If you’ve scrolled through soccer gaming forums lately, you’ve definitely seen the question pop up: is eFootball 2023 still worth picking up, two years after its original launch? A lot of players wrote it off at release due to buggy gameplay and missing features, but Konami has rolled out dozens of patches and content drops since then. I’ve put over 120 hours into the game across console and PC, playing both casual kickoffs and ranked Dream Team matches, so I’ve got a pretty clear picture of what works and what doesn’t right now. This guide breaks down everything you need to know before you download it or jump back in after a break.
Is eFootball 2023’s Core Gameplay Actually Fun Now?
A lot of fans debating is eFootball 2023 worth their time care most about gameplay, and for good reason: that’s where the game really shines now. The 2.0 update rolled out in mid-2022 fixed 90% of the launch bugs, including the infamous defender AI glitches and unresponsive dribbling controls that made the game unplayable for many. The new ball control system added in that update makes 1v1 battles feel far more realistic than most competing soccer games, as you have to actually account for player weight, momentum, and ball position to pull off skill moves or beat a defender.
That doesn’t mean it’s perfect, of course. You’ll still run into occasional clipping issues if two players collide at an awkward angle, and the goalkeeper AI still makes some weird decisions from time to time. But those issues are rare enough that they don’t ruin the experience for most players. I used to rage quit every third match at launch because my defender would randomly run straight past the ball, but that specific bug hasn’t happened to me in over six months of regular play.
Key Game Modes You Should Try First
One of the biggest improvements since launch is the variety of game modes available now. At release, there was barely anything to do besides casual kickoff and a half-baked version of Dream Team, but Konami has added dozens of limited-time and permanent modes to keep players engaged. If you’re jumping in for the first time, these are the three modes you should prioritize:
- Casual Kickoff: Skip the grind entirely and play with your favorite real-world club or national team against friends or the AI, no in-game currency required. It’s perfect if you just want to play a quick 10-minute match after work without worrying about ranks or rewards.
- Dream Team: The game’s flagship competitive mode, where you build a custom squad from scratch by earning player cards through gameplay or microtransactions. You don’t have to spend real money to be competitive, as rare high-rated cards are regularly given away for free during events.
- Matchday: Limited-time events tied to real-world soccer fixtures, where you pick a side and contribute to your team’s global score to earn exclusive rewards. These events usually run every weekend, and they feel way more engaging than generic ranked matches.
If you’re someone who hates pay-to-win mechanics, you’ll be happy to hear that the gap between paid and free players is way smaller here than in most other sports games. I’ve hit the top 10% of Dream Team ranked three times without spending a single dollar, just by grinding weekend events for free player packs. But if you only play offline, you might be disappointed: there’s no career mode, which is a big gap compared to EA’s FC franchise.
Common Complaints About The Game (And If They’re Still Valid)
Most of the negative reviews you’ll see online are from the game’s disastrous launch window, so it’s worth separating old complaints from current issues. Let’s break down the most common ones:
First, server stability. At launch, you’d get kicked out of half your ranked matches mid-game, and queue times for ranked could stretch to 10 minutes or more. That’s no longer the case. I only experience a disconnect once every 20 or 30 matches, which is on par with most other online games, and queue times for ranked Dream Team are usually under 30 seconds even during off-peak hours. The active player base is still large enough that you won’t struggle to find matches, even if you play on PC.
Second, lack of licensed teams. A lot of fans complained that big clubs like Manchester United or Bayern Munich weren’t licensed at launch, but Konami has added over 50 new licensed teams and leagues in the last two years, so most of the big names are now available with real kits, badges, and player faces. The only major missing league right now is the Bundesliga, but there are fan-made mod packs for PC players that add those teams in if you care enough about them.
Third, overpriced microtransactions. Yes, you can spend $20 on a single player pack if you want to, but there’s no pressure to do so. The game gives away enough free coins and player cards during events that you can build a top-tier squad without spending a cent. The only real downside right now is that the game still doesn’t have a proper offline career mode, and Konami hasn’t announced any plans to add one. That means if you only play single-player, this probably isn’t the game for you.
Tips For New Players Jumping In For The First Time
If you decide to give the game a try, these tips will save you a lot of frustration as you learn the ropes. First, don’t waste your in-game coins on gold packs right away. Save them for limited-time event packs that guarantee high-rated players, they give way better value than the standard packs available in the permanent store. I wasted 10,000 coins on standard packs my first week playing and got almost nothing useful, so learn from my mistake.
Second, spend your first 10 hours playing casual kickoff to get used to the controls, don’t jump straight into ranked Dream Team or you’ll get destroyed by players who have been grinding for years. The gameplay is very different from FIFA/FC, so even if you’re a pro at those games, you’ll need time to adjust to the slower, more realistic physics and control scheme.
Third, turn off the automatic pass and shot assistance if you want to get better at competitive play. The default assistance settings make passes go where the game thinks you want them to go, but you’ll have way more control if you turn those off and learn to aim manually. I kept assistance on for my first 20 hours, and I had to completely re-learn the controls when I switched to manual, so save yourself the hassle.
If you get stuck, there are tons of free tutorials on YouTube that break down advanced skill moves and squad building strategies, and the official eFootball Discord server is full of experienced players who are happy to answer questions for newbies. The community is way less toxic than most other competitive gaming communities, which is a nice bonus.
At the end of the day, is eFootball 2023 the perfect soccer game? No, it still has its flaws, and it’s not going to be for everyone. If you’re looking for a deep single-player career mode, you’re better off sticking with EA’s FC series. But if you want a fun, free-to-play soccer game with great core gameplay, a solid player base, and very few pay-to-win mechanics, it’s absolutely worth picking up. I still play 2 or 3 matches a week, even with newer soccer games available, because the 1v1 gameplay feels more rewarding than any other soccer game on the market right now. Give it a try for a few hours, it costs nothing to download, and you might end up sticking around longer than you expected.