Soccer Manager 2023 Review: Another promising step in the right direction

Studio Invincibili Ltdformerly known as Soccer Manager Games, it released its latest version in Soccer Manager series, in view of the football season 2022/23. Soccer Manager 2023, abbreviated to SM23, is the update football coach experience, which is based on its predecessor. The developer’s goal to produce something more and more authentic every year is clear and this year is no different. Chock full of new features, various improvements, and an exciting mode, we were certainly pretty eager to play this one. Here in this article, we will look into Soccer Manager 2023 and share our first impressions of the game.

Annual graphical updates and UI changes have settled down well

Starting with Soccer Manager 2023 revision, every year, the game introduces a redefined user interface with different color schemes and layouts. This year is no different in that respect. With a combination of blue, black and white, the menus look bright, but not too over the top. The buttons are rounded, looking clean and simple. It’s a different approach than SM22, but it performed very well. Personally, the minimalist look suits the taste well and makes this complex game a little more accessible.

As for the matchday experience, the developers have promised regular updates and they are also present this year. We have a few updated player models, new cutscenes and better all-round graphics. The environment is bright and feels closer than before to the stadium experience the game aims to capture. In fact, the game has come a long way since it first introduced the 3D game engine.

There are still some small visual bugs with players gradually alternating or some delayed animations. However, it feels quite smoother than in previous years, which confirms that developers are trying to mitigate these bugs where possible.

Discover a new way to play with Create-a-Club

SM23 brings one of the most anticipated additions to the series: the Create a club. Instead of choosing one of the many existing clubs, players can now choose to build their own. Personalization includes changing the team and stadium name and designing the club crest, as well as home and away kits.

The newly formed club will start in the last ranking of the nation initially chosen, for example the National League in England. A classic challenge in Soccer Manager is to take a team from lower leagues to major glory, and Create-a-Club offers the same but with a little more personal attachment.

The mode works well and lives up to its expectations. Having a good set of customization options would always be the deciding factor and Invincibles Studio did well in that part. This is the first game mode introduced in SM23 alongside the main Career mode, apart from perhaps the Challenge mode which was introduced for a few months in SM21. Hopefully, this is a sign of what’s to come in terms of new ways to play Soccer Manager.

SM23’s overhauled transfer market creates a more competitive atmosphere

Another highlight of this year’s Soccer Manager title is the overhauled transfer system. Previous editions saw players simply place or respond to offers via email. While it worked, it didn’t feel like an interaction, but rather a game of who gives in to their demands first. The new transfer system brings deals in real time, introducing even more potential buyers.

Signing a player can involve fighting the financial power of other European giants, so confirming that signing the marquee is much more satisfying. Selling players is also much better in a similar way. However, it is important to keep an eye on the patience levels of other managers. However, if things don’t go as planned, it’s nice to know that the deal hasn’t been spread over the whole week and there’s still time to chase down an alternate player.

Contractual negotiations they are still the same as last year, but they could very well be on To do list for future updates. Also, it would have been nice to have other parts of a transfer offer, such as player swaps and perhaps installments / other clauses. Again, these are likely to come up later down the line.

Take more control with better tactics selection

SM23 advances the tactics selection screen, adding more preset options and tactics. It is now easier for new players to approach tactics without having to contend with the numerous settings in the menu. Simply select a preset tactic, ranging from High print to Park the busand the game will do the rest. On the other hand, those who love tweaking have more control, with new tactical settings such as Formation Fluidity, Sweeper KeepersAnd Waste of time.

The tactics menu has always been one of the most important parts of the Soccer Manager series, so the improvements here are great to see. This was a seemingly untouched area last year, and the changes show that developers are definitely actively responding to feedback.

Some satisfaction is still lacking in the development of Wonderkids

At first glance, the previous problem of uneven player development has stabilized slightly. How players grow and improve seems to make a little more sense, which is nice to know why this was a problem before. However, the player growth system as a whole still has a long way to go.

Tracking player growth works quite well, although it is difficult to reshape this growth by changing positions or working on specific attributes, for example. The introduction of Loan reports in the inbox is a nice addition. Sending players out on loan was like moving them out of the paycheck, and it’s interesting to see what those guys are doing during their time away from home.

However, these loan repost revealed that some clubs simply weren’t using players. Especially with youngsters, loan moves are a great way to gain experience, but it’s useless without playing time. In the future, it would be nice to have more control over these kinds of things.

Finally, the youth academy is in dire need of work. It seems to have been a while since this system was implemented, and I have to admit that it looks dry now. With some updates to the facility, the young people here can be useful, even if it seems these players are appearing out of nowhere. Maybe a few more layers could help, with youth teams and competitions. These would also be opportunities for players to keep the game fit rather than being idle in the Reserves section of the squad.

The training system still has a long way to go

Building on the previous point of player development, training is another area for improvement. It’s the same as last year and it’s gone slightly one-dimensional. Currently, players select a certain number of standard training drills for the entire team and wait a week before they can start over. To begin with, the weekly theme does not match the rigorous almost daily training schedules of the best players.

Using training programs similar to those of the popular PC game, Soccer manager, could be a workaround here. Also, it would be nice if the drills were more specific too, with different attack elements rather than just Attackto mirror real life scenarios.

During a interview with developers with us, the developers talked about their goal of building a “simple (but thorough) game.“, So it will be exciting to see how they approach the player growth system. With so much progress in other parts of the game, hopefully the improvements here will come soon.

Final verdict

The developers’ ideas were clear from the start and the release of SM23 seems like another step in the right direction. With the introduction of a new mode, new features, changes and improvements in different aspects of the game, this year looks exciting.

From our review point of view, Soccer Manager 2023 is not a finished product yet, as some areas are missing some pieces. However, looking at these missing pieces as opportunities for improvement paints a promising future for the series. Without a doubt, it will be interesting to see how it goes on.

What are your views on the Soccer Manager 2023 game and your review? Let us know in the Comments!