Computed from player tags · Not ranked by quality
24 games like Football Manager 2021 (2026)
Every game below overlaps with Football Manager 2021 on things players said about it rather than on our opinion of what feels alike. Each entry shows what it matched on, so you can throw out the ones matching on the part you did not care about.
The short version
- Closest match: Football Manager 2019, which made by the same studio, Sports Interactive.
- Football Manager 2021 is tagged Sports, Simulation, Management, Football (Soccer), Singleplayer, Multiplayer, Football (American), Strategy by Steam players. Those tags are what the matching runs on.
- 24 games qualify, each with at least fifty player reviews behind its sentiment figure.
- 7 are free to download, so you can test the resemblance yourself at no cost.
- 6 are from the same studio: Football Manager 2019, Football Manager 2022, Football Manager 2020, Football Manager 2017, Football Manager 2024, Football Manager 2023.
How these were matched
Steam tags carry the most weight, because players apply them and they describe how a game feels rather than how it was filed. Souls-like, Atmospheric and Cozy exist as tags and as nothing else, which is exactly the vocabulary this question needs. Formal genres count for less, themes and a shared studio for more.
Tags carried by more than a third of the catalogue are thrown out before matching. Nearly everything is tagged Singleplayer, so matching on it is matching on nothing. That cutoff is computed from the catalogue rather than fixed, so it moves as the catalogue grows.
All 24, closest first
- 1
Football Manager 2019
Why it matched: made by the same studio, Sports Interactive; both strategy; shares 7 player tags including Simulation, Sports and Football (Soccer); released around the same time (2018).
Simulation gaming perfected. Create your unique footballing story by taking charge of the club you love. Complete control of this stunningly realistic game world is yours - every decision in your hands, or yours to delegate. Your call, your way, your story. Everything you've ever dreamed of!
Football Manager 2019 at a glance Released 2018 Studio Sports Interactive Player sentiment 87% positive of 12,478 Price Not listed SimulationSportsFootball (Soccer)ManagementFootball (American)StrategyFree to Play
- 2
Football Manager 2022
Why it matched: made by the same studio, Sports Interactive; both strategy; shares 6 player tags including Sports, Management and Football (Soccer); released around the same time (2021).
The closest thing to real football management. FM22 brings new, progressive ways to find your winning edge, instill your footballing style and earn it on the pitch.
Football Manager 2022 at a glance Released 2021 Studio Sports Interactive Player sentiment 93% positive of 21,515 Price Not listed SportsManagementFootball (Soccer)SimulationFootball (American)Strategy
- 3
Football Manager 2020
Why it matched: made by the same studio, Sports Interactive; both strategy; shares 6 player tags including Simulation, Sports and Management; released around the same time (2019).
Run your football club, your way. Every decision counts in Football Manager 2020 with new features and polished game mechanics rewarding planning and progression like never before, empowering managers to develop and refine both your club’s and your own unique identity.
Football Manager 2020 at a glance Released 2019 Studio Sports Interactive Player sentiment 89% positive of 31,660 Price Not listed SimulationSportsManagementFootball (Soccer)Football (American)Strategy
- 4
Football Manager 2017
Why it matched: made by the same studio, Sports Interactive; both strategy; shares 6 player tags including Sports, Football (Soccer) and Simulation; released around the same time (2016).
Take control of your favourite football team in Football Manager 2017, the most realistic and immersive football management game to date. It’s the closest thing to doing the job for real!
Football Manager 2017 at a glance Released 2016 Studio Sports Interactive Player sentiment 60% positive of 11,042 Price Not listed SportsFootball (Soccer)SimulationManagementFootball (American)Strategy
- 5
Football Manager 2024
Why it matched: made by the same studio, Sports Interactive; both strategy; shares 5 player tags including Simulation, Sports and Management; released around the same time (2023).
Build a world-class team ready to dominate your rivals in football’s most prestigious competitions. Progress never stops when you’re pursuing footballing greatness.
Football Manager 2024 at a glance Released 2023 Studio Sports Interactive Player sentiment 92% positive of 28,484 Price Not listed SimulationSportsManagementFootball (Soccer)Strategy
- 6
Football Manager 2023
Why it matched: made by the same studio, Sports Interactive; both strategy; shares 5 player tags including Simulation, Sports and Management; released around the same time (2022).
Build your dream squad, outsmart your rivals and experience the thrill of big European nights in the UEFA Champions League. Your journey towards footballing glory awaits.
Football Manager 2023 at a glance Released 2022 Studio Sports Interactive Player sentiment 90% positive of 19,819 Price Not listed SimulationSportsManagementFootball (Soccer)Strategy
- 7
Soccer Manager 2022
Why it matched: both strategy; shares 5 player tags including Sports, Football (Soccer) and Simulation; released around the same time (2021).
Sign official FIFPRO licensed players and compete to become the ultimate football manager!
