eFootball™

eFootball is Konami's successor to the long-running PES series, and it takes a different approach from many mobile football games. Rather than focusing only on licensed club matches, its centrepiece is the Dream Team: a squad you assemble from current and legendary players, develop over time and take into online competition. The emphasis is on realistic movement, passing weight and player individuality, so a star playmaker genuinely feels different from a workhorse midfielder.

New players are eased in with a step-by-step tutorial, and a Smart Assist option helps with passing and shooting while you learn the controls. That makes the first matches less punishing, but the depth is still there for experienced players: manual passing, timed shots, defensive positioning and set pieces all reward practice. Player development lets you shape a footballer toward your style, or you can let the game develop them automatically if you would rather focus on matches.

Online play is where eFootball spends most of its time. You can face players around the world in competitive divisions, play friendly matches, or team up in co-operative games with up to three players a side. Weekly data updates keep squads and form broadly in line with real football, and you can also customise a stadium with tifos and props, giving your team a home that looks like yours rather than a generic ground.

The game is free to play, with optional purchases, but it is a large download — a Wi-Fi connection and plenty of free storage are sensible before you start — and it needs a stable internet connection. It suits football fans who enjoy building and improving a team over weeks and months, and who prefer a more simulation-style feel to arcade football. If you grew up with PES, this is its direct continuation on mobile.