Great value for a free game
Mentioned in ~1 in 6 positive reviews
“Really good for a free football manager style sim game. Recommend if not wanting to spend a penny.”
Steam review · 39.1 h played ↗
Soccer Manager 2021
Worth buying? What 221 Steam reviews say.Worth buying? Here’s what 221 Steam reviews actually say.
Mostly Positive · 75%Mostly Positive · 75%Invincibles Studio Ltd2020Sports · Management · Football (Soccer)
The verdict
A free, simplified Football Manager-style sim with licensed teams and easy management, but results feel random or scripted, and bugs and paywall nudges are common. Skip it if you want realism.
Great for
Casual football fans wanting a free, lightweight alternative to Football Manager
Main risk
Match results feel random or scripted, and progress is pushed toward paid credits
What players love
Simple, accessible Football Manager alternative
Mentioned in ~1 in 8 positive reviews
“basically a more simple version of football manager”
Steam review · 3.2 h played ↗
Management depth: transfers, finances, youth
Mentioned in ~1 in 11 positive reviews
“It focuses on the strategy of managing a football club, including finances, sponsor ships, and players. It is a hard game to stop playing.”
Steam review · 11.8 h played ↗
Improved over SM2020
Mentioned in ~1 in 13 positive reviews
“This game is more of the same, but with enough twists to the basic game-play and noticeably better graphics to warrant a play.”
Steam review · 198.8 h played ↗
Real teams, players and licences
Mentioned in ~1 in 25 positive reviews
“The biggest improvement compared to the previous iteration of Soccer Manager (2020) was the official player names and teams licences.”
Steam review · 8.3 h played ↗
Little pay-to-win pressure for some
Mentioned in ~1 in 42 positive reviews
“I still don't see any game-ruining pay-to-win mechanics in this year's edition.”
Steam review · 198.8 h played ↗
What players complain about
Random, scripted-feeling match results
Mentioned in ~2 in 5 negative reviews
“You could have a full team with 90+ Rated Players and still lose the first half against Fulham by 4:0.”
Steam review · 10.2 h played ↗
Pushes microtransactions and feels pay-to-win
Mentioned in ~1 in 5 negative reviews
“Massive pay to win game, don't waste your time.”
Steam review · 5.6 h played ↗
Unrealistic transfers, injuries and player mood
Mentioned in ~1 in 5 negative reviews
“every time you continue to the next day a report always comes in that a player got injured during training.”
Steam review · 10.2 h played ↗
Poor graphics, animations and interface
Mentioned in ~1 in 6 negative reviews
“The animations are worse than on a Dendy in 1995.”
Steam review · translated · 9.1 h played ↗
Crashes, freezes and load failures
Mentioned in ~1 in 6 negative reviews
“The game constantly crashes and glitches way too often for a game that's been released a year ago.”
Steam review · 11.4 h played ↗
Missing credits and unanswered support
Mentioned in ~1 in 16 negative reviews
“You don't get the credit you purchase and Soccer Manager doesn't reply to me.”
Steam review · 55.3 h played ↗
System requirements
From the Steam store page
Steam Deck: Unknown500 MB
Minimum
OSWindows 7
Processor1 GHz or higher
Memory2 GB RAM
GraphicsShader Model 3.0 capable card
Storage500 MB available space
OSWindows 7
Processor1 GHz or higher
Memory2 GB RAM
GraphicsShader Model 3.0 capable card
Storage500 MB available space
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