EA Sports FC 27: elite gameplay and an open world that doesn't deliver

EA Sports FC 27 is now under the microscope and Dexerto's verdict is clear: on the pitch, the game performs at a very high level, but this year's big bet, an open-world mode, falls short. According to the outlet's review, the gameplay is so solid that it makes up for that disappointment and turns FC 27 into the most complete entry in the franchise to date.

This matters because virtual football remains one of the pillars of the competitive scene and of live content. Every new entry forces ranked players, creators and teams like ours to ask the same question: is it worth making the switch? If Dexerto is calling it the best football game since EA left the FIFA brand behind, there's plenty of reason to pay attention, though with some caveats.

What you need to know

• Gameplay is the strong point. Dexerto describes it as world-class and singles it out as the main reason the game is worth it.
• The open world doesn't convince. It's the most ambitious bet of this entry and, according to the review, it doesn't quite hit the mark.
• The most complete entry in the series. The outlet considers FC 27 the most well-rounded package the franchise has had so far.
• The best football of the post-FIFA era. Dexerto ranks it above everything EA has released since the name change.
• The overall verdict is positive. Despite the open-world stumble, the review's conclusion is favourable.

The big bet that doesn't quite come together

For a football game to venture into an open world is, at the very least, a bold decision. EA has spent years looking for ways to set each annual entry apart beyond updated squads and engine tweaks, and this time it has decided to go off script with a mode that moves away from the classic formula of stadium, menu and match. The problem, according to Dexerto, is that this ambition doesn't translate into an experience on par with the rest of the package.

It's not the first time the franchise has tried something different outside of eleven-versus-eleven, and the series' history shows that these experiments tend to be short-lived if the community doesn't embrace them. What matters here is that, according to the review, the stumble doesn't contaminate the core of the game: the match itself, which is what truly holds this franchise up year after year, is in its best shape ever.

What it means for the competitive scene and creators

For those who compete, the open world is practically irrelevant. What decides tournaments, rankings and qualifiers is ball response, defending, the feeling of control and consistency from match to match. If Dexerto is talking about world-class gameplay, that's the area where FC 27 can make a real difference compared to previous entries, and it's what we're most interested in evaluating once we get our hands on it.

For content creators the takeaway is twofold. A new and ambitious mode is fresh material for videos and streams in the first few weeks, but if the experience doesn't hook people, interest fades fast and the focus goes back to the usual modes. In other words: the open world may provide an initial boost in visibility, but the content that lasts will keep coming from matches, challenges and competition.

Our take

Here at the Underworld Lordz newsroom we're glad the base game holds up, because it's what we ask for every year and what rarely arrives without fine print. Dexerto calling it the most complete entry in the series is an encouraging sign for those of us who have been waiting a long time for a clear leap forward since the rebrand. But we can't help feeling some frustration: the development effort poured into an open world that doesn't work could have gone towards polishing even further what actually matters to competitive players.

It's also worth being cautious with the "best of the post-FIFA era" label. Annual football games are truly judged over the months that follow, when the patches arrive, the settings change and the community discovers which mechanics can be abused. Brilliant gameplay at launch doesn't guarantee a healthy competitive season, and that's where EA has to prove it means business this year. Our recommendation for those who compete is clear: prioritise the match, ignore the noise and judge the game by how it feels in the final minutes of a tight final.

And for creators, some honest advice: squeeze the open world for all it's worth while the novelty lasts, but don't build your content calendar around a mode that, according to the critics, isn't on par with the rest.

What do you think?

Gameplay seems to be FC 27's big selling point, while its riskiest bet only gets halfway there. Is top-tier football enough for you to make the jump, or were you expecting more from EA with this entry? Let us know in the team chat or on our Discord: is FC 27 the game the competitive community has been asking for all these years?