WE ARE FOOTBALL 2024 Reviews

WE ARE FOOTBALL 2024 is a football management simulation that strives to strike a unique balance between accessibility and strategic depth. Developed by Winning Streak Games and published by HandyGames and THQ Nordic, the game is clearly inspired by classic German football management titles like Anstoss while seeking to appeal to a global audience that might find the complexity of Football Manager overwhelming. It aims to simplify the micromanagement without sacrificing substance, providing a streamlined interface and quick feedback loops, which make it feel less like a spreadsheet simulator and more like an active role-playing game in a football universe. At its core, the game offers players full control of a football club, allowing them to manage men’s and women’s teams with equal detail and ambition. One of the standout features is the ability to take over an existing club or build one from scratch, customizing nearly every detail from logos and kits to staff and stadium architecture. The inclusion of both male and female leagues—over 30 for men and 20 for women—sets it apart from many other titles in the genre and opens up a variety of managerial paths. You can even run national teams and participate in global tournaments, creating a holistic football ecosystem that feels rich and immersive despite the fictional license. The game’s interface is where it shines most. It avoids overwhelming the player with too many stats or unnecessarily dense screens, offering instead a visual dashboard that clearly highlights urgent matters, optional tasks, and the overall health of the club. This design makes multitasking intuitive; training regimens, sponsorship deals, youth academy management, press events, and even facility expansion are all accessible with just a few clicks. You’re rarely lost in a maze of menus, which is a notable improvement over more stat-heavy simulators. Tutorials are clear without being hand-holding, and gameplay progression remains smooth, with each season feeling like a self-contained story full of evolving goals and challenges. Matches are where WE ARE FOOTBALL 2024 attempts to differentiate itself visually, offering both a quick sim mode and a 3D match engine with highlight reels, tactical replays, and multiple camera angles. The engine, while functional, falls short in terms of modern graphical standards. Animations are stiff, player models lack realism, and the overall matchday presentation doesn’t capture the energy and spectacle of professional football. For many, this becomes an optional viewing experience rather than a highlight of the game itself. However, the match analysis tools are more useful, helping managers tweak formations, set pressing intensity, or issue motivational shouts mid-game. The management simulation is bolstered by a number of personality-driven mechanics. Players have traits, habits, hobbies, and interpersonal dynamics that influence squad morale, locker room chemistry, and even on-field performance. As the manager, you’re not just tinkering with tactics—you’re also managing egos, guiding young talent, and keeping veterans motivated. There's even a lightweight RPG element where your manager can pursue private goals, navigate public controversies, or handle unexpected ethical dilemmas. While some of these narrative components can feel superficial or underdeveloped, they add a welcome layer of unpredictability that prevents the game from becoming too mechanical. Customization is another major asset. The game includes a powerful editor that allows users to redesign clubs, leagues, and even invent entirely fictional universes. This opens the door for community-made mods that add real-world leagues, teams, and players, compensating for the game’s lack of official licenses. While it may not have real-world names and likenesses out of the box, the tools are there for players to create their own realism. The use of AI-generated player portraits is a clever workaround, though these faces can sometimes feel mismatched or uncanny, especially in long-term saves where fictional players dominate the roster. Financial and infrastructural management also plays a substantial role. From negotiating shirt sponsors and renovating stadium seating to choosing club mascots and investing in youth academies, your off-field decisions have lasting consequences. Success isn’t just about winning trophies—it's about sustainable growth, fan engagement, and maintaining a healthy club culture. You’ll face random events like budget overruns, fan protests, or scandalous media reports, all of which add tension and nuance to your tenure. The game also simulates the passage of time well, allowing you to build legacies, discover new talents, and eventually transition into roles with national teams or different leagues entirely. While the overall experience is engaging and rewarding, WE ARE FOOTBALL 2024 does have areas in need of refinement. The matchday engine, despite improvements over its predecessor, still feels dated and lacks the dynamism expected from modern sports titles. Some features, such as "mole hunts" or "lucky charms," come off as gimmicky rather than meaningful additions to the gameplay. There's also a certain repetitiveness that can set in after multiple seasons, especially if you’ve already optimized your training routines and figured out the game’s systems. Nonetheless, consistent mod support and community engagement have helped extend the title’s replayability and relevance. In the end, WE ARE FOOTBALL 2024 is a heartfelt and surprisingly deep football management sim that manages to lower the entry barrier without diluting the satisfaction of running a club. It avoids the paralysis that can come with overwhelming complexity, instead delivering a dynamic and enjoyable managerial experience that rewards planning, creativity, and adaptability. For those who’ve bounced off the likes of Football Manager due to its sheer density, this game provides a refreshing alternative. It’s not perfect—particularly in terms of match presentation and polish—but it’s ambitious, accessible, and packed with personality, offering a compelling option for both veterans of the genre and curious newcomers. Rating: 8/10