EA Sports FC 27 Review – Small Changes, Big Improvements

EA Sports FC 27 Review

EA Sports FC has dominated the pitch for years, making incremental gains through tweaks that refine its simulation of the beautiful game. With each new entry, subtle adjustments improve the on-field action, while larger additions focus on expanding how players experience the game. From Volta to Rush, each mode has aimed to offer new ways to engage with the game’s tight mechanics. FC 27 continues that trend with The Grounds, but will it foster a thriving online community, or become another failed experiment?

Over the last few years, EA has focused on getting people to play together online. While there are plenty of ways to compete, menu hopping was an issue with modes buried in different places. The Grounds completely fixes this, housing a variety of match types in one open area. The hub includes three districts, each influential for modern football. Montclair captures the urban streets of France, Zeiza is a fusion of Argentine and European architecture, and Parkside exemplifies the working-class heritage of England. Together, this creates a diverse world, which celebrates the people, places, and communities that have shaped football.

The World is Your Playground

Mbappe, Kelly, Dybala, and the returning Alex Hunter are your mentors, dotted around the environment, providing challenges for you to complete. Each resides in their district along with a multitude of tasks. In addition to Rush and 11v11 Clubs, there are smaller match types such as 1v1 up to 3v3 quick bouts. As these pitches are within the world, it’s a joy to walk up and join a random bunch of people for a quick kickabout. EA experiments with game types too, adding Bocce Ball, which is played over three rounds, getting progressively harder, to The Big Race, where you must dribble through an obstacle course for the fastest time. The mode truly captures the notion of an active playground, and if they can continue to update and add new content as they do with their other modes, this could be one of FC’s most compelling and enduring additions.

Completing objectives grants stat boosts and level upgrades, giving more incentive to stay in the bustling world. As you would expect, the option to personalize your avatar is available. You can earn and purchase items to dress your character and also select archetypes to alter how they play on the pitch. Some of these are based on actual players, whereas others are focused on particular skills. There’s a strong level of customization for you to tailor your experience, creating a place for you to express your personality both on and off the pitch.

Refining Rather Than Evolving

On the pitch, FC 27 makes several small but meaningful changes that improve the experience. EA has reworked the AI, giving control back to the player. In last year’s iteration, AI-controlled players were strong, so you could direct them to defend while you sit back and position yourself to block routes. This is no longer the case, as their ability is much weaker compared to human intervention. However, EA hasn’t just nerfed AI; they have made improvements with offensive runs, varying your options to attack. While you can still trigger a run, it’s best to let the players move naturally. This does take time to rewire your brain to not press the button, but doing so results in more expressive offensive maneuvers.

Although this feature appears in every mode, it shines in Simulation mode, which rewards a patient and measured style of play. Keeping possession of the ball and seeing your players curve runs to find space is exhilarating. Player personalities are also a highlight here, as you see them react when not receiving the ball after making a run and each distinct trait is highlighted due to the space and time afforded by the mode’s slower, more methodical pace.

A Tactical Shift

Another new addition is something that I never knew I wanted: corners. Although a pivotal part of football, in video games it has been rather simple. Cross the ball in the box and hope it finds someone’s head, or take it short to work on a different form of attack. FC 27 introduces a two-stage corner routine where you aim your cross, then are given time to make runs to meet the end of the cross. This small adjustment has a huge impact, adding skill to the set-piece and making every corner feel like a genuine scoring opportunity rather than a routine cross into the box.

Ultimate Team is the flagship mode of the game, allowing you to build your dream team and compete against others. Packed with content, it can get overwhelming, often resulting in spending more time in menus than on the pitch. EA aims to improve this aspect with a bunch of new features added to the mode. You can now do point-based SBCs, allowing you to get rid of all your fodder, saving you time when completing objectives. The number of points you need to reach differs depending on your target. You can quickly cycle through your squad to decide who to keep and sacrifice to attain the score. While it does remove the tactical side of the SBC, it’s a faster way to claim your prize, which is something I wholeheartedly welcome.

FUT Gallery is a nice addition, which captures the notion of collecting. Similar to a sticker book, the game stores every player you have ever owned, encouraging you to seek out new players and complete your collection. Doing so will reward you with items and players, adding another layer to the already deep mode.

The Choice is Yours

Evolutions also get a refreshing new spin, allowing you to alter their path so they improve the abilities you would prefer rather than preset ones. In addition, online events will now include an offline alternative, allowing everyone to engage regardless of gameplay preference. While all of these aspects improve Ultimate Team, the pay-to-win ethos tied to the premium season pass eventually affects this, often punishing those who prefer to earn rewards through time and effort rather than opening their wallets.

Smaller tweaks bleed into other modes; for example, Career refines transfers, being more dynamic rather than static, as they have been in previous iterations. The removal of long cutscenes for these segments also refines the experience, allowing you to be more active throughout. Player ratings can also alter depending on several aspects such as form and fitness, forcing you to manage each situation more carefully. While each addition certainly improves Career Mode, the mode still feels bloated and requires further refinement and streamlining.

EA Sports FC 27 continues to refine and improve key aspects of the game, delivering a more complete experience that captures the beauty and unpredictability of the sport. Reducing AI involvement in defense while improving attacking movement makes a huge difference, resulting in more engaging on-pitch action. The Grounds has real potential to transform the online community, creating a space where players can regularly meet and spend time with friends. While Ultimate Team still encourages additional spending, the sheer amount of content allows players to bypass much of this, although its pay-to-win nature becomes more apparent in online matches. Despite a few lingering issues, FC 27 takes meaningful strides forward both on and off the pitch, making it the strongest entry in the series to date.

***PS5 code provided by the publisher for review***