FC 26 is probably the best version of the series we’ve ever had on a Nintendo console. It is has all the modes (including a fun new manager option), is enjoyable to play, especially locally, and even looks good. And you can play it handheld! Unfortunately, if your more than just a casual player, the 30 FPS, slow menus and tiny online community mean you’re still probably going to want to play this on one of the competitors systems.

I’ve been playing the FIFA/EA series for a long time now. The first game I can remember was World Cup 98 (back on the original PS). So, for nearing on 3 decades, these titles have been in my gaming library. They are also defintely the games I played the most with my brother. We’re huge football fans and so these games will always hold a special place in my heart. Sadly, unless you’re a PC, Xbox or PS owner, you haven’t had good version of this game in a very long time. In fact, the Nintendo Switch versions of just the last few years have been poor at best, and pitiful at worst. Often, the versions the hybrid console received were missing modes, looked terrible and were just more expensive packaging of the mobile game. Thankfully though, with EA 26, we finally have a feature-complete version. Yes, for the first time in ages – all the modes that appear on the Xbox or PS version are here too. Better yet, in general the visuals and animations are not as far off as they have been in the past, and gameplay is respectable too. In fact, if you’re a casual player – the Switch 2 version (with it’s handlheld, GameShare and Joy-Con powered 2-playered options) make it a very exciting prospect and possibly the best way for many to own the title, full stop.

Mode Maradona

Probably the most exciting news is that FC 26 on the Switch 2 features all the modes. Ultimate Team, Manager Career, Seasons, Kick-Off (and its fun party modes) and everything in between are all present. While most of the modes feel as they have in the past, the new Manager Live options is probably the first step in the right direction for a mode that has felt like it needed a refresh the most. While, you still are able to create manager and choose a team to take contorl of, this time around there are also short and long term scenarios which provide a quicker way to tackle this mode that could eventually become a slog. Rather, then simply managing a team through a whole seasons, or several seasons (which you can still do), the new short terms options include starting a season with 5 wins, or surviving the end of a season when you’ve had a points deduction. I really loved this mode, because while I do tend to try the Career option every year, this can become such a time-suck, that often don’t complete a season. Now, I can get some of the stuff I love to do, like negotiating transfers, setting up training and going on a run with some crazy tactics – while not commiting to a full 60-game season (or 40 game season if you’re a Man United fan like me).

Probably the most exciting news is that FC 26 on the Switch 2 features all the modes and playing with others locally is a lot of fun!

On the online side of things, Seasons is my go to mode, but even Ultimate feels better than before. In fact, while hopping between my Xbox Series S (FC 25) and my Switch 2 (FC 26) I was happy that the offline stuff, trading, setting up tactics and all the AI-based game feels good on the Switch. In fact, the only time there was a marked difference was actually finding opponents. Sadly, the Switch 2 version is not cross-play and it seems (at least for now) that the online community for the Switch games is just too small – and barring a few exceptions (especially in Seasons where I did find the odd opponent) it was a bit of a empty wastland. Now, this is a huge deal if you’re a more competitive player (but in that case you’re probably on one of the other platforms anyway), but if you spend most of your time playing solo or with friends locally – the Switch version actually gives you more than enough options.

Graphics and Gameplay Garrincha

Visually this game looks good. Now, there’s a big proviso here; The versions on the PS5 and Xbox Series X still look a lot better. In a side-by-side comparison you will see that even the Switch 2 version has less detailed textures for stuff like hair and grass and even some of the sideline stuff. However, from the cutscenes to the player likenesses – this game still looks good. And it’s defintely the best the game has looked on any recent Nintendo console. And barring one glitch that had the substitutes briefly appear on the field of play like some bright-neon-vest-wearing ghosts – the stadiums, kits and so on all look good – especially if you’re playing on a nice big 4k screen or in handheld mode. Where the game does suffer (especially in comparison) is the framerate. While the Xbox and PS version run at up to 60FPS, the Switch version is locked at 30 FPS.There is therefore undoubtedly a feeling that its a little slower than you’d wish it to be if you play even a little competitively or online. Howver, I suspect a lot of casual players will not even notice and playing with others locally is a lot of fun.

Defending has changed quite a bit in FC 26 – requiring more manual intervention and right analogue switching than before.

In terms, of the updates that FC 26 offers gameplay-wisee (across the platforms) the two most notable features that affected my playthrough were new gameplay style option and the Defending AI. At the start of each mode, you can select either a Competitive or Authentic style. The former, keeps things very fast and more with more manual control. Authentic slows ball movement down, and apparently adjust corner success rates and defnder movement for a more ‘realistic’ experience. However, because online favours the former and I play both locally and online, I struggled to switch between the two and therefore chose Competitive most of the time. Now, on the other side of things – general Defending has changed quite a bit in FC 26 – requiring more manual intervention and right analgue switching than before. I don’t mind this in principal and in fact, when playing against other humans – I thought it really challenges you to defend better (manually moving defender to block passing lanes and using pace/tackles at the right moment which I liked). This is also good, thanks to loss of Stamina being less of issue than in previous editions. However, when playing offline – I did struggle when selecting any difficulty higher than Professional. In World Class (and likley Legendary too) the defending AI goes slitghtly out of whack – with unselected defenders not making reasonable tackles or even jockying (when on the non-CPU team). this was supe frustarting. Also, these new tweaks mean the online experience still favours dribbling back and forth a little too much (I saw someone call it a fidget-spinner simulator which is really amusing) – but I suspect messing with the settings, and formations and waiting for a few balancing updates will sort some of these issues out.

Miscellaneous Messi

Now, with all the big bits out of the way – it’s good to mention a few other features or notes. First up, it is worth noting just how good the Switch version is especially for families. The Switch includes a local GameShare option (allowing you to use two Switches (with only one owning the game). On top of that, the fact that you can use the Joy-Cons as two separate controllers within a single system – is going to great for casual on-the-go gaming. Additionally, for the launch of FC26 I landed up playing a lot of local competitive play – and its simply staggering how much better the Switch version is to previous Switch editions. The slower framerate was not an issue. The matches were all smooth and I got the same feeling as I had on previous edtiions on other platforms. And that is the first time I’ve been able to say that ever really.

Accessing layers of menus, especially in the Ultimate Team sections, chugs badly on the Switch.

On the negative side of things, the UI system in the EA FC games is bloated. Of course, there are so many different settings and options available and so trying to get these all to fit in a nice eay-to-use format is no easy feat. Sadly though the Menus are bloated and overwhelming. And for a new player, trying to find anything within the menus is a pain and likely needs a Google search and how-to-video to be succesful. And sadly, while gameplay is smooth, accessing these layers of menus, especially in the Ultimate Team sections, chugs badly on the Switch and I really think an overhaul of the system may be needed.

Ronaldo Roundup

While trying to describe the FC26 experience on the Switch – I wondered if I could compare it to one of the teams currently fighting it out in the Premier League. And the best I could come up with is… FC26 on the Switch is a little like Newcastle United. It’s definitely the best (most complete) its looked in ages. It even has some cool, unique features that make it stand out (hello, Nick Woltemade!). Plus, it has all the modes and reliable bits that make it a consistent performer (Trippier, Tonali, Burn). However, it still not quite at the level of a Liverpool (PS5) or Man City (Xbox) due to a slower than ideal framerate and lack of online community – which means it likeley won’t win the trophy at the end of the year. But unlike its recent history, it may just finally have the team to make it consistently into Europe and actually compete with its ‘bigger’ brothers. And who doesn’t like an underdog, right!

REVIEW CODE PROVIDED BY: NINTENDO

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