Football, Tactics & Glory

It's an amazing RNG take on the FM formula. The learning curve is there, and you need to do the extensive tutorial to be successful. However, the tutorial is also extremely well made, with training ground scenarios that help immensely with immersion. It's extremely satisfying to employ the tactics you learned to beat opponents that would otherwise wipe the floor with you. Coped with the players you signed and then trained to specifically fit into your tactical vision, you do feel like a manager pulling the strings just right to get that narrow win against a stronger opponent.
As FM and Battle Brothers veteran, I felt this game as a very fresh take on the genre. Sure, sometimes luck will not be on your side and you'll pull your hair losing to a weak opponent that just got lucky, but other times you'll feel you put the pieces in just the right places to do that successful season you prepared for. And sometimes, you'll be the one to pull a narrow 1:0 win against a much, much stronger opponent. Just like in real football, no match is alike, and anything could happen - if you take that into account, you'll save yourself a lot of rage, and you'll be able to enjoy the game much more.
Generally, a very good game that I spent a lot of hours of enjoyment on. The occasional annoyance of bad luck is made absolutely worth it by seeing your players grow, seeing your tactics finally start to work, and the player you spent so much money and glory on becoming a star.
It's a good game - you will need to put in some time to learn it, but it's absolutely worth it!

Don't let the 250+ hours fool you, I have almost as many on the Switch port. It's such a nerdy game and i love it. It confuses all my friends who wonder "what the heck kinda game did he put this many hours into?" but here i am anxiously awaiting the next iteration (2025) because the strategy + depth of career + uniqueness + challenge + balance is really unmatched in Football (Soccer) Management Sims. The devs remain active in the community and are always friendly and engaging. If you like management games, buy this one, it holds up.

Enemy scaling in the career mode really bummed me out. The other clubs are just blatantly cheating on the financial / manager side of things: while I struggled to buy a 400k€ player that improved my team, my rivals who got promoted behind me every saison just bought a player worth more than 5 million who easily outclasses everything I can dream of at this stage of the career. There is NO way they could afford this organically at this stage.
Really frustrating. But other than that, great original game!

Played On Steam Deck
Playing "Football, Tactics, and Glory" was a refreshing change from typical football management games. As someone who loves both strategy, sports and sim management, I found the game’s mix of tactics and football quite engaging. The turn-based matches allowed me to think through each move, making every game feel like a chess match on the pitch.
The game’s visuals are clean and vibrant, making it easy to follow the action. The player development and transfer system kept me invested in building my team, and the RPG elements added depth to managing my squad. What really stood out was how accessible it is. I didn't need to dive into complex menus or spend hours learning the mechanics. It’s a game that’s easy to pick up but has enough depth to keep me coming back.
Like "Civ 5," each match feels like a well-thought-out strategy session. Every move on the pitch requires careful planning and foresight, much like maneuvering units on a Civ map. The turn-based nature of the game allows for a thoughtful approach, making each game feel like a tactical masterpiece.
The depth of tactics reminds me of "Persona 3," where the turn-based combat requires careful planning and use of each character’s unique abilities. In FTG, this translates to setting up your team’s formation and utilizing player skills to outmaneuver opponents on the pitch.
The clean, vibrant visuals and straightforward gameplay make it accessible and enjoyable, perfect for both quick sessions and extended play. If you enjoy strategy games and football, FTG is a must-play. It combines the best elements of strategic planning and tactical depth in a football-themed package, making it a standout in its genre.
Regarding DLC, I played ~15hr before purchasing both DLC and I feel they are both excellent improvements upon the base gameplay. Recommend buying them but certainly not required to get an incredible experience from FTG
I’d rate it a solid 10/10 for its unique blend of strategy and engaging gameplay.
Also buy to support game developer from Ukraine!

There are generally two optional modes for this game.For those who like football but don't like play of chess, the simulation of this game is great because the team and player statistics are so detailed that the players are realistic.For those who are not averse to war chess but also love football, this game gives a new and interesting perspective, which will test the tactical mind (especially in the first ten hours of the game).In general, the price of the game is fine right now. Of course, the game itself needs to be further improved, such as the world and scouting system mentioned in the announcement can further increase the sense of play.

Football Tactics & Glory (FTG) has certainly exceeded my expectations. A non-violent game (except for the occasional red card), you can play it casually or take it seriously and devote a lot of time and energy into developing your club from amateur nobodies to the best club on the continent (or the world with Manager's Journey). Bear in mind, I have only played the game with Football Stars DLC or with Football Stars and Manager's Journey DLCs. Also I have never played any other football managing game because reviewers indicated that they're extremely time consuming. With FTG, however, I find you can still enjoy it, while having a full time job as a professional and raising a family.
It has offered me so many unforgettable moments like when my star player, the top striker in the Budesliga and I dare say Europe, kicked the ball like he's an infant who just barely discovered his feet allowing us an ignominious defeat or when seasons earlier my underdog, struggling club beat the top German club by exploiting their defense with sound tactical execution. Or when your goalkeeper is the thin red line that is keeping you from getting absolutely destroyed or when my new goalkeeper flopped around like a fish out of water missing goal after goal. Or the time when we reached the championship match of the European Cup and sent Manchester FC home as second best. Or when Regensburg FC dominated me for years on end, then we finally beat them and then beat them again.
It's a thinking man's game that will punish or reward you. It won't ask for forgiveness or permission; when the clock runs out and you're down, it's over and you lose. However, there's always another chance, a chance to change tactics, a chance to stop repeating the same dumb mistakes, a chance to win a championship or advance to the next league or it may be another tough season where defeat is more common than victory and you face the humiliation of relegation. In the end I tell myself: “There are some defeats more triumphant than victories.” -Michel de Montaigne

Simplistic as this game may be, I wish footy simulators would lean more towards something like it: a clear emphasis on turn-based tactical episodes on the pitch. And definitely not an overwhelming abundance of numbers and indicators that determine how an agent's cousin would react if your assisstant dyes their hair blue - the way FM, sadly, has become.