It may now officially be called EA Sports FC, but for millions of virtual football fans around the world, Electronic Arts’ annual football extravaganza will always be known as FIFA.
Whatever you choose to call it, the long-running football franchise has been around for more than 30 years, so it must be doing something right.
The series has released on practically every console imaginable, from classics such as the Mega Drive and SNES, to modern-day powerhouses like the PS5 and Xbox Series X. That’s on top of portable versions for the likes of Game Boy Advance, DS and PSP.
As we creep ever closer to the launch of EA Sports FC 25 on PlayStation, Xbox, and PC (early access is September 20, followed by the full release on September 27), these are the top-10 FIFA/EA FC games according to their Metacritic scores.
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10. FIFA 2004 – 84% (20 reviews)
After really liking the early FIFA games on the SEGA Mega Drive (I especially loved the brutal fouls you could perform in the original), I had stopped playing FIFA by this point, choosing instead to hone my virtual footy skills in Konami’s Pro Evolution Soccer series.
Still, while I wasn’t much of a FIFA aficionado at this particular point in time, FIFA 2004 clearly struck a chord with the media and fans, earning an impressive 84% score on Metacritic.
In addition to being able to control two players at a time, FIFA 2004 introduced lower league teams to the game, which as a Middlesbrough fan is something I’ve since come to appreciate. However, we were still very much a Premier League mainstay at the time, so perhaps that’s why I didn’t take much notice.
(Image: EA SPORTS)
9. FIFA 14 – 84% (41 reviews)
It may surprise you to discover that FIFA 14 marks the first time the series appeared on the PS4 (it was a launch title), and the final time it would release for the PS2. That’s right, FIFA 14 came out on the PlayStation 2! (It was also on PS3, as well as two generations of Sony handhelds in the form of the Vita and PSP.)
That rather shocking stat aside, FIFA 14 is a solid entry in the series, which is maybe not as fondly remembered due to the transitional nature of the release.
(Image: EA SPORTS)
8. FIFA 17 – 84% (51 reviews)
While I had personally grown a little tired of the series by the time FIFA 17 rolled around, there’s no denying that FIFA had become a well-oiled machine by this point.
In fairness, FIFA 17 definitely attempted to inject some freshness into the formula, specifically with the introduction of a new story mode called The Journey.
The Journey sees players take control of a young footballer named Alex Hunter, as he attempts to make his mark in the Premier League. With cameos from well-known players and a dialogue wheel for dynamic storytelling, The Journey actually pretty decent.
(Image: EA SPORTS)
7. FIFA 18 – 84% (69 reviews)
Spoiler alert, but FIFA 18 is the most recent entry on this list! Not only did it earn a solid 84% Metascore when it launched back in September 2017, but it’s also the best-selling FIFA/EA Sports FC game of all time, racking up more than 26 million sales.
It’s perhaps not surprising when you look at everything the game has to offer. ‘Real Player Motion Technology’ adds an extra level of authenticity when controlling the top players, while improvements to crossing and dribbling provide a more entertaining overall experience.
You also have the return of the surprisingly entertaining Journey Mode, as Alex Hunter deals with the fickle nature of The Beautiful Game.
(Image: EA SPORTS)
6. FIFA 09 – 87% (51 reviews)
After falling behind Pro Evo in the hearts and minds of most virtual football fans, FIFA 09 definitely felt like a bit of a turning point for the series.
Indeed, this was the entry that introduced FIFA Ultimate Team, the now legendary game mode where players can build an online dream team by buying, selling and trading with other users across the globe.
Love it or hate it, Ultimate Team has become a cornerstone not just of the FIFA series, but of pretty much every major sports game that has released since.
(Image: EA SPORTS)