Football Manager 2017VSFootball Manager 2021
Which is the smarter buy right now? We crunched all the metrics.
Winner
Football Manager 2021 wins the comparison based on the metrics. Takes 7 of 9 head-to-head metrics.
Not the best time to jump in. Prices tend to drop, and this one hasn't hit its sweet spot yet.
Head-to-Head Metrics
Direct metric-by-metric breakdown · no weights applied
Not the best time to jump in. Prices tend to drop, and this one hasn't hit its sweet spot yet.
Not the best time to jump in. Prices tend to drop, and this one hasn't hit its sweet spot yet.
Statistics Over Time
Synchronized historical data for both games
Player Count Trends
— Concurrent players over timeReview Score Trends
— Positive review ratio over timeReview Volume Trends
— Total reviews accumulated over timeScore Breakdown
Side-by-side value analysis for each game
Football Manager 2017
Quality
Polarizing title that works well for its target audience but may frustrate others.
Value
Unfavorable value right now — better ways to spend your money.
Popularity
Low popularity — few active players and little community discussion.
Football Manager 2021
Quality
Most players came away satisfied — more positives than negatives.
Value
Price too high for what's offered — better options available.
Popularity
Activity a bit low — loyal community but no instant queues.
Game Details
Release information and metadata
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is better: Football Manager 2017 or Football Manager 2021?
Football Manager 2021 won the comparison against Football Manager 2017 based on the head-to-head metric breakdown. Check the metrics table above for a full side-by-side analysis.
How is the comparison calculated?
The comparison winner is determined objectively by counting which game wins more individual metrics in the head-to-head table — no weighting is applied. The GameValio Recommendation shown separately is our own suggestion for each game, based on a weighted score that combines quality (reviews), popularity (player counts), and affordability (price vs value) into a score out of 100. These are two different things: the comparison is objective, the recommendation is GameValio's opinion.
Is Football Manager 2017 worth buying over Football Manager 2021?
Based on the metrics, Football Manager 2021 won the direct comparison. However, also check the GameValio Recommendation for each game and the price comparison table to make the most informed purchase decision.
Which game has better player reviews?
Review score trends and volume over time are shown in the charts section above. The game with consistently higher positive ratios has stronger community reception.
Which game offers better value for money?
The affordability score and price comparison table above highlight the best deals. Football Manager 2021 currently scores better on value relative to its quality and price.
Analysis updated: Jun 4, 2026, 07:03 AM UTC