIFA 09

First Mainline Game With Ultimate Team

• Platform(s): PlayStation 2, PlayStation 3, Wii, Xbox 360, PlayStation Portable, Nintendo DS
• Released: 2008-10-02
• Developer(s): EA Canada (PS3, Wii & Xbox 360), HB Studios (PS2, PSP & PC), Exient Entertainment (DS)

FIFA 09 was an important entry into the franchise as it was the first FIFA mainline game to feature the Ultimate Team game mode. Gamers could purchase their own cards of players, build teams like never before, and put their squads against others online.

It was not until FIFA 12 that Ultimate Team took over as the main game mode but FIFA 09 deserves its plaudits for introducing it to the main series of FIFA titles. This version of the game was also the first to introduce user-controlled celebrations, something that has been a main part of the franchise going forward. Much to the annoyance of some players.

13 FIFA Soccer 08

Introduction Of Be A Pro Mode

• Platform(s): Xbox 360, Wii, PlayStation 2, PlayStation 3, PlayStation Portable, Nintendo DS
• Released: 2007-09-27
• Developer(s): EA Canada

The first entry of the series that could be played on both the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3, at the time, the graphics and gameplay of FIFA 08 were the best they ever had been. It was the first FIFA to include the “Be A Pro” mode, which was a first-person camera view in which the player would take control of just one player throughout the match, a predecessor to the beloved Pro Clubs mode.

For the next-generation players of the game, cooperative online play was introduced for the first time using the new console’s internet capabilities. The online mode came with a league that gamers could play through and progress as they win games against other players online.

12 EA Sports FC 24

Introduced PlayStyles And Women Players Into UT

A groundbreaking version of the game for many reasons, the main one being it is the first entry into the franchise not called FIFA. Due to licensing agreements with the organization FIFA, EA Sports was forced to rename the game to the aptly titled EA Sports FC.

It was innovative for a few other reasons; the first ever game to add women footballers to Ultimate Team, gamers can add their favorite women players onto the same teams as male players for the first time in the franchise. PlayStyles were also added which give players an in-game boost which reflects an aspect of the game they are good at in real life. A lot of the newer features in this game are Ultimate Team-based, which leaves a sour taste for casual and offline players of the game.

11 EA Sports FC 25

Brand New Career Mode & Rush Game Mode

EA Sports FC 25 was an improvement on its predecessor, largely well-received among fans, despite its few bugs on the initial release. A big change for FC 25 was the player roles feature, which gave fans more control over how they wanted each player to play in their position, taking a big inspiration from the Football Manager series. This gave way to the LWB, RWB, and CF player positions.

A new game mode was also introduced, which could be played on Ultimate Team. This was Rush, a 5v5 game of football, which added a fresh competitive edge and also a callback to the beloved FIFA Street series. Career Mode was also given an overhaul, with a new menu design, youth team games, and more nations to scout being the primary new features. The game was criticized slightly, with AC Milan and Inter Milan not being licensed in the game and replaced with Lombardia FC and Milano FC.

10 FIFA Street 2

A Completely Different Way To Play Soccer

• Platform(s): Nintendo DS, GameCube, PlayStation 2, PlayStation Portable, Xbox
• Released: 2006-02-28
• Developer(s): EA Canada and Exient Entertainment (DS)

Although it was not the first FIFA game to hold the moniker of FIFA Street, the game’s sequel is considered the better game due to its improvement in graphics, gameplay, and overall quality.

FIFA Street 2 lets gamers play a soccer video game like never before, changing from the 11v11 to a 4v4 system, which is more reminiscent of street football or Panna as it is sometimes referred to. A whole new way to play the game with a larger focus on skills and tricks, FIFA Street 2 is a spin-off done right. Before the franchise turned to micro-transactions, the FIFA Street series was all just about having fun, and it needs to make a return.

9 FIFA 07

The First FIFA Game On The 6th Generation Of Consoles

FIFA 07 is an odd entry in the series; it is one of the best FIFA games… but only for those with the Xbox 360 version. Thanks to the next-generation technology that the Xbox 360 offered compared to the PS2 and GameCube, the 360 iteration was able to implement a new sports engine.

The technological advancements also meant that FIFA 07 could offer better match data and could award “Man of the Match” accolades for the first time in the series. These changes were fantastic, but the lack of improvements in the other console releases prevents the game from being ranked any higher.

8 FIFA 2001

The First FIFA On The PS2

FIFA 2001 was one of the series’ most highly anticipated entries, as it was the first to be released on Sony’s PlayStation 2, an immensely popular console that would go on to cement gaming’s place as a major form of entertainment.

Released just one month after the PlayStation 2 hit stores in North America, FIFA 2001 didn’t disappoint, offering a significant step-up in visuals, technical performance, and gameplay. The improvement compared to the PlayStation 1 provided a boost in console sales for Sony, as it was clear to see the difference in quality between the PlayStation 1 and PlayStation 2 versions of the game.

7 FIFA Soccer 2003

The FIFA Game That Added Immersive Crowds And Stadiums

Never underestimate the power of ambiance, especially when it comes to sports. FIFA Soccer 2003 (known as FIFA Football 2003 outside of North America) was the first game in the series to really set the stadium alight with elaborate celebrations and a truly vibrant crowd, which made the game and, subsequently, the series, feel far more authentic and immersive than ever before.

Furthermore, the game featured highlight packages and analysis, giving the matches a broadcast-like feel.

6 FIFA 17

The Journey Game Mode And Sleek Menu Design

• ​​​​​Platform(s): PC, PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, Xbox 360, Xbox One
• Released: 2016-09-27
• Developer(s): EA Vancouver and EA Romania

FIFA 17 was favorable for fans due to its sleek black and yellow menu design, which was intrinsic to its cover star Marco Reus and his team, Borussia Dortmund, kit colors. The big standout for this entry in the series was the introduction of The Journey, a game mode that was heavily story-based.

Similar to the player career mode, The Journey followed Alex Hunter on his journey to become a professional footballer, and players could decide his next move and what club he plays for. Featuring cinematics and motion-capture never before seen in the franchise, The Journey was a breath of fresh air in the franchise, and it is a shame that it only lasted until FIFA 18.