When looking for a new football game, EA FC 25 is the obvious answer. But, there are some pretty good alternative options out there, with some football games even available for free.

For once, the football gaming scene is booming with multiple good options, with the new free-to-play game UFL recently joining the list of competitors for the popular EA Sports FC series. With UFL receiving such high plaudits since its release earlier this month – including by us in our UFL review, this got us thinking – what are some other good football games currently on the market that isn't EA FC 25?

Since release, EA FC 25 has received its fair share of criticism, predominantly regarding the gameplay. If the gameplay isn't for you or you are just looking to try something new, then these are some football games that you can play right now instead of EA FC 25.

Best football games that aren't EA FC 25

UFL

The most recent addition to the football gaming scene, UFL sort of takes on an opposite approach to how a football game works to EA FC 25, with the title's mottos being fair-to-play and play-to-win, a sly dig at how big pay-to-win has become in the EA Sports FC series.

I've been able to play a bunch of different UFL beta's before taking on the full version of the game following its worldwide release, and I have little complaining to do. The gameplay is good. It has a good balance between realism and an arcade-like style of play, with shooting, passing, and the attacking AI the three gameplay standouts to me.

There's also an impressive progression system in the game, where your players can increase in rating and stats while picking up new skills just by winning games, hence the play-to-win motto. UFL does feel like it rewards the better players more than EA FC 25, which is something I'm a big fan of.

The only downside to UFL is that it's currently only available on PS5 and Xbox Series X|S, but it should be coming to PC in 2025. There's also way less ways to play the game than in EA FC 25, but it has just been released, so give it a few months, and we should receive more in-game content. Oh, and did I mention its free?

Football Manager 24

If you don't know what Football Manager is, then get to know! Football Manager, or FM or short, takes on a much different approach from EA FC 25, UFL, or any other football game. Created by Sports Interactive, FM is a strategic football management simulation game, where the focus is put on you as the manager as you try to be successful with your team.

There are 124 manageable leagues across 55 nations in FM24, with FM24 the most realistic football game out there. In fact, the FM database is so big, real football clubs use it for scouting purposes. You decide your journey as manager – will you try and guide a team in the eighth division of England to the Premier League, or will you start out at Real Madrid to put your managerial skills to the test?

FM 24 is currently the latest edition of the game, with the Football Manager 2025 release date being pushed back to next year. FM24 is available on PC, PlayStation, Xbox and Nintendo Switch. If you like Career Mode in EA FC 25 but want a bit more realism, FM24 could be the game for you.

eFootball

eFootball has been a long-time competitor for EA Sports, but since Konami changed from Pro Evolution Soccer (PES) to eFootball in 2021, the rivalry between the two has died down. But, this isn't to say its not an option for football gaming lovers, with the eFootball gameplay probably the closest we currently have to real life.

If you're looking for a much slower paced and true to life football gaming experience, eFootball is definitely worth trying out, At times it was just a bit too slow for me, but it's all down to personal opinion, and you may love it. Alongside the gameplay, eFootball also has some big licenses to give it a bit of authenticity.

The likes of Barcelona, Manchester United, Bayern Munich and Arsenal are all fully licensed in the game, so compared to UFL, it has some bigger names. Since it's rebranding to eFootball in 2021, Konami has made its football game free-to-play with yearly updates, so like UFL, its worth giving it a go, as it won't cost you a penny.

Rocket League

Ok, this one is a little but of a stretch, but we're starting to run out of football games, and Rocket League is technically a football game, just with a few arcade-like adjustments. If you aren't familiar with Rocket League, it is simply a hybrid of arcade-style football and vehicular mayhem.

Available on Xbox, PlayStation, PC, and Nintendo Switch, Rocket League is the least football-like game on the list, so if you're looking for an unserious arcade experience, this could be the game for you. Oh, and it's also it's also free, which is another big W.