FIFA 22

FIFA 22 offers a better game of football than before and a whole load of new features for PS5, Xbox Series consoles and Stadia. Shame it’s let down by countless bugs and a lack of true improvements in many modes.

FIFA 22 is a fantastic football game once you step out onto the pitch, with a realistic and methodical style that rewards passing and vision over the exploitation of cheap pace merchants. EA has a habit of changing things for the worse with each new update, so hopefully, these strong foundations can remain intact throughout its life cycle.

On the pitch, FIFA 22 is the best the series has ever been, but offline modes have again been neglected in favor of FIFA Ultimate Team.

FIFA 22 offers up the biggest gameplay changes in many a year - on next-gen and Stadia, at least - but in doing so has slowed the pace somewhat. Some will love the new, more measured approach but others might lament the loss of the fast-paced nature of last year's game. Still, we are always traditionally treated to numerous tweaks and alterations after launch, so fully expect some of the minor creases to be ironed out. In the meantime, EA has supplied yet another example of why the franchise has stayed top of the league so long.

FIFA 22 offers minor tweaks more than anything else. For every substantial update – new goalkeeper mechanics and female footballers in Pro Clubs – EA Canada bafflingly takes several steps back. Even something as rudimentary as the main menu UI remains untouched! I loved going pro as a bright-eyed, bushy-tailed rookie, but it didn’t take long for me to want to hang up that coveted jersey.

FIFA 22 features tons of big changes in every element of gameplay, making this year's iteration the best version seen to date.

A superb second next-gen season on the digital turf – but subtle Ultimate Team tweaks amplify the ‘pay to win’ criticisms that stalk this series annually.

FIFA 22 is packed with all the usual modes you’d expect from the yearly iteration, but this time there have been significant improvements to the on-field action. A more inclusive game than ever, making use of the grunt of the latest console hardware, it’s a joy to experience whether you’re a fan of the biggest club, or just enjoy spending the evenings with mates chatting and playing.