That time of year has come once again, and EA Sports FC 27 is here to bring the franchise into another round of squad updates, gameplay improvements, and new modes to enjoy both solo and with friends.
For the most part, EA Sports FC 27 excels as far as gameplay is concerned, even if most of the newer modes and features surrounding it don’t move the needle all that much. The Grounds is definitely the most intriguing new feature here, but it also feels like a work in progress of sorts, an idea that makes perfect sense on paper, but has not yet been fully realised.
Other remaining modes and updates feel like a step in the right direction, but rather inconsequential for dedicated fans looking to get a little more out of the experience.
See You on the Pitch
Gameplay improvements feel a little more nuanced this year, with an added focus on smaller mechanics like corner taking and AI-controlled defence.
Corner kicks now give players the ability to bring additional teammates in or out of the box, line them up at the front or back post, or have them spread out entirely. It’s an improvement that leaves corner-taking less up to chance, and more the direct consequence of player positioning, which in turn feels more rewarding.
Automated tackles are gone, meaning AI-controlled teammates will position and jockey for the ball where appropriate, but leave the defending almost entirely up to you. It’s a more hands-on experience that simply rewards defensive prowess, but I still feel that FC 27 can feel a little too delicate at times, with more elite offensive or attacking players getting the benefit of the doubt over more elite, physically imposing defensive players.
New Triggered Curved Runs help players find space more effectively while staying onside, and through-ball passes now feel much more manual, requiring not only accurate timing but precise direction. Finally, new contact and dribble animations make encounters feel much more natural. Given that’s a rather standard improvement year on year, I feel that they’ve achieved a great balance between speedy gameplay and realistic handling.
All of this is also highlighted by the return of two distinct gameplay modes: Competitive and Authentic. Much like FC 26, players can choose Competitive gameplay for a more traditional and familiar gameplay experience, or choose Authentic gameplay for a slightly slower, more precise and dedicated experience, as far as passing and dribbling is concerned.
None of these improvements feels like game changers, and I feel like most casual fans will be hard-pressed to find anything that stands out as immediately noticeable. But if you play more consistently, the deepened corner system and more nuanced defending feel like a step in the right direction.
Taking it to The Grounds
Our EA Sports FC 27 preview focused mainly on The Grounds, FC 27’s newest open-world social feature, which includes several unique locations inspired by countries and cities, bringing friends and strangers together for social and competitive play.
For the most part, The Grounds looks great both visually and structurally. Split across three distinct areas, inspired by the UK (Parkside), France (Montclair) and Argentina (Zeiza), everything looks and feels authentic to each city, complete with accurate architecture and street designs.
You’ll need to create your own star here, separate from the player Career Mode, but you’re able to freely explore The Grounds at your own pace, jump in line for both competitive and casual matches, and even compete in several fun minigames. There are even hidden Drop Kick Targets to find, which you collect by simply aiming and kicking a ball at them in real time.
There are also new minigames known as Kickabouts to enjoy with friends, including Goal Control, which sees you trying to score as many goals as possible against your opponent; Big Race, which sees you dribbling around obstacles to finish first; Bucketball, which mixes 2v2 football with basketball; and Balloon Ball, which has four players duke it out in a dodgeball-centric match.
The inclusion of Amps and Masteries allows you to enhance and upgrade your player both temporarily and permanently, respectively, and while these are fun, they don’t deepen the experience all that much.
The Pro Clubs feature has now been fully incorporated into The Grounds and can no longer be accessed directly from the menu. I point this out specifically for two reasons. Firstly, like NBA 2K’s The City, it’s just nice to be able to jump into this and run around with friends, making the mode feel more like a social hub than a gameplay feature. But secondly, it feels as though FC 27 is just trying to make this mode feel that much more relevant.
I really like The Grounds for what it is, but it also feels like the work in progress I was referring to earlier. Of course, most of these features are intended to be more iterative in a game like this. But I also feel like you could check out everything The Grounds has to offer in the better part of an hour or so. It’s not to say that any of it is bad, but it does feel a little shallow if this is supposed to tide us over for an entire year.
Your Career, Your Ultimate Team
EA Sports FC 27’s improvements to both the Career Modes and Ultimate Team feel much more systematic this year, deepening the action of negotiations and conversations, as opposed to direct gameplay.
In the Player Career Mode, your player will be able to create and take on new challenges throughout the season thanks to the Creator Challenge Dashboard, which will help add a layer of depth and difficulty, while a new Overall Rating (OVR) system will dynamically track you over the course of the seasons and determine your value in negotiations and trades as a result. Your player can be upgraded throughout, but the ability to assign your player up to six secondary positions adds plenty of variety and versatility to the overall gameplay.
As we had discussed in our preview, this new transfer system will also factor in the real-life partnership with TransferRoom, a platform that clubs actually use, to help keep track of player movements and performances across up to 10 leagues. It also has a greater effect on the Manager Career, and there’s a greater emphasis on smarter CPU decision-making, including new cinematic conversations. They could certainly be summarised in an email, but they do help the experience feel that much more authentic.
Ultimate Team also adds this more nuanced Overall Rating system, complete with more consistent milestones and objectives to help with player progression. The Playstyle Lab also returns to help add certain playstyles to your favourite players, giving them a more unique personality and effectiveness out on the pitch.
This does flesh out the single-player experience if you’re already a fan of it, but at its core, the structure remains the same. Be it star players or past icons, the new FUT Gallery only heightens the need to collect and show off your star players and best teams, which can still only be achieved by reaching into those pockets of yours for some extra cash.
Final Thoughts
Most of EA Sports FC 27’s improvements feel noticeable and, at certain points, warranted, but its biggest swings, like The Grounds, for example, only highlight the fact that there’s more work to be done.
While the Career and Ultimate Team modes don’t feel as revolutionary, it all comes together in a package that still feels incredibly fun to play, alone or with friends.
THREE AND A HALF STARS (OUT OF FIVE)
Highlights: Gameplay improvements feel great; Career and Ultimate Team mode tweaks feel warranted for fans
Lowlights: The Grounds feels a little undercooked at this point
Developer: EA Vancouver, EA Romania
Publisher: Electronic Arts
Platforms: PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Xbox Series X/S, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch 2, Nintendo Switch, Windows PC
Available: Now
Review conducted on PlayStation 5 with a code provided by the publisher.
Featured header image also provided by the publisher.