Soccer Manager 2022 at a glance Released 2021 Studio Invincibles Studio Ltd Player sentiment 73% positive of 2,990 Price Not listed SportsFootball (Soccer)SimulationFree to PlayManagement
- 8
F1 2020
Why it matched: both strategy; shares 4 player tags including Simulation, Sports and Management; released around the same time (2020).
F1® 2020 allows you to create your F1® team for the very first time and race alongside the official teams and drivers. Alternatively, challenge your friends in new split-screen with casual race options for more relaxed racing. Compete on 22 circuits, with current and classic content.
F1 2020 at a glance Released 2020 Studio Codemasters Player sentiment 94% positive of 39,931 Price Not listed SimulationSportsManagementStrategy
- 9
Real Pool 3D - Poolians
Why it matched: both strategy; shares 4 player tags including Sports, Free to Play and Simulation; released around the same time (2018).
Real Pool 3D (Poolians) is one of the best online pool games. Play against the computer or real players all over the world! It supports 8 different types of pool games and team play mode.
Real Pool 3D - Poolians at a glance Released 2018 Studio Poolians.com Player sentiment 76% positive of 19,904 Price Free SportsFree to PlaySimulationStrategy
- 10
OpenTTD
Why it matched: both strategy; shares 4 player tags including Simulation, Free to Play and Management; released around the same time (2021).
OpenTTD is a business simulation game in which players earn money by transporting passengers and cargo via road, rail, water, and air. It is an open-source remake and expansion of the 1995 Chris Sawyer video game Transport Tycoon Deluxe.
OpenTTD at a glance Released 2021 Studio OpenTTD Player sentiment 95% positive of 16,952 Price Not listed SimulationFree to PlayManagementStrategy
- 11
Freddy Fazbear's Pizzeria Simulator
Why it matched: both strategy; shares 4 player tags including Free to Play, Simulation and Strategy; released around the same time (2017).
Start your own Freddy Fazbear's Pizzeria with Freddy Fazbear Pizzeria Simulator!
Freddy Fazbear's Pizzeria Simulator at a glance Released 2017 Studio Scott Cawthon Player sentiment 94% positive of 33,261 Price Free Free to PlaySimulationStrategyManagement
- 12
Two Point Hospital
Why it matched: both strategy; shares 3 player tags including Simulation, Management and Strategy; published by the same company; released around the same time (2018).
Design stunning hospitals, cure peculiar illnesses and manage troublesome staff as you spread your budding healthcare organisation across Two Point County.
Two Point Hospital at a glance Released 2018 Studio Two Point Studios Player sentiment 92% positive of 34,935 Price $29.99 SimulationManagementStrategy
- 13
Mr.Mine
Why it matched: both strategy; shares 4 player tags including Simulation, Strategy and Free to Play; released around the same time (2020).
Explore the depths of the earth and uncover hidden treasures in this addictive idle mining game. Unlock the power of your drill with hundreds of upgrades, discover mysterious relics, and unearth priceless gems. Can you master the mines and reveal their deepest secrets? Dive in and dig deep!
Mr.Mine at a glance Released 2020 Studio Playsaurus Player sentiment 92% positive of 18,635 Price Free SimulationStrategyFree to PlayManagement
- 14
Business Tour - Board Game with Online Multiplayer
Why it matched: both strategy; shares 4 player tags including Free to Play, Strategy and Management; released around the same time (2017).
Business Tour is a free-to-play multiplayer tabletop game. Build your own monopoly, play with friends, complete daily tasks, and compete against players from around the world. Easy to learn, fun to master, and perfect for quick matches.
Business Tour - Board Game with Online Multiplayer at a glance Released 2017 Studio 8Floor Player sentiment 60% positive of 80,320 Price Free Free to PlayStrategyManagementSimulation
- 15
EA SPORTS FIFA 23
Why it matched: shares 5 player tags including Football (Soccer), Sports and Management; released around the same time (2022).
FIFA 23 brings The World’s Game to the pitch, with HyperMotion2 Technology, men’s and women’s FIFA World Cup™, women’s club teams, cross-play features**, and more.
EA SPORTS FIFA 23 at a glance Released 2022 Studio EA Canada Player sentiment 57% positive of 150,303 Price Not listed Football (Soccer)SportsManagementSimulationFree to Play
- 16
Golf It!
Why it matched: both strategy; shares 3 player tags including Sports, Simulation and Strategy; released around the same time (2023).
Embark on an exciting journey with Golf It! Seize your putter, rally your friends, and immerse yourself in an epic minigolf adventure. Conquer countless courses, create lasting memories, and refine your skills to emerge as the ultimate minigolf champion. Your thrilling golfing odyssey begins here!
Golf It! at a glance Released 2023 Studio Perfuse Entertainment Player sentiment 90% positive of 31,054 Price $8.99 SportsSimulationStrategy
- 17
Session: Skate Sim
Why it matched: both strategy; shares 3 player tags including Sports, Simulation and Strategy; released around the same time (2022).
