Ahhh, FIFA. Like the setting of the sun, the drawing in of the nights, the putting on of an old winter coat, there's both an inevitability and a level of comfort that comes with the release of a new FIFA game. The football season is properly back. The squads are correct again.

FIFA continues to look stunning; with (almost) every license intact; Ultimate Team is more complete and compelling than ever; Volta is a welcome; unique way to play; Career mode finally gets some improvements...

… but still feels barebones; Volta feels a little basic compared to FIFA Street

FIFA 20 revives the old Street series with a new mode featuring futsal and outdoor soccer, but it's the core gameplay that shines brightest this year, bringing down the pace in a way that feels nuanced and enjoyable.

Career mode gets a much needed upgrade while the gameplay has been tweaked enough to feel like a challenge again. VOLTA Football is incredibly fun and a throwback to FIFA Street. It isn't perfect and career mode still has a lot that can be addressed, but EA listened and made upgrades beyond a roster...

FIFA 20’s attacking additions allow you to play some breathtaking, free-flowing football and its new defensive tools technically give you more ways to stop the opposition. But the balance is still too heavily weighted towards the former, particularly in online games, which too frequently descend into breakneck, end-to-end goal fests. For a lot of people there’s nothing wrong with that. But football is a game of two halves, and anyone who takes as much pride in keeping the ball out of their net as sticking it in the one at the other end will often find playing FIFA 20 online a pretty frustrating experience. The new Volta mode is much more than just a sideshow, but if you don’t go in for its frantic showboating it might as well not be there at all, so it’s just as well Ultimate Team is just as compelling as ever, isn’t it? It’s a game that’s capable of great moments, then, but if PES 2020 is Spurs under Poch, FIFA is still suffering from a serious bout of the PSGs.

Play feels more organic; Presentation is as immaculate as always; No VAR;

Does anyone remember defending?; Crowds still look like clones; Juventus have absconded to PES;

FIFA 20 remains a gorgeous and fun-to-play football game that’s as addictive as ever. The addition of Volta adds some much-needed variety and the quick matches filled with skills and elaborate game celebrations are fun. I’m not sold on all the gameplay tweaks, however, and the additions to Career mode feel slightly dull. Still, if you’ve picked up FIFA every year then you’re most likely going to like what’s on offer here, even if the package feels very familiar.

Addition of new Volta mode; Strength and speed attributes feel more influential; Player animations look fantastic;

Unconvincing ball physics; Career mode cut scenes are annoying;

Play feels more organic; Presentation is as immaculate as always; No VAR;

Does anyone remember defending?; Crowds still look like clones; Juventus have absconded to PES;

It's hard to know what FIFA is anymore. Like EA Sports' Madden or 2K's NBA 2K, FIFA has been absorbed into the larger sports culture. It's been adopted by the athletes themselves, and is a symbol for video games in general. FIFA may be everywhere, but where does that leave FIFA 20

There have been a lot of changes to FIFA in recent years... at least that's what EA's been telling us on the yearly. No, there really have been some

By listening to player feedback and implementing some inspired changes, EA has made FIFA 20 feel like a worthwhile content package for patch note-scouring series veterans and an enticing entry point for first-timers and rule breakers who like a little fun to go with their soccer.

Volta soccer is a neon revelation; Admirable pace; Defending tweaks; Zany modifiers; Electric soundtrack

Career Mode still needs a revamp; Visual upgrades are negligible

With the online Ultimate Team mode continuing to be a major draw for players and an incredible money-maker for publisher EA, annual FIFA releases these days can feel like a few new side-dishes and tweaked seasoning around the familiar meal of loot-boxes and fantasy football.