Over the years, Football Manager games have been highly entertaining and kept our interest. However, the base game often lacks a bit of panache, which is why we all love mods.
These little files often add a new dimension to the game or detail to our FM worlds. The latest edition of Football Manager is no different when it comes to mods adding realism or even fantasy to our games. Here is a list of some of our favourite FM26 mods:
FMInside – Real Club & Competition names
This mod can be a real game-changer, as it adds far more realism to the game. Nobody wants to be playing in competitions with fake names because of a small detail like the game doesn’t have the rights to a particular competition, stadium or club, in the case of the likes of Manchester United, some Italian and also Brazilian clubs.
I have to be honest, I can’t even remember most of the fake names for competitions because this is usually one of the first mods I subscribe to on Steam before I start a save, so I don’t have a chance to see them in-game.
If you are playing FM26 without this mod, then you are missing out, as your game isn’t as realistic as it can or even should be.
With this mod, it is important to remove the fake names from your game files, or you will still see them when you load your next save.
FM26 modern pitches pack
This may seem like a small detail kind of mod. However, this little mod can really improve the visual realism of the pitches during the games. The original pitches can be slightly boring or unrealistic. This mod adds a bit of realism, so the pitches can have far more realism.
For instance, if you are playing in a non-league competition, the pitches are likely to be worse than those at Premier League level. This mod gives you the option of having a realistic pitch style for that level.
In fact, the creators state that you can have five different pitch types: You can choose from five different looks, including “unperfect,” “green UCL,” “shot to bits,” and “turf”.
DF11 Men’s Megapack FM26
This is one of the best facepacks available for FM26. For me, this is an essential download before I start any game. Although I usually play in the Premier League, which the game now has the rights to, it still adds images for players who may not have had any, not just from English teams but from teams around the world.
The best thing about the creators of this facepack is that they update the faces monthly. That means that if a player moves clubs in the January transfer window, for instance, then they will appear in their new club’s kit. Sad as it is, it just improves my game and the realism, and adds to my enjoyment overall.
Lollujo Squad View
This is another one I attempt to subscribe to on Steam when I first download every copy of Football Manager. Once again, it was one of the first mods I downloaded when I first installed FM26.
It is another utility mod that might not be the sexiest, but it can be highly useful, as it gives you a lot more relevant squad info on your squad screen.
66 New Wonderkids
This is both one of my favourite and least favourite mods of FM26. That sounds strange, but it’s because if you sign several of these wonderkids, the game loses all reality, as these are youngsters who become some of the top stars in the world, which is unrealistic.
This is because the mod creates wonderkids of 16/17 from countries that don’t usually produce world football stars. For instance, some seasons into the game, I signed a goalkeeper from North Korea who was already the best in the world at around 23.
I had already signed a forward from Chad, who became one of the most prolific players in the world. This made my team very strong, as they were players in key positions.
It was highly enjoyable in the first couple of seasons, as I would seek out these wonderkids and strengthen my team, since they didn’t seem to cost as much as some of their contemporaries from more high-profile nations.
If you want fantasy, and not reality, then this is the mod for you, with made-up players from far-flung nations. This is the sort of mod you use when you want something different from the same old databases of players.
FMInside Real Media Pack
While it’s not perfect, this mod adds more realism to the media in your game. It includes real-life media companies such as Sky Sports and the BBC, and uses Opta stats. While famous journalists like Fabrizio Romano also pop up with transfer news in the socials.
In fact, according to the creators, it adds 2400 different types to the game, which is needed, as the base game media is slightly dull and repetitive.
What are your favourite FM26 mods?