Made by and for skaters, the dual stick controls faithfully reproduce your feet on the skateboard for an ultra-realistic experience. Try out real-life iconic skate spots, customise your skater and equipment with items from the top brands
Session: Skate Sim at a glance Released 2022 Studio crea-ture Studios Inc. Player sentiment 83% positive of 15,844 Price $39.99 SportsSimulationStrategy
- 18
RollerCoaster Tycoon 3: Platinum
Why it matched: both strategy; shares 4 player tags including Simulation, Management and Strategy.
Rollercoaster Tycoon 3 Platinum combines the excitement of rollercoasters with the fun of a great strategy simulation. RCT3 Platinum combines the roller coaster theme park fun of the Roller Coaster Tycoon 3 with included expansion packs Soaked! and Wild! Now enjoy more options than ever.
RollerCoaster Tycoon 3: Platinum at a glance Released 2008 Studio Frontier Player sentiment 92% positive of 5,244 Price Not listed SimulationManagementStrategyFree to Play
- 19
Kingdom: Classic
Why it matched: both strategy; shares 4 player tags including Free to Play, Strategy and Simulation.
Kingdom is a 2D sidescrolling strategy/resource management hybrid with a minimalist feel wrapped in a beautiful, modern pixel art aesthetic.
Kingdom: Classic at a glance Released 2015 Studio Noio Player sentiment 91% positive of 22,707 Price Free Free to PlayStrategySimulationManagement
- 20
Clicker Heroes
Why it matched: both strategy; shares 4 player tags including Free to Play, Management and Strategy.
Click your way through hordes of monsters, earn gold, and recruit quirky heroes with powerful skills. Progress even while you're idle, and watch the numbers climb into the absurd. It’s a never-ending journey of clicks, crits, and colossal damage.
Clicker Heroes at a glance Released 2015 Studio Playsaurus Player sentiment 90% positive of 62,148 Price Free Free to PlayManagementStrategySimulation
- 21
Fallout Shelter
Why it matched: both strategy; shares 4 player tags including Free to Play, Management and Simulation.
Fallout Shelter puts you in control of a state-of-the-art underground Vault from Vault-Tec. Build the perfect Vault, keep your Dwellers happy, and protect them from the dangers of the Wasteland.
Fallout Shelter at a glance Released 2015 Studio Bethesda Game Studios Player sentiment 88% positive of 82,585 Price Free Free to PlayManagementSimulationStrategy
- 22
eFootball PES 2021 SEASON UPDATE
Why it matched: shares 5 player tags including Sports, Football (Soccer) and Football (American); released around the same time (2020).
Celebrate 25 years of PES with the eFootball PES 2021 Season Update* - available at a special anniversary price!
eFootball PES 2021 SEASON UPDATE at a glance Released 2020 Studio Konami Digital Entertainment Player sentiment 78% positive of 38,097 Price Not listed SportsFootball (Soccer)Football (American)Free to PlaySimulation
- 23
eFootball PES 2020
Why it matched: shares 5 player tags including Sports, Football (Soccer) and Free to Play; released around the same time (2019).
Experience unparalleled realism and authenticity in this year's definitive football game: PES 2020.
eFootball PES 2020 at a glance Released 2019 Studio Konami Digital Entertainment Player sentiment 71% positive of 26,122 Price Not listed SportsFootball (Soccer)Free to PlayFootball (American)Simulation
- 24
Factorio
Why it matched: both strategy; shares 3 player tags including Strategy, Management and Simulation; released around the same time (2016).
Factorio is a game about building and creating automated factories to produce items of increasing complexity, within an infinite 2D world. Use your imagination to design your factory, combine simple elements into ingenious structures, and finally protect it from the creatures who don't really like you.
Factorio at a glance Released 2016 Studio Wube software Player sentiment 98% positive of 233,978 Price $35.00 StrategyManagementSimulation
Common questions
What game is most like Football Manager 2021?
Football Manager 2019, on the evidence we have. It made by the same studio, Sports Interactive. That is a statement about overlap, not a promise you will like it as much: two games can share every tag and still feel different to play.
How is "similar to Football Manager 2021" decided?
By overlap on the tags Steam players applied to each game, the formal genres, the themes both sit in, and whether the same studio made them. Tags carry the most weight because players write them, so they describe how a game feels rather than how it was filed. Tags carried by more than a third of the catalogue are ignored: matching on "Singleplayer" is matching on nothing. Every entry below shows exactly what it matched on.
Are these ranked by quality?
No. They are ordered by how much they overlap with Football Manager 2021. Where two games overlap equally, the better received one goes first, but that only moves a game a place or two. Each entry shows its own player sentiment so you can weigh that separately.
What else did the makers of Football Manager 2021 do?
Football Manager 2019, Football Manager 2022, Football Manager 2020, Football Manager 2017, Football Manager 2024, Football Manager 2023 are also from Sports Interactive, and appear in the list below for that reason as well as on tag overlap.
Do you get paid for these recommendations?
No. The order is computed from tag and genre overlap and nothing else. No placement here can be bought, and a game appearing high on this page is a statement about resemblance rather than an endorsement.