FIFA 19 vs PES 2019: Which is the best football game?

FIFA 19 and PES 2019 are two excellent football games for consoles and PC gamers. Both have excellent realistic graphics, which give you the feeling of watching a real football match on your TV. But which game is the best? Is FIFA 19 good enough to convince longtime PES fans to jump ship? Or is PES 2019 capable of getting FIFA fans to dispense with licenses and Ultimate Team, and join the team at Konami? 

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FIFA 19 vs PES 2019: Which is the best football game?

Below, you can check the comparisons in terms of licenses, gameplay, narration, graphics and game modes, to have a broader view of the two games.

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Which game has the best football licenses?

If you're looking for some of the most powerful licensed authentication in a game, there's no choice but FIFA. The FIFA license has already given EA's game a huge advantage over Pro Evolution Soccer over the years, and the latest tip-offs on the scale are heavily in FIFA's favor.

EA has secured UEFA's two main licenses, including the Champions League and Europa League. This means that the world cup and Europe's biggest competition can only be experienced in FIFA.

Pro Evolution Soccer has direct club offerings as well as licenses for major regional competitions and leagues in several major countries including Portugal, Turkey, Belgium, Argentina, Scotland and Russia.

But FIFA 19 clearly outperforms PES 2019 in the area of ​​authenticity, and that alone will be the biggest point of contention for those on the fence.

FIFA 19 vs PES 2019: Gameplay

When it comes to on-field gameplay, FIFA and PES offer compelling gaming experiences that make the game of football feel fun.

In the case of FIFA, the gameplay is a little simpler, and easily acceptable for an average player. This series was derided for its arcade-style gameplay for years, until EA went to great lengths to improve its realism. It's probably not the most meticulously accurate game in this regard, but it's still pretty good to play.

Pro Evolution Soccer, meanwhile, has built a good reputation for providing the most in-depth soccer game you will find. This means that the game itself is much closer to a real game in PES than it is in FIFA.

PES is best for more experienced players, as the mechanics and controls needed to get the most out of the game will take some practice. The most novice and sporadic gamers may prefer FIFA because it is simpler and easier. 

If you have the time to learn, however, Pro Evolution Soccer offers a more satisfying translation of the real game into digital form.

Which has the best narration?

The journalist duo Milton Leite and Mauro Beting make the narration of PES 2019 very similar to a real broadcast, dropping back and forth, technical phrases and some ironic jokes. But there hasn't been much of an upgrade when compared to the other versions of PES.

 

FIFA 19 has a narration by Tiago Leifert and comments by Caio Ribeiro. FIFA's narration is clearly aimed at a younger audience, where there's more irreverence, and the narration feels more like a chat between the two. Also, there is more versatility in this narration, which makes it slightly better than the PES narration.

Which game has the best graphics?

Both FIFA and Pro Evolution Soccer have graphics that are absolutely stunning for their realism. The beauty of these games is most apparent when they have the chance to focus on players, coaches and referees throughout the game.

Both Konami and EA will take advantage of the PS4 Pro or Xbox One X to deliver their game in glorious 4K +HDR. But remember, you also need a TV with a 4K display for this.

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PES 2019 continues to use the FOX Engine engine, and there has been no massive upgrade compared to the 2018 game. The actual improvement you will see in the stadiums, which look much more real than previous versions of the game did.

And in this specific aspect, we can say that the stadiums in PES 2019 are more real and more beautiful than those in FIFA 19.

As for the appearance of players, in PES you'll notice that there's a huge divide between officially licensed players and teams - Messi or Coutinho, for example - and those that aren't. The creative duo from Barcelona looks fantastic, and the Camp Nou is presented in stunning detail. Compare that to, say, the Leicester team and the difference is grotesque. Players in PES 2019 can look a little macabre at times.

 

FIFA 19 suffers similarly to PES 2019, and you'll notice that some players feel much more real than others. Facial details look better in FIFA, there is more realism in expressions. 

The lighting, however, looks pretty good in PES 2019 - especially if you have an HDR TV and a console that supports that technology.

What game modes are available?

Noticing a pattern here? FIFA simply has a lot more licensing power than PES. Thanks to EA having the right to likenesses for every major football player, FIFA's Ultimate Team mode offers a huge roster of past and present stars to build a fantasy squad. Being able to run the Champions and Europe leagues in its own dedicated mode is something that gives this title a big advantage over its competitor. Journey mode continues to offer a cool sports story. And FIFA's Career Mode, despite not seeing huge improvements this year, is still top notch.

That's not to say that PES 2019 doesn't have its own perks. Its Master League mode even offers deep club management gameplay, with the addition of team functions. And while it doesn't have a ton of licenses, a community assets feature will let you fill in the blanks however you see fit.

FIFA 19 vs PES 2019 - Verdict

So, should you buy FIFA 19 or PES 2019? Konami offers the advantages of fixing point differences with ease. FIFA 19 certainly wins at presentation, with sleek and clean menus, authentic broadcast overlays and realistic cinemas.

PES 2019 has more details and features in its MyClub and Career modes, but it can't quite match FIFA's journey mode. In addition, those who like a more casual narration may prefer FIFA, and those who like players with a little more realistic appearance.

For those looking for a gameplay closer to reality, PES 19 is the best. For those who want licenses, FIFA 19 is ideal.