FC 25 and eFootball face new rival, as free football game hits PC for first time

If it were up to me, we'd all just go back to Pro Evolution Soccer 2. Peter Brackley on commentary. The 'We Will Rock You' opening FMV. Hammering in free kicks with Del Piero and Roberto Carlos. But the world of football games has moved on. FIFA has separated from EA, heralding the arrival of FC 25, and my beloved PES has mutated into eFootball, which hasn't been good since the 2021 season update. I like the look of Rematch, the stylized, almost beat-'em-up-style alternative from Sifu developer Slocap, but for a real simulation game, right now it feels like the FC series or nothing. But wait. After a handful of tests on other platforms, fresh rival UFL is finally playable on PC, and it's free, too.

Developed by Xten, UFL has been in production since around 2016, and was first revealed to the public four years ago. Although team names and badges are fictional, it has a full roster of real players. The interface and menus are also designed to be more streamlined than FC 25, and when you play matches with your Ultimate Team (or rather, UFL's version of Ultimate Team), all players in your squad receive XP and can be leveled up accordingly.

While UFL is a free PC game, in order to purchase new and better players, you need both Credit Points and Reputation Points. Credit Points can be earned either through play or bought from the UFL store for real money. Reputation Points on the other hand can only be earned through selling your players, playing and winning matches, and advancing through the league system. It means you can't just buy your way to success. If you want the best squad, you have to play consistently and win big games.

Passing is a little too accurate, especially over long distances, and goalkeepers can be slow to react. AI opponents are also a little simplistic right now, at least when moving the ball up the field, and you have to be extremely careful with tackling. Nevertheless, compared to the ultra-fast, arcade style of FC 25, which often feels like it lacks weight or physicality, UFL feels closer to the slower, more deliberate days of classic PES.

You can't switch directions on a penny. You can't just Cruyff Turn and Elastico around your marker. For some, this might feel too much like a simulation game, rather than the energetic football games of more recent years. But, even though it's still a little basic right now, UFL could be the change of pace some players have been wanting.

And now you can try it on PC for the first time, thanks to the new UFL Steam demo. We're still waiting to hear when the full game will be released, but if you want to sample this one, just go here.

Otherwise, try some of the other best free Steam games, or maybe check out all the best upcoming PC games on their way to you.

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