FIFA 17

For all that FIFA promises something for every football fan, from the casual observer to the full-kit fanatic, I still find myself wishing that EA Sports would spend a little more time focusing on the basics. You could probably create the perfect football game by letting Konami handle everything on the pitch, with EA Sports responsible for everything off it. But FIFA plays well enough that the gains elsewhere – in terms of licensing, authenticity, and big-match atmosphere – more than compensate for those shortcomings. For my money, PES is still ahead where it counts most, but The Journey gives FIFA something unique and rewarding. If you can afford it, this year it might just be worth getting both.

FIFA's new story mode grabs the headlines, but its gameplay still makes the difference.

Despite a delightful new story mode, FIFA 17 falls short where it matters - on the pitch.

An epic ode to the joy of football, but with room remaining for improvement.

FIFA 17 feels like a reintroduction to what makes this series great

Not the transformative experience offered by this year's PES, but still unmatched in the genre for atmosphere, licenses, and finer details.

Whether you’re interested in the new story mode or not, the bevy of modes and slightly improved gameplay means FIFA 17 has something for everyone

The EA Sports stalwart is facing strong competition from Pro Evolution Soccer, but has come out fighting with plenty of style and just enough substance

Across the board the game fails to support a footballing strategy or philosophy called anything other than “FIFA”.

FIFA 17 bounces back nicely after a down year without sacrificing any of its primary strengths. The Journey is a well-produced campaign mode that complements the existing feature set nicely, and the move to Frostbite appears to have gone off without a hitch. It's not really accurate to say FIFA is back since it never really left, but it is fair to say that it has momentum again, and that speaks well of its future as we head into the back half of this generation.