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Soccer Manager 2021 similar games & best alternatives

Soccer Manager 2021

PC (Microsoft Windows) • 2020

Related articles

Quick resume

Be a top football manager in Soccer Manager 2021. 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

75/100

Genres

Sport, Free To Play, Strategy, Simulator, Tactical

Similar games

    Pros

    • Free to play
    • Accessible and simple football management gameplay
    • Wide range of teams and leagues
    • Real player names and licenses
    • Good alternative for casual football management fans

    Cons

    • Unrealistic and random match outcomes
    • Frequent bugs and crashes
    • Poor ai and player behavior
    • Annoying microtransaction prompts
    • Limited customization and social features

    Analysis

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

    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 transfers, tactics, and team management, but some board restrictions and game mechanics limit full freedom."

    • Competence
      1

      "The game offers some skill and strategy in managing teams and transfers, but unpredictable and sometimes random match outcomes reduce the feeling of mastery."

    • Competition
      2

      "Players compete against AI teams in leagues and cups, with some emphasis on rankings and progression, but no direct player-vs-player competition mentioned."

    • Continuation
      1

      "Some players report long sessions and engagement with seasons, but bugs and crashes cause frustration and abandonment for others."

    • Cooperation
      -5

      "The game is single-player focused with no cooperative or multiplayer team play."

    • Creativity
      2

      "Players can customize tactics, transfers, and team lineups, but no deep creative building or modding features."

    • Domination
      -3

      "No evidence of exerting control over other players; interactions are with AI and no trash talk or power dynamics reported."

    • Escapism
      3

      "Players use the game as a distraction and stress relief, enjoying the football management fantasy."

    • Expectation
      -4

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

    • Experimenting
      2

      "Players try different tactics and transfers, but some reviews note repetitive or scripted outcomes limiting experimentation."

    • Exploration
      -2

      "Exploration is limited to managing known teams and leagues; no mention of discovering new areas or secrets."

    • Expression
      1

      "Some customization of manager and team choices, but limited avatar or environment personalization."

    • Fantasy
      -1

      "The game simulates realistic football management scenarios, though some unrealistic or scripted events occur."

    • Fellowship
      -5

      "No social or community features; strictly single-player experience."

    • Growth
      2

      "Players develop teams and improve skills over seasons, though some frustration with slow or broken player development."

    • Health
      -5

      "No physical activity involved; sedentary gameplay."

    • Idle
      -3

      "Requires active management and attention; some players report crashes interrupting play."

    • Intimacy
      -5

      "No close social relationships or emotional sharing reported."

    • Leadership
      3

      "Players lead their football club, making decisions on transfers, tactics, and club management."

    • Progression
      4

      "Strong focus on acquiring players, improving teams, and advancing through leagues and competitions."

    • Relaxation
      0

      "Mixed experiences: some find it relaxing, others frustrated by bugs and unrealistic results."

    • Sensation
      -1

      "Graphics and audio are basic and sometimes criticized; sensory stimulation is moderate."

    • Status
      -3

      "No social recognition or multiplayer status systems; achievements are personal and isolated."

    • Story
      1

      "Some narrative elements through team progress and player stories, but no deep overarching plot."

    • Strategy
      3

      "Requires planning transfers, tactics, and managing finances, though some randomness reduces strategic impact."

    • Thrill
      1

      "Some excitement from match outcomes and competitions, but unpredictable and sometimes frustrating results."

    • Value
      4

      "Free-to-play with optional purchases; many players find good value without spending money."

    • Violence
      -5

      "No combat or destructive gameplay; focus on management and simulation."

    • Survival
      1

      "Managing team finances and avoiding poor performance has some survival elements, but low risk overall."

    Where to buy

    Come talk about it on Discord!

    Last update: 29/04/2026