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Soccer Manager 2020 similar games & best alternatives

Soccer Manager 2020

PC (Microsoft Windows), Android • 2020

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Quick resume

Be a top football manager in Soccer Manager 2020. Take a football team to the top and test your management skills against the best, or help a struggling team fight for glory!

Global score

77/100

Genres

Free To Play, Sport, Simulator

Similar games

    Pros

    • Free to play
    • Accessible football management gameplay
    • Fast-paced seasons
    • Good for casual and new players
    • Regular updates and improvements

    Cons

    • Bugs and glitches affecting gameplay
    • Unrealistic or scripted match outcomes
    • Limited tactical depth and customization
    • Some pay-to-win elements reported
    • Basic graphics and 3d match engine

    Analysis

    Less representative of its motivational profile, with noticeable differences. Motivations that often define this kind of title include Idle, Thrill, Violence, Survival. Here, the score leans higher than usual among comparable games on Leadership, Competition. It leans lower than usual among comparable games on Fantasy.

    How to use the graph
    Similar games map

    Each dot is a game. They are arranged from the same motivation profile as in the “Motivations” section below. Closer dots usually mean more similar reasons to play (exploration, competition, relaxation, etc.)—not that one game is “better” than another.

    • Larger dot with a light outline: the game you are viewing.
    • Colour: groups of games with comparable motivation patterns (statistical clusters).
    • Hover a dot to see the game name; click to open its page.
    • Scroll or double-click the chart to zoom out and see more games.

    Why don’t the axes read like a score? This view uses t-SNE: it only keeps who is close to whom. The scales are not “good to bad” or hours played—they separate groups on the map. Read distance between dots, not the axis numbers.

    Motivations

    • Autonomy
      3

      "Players have control over team management, tactics, transfers, and training, though some aspects are limited or scripted."

    • Competence
      1

      "Some skill and strategy involved in managing teams and tactics, but many reviews mention bugs and unpredictable outcomes reducing skill impact."

    • Competition
      2

      "Includes leaderboards and achievements; players compete for league titles and cups, but some randomness and pay-to-win elements affect fairness."

    • Continuation
      3

      "Players report long play sessions and habitual engagement, though some mention frustration and quitting due to bugs."

    • Cooperation
      -5

      "Single-player management game with no multiplayer cooperation elements."

    • Creativity
      2

      "Allows tactical customization and team management decisions, but limited formation options and no deep customization."

    • Domination
      -3

      "No evidence of exerting control over others; interactions are mostly with AI and no social dominance reported."

    • Escapism
      3

      "Players use the game as a distraction and time killer, escaping real life through football management simulation."

    • Expectation
      -4

      "Players engage voluntarily out of interest and enjoyment; no reports of obligation or pressure."

    • Experimenting
      2

      "Players try different tactics and team setups, though some find the game scripted and repetitive."

    • Exploration
      -2

      "Limited exploration; mostly managing known leagues and teams with no discovery or new areas."

    • Expression
      -3

      "Minimal customization; no team shirt design or avatar personalization reported."

    • Fantasy
      -4

      "Realistic football management simulation with real-world inspired teams and players."

    • Fellowship
      -4

      "No social or community features; mostly solo play."

    • Growth
      2

      "Players develop skills in team management and learn game mechanics, though some find limited depth."

    • Health
      -5

      "No physical activity involved; purely sedentary gameplay."

    • Idle
      2

      "Can be played in short or long sessions; some automation like quick play reduces constant attention."

    • Intimacy
      -5

      "No social interaction or relationship building."

    • Leadership
      4

      "Players lead and manage entire football clubs, making strategic decisions and guiding teams."

    • Progression
      3

      "Players accumulate items, upgrades, and improve facilities and players over seasons."

    • Relaxation
      1

      "Some find the game relaxing and a good time killer, but bugs and frustrations reduce flow for others."

    • Sensation
      -2

      "Graphics and audio are basic and functional; not focused on sensory stimulation."

    • Status
      1

      "Achievements and leaderboards provide some recognition, but limited social status impact."

    • Story
      -5

      "No narrative or story elements; purely management simulation."

    • Strategy
      3

      "Requires planning tactics, transfers, and team management; some players find it limited but still strategic."

    • Thrill
      1

      "Some suspense in matches and competitions, but many find outcomes unpredictable or scripted."

    • Value
      4

      "Free to play with no mandatory microtransactions; good value for time and money."

    • Violence
      -5

      "No violence; focus on constructive team management."

    • Survival
      -3

      "No survival elements; stable environment managing football clubs."

    Where to buy

    Come talk about it on Discord!

    Last update: 29/04/2026