18: FIFA 16
It’s Messi running again, but this time he’s not alone. Messi has allies, and now he’s back with a vengeance, to fight against the darkness. This cover really portrays the spirit of football, which is all about running really fast with your friends, I think. Just look how fast they’re moving, everyone else is just a blur!
17: FIFA 2001
The earlier FIFA games have an endearing simplicity to their covers, and 2001’s entry is no exception. What really intrigues me about this one is the mystery of it all. There’s a man running with a look of pure determination on his face, but the lack of any sort of team icon on his shirt has me scratching my head. He’s the number 8, but the number 8 of what? Is he some sort of footballing android, known only by his serial number from the footballer factory? Very interesting indeed, FIFA has deeper lore than I thought.
16: FIFA 09
Guess who’s back? Back again? Screaming Rooney’s back, tell a friend. He’s changed his pose up a bit this time, apparently gearing up to elbow the other guy in the face. What’s the beef between the two? Are they old rivals squaring off in a deathmatch to determine the fate of the universe? There’s probably an untold story here, a rich tapestry weaved with the kind of hardship and sorrow that only an intergenerational and ideological rivalry could bring.
15: EA Sports International Soccer
The very first FIFA game has some leeway in the rankings due to being the first, and I can’t really blame them for trying to find their footing in the design department. It’s a bit of a mishmash of logos and a nice photo of two guys playing football on a pitch with a feathered border, which is a design philosophy that wouldn’t be revisited. Still, it’s a classic oldie that’s responsible for kicking off the beloved franchise that we know it, so it deserves some respect there but I cannot place it any higher.
