By Adam Roffel
When the dust settled on the initial hype of EA SPORTS FC 26, players were left a bit disappointed by the yearly soccer instalment. The game was plagued by lacklustre performance and major server issues. While the game worked more often than not, it was those moments of lost progress when the servers failed mid-match and the odd performance issues at inopportune times that really cast a cloud over the game.
That puts more pressure on FC 27 to improve on those issues while also introducing brand-new gameplay modes. This leads us to the ultimate question when it comes to sports franchises: do you pick up the new instalment, or wait until next year? My advice is almost always the same, whether we’re looking at Madden, NHL, or yes, even FC. If you are a diehard, pick it up.
If you play a bit more casually, read on. Is there enough here to warrant purchasing this year’s game?
EA SPORTS FC 27 Details
Platform: PS5, PS4, XBOX Series X|S, XBOX One, Nintendo Switch 2, Nintendo Switch, PC
Reviewed on: Nintendo Switch 2
Developer: EA Canada, EA Romania
Publisher: Electronic Arts
Genre: Sports / Simulation
Game Modes: Single-player, local multiplayer, online multiplayer
ESRB Rating: E for Everyone
Familiar Soccer Isn’t a Bad Thing
The gameplay in FC 27 remains largely unchanged from previous entries in the series, and that shouldn’t come as a shock. The team at EA has developed a really comprehensive control system that is incredibly accessible and can be tailored to players of all skill levels.
Things can be as basic as mapping passes and shots to face buttons, but all of these things can be manipulated by using a combination of shoulder buttons and face buttons. You have a regular shot, chip shot, finesse shot, power shot, and more. EA SPORTS layers these shot types nicely, allowing players to slowly learn and progress through harder AI difficulty levels at their own pace.
Based on my time with FC 26, I do believe gameplay has been slightly tweaked. The game feels just a bit slower than what I remember, with passing, especially through passes, taking a bit more skill to get right. Spamming buttons is no longer a route to success. Passes need to be timely and deliberate, otherwise they will be intercepted.
Player stats also seem to matter a bit more, especially when it comes to dribbling. Players with low dribbling and agility stats feel clunky when the ball is at their feet. Players with high dribbling and agility stats are incredibly hard to bump off the ball.
Modes You Know and Love
If you play EA SPORTS FC for modes like Career or Football Ultimate Team (FUT), then those are back and revamped. Career Mode especially has seen positive overhauls that make the entire process feel a bit more realistic and dynamic.
The rebuilt Transfer Market and new Dynamic OVR system help each season feel more dynamic. Player ratings rise and fall based on a number of factors, including form, morale, match fitness, and playing time.
I’ve only briefly dabbled here, but from what I’ve seen, you’ll be happy if this is where you spend the bulk of your time.
FUT hasn’t been majorly overhauled, but EA has added the new Gallery system to the experience. Player Items you earn are recorded in your Gallery history and can contribute to themed Gallery Sets. Even if a card later leaves your Club, it can still count toward eligible Sets added later.
Higher Set grades can earn Gallery Tokens, which you can spend on rewards in the Gallery Token Store.
Think of this as your card binder, separated into different teams, leagues, and themes. Each Set is graded as well, so building out stronger or more specific combinations can improve your grade and rewards!
Brand-New Grounds to Explore
The big new addition to FC 27 is The Grounds, an open-world area where you can explore football culture. Its three Districts are modelled after the UK, Argentina, and France. Within each area, there are opportunities to explore with your avatar and take part in everything from small-sided Street Football to Rush and 11v11 Clubs matches.
There are also Mentors throughout The Grounds to teach you a thing or two about the game.
This is also where the Clubhouse now resides. The Clubs experience in FC 27 includes 11v11 matches where you play as a specific player on the field. It makes sense that this has been moved from a menu spot into The Grounds, and it fits well.
On Nintendo Switch 2, The Grounds is where you really see the limitations of the system. The graphics are subpar at best, and I noticed a few performance issues while exploring as well. It’s nothing that would make me NOT pick up FC 27 on Nintendo Switch 2, but if The Grounds is going to be your mode of choice, other platforms might be a better option.
The other issue with The Grounds is that EA SPORTS is adding yet another in-game currency, Grounds Coins. And with in-game currency comes microtransactions. Cosmetic items are available for purchase, and while you will earn currency simply by playing, it might not be enough to satisfy everything you want when you get into the store.
A Positive Step Forward
Ultimately, when comparing FC 26 to FC 27, this is a positive step forward for the franchise. If you haven’t picked up an FC game in a little while, there are tons of reasons to pick this one up now.
On Nintendo Switch 2, the game looks better than it ever has on Nintendo hardware, and the major modes are here too. Remember when EA SPORTS put out FIFA Legacy Editions on Nintendo Switch? That is not happening anymore.
While the game obviously has some drawbacks, including suspect performance at times, poorer graphics quality, and longer load times, being able to play FUT on the go is pretty outstanding in my books. I’ve always said I am willing to sacrifice a bit of quality to be able to play my games anywhere.
Hardcore players should probably look to grab the game on another platform. For casual football fans like myself, Nintendo Switch 2 is the perfect spot for EA SPORTS FC 27.
EA SPORTS FC 27 Review Summary
Liked
- Familiar controls remain accessible while offering plenty of depth
- Passing rewards better timing and more deliberate play
- Player dribbling and agility stats have a noticeable impact
- Career Mode benefits from the rebuilt Transfer Market and Dynamic OVR
- FUT Gallery adds another reason to collect and track Player Items
- The Grounds adds a major new way to experience football culture
- Having the major modes available on Nintendo Switch 2 is great for portable play
Didn't Like
- The Grounds looks noticeably weaker on Nintendo Switch 2
- Performance issues occasionally appear while exploring The Grounds
- Load times are longer than on more powerful platforms
- Grounds Coins add another in-game currency and microtransactions
- Hardcore players may be better served by another version of the game
Overall Assessment of EA SPORTS FC 27
Gameplay: ⭐⭐⭐⭐☆ (4.2 / 5)
Presentation: ⭐⭐⭐✨☆ (3.7 / 5)
Performance: ⭐⭐⭐✨☆ (3.5 / 5)
Modes / Content: ⭐⭐⭐⭐☆ (4.2 / 5)
Fun Factor: ⭐⭐⭐⭐☆ (4.2 / 5)
Overall Value: ⭐⭐⭐⭐☆ (4.1 / 5)
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