EA SPORTS FC 27 Review – A more rewarding football experience, even if it looks familiar

EA SPORTS FC 27 is finally here, and after spending plenty of time playing the PS5 version, I can say that this year’s football game feels much better than EA SPORTS FC 26. Not because of a dramatic visual overhaul or a completely new gameplay system, but because of numerous refinements to the way players move, defend, pass, and react on the pitch.

EA has been listening to community feedback, with the development team focusing on reducing excessive assistance and giving players more direct control over what happens during a match. While some of these changes might sound relatively small, they make a big difference when you’re actually playing as those little things add up to a better gameplay.

I’ve mainly been spending my time playing Kick-Off matches and local multiplayer, so this review focuses on the core football experience rather than the more extensive Career Mode or Ultimate Team features. And when it comes to the actual football gameplay, I’m enjoying FC 27 more than its predecessor.

Defending finally feels more rewarding

One of my favourite improvements in EA SPORTS FC 27 is how defending works. I’ve always preferred manually controlling my defenders in previous FIFA and EA SPORTS FC games, rather than relying heavily on AI teammates to do the job for me. In FC 27, that approach finally feels much more rewarding.

EA has reduced the effectiveness of AI-controlled defending, particularly in Competitive gameplay. Previously, AI defenders could automatically attempt tackles when attackers came close enough, sometimes winning possession without much intervention from the player. This time, AI-controlled defenders are more focused on maintaining their positions and supporting the defence, leaving the actual tackling to you.

Manually controlled defenders also benefit from an increased standing tackle range and improved jockey responsiveness, allowing you to cover more ground while tracking an opponent. EA has reduced the assistance provided by Teammate Contain, meaning your AI teammates won’t automatically stick too closely to the opposition’s dribbler.

In my experience, this makes defending feel much more satisfying. Reading an opponent’s movement, switching to the appropriate defender, positioning yourself correctly, and making a successful tackle now feel like achievements and boy, it feels satisfying.

It’s even more rewarding when you anticipate a pass correctly. EA has increased the interception effectiveness of manually controlled defenders compared with their AI-controlled counterparts, encouraging players to actively defend passing lanes rather than simply hoping a nearby teammate will intercept the ball. Of course, this also means players who have become accustomed to relying on AI defending might find FC 27 more challenging initially. Personally, my friends and I welcome the change. It rewards players who actively participate in defending and, in my opinion, makes the overall experience more competitive and enjoyable.

Passing requires more precision, and that’s a good thing

Passing is another area where I noticed a significant difference almost immediately. During my first few matches, I found myself making quite a few inaccurate passes. Initially, I thought something felt off, but I eventually realised that the game was simply being much more sensitive to the direction of my left thumbstick.

In previous games, the passing assistance could sometimes compensate for inaccurate directional inputs, allowing the ball to reach your intended teammate even when your aim wasn’t particularly precise. FC 27 places greater emphasis on directional accuracy, particularly with through balls, so careless inputs are more likely to be punished. I actually discovered just how inaccurate I had become with my thumbstick movements over the years, probably because I had been relying on the game’s assistance without even realising it.

It was a little frustrating at first, especially when what seemed like a straightforward pass ended up going somewhere I hadn’t intended. However, after spending more time with the game and becoming more conscious of my thumbstick direction, things started to click. And that’s where FC 27 really shines.

Once you become more precise with your inputs, passing becomes much more satisfying. You feel more in control of where the ball is going, and successfully threading a pass between defenders feels more rewarding.

EA has also adjusted through passes so that they more closely follow your directional input rather than automatically steering towards an open passing lane. This should help prevent some of the overly easy counter-attacking opportunities that were possible in FC 26.

These changes increase the skill required to build an attack, which I think is a positive direction for the series.

No more relying on overpowered Finesse Shots

Another improvement I’m particularly happy about is the adjustment to Finesse Shots. In previous EA SPORTS FC games, Finesse Shots could be ridiculously effective. There were plenty of situations where you could repeatedly attempt a Finesse Shot from certain positions and expect the ball to end up in the back of the net almost every time.

It wasn’t unusual for me to feel like there was a 90% chance of scoring when attempting one from a favourable position, which made the mechanic feel somewhat overpowered. Thankfully, this no longer seems to be the case in FC 27. Finesse Shots are noticeably more difficult to execute successfully, particularly when attempting them from awkward angles or with players who don’t possess the appropriate shooting attributes.

EA has adjusted the Finesse Shot PlayStyle so that player attributes have a greater influence on shot spin, animation speed, and effectiveness from different angles. As a result, you can’t simply rely on the same shooting technique with every player and expect consistently spectacular results. I really like this adjustment because it encourages more variety in attacking play. Instead of repeatedly looking for opportunities to exploit an effective shooting mechanic, you now have to consider your player’s position, abilities, and available options.

It also makes scoring a great Finesse Shot feel considerably more satisfying because you’ve actually earned it.

Smarter attacking AI and more natural player movement

EA SPORTS FC 27 also introduces improvements to attacking spatial awareness, with AI-controlled teammates becoming more intelligent about identifying space and making useful runs. In previous games, attacking players could sometimes be frustratingly rigid in their movements, sticking too closely to their assigned positions or hesitating when an obvious attacking opportunity presented itself.

EA has worked on making attacking runs more dynamic, including diagonal and curved movements that allow teammates to exploit gaps in the opposition’s defence. There’s also improved offside awareness, with attacking players better able to adjust their movements around the defensive line rather than unnecessarily running into offside positions. There are still frequent offsides, mind you, so don’t take this quite literally.

