Is FIFA 22 worth getting? Yes, with some caveats

Overall, FIFA 22 is a worthwhile purchase for soccer gaming fans wanting to experience the best virtual soccer experience available today. While it lacks massive leaps forward, the incremental improvements across gameplay, modes, and presentation make FIFA 22 engaging and relatively well-polished.

For hardcore FIFA players, the upgrades are absolutely worth experiencing firsthand. More casual players can probably wait until FIFA 23 or later for bolder changes, unless they really want updated rosters. During sales, FIFA 22 becomes easier to recommend to all audiences for its baseline quality and extensive content.

Gameplay and Graphics

FIFA 22 makes measured improvements to gameplay that add up to a noticeably smoother on-pitch experience. The marquee addition is HyperMotion technology, which uses motion capture from real football matches to power over 4000 new animations. Player movements now look more true-to-life, especially during tackles, jostling, and physical contacts.

Advanced ball physics now take into account more factors like spin, air resistance, and player contact. As a result, passes bend and fly more realistically, and shots curl with precision. FIFA 22‘s physics system received universal praise from reviewers.

While not photorealistic, environments and players look excellent, with detailed faces, bodies, kits, and stadiums. On PS5 and Xbox Series X, the visuals shine at 4K 60fps. Loading times have been slashed to keep the action moving.

Some gameplay annoyances remain, like overpowered skill moves and through balls. But overall, FIFA 22 plays like authentic football. The new HyperMotion animations are a boon to immersion and feel next-gen.

Game Modes

FIFA 22 provides extensive variety through its many modes:

• Career Mode – Manage a club through seasons while also controlling a pro on the pitch. New create-a-club feature lets you build your dream team from a custom badge, kit, and roster. Match simulating allows for bigger-picture management. Still lacks innovation but remains solid.
• Pro Clubs – Join up with friends online to compete in 11v11 matches with customized pros. Perennially underserved by updates unfortunately.
• VOLTA Football – 5v5 street-style football on small pitches. Emphasizes flair and fast gameplay. Fun if you enjoy pick-up soccer vibes.
• Ultimate Team (FUT) – Build your fantasy squad by collecting cards in packs or through the transfer market. The bread-and-butter of FIFA, receiving constant content and tuning. Addictive team building remains marred by aggressive monetization.
• Kick Off – Jump into exhibition matches solo or locally against friends. Tournament mode lets you customize brackets. Quicker than full careers or FUT seasons.

FUT dominates engagement as always, but FIFA 22 at least offers variety for those seeking alternatives. Playing full-length soccer matches with authentic rules simply feels great with the new animation system.

Reviews and Reception

Critics awarded FIFA 22 generally favorable reviews, resulting in a Metacritic score of 78 on console and 76 on PC. Reviewers praised the gameplay improvements but felt incremental upgrades weren‘t enough to shake up the familiar formula.

Common positives highlighted across reviews:

• HyperMotion yields smoother, more realistic gameplay
• Excellent physics and ball handling
• Precise new passing mechanics
• Strong visuals and player likenesses

Common critiques focused on:

• Career mode and Pro Clubs remain stale
• Ultimate Team continues aggressive monetization
• Few bold changes to innovate the franchise

Overall, reviewers agree FIFA 22 excels at delivering an authentic soccer experience thanks to outstanding on-pitch feel. But the package surrounding that remains overly familiar.

Is FIFA 22 Worth It vs FIFA 21?

For players invested in Ultimate Team, updating to get the latest meta and updated rosters is tempting. FUT packs also don‘t carry over across versions.

But those who mainly play career mode or offline can safely skip FIFA 22 and wait until FIFA 23. The gameplay improvements are nice but not essential. FIFA 21 already played well and lacks any dramatic flaws.

Based on critic reviews, here is how FIFA 22 stacks up against FIFA 21:

FIFA 21 remains a stellar soccer simulation in its own right. FIFA 22 edges it out on the pitch, but not by a wide enough margin to warrant upgrading for casual players.

Sales and Player Count

FIFA games reliably sell well every annual iteration. According to EA, FIFA 22 sold over 9.1 million units in its first week. While down slightly from FIFA 21‘s initial sales, it still represented a very successful launch.

As of May 2022, FIFA 22 had reached over 30 million players. On Steam alone, the record for concurrent players hit 679,024 in October 2021. These figures reflect a still-thriving player base months after release.

For online modes like Ultimate Team and Pro Clubs, having an active community is essential. The large sales and engagement numbers suggest finding online matches in FIFA 22 should not be an issue for the foreseeable future.

Pricing and Editions

The standard edition of FIFA 22 retails at $59.99 USD on consoles and PC. The Ultimate Edition bundles in extra FUT rewards and players for $99.99.

For value shoppers, waiting for a sale can net big discounts. Based on price history, FIFA games often drop to 50% off or more around the holidays:

• FIFA 21 Standard Edition – $25 at Black Friday (58% off)
• FIFA 20 Standard Edition – $30 in January (50% off)

At those price points, FIFA 22 becomes easy to recommend if wanting a soccer fix on current consoles before FIFA 23‘s release. The Complete Edition including all DLC may also release later in the FIFA 22 life cycle for those wanting the full package.

The Final Verdict

While not revolutionary, FIFA 22 makes enough incremental improvements to gameplay and graphics to provide a best-in-class virtual soccer experience. The on-pitch action flows beautifully. New animations and physics create greater realism.

For die-hard football gaming fans, FIFA 22 is absolutely worth picking up. The upgrades feel meaningful during matches, keeping the action engaging. Ultimate Team addicts will appreciate the new cards and meta too.

More casual players can pass on FIFA 22 and stick with FIFA 21 or older entries instead. The changes aren‘t substantial enough to change this recommendation. But at discount pricing, FIFA 22 undoubtedly becomes a quality purchase for all audiences simply wanting polished, authentic football on current consoles.