TL;DR
If your kid is asking for "FIFA" but you only see FC 24 or FC 25 on the shelves, don’t worry—you aren't looking at a knock-off. It’s the same game, just with a new name after a massive corporate breakup. The soccer gameplay is top-tier, but the real "game" most kids are playing is "Ultimate Team," which is essentially a digital sticker collection fueled by loot boxes and microtransactions. It’s high-pressure, highly social, and can be a massive drain on your bank account if you don't set boundaries early.
Quick Links for the Sporty Family:
- The Main Event: FC 24
- The Skill-Based Alternative: Rocket League
- The Family Party Version: Nintendo Switch Sports
- For the Younger Crowd: Mario Strikers: Battle League
For nearly 30 years, Electronic Arts (EA) and FIFA (the international soccer governing body) were the "it" couple of gaming. Then, in a very public and very expensive divorce, they split. EA kept the actual game, the players, and the stadiums, but they lost the "FIFA" name.
So, FC 24 (and the newer FC 25) is the exact same franchise your kids have likely been playing for years. It’s a hyper-realistic soccer simulation where you can play as professional teams like Manchester City or Real Madrid. On the surface, it’s just digital sports. But underneath the "Kick Off" mode lies the behemoth that dominates kid culture: Ultimate Team.
If you ask a 12-year-old why they love FC 24, they probably won't talk about the physics of the ball or the tactical depth of a 4-4-2 formation. They’ll talk about "packing" a 91-rated Erling Haaland.
The game has shifted from being a sports simulator to a card-collection and team-building simulator. In Ultimate Team, players earn (or buy) "packs" containing random players to build their dream squad.
The Social Currency of "The Squad"
In middle school circles, your "squad" in FC 24 is a status symbol. It’s the modern equivalent of having a rare holographic Charizard in the 90s, except your friends can see your team every time you play together online. There is intense social pressure to have the newest "Special Edition" cards that drop every Friday. If a kid's team is full of "Gold" cards while their friends have "Team of the Year" cards, they feel behind.
Let’s be real: the "Pack" system in FC 24 is essentially gambling-lite. You spend "FC Points" (which cost real money) to open a digital pack. You don't know what's inside. You see a flashy animation, the lights go off, and—99% of the time—you get a player who isn't very good. But that 1% chance of getting a superstar keeps kids coming back.
The game is designed to trigger the same dopamine hits as a slot machine. For intentional parents, this is the biggest "red flag" area. It’s not just about the money; it’s about the habit-forming nature of the "reveal."
While Roblox is often criticized for its "pay-to-win" mechanics, FC 24 is arguably more aggressive because the items you buy have an expiration date. Every year, when the new version of the game comes out, your Ultimate Team resets. All that money spent on "packs" in FC 24 does not carry over to FC 25. You are essentially renting digital status for 12 months.
If your kid is obsessed with soccer, you don't have to ban the game, but you can steer them toward modes that aren't "money pits."
This is the "old school" way to play. You take a team, manage the budget, scout players, and try to win the league. It’s offline, it costs zero extra dollars, and it actually teaches a bit about strategy and long-term planning. It’s the "entrepreneurship" side of soccer without the predatory microtransactions.
If the "gambling" aspect of FC 24 makes you twitchy, Rocket League is the perfect pivot. It’s soccer with cars. It is 100% skill-based. You cannot buy a "better" car that makes you faster; you actually have to get good at the game. It’s fast-paced, high-energy, and much more "fair."
For kids under 10, FC 24 can be frustratingly difficult and "serious." Mario Strikers: Battle League on the Nintendo Switch is pure chaos in the best way. It’s arcade-style soccer with power-ups and no loot boxes in sight.
Ages 7-10: Stick to "Kick Off" mode or "Career Mode." Avoid the "Ultimate Team" menu entirely. At this age, the concept of "odds" and "digital currency" is too abstract, and the frustration of losing to someone who "bought" a better team can lead to some epic meltdowns.
Ages 11-14: This is the prime demographic for the social pressure of Ultimate Team. If you allow them to play this mode, set a hard limit on spending. Many parents use a "you earn it, you spend it" rule with allowance, but even then, be wary of the "just one more pack" mentality.
Ages 15+: Most teens at this age understand the "scam" of the packs but play anyway because that's where their friends are. This is a great time to talk about the "sunk cost fallacy"—the idea that just because you've spent $20 doesn't mean you'll get a better return by spending another $20.
Like any competitive online game, FC 24 has a community that can get... heated.
- Voice Chat: Unless they are playing with real-life friends, keep voice chat off. The "trash talk" in competitive soccer games can quickly veer into bullying or inappropriate language.
- Direct Messages: On PlayStation and Xbox, players who lose a match will sometimes send "salty" messages to the winner. Ensure your child’s privacy settings are set to "Friends Only" for messaging.
How to set up parental controls on PlayStation 5 How to set up parental controls on Xbox Series X
If you notice your kid is particularly anxious or glued to their console on Friday afternoons around 1:00 PM ET, there’s a reason. That is when EA releases new "content"—new players, new challenges, and new packs.
This is a deliberate "appointment gaming" tactic designed to keep the game at the center of their lives. If you’re trying to manage screen time, Friday is your "boss level." Knowing this schedule helps you anticipate the "just five more minutes" pleas.
FC 24 is a brilliant sports game wrapped inside a somewhat predatory financial model. If your kid just wants to play soccer as their favorite players, it’s a 10/10 experience. If they are obsessed with the "pack opening" videos on YouTube and building an Ultimate Team, you need to have a very real conversation about money, gambling mechanics, and why a digital card won't matter in twelve months.
It’s not "brain rot" in the sense of mindless content, but it is a "wallet rot" risk if left unchecked.
- Check the settings: Go into the console settings and password-protect all purchases. Do not leave a credit card on file that can be accessed with one click.
- Play a match: Sit down and have them teach you how to play. You’ll quickly see the difference between the "soccer" part and the "menu/shopping" part.
- Discuss the "Reset": Remind them that any money spent now disappears when FC 25 or the next version comes out.
Ask our chatbot for a script on how to talk to your kid about in-game spending