fbpx
Connect with us

English Premier League

Most Popular Football-Themed Games

Whether you call it football, soccer, footy, or ball, the game is loved by millions worldwide. So much in fact that the industry is worth an incredible €25.2 billion annually—with the highest-paid professional player earning almost €58.8 million annually.

With the sport being so prevalent in almost every corner of the world, it is no surprise that many other off-field games have tried to replicate this notoriety. From video games on the latest consoles to football-themed slots—like those found on slotsource.ie—soccer games abound.

We have searched far and wide, and below is a list of all the best soccer games available today.  

Video Games

Allowing anyone and everyone to play as a world champion, soccer-themed video games have been around since modern consoles launched. They have immense appeal due to their fun nature and constant updates to bring you the latest players and teams. 

Below are just two of the best football video games available today.

FIFA

As you probably expected, FIFA is the most well-known soccer video game of all time. It was first released in 1993 and was available only on the SEGA Mega Drive and SNES. Considering that FIFA International Soccer was this game’s first iteration, it is impressive that it sold more than 500,000 copies in its first four weeks. 

Releasing 29 games after the original, FIFA holds the world record for the most sports video games sold. This achievement comes after the game reached over 325 million copies sold as of 2021. In 2023, the game will be released by a studio other than EA for the first time in its history. This change follows the breakdown of negotiations between EA and FIFA. 

Pro Evolution Soccer (PES)

Originally named Goal Storm, PES first launched in 1995. As the main rival to FIFA, the game was received well. It changed its name to ISS Pro in 1997 before rebranding as just PES in 2001. Under this brand, the game sold 111 million copies by the end of 2020.

Turning over a new leaf, the game rebranded again in 2021—becoming eFootball. This new branding changed the franchise into a cross-platform free-to-play video game. While many saw this as a way to steal popularity from FIFA, the game was not well received and has lost many previously loyal fans. 

Board Games

Unlike video games, which offer excellent graphics and outstanding physics, board games provide a more homey and traditional way of playing. These types of games also give you unique ways to experience football. Below are some of the best soccer-themed board games.

Football Billionaire

This fun board game is like Monopoly—except it allows you the chance to become your soccer club manager. It lets you buy and fire players, negotiate different deals with agents, and even buy your very own stadium. 

The game currently doesn’t host any actual player names or teams. However, that hasn’t stopped it from selling over 100,000 copies and releasing three different editions. It also ranks 437th in the “Board Games” category on Amazon UK.

World Football Stars Top Trumps Match

Part of the popular Top Trumps Match group, this fun offering pits you against your opponent to try and match five of your favourite soccer stars in a row. Considering the game was released in 2018 and then revised in 2020, your favourite soccer players in the game may not accurately represent the newest soccer players. 

Regardless of the outdated players available, the game is ranked 1,197th on Amazon UK—which isn’t bad considering this category holds over 30,000 different games. 

Slot Machines

If you love gambling as much as watching the ball cross the field, you’ll love the variety of soccer-themed slot machines. These let you put yourself in the football action while getting to wager some money, hoping to not only win but to win big. 

Below are some of the best slots that have a strong soccer theme throughout the game.

Football Stars

Released close to the 2014 FIFA World Cup, this game by industry heavyweights Microgaming gives you a great way to play. The game has five reels that grant you 243 ways to win. It also has a great bonus option that offers you free spins if you’re lucky enough. 

The best part about this slot is the RTP (or return to player rate) that it boasts. Depending on what casino you’re playing with, the average RTP for this slot is between 96% and 97%. This means that you winning big might be easier than you think. 

Soccer Safari

As another homage to a FIFA World Cup, Soccer Safari was released in 2010 to coincide with the World Cup happening in South Africa. This game, also developed by Microgaming, has five reels and 30 ways that you can win. It also features free spins and a Go for Goal bonus—which lets you pick a team and player. 

The average RTP for this game is around 96.5%. This may be less than Football Stars above but is still a perfectly acceptable RTP for any slot. 

Foosball

If you’re not into record-breaking video games, sitting around a board game, or wagering against a big win, there is another option—the classic foosball (or table football). Invented sometime between 1880 and 1890, this game lets you play against your opponent by giving you control over a whole field—and all its players.

This game is so popular that in 2018 the foosball table market was valued at an incredible €160.19 million internationally. This industry is expected to grow drastically as “smart” foosball tables are developed more actively. These feature automatic scoreboards and ball tracking and speed monitoring. 

Conclusion

If you’re a fan of the sport, soccer is probably engrained in many facets of your life. Whether wearing your team shirt or arguing with strangers in the pub over who’s best, the love of football is at the root of it all. 

Even if you cannot get on the pitch and play, the number of great games inspired by the sport allows you to scratch your soccer itch. These let you enjoy fantastic gameplay and occasionally even win some excellent prizes.  

Click to comment

You must be logged in to post a comment Login

Leave a Reply

More in English Premier League