For those who prefer greater manual control, the game introduces Triggered Curved Runs and Pass & Follow Runs. These allow players to initiate more deliberate attacking movements, including curved runs into open space or runs made immediately after passing the ball to a teammate. You can do this manually using the L1 + R1 + X. These features should give experienced players additional ways to break down an organised defence rather than relying entirely on the AI to create opportunities.

Responsiveness has also been a major focus for EA, particularly when transitioning between movements and reacting to changes in possession. The general emphasis on smoother movement and more direct control fits well with my overall experience of FC 27, which feels more responsive and satisfying to play than FC 26.

There’s also a new Off-Balance Dribbling mechanic, which allows certain technically gifted players to maintain possession even after being knocked off balance. Rather than immediately losing control when stumbling following a challenge, players with the appropriate Balance, Agility, and Dribbling attributes can attempt to continue their dribble. So yeah, those really good players have become much more powerful now.

Corner kicks are much more enjoyable

Corner kicks have also received some welcome attention in EA SPORTS FC 27. Previously, taking a corner could feel somewhat restrictive because you didn’t have much opportunity to actively position your attacking players once the kick had been taken. You would generally aim for a particular area and hope that one of your teammates could make contact with the ball. FC 27 makes the process much more interactive.

After setting up your delivery, the camera switches towards the penalty area, giving you a brief opportunity to control an attacking player, move into position, and prepare for the incoming ball. You can also see where the ball is heading as it travels towards the box, allowing you to make more deliberate decisions about where to position your player.

I like this change because it provides more control over something that previously felt quite dependent on the game’s automatic positioning. Instead of simply hoping that your player will be in the right place, you can actively attempt to create space, get in front of a defender, and connect with the ball.

Crosses have also been reworked to place greater emphasis on directional accuracy and power. Rather than heavily assisting a cross towards a specific player, the game now focuses more on delivering the ball into space, leaving you responsible for positioning your teammate to receive it.

Headers are intended to require more precise positioning and timing as well, with cleaner connections becoming more rewarding.

All these changes contribute to a football experience where successful attacking moves feel more dependent on your own decisions.

The Grounds and other new features

While most of my time with EA SPORTS FC 27 has been spent playing traditional Kick-Off matches, it’s worth mentioning that EA has also introduced several additions beyond the core gameplay.

One of the biggest is The Grounds, a new social football playground that brings Clubs and street football experiences together. Available on PC and current-generation platforms, The Grounds allows players to explore football-inspired environments, participate in casual Kickabouts and one-on-one matches, and develop their created footballer through different activities. It’s a fairly ambitious addition that offers something different from the traditional stadium-based football experience, but it’s a fresh change to the game.

Career Mode has also received changes, including a rebuilt Transfer Market with more realistic player valuations, active club bidding, and additional contract negotiation options. Dynamic Overall Ratings also reflect factors such as player form, morale, and fitness. It still has the same, overall mechanics though.

Meanwhile, Football Ultimate Team introduces the FUT Gallery, new player item variations, and additional single-player activities.

But did we really need a completely new game for these improvements?

As much as I enjoy the gameplay changes in EA SPORTS FC 27, I do have one fairly significant criticism. A lot of these improvements feel like things that could have been introduced through patches or gameplay updates to FC 26 rather than requiring an entirely new annual release.

Of course, I understand that there’s more to FC 27 than just the gameplay changes. The new Grounds experience, Career Mode updates, Ultimate Team additions, and other content all contribute to the overall package.

However, for someone like me who spends most of the time playing traditional football matches, many of the most noticeable improvements revolve around adjustments to existing mechanics. They are good adjustments, absolutely, and some of them make a substantial difference. But they don’t necessarily make FC 27 feel like an entirely new game.

The presentation is another area where I feel EA could have done more. Visually, EA SPORTS FC 27 looks and feels remarkably similar to FC 26. Even the loading sequences and what happens after a match finishes feel largely unchanged. I would have loved to see EA experiment more with the presentation, perhaps by automatically showing a short collection of match highlights or memorable goals immediately after the final whistle.

Imagine finishing an intense match with your friends and being presented with a quick highlight reel of the best moments before returning to the menus. It would make the experience feel more like an actual football broadcast while giving each match a more memorable conclusion. There are plenty of opportunities for EA to make the presentation more exciting without necessarily changing the fundamental gameplay.

Instead, FC 27 feels very familiar outside the pitch, which is a shame considering how much better the actual football experience has become.

EA SPORTS FC 27 Review Conclusion

EA SPORTS FC 27 is an enjoyable improvement over FC 26, particularly if you value precise controls and skill-based football gameplay.

The reduced reliance on AI defending is easily one of my favourite changes, making manual tackling, positioning, and interceptions feel much more rewarding. Passing also requires more deliberate inputs, while the adjustments to Finesse Shots help prevent certain shooting techniques from becoming excessively dominant.

I also appreciate the more interactive corner kicks, which give players additional control over how they approach attacking set pieces.

Some of these changes initially make the game feel harder, though You might misplace more passes, struggle to score from angles that worked perfectly in FC 26, or find yourself conceding goals because your AI teammates aren’t automatically rescuing you. But once you adjust, the experience becomes much more satisfying. The game rewards improvement rather than simply assisting you towards a successful outcome.

That said, I can’t ignore how familiar everything looks and feels outside of the gameplay. The menus, match presentation, and post-match experience could certainly benefit from more creativity, while some of the improvements feel like they could have arrived through an update. If you’re primarily interested in the extensive Career Mode or Ultimate Team experiences, the value of upgrading will also depend on how much those new features appeal to you.

However, if you’re like me and enjoy playing football matches against friends or family, EA SPORTS FC 27 offers a noticeably better experience than last year’s game.

Disclosure: EA FC 27 review licence was supplied for the review