Once again the player has to step into the shoes of a manager to demonstrate his tactical skills and make all the important decisions concerning the team. Thanks to the official licensing, 2018 edition is offering a huge base of clubs, players and leagues. Among them, the most popular competitions in the world: Spanish La Liga, Italian Serie A, English Premier League or German Bundesliga, and many more. FM 18 gives players the opportunity to manage one of over 2500 football teams from 50 countries – as a result, players have access to more than 600.000 different football players and experts.

Gameplay

In Football Manager 2018 the player decides about every aspect of his team and the way it is functioning. From hiring the assistant manager, director of football or the physios and scouts, to managing the finances, creating training regimes, setting the tactic and choosing the captain for the team - the player has the fate of the club or national team in his hands. 

One of the basic responsibilities of a manager is obviously buying new players. The huge database of FM 18 gives an extremely wide selection of footballers beginning from completely unknown rookies, through young and promising talents, ending on the most famous, fortune-costing football stars. The players can develop home-grown players through the club's youth system, sign free agents or simply transfer in and out, any players that are willing to join their team. Transfers are an essential and indispensable aspect of FM 18. You can also buy the in-game editor which can make your experience even better. Many fans also create their own custom databases with updated player transfers, club budgets and other changes.

By carrying out beneficial transactions, players can increase their finances and improve their team. Innovative Dynamic System implemented in Football Manager 2018 to a large extent influences the gameplay. It is now necessary to maintain good relations between the players of the team and a positive dressing room atmosphere to get the best performance from members of your squad. The system also helps to understand the relations between different managers and members of the staff. 

Thanks to Real World Scouting System Football Manager 2018 allows players to use realistic techniques used by the world's best clubs. Complex data analysis with a wide variety of scouting options gives you a better summary of a possible signing. Beyond that, the game offers a realistic overview of your team's condition and injuries, newly redesigned tactics screen and reorganized Fantasy Draft.

As in the case of previous games, FM 2018 continues the improvements in the 3D graphics engine and helps the player to really like a real football manager. The models of the players look detailed and move naturally. Another nice touch is the shirt of the clubs, which for the first time have not only the same coloring and style as their real-life originals but also all the signs, sponsors and logos of the real kits of football teams. 

The players also need to remember that if their team will lose a lot of matches, and they will not meet the requirements and the objectives of the board, the owners of the club can dismiss them. The game takes realism quite serious, so the player needs to also be patient if he wants to become a top manager and signs the best players. Of course, one could always take charge of the best clubs in the world like Real Madrid or Juventus right away and dominate the football from day one. 

Reception

Reviews clearly showed that Football Manager 2018 (PC) was warmly received within the gaming community. Players appreciated the fact that developers implemented brand new graphics engine which was a big improvement. Both, gaming experts and players were impressed by one of the essential elements of the series – scouting. The new, expanded scouting system gives much more possibilities and it is even more realistic. New Dynamics System deserves special attention as it may drastically influence the gameplay. New tactics and redesigned Fantasy Draft have also made a very good impression within the player's community. Players looking for the ultimate football manager simulation game found exactly what they hoped for in this game. 

Key features:

• Huge base of officially licensed football teams, players and leagues consisting of over 600 000 players and staff.
• Brand new graphics engine with more realistic lighting, player models and stadiums.
• New Dynamics Systems – take care of the good atmosphere and high morale within your team to get the best performance.
• Improved Scouting System with a variety of new options to give you even more possibilities.
• New Medical Centre gives you detailed information about your squad condition and injuries.