How Soccer Video Games Have Evolved

Following Argentina’s 2022 World Cup win, we’ve started to think about the history and evolution of soccer video games. Let’s delve a little deeper into their timeline.
The world first got a taste of soccer video games in the 1970s when the Binatone TV Master MK IV console offered a pong version of the sport. Though not graphically advanced, the console did entertain its player base.
However, it was the release of NASL Soccer in late 1979 that created a monumental shift in the video gaming industry. Its gameplay was highly faithful to the sport and is considered a retro favorite.
In the 1980s, soccer video games only got better. RealSports Soccer was released in 1982 on the Atari 2600 and Atari 5200. Its gameplay was highly similar to that of NASL Soccer, only with noticeable advancements in its mechanics. Players could be controlled one at a time, with AI taking care of the rest.
International Soccer followed shortly after in 1983. The game could be played solo or multiplayer, with each team being able to choose preferred shirt colors. It introduced nine difficulty levels that allowed players to advance their skills.
Tekhan World Cup was released in 1985 by Tehkan, now known as Tecmo. An arcade-style game with multiplayer gameplay, it was considered one of the best of its time. The trackball controls and top-down perspective made the game extremely popular in arcades.
The Kick Off series began in 1989 and influenced further innovation in future games. Its use of skilled gameplay and other realistic aspects, from certain players to fouls, made a large footprint in the gaming industry.
Other honorable mentions include Football Manager (1982), Footballer of the Year (1986), Match Day 2 (1987), and Tracksuit Manager (1988).
Kick Off 2 came out in 1990 and received a positive reception from critics and players alike. The game featured exciting 16-bit gameplay and came with some notable improvements from its predecessor a year earlier. Though popular, it was very similar to the first in its gameplay.
Sensible Soccer was released just a couple of years later and became a leading force in the video game industry in the ‘90s. The game’s features were smooth and fast-paced, bringing in plenty of attention from soccer and video game lovers. Its zoomed-out perspective influenced the display of future games.
In 1993, the first FIFA game took the gaming world by storm and became an immediate bestseller. The introduction of the isometric viewpoint was a real game-changer for soccer video games. In addition, it featured 76 different teams with 20 players. Though it utilized similar gameplay mechanics as other games of its time, it had several advancements.
Six more games followed FIFA ‘93 during the 1990s alone. The games gradually started to introduce more representations of actual teams and players.
Other 1990s video games include International Virtua Striker (1995), Actua Soccer (1996), LiberoGrande (1997), and Superstar Soccer (1998).
Konami’s Pro Evolution Soccer, introduced in 2001, was groundbreaking for soccer video games. It was one of the first of this genre to provide a sense of true realism in its visuals and gameplay. Its mechanics, solo and multiplayer options, and in-game commentary were also thoroughly admired by its players.
The Pro Evolution Soccer game series continued until 2019 until its rebranding to eFootball PES in 2020.
Meanwhile, EA continued its FIFA series in the 2000s with its release of FIFA 2001. The game had an entirely new graphics engine, allowing for unique customizations and separating from the cartoonish style for which the previous game received negative criticism. The FIFA series has added new features over the last 20 years and is still the most impactful series of its genre as of 2022.
A new style of soccer video games was released when Rocket League hit the game stores in 2015. Instead of soccer players, the game uses vehicles with sleek designs to make great plays and score applause-worthy goals. Its online multiplayer feature is a prominent attraction since it creates intense competition.
While also unlike other soccer video games, Football Drama from 2019 is a game worth noting in this timeline. It takes on an interactive approach that allows players to employ real-time strategy. Because it’s a deck-based card battle game, players can create their own narrative and make story-changing decisions.
Since 2000, soccer games across the board have advanced so that the visual and gameplay styles are true to real-world soccer. Being able to play with different teams as actual soccer players – even retired ones – has drawn in a large player base.
The exciting evolution of soccer video games since the ‘70s shows undeniable potential for future games in this genre. Even online casinos have found innovative ways to engage their players with soccer-themed slot games, like those listed on slotsource.com, and the sport is being enjoyed in VR with games like Final Soccer. All this suggests that soccer video games will only improve and become more innovative over time.