Pro Evolution Soccer 2018

Should you pick up PES 2018 over FIFA 18? That's the question we answer in our PES 2018 review. Check out what's new in Konami's latest football game.

I was very happy with Pro Evolution Soccer 2017's gameplay because of the way it felt and the things it allowed me to do in the game, so I was surprised when developer Konami announced that it was changing things up for 2018. I braced for disappointment, but instead I'm beyond relieved. The developer didn't just tinker with the game for the sake of slapping the word "new" on the box. They improved a vital component of the franchise without changing what was already great.

I don't completely understand Konami. As a company, they've burned quite a few bridges with fans of their games. For PC gamers in particular, the company may as well not have even existed. For years their largest releases were victims of absolutely terrible port jobs and hugely overpriced. Pro Evolution Soccer 2018 has bucked the trend and only suffers from one of these issues.

Pro Evolution Soccer 2018 picks up where the last iteration left off but fails to make the same impact. On field improvement mean PES retains top spot as best football game on the market but there's still something lacking.

A game of two halves.

PES 2018 is not without its flaws, many of which will both frustrate and disappoint you, but its excellent on-pitch gameplay helps it overcome most of those hurdles and come out the other side an extremely enjoyable football sim.

It was more nuanced, less reliant on pace and allowed you to employ more varied tactical approaches, rather than just looking to play through-balls in behind the opposition defence or shoot from distance. Pro Evo‘s crossing in particular was a revelation, allowing deadly whipped balls where FIFA could only manage to launch harmless, floaty crosses into the area.

The best version of Konami's football game finally comes to PC, even if the online functionality is disappointing.

Overall