- Quick Summary: Looking for another management game that can keep you hooked for hundreds of hours? This guide covers some of the best sports manager games out there, including FC 26, Eastside Hockey Manager, and more to scratch the same itch.
Few games offer the same level of depth as Football Manager. For years, it has been the gold standard for management simulators, even if it has gone downhill a tad in recent seasons. Even in FM26, everything from managing club finances and negotiating contracts to developing youth prospects and making tactical adjustments on matchdays is great, putting the management of a sports franchise entirely in your hands.
However, with FM26 coming to an end and Football Manager 27 likely on the horizon, now is the perfect time to explore some alternatives. So, while you wait for the next installment, here are some of the best games like Football Manager that can become your next management obsession.
Best Games Like Football Manager
Whether you're looking for deep management systems, long-term career modes, or the thrill of building a sports dynasty, these games deliver the same addictive experience.
FC 26 Career Mode
FC 26 Career Mode not only lets you manage from the sidelines but also lets you step onto the pitch. Combining manager and player experiences, it allows you to make transfers, build your squad, plan tactics, develop youth prospects, negotiate contracts, and then personally control your team during matches.
The game also introduces features like Live Start Points, an evolving Manager Market, and unexpected off-the-pitch events that make every month a challenge beyond on-pitch performances. So, if you're looking for a football management game that blends club management with on-field action, FC 26 and its Career Mode, specifically, is well worth trying out.
Soccer Manager 2026
Soccer Manager 2026 is a near-perfect game for anyone who wants to make meaningful management decisions without the complexity of a hardcore simulator. It delivers a streamlined management experience free of charge, while keeping the core elements that make the simulator genre so enjoyable.
You'll sign players, manage club finances, set tactical instructions, upgrade facilities, and develop young talent over multiple seasons with this one. And, with hundreds of players and clubs to choose from, you'll have everything you need to build your dream team.
We Are Football 2024
One of the closest alternatives to Football Manager is We Are Football 2024. It puts you in complete control of a football club, letting you oversee transfers, training schedules, scouting networks, finances, youth development, stadium upgrades, and tactical decisions as you build a successful team.
Compared to Football Manager, We Are Football 2024 takes a more approachable, well, approach to club management, offering a simpler interface that makes the game easier to get into without sacrificing depth. It also includes women's football, giving you even more ways to build your football legacy.
The only downside, perhaps, is the fact it's rooted in the 2024 season. But that's okay, because you can dabble in more of a nostalgic football management experience with this one.
Eastside Hockey Manager
Another fine addition from Sports Interactive here, as Eastside Hockey Manager brings the same deep management principles, just in the world of professional ice hockey.
Instead of managing footballers, you'll scout prospects, negotiate contracts, draft future stars, hire coaching staff, develop young talent, and make tactical adjustments throughout the season.
In Eastside Hockey Manager, each decision influences your club's long-term success. And even if you don't watch hockey, the game's depth and progression can quickly draw you in. It's easily one of the strongest and most rewarding sports management simulators available, albeit a slightly older recommendation.
Out of the Park Baseball 27
One of the best sports management games ever made is definitely Out of the Park Baseball 27. While it's a bit of a wildcard pick on this list, it captures many of the same qualities that have made Football Manager so beloved. If you're a baseball fan, too, this is an easy recommendation.
Out of the Park Baseball 27 offers incredible attention to detail, where every decision from drafting young talent to making trade deadline moves can make a huge impact in the long term. You'll scout prospects, negotiate contracts, manage payroll, hire coaching staff, and build a championship-caliber roster over multiple seasons. As a result, it's easily one of the deepest and most rewarding sports management simulators available today.
Final Thoughts
Football Manager is the OG of the sports management universe, but all these other games are just as addictive. Our final verdict would be:
- For detailed club management and familiar mechanics - We Are Football 2024
- For pitch and management control - FC 26 Career Mode
- For accessible football management experience - Soccer Manager 2026
And that's it for this list! But if you want more top title alternatives, be sure to check out our list of the best games like Marathon next, if you're into your extraction shooters, of course.
Stay tuned to RealSport101 for more Football Manager news and guides!