More often than not, the biggest changes that EA’s annual football series has touted in recent years haven’t ended up amounting to much, leaving many disappointed with their surface-level changes that ultimately don’t really improve much. This year, however, EA Sports FC 25 feels like a much welcome legitimate upgrade for the series over recent years, even if it is ultimately still an incremental step forward, owing to the series’ very nature.

Career Mode has seen meaningful improvements at long last, while the addition of player roles and an even greater emphasis on tactical flexibility gives players even greater strategic control over their team. Some issues still remain, of course, but it’s safe to say that EA Sports FC 25 is a better game than most of its predecessors in recent years.