The 30 Best FIFA Games of All Time

May 2, 2025 Marcus Dam

From retro beginnings to Ultimate Team dominance – here’s the definitive ranking of EA Sports’ football legacy, from worst to best.

30. FIFA 95 (1994, Sega Genesis)

Only released on one console and lacking real players. A nostalgic but limited experience.

29. FIFA Football 2005

One-touch passing was the only major addition. Released early to compete with PES 4.

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28. FIFA 21

Controversial due to Ultimate Team monetization. Introduced stadium customization and 11 new icons.

27. FIFA 23

Last title under the FIFA name. Introduced women’s club football, but lacked innovation.

26. FIFA 16

First to feature women’s national teams. Criticized for losing the Brazilian license.

25. FIFA Football 2002

Introduced power bars for shots and passes. A key step toward gameplay precision.

24. FIFA Football 2004

Added second divisions and off-the-ball control. Career mode became more meaningful.

23. FIFA Soccer 96

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First FIFA with 3D graphics and real player names. A major technical leap.

22. FIFA 18

Used the Frostbite engine with “Real Motion Technology”. The Journey continued. Microtransactions loomed large.

21. FIFA 2000

Introduced season continuity and fully licensed MLS. Also featured Port Vale due to Robbie Williams.

20. FIFA 20

Replaced The Journey with VOLTA street football. Career Mode bugs led to fan backlash.

19. FIFA 19

Included the Active Touch System and 25 new icons. Mixed response to gameplay tweaks.

18. FIFA 15

Added concept squads and loan players in Ultimate Team. Graphically improved, but minor gameplay changes.

17. FIFA 22

Balanced gameplay and less pace dominance. Still lacked mode innovation.

16. FIFA 94 (International Soccer)

The first FIFA. Primitive, but full of charm and iconic mechanics.

15. FIFA 06

Featured classic bios, retro highlights, and the debut of the Classic XI. Strong career mode foundations.

14. FIFA 09

The first mainline FIFA with Ultimate Team. Custom goal celebrations made their debut.

13. FIFA 08

Introduced “Be A Pro” mode. First co-op online play and a major leap on next-gen consoles.

12. EA Sports FC 24

EA FC 24 — MardeFondos / Shutterstock.com

The rebranded franchise debut. Introduced PlayStyles and women in Ultimate Team.

11. EA Sports FC 25

EA FC 25 — Diego Thomazini / Shutterstock.com

Overhauled Career Mode and introduced Rush Mode. Lacked full licensing for key clubs.

10. FIFA Street 2

The best entry in the Street series. Skill-based, fast-paced, and refreshingly fun.

9. FIFA 07

Best on Xbox 360, thanks to a new engine and real-time match data. Limited on older consoles.

8. FIFA 2001

First FIFA on PlayStation 2. A generational leap in visuals and performance.

7. FIFA Soccer 2003

Added immersive crowds and TV-style presentation. A big step in matchday authenticity.

6. FIFA 17

Introduced The Journey story mode. Strong visual identity and cinematic ambition.

5. FIFA 11

Refined gameplay, Pro Passing, improved AI and streamlined Manager Mode. A smooth and focused title.

4. FIFA 12

Tactical Defending and Precision Dribbling debuted. Ultimate Team became the center of attention.

3. FIFA 10

Highly polished and dynamic. Fast gameplay and top-tier presentation made this a standout entry.

2. FIFA 14

Next-gen debut on PS4 and Xbox One. The new Ignite engine transformed visuals and physics.

1. FIFA 13

The franchise at its peak. Balanced gameplay, major Ultimate Team growth, and broad innovation across all modes.