FIFA 23 – WISE Score & Parent Review | Screenwise

FIFA 23

Name: Screenwise
Author: Screenwise

game2022

58%

WISE Score

66%

IGDB

Polished soccer sim that's great for fans of the sport, less great for your wallet if Ultimate Team hooks them.

FIFA 23

game

2022

58%

WISE Score

66%

IGDB

Polished soccer sim that's great for fans of the sport, less great for your wallet if Ultimate Team hooks them.

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Where to Play

Xbox

PlayStation

PC/Steam

Screenwise Verdict

FIFA 23 is a technically excellent soccer simulator that does exactly what it promises: realistic matches with licensed teams and players. If your kid loves soccer, they'll probably love this.

The problem is Ultimate Team, which is essentially a casino wrapped in a sports game. Kids open card packs hoping for Messi or Ronaldo, and the game is designed to make them want to keep opening more. Even if you lock down spending, the psychological hooks are there—teaching kids that success comes from lucky pack pulls rather than skill development.

Outside Ultimate Team, it's mostly fine. Career mode is strategic and educational. Online matches are competitive but can be toxic. It's narrow in scope—if they're not soccer fans, this won't suddenly make them enriched humans—but for the right kid, it's solid entertainment that teaches real sports knowledge.

Just keep them away from Ultimate Team, or at least have very frank conversations about why it's designed the way it is.

Age Fit

Common Sense Media suggests age 6+, which feels right for gameplay content—it's just soccer. But realistically, younger kids will struggle with the complex controls and fast pace. Best for ages 8+ who already like soccer and can handle competitive stress. The Ultimate Team monetization concerns are relevant for any age if parents aren't monitoring spending.

WISE Breakdown

Wholesome

Sports simulation that celebrates teamwork and athletic achievement. Players compete in realistic soccer matches with no violence beyond standard sports contact. The inclusion of both men's and women's teams models equality. However, competitive online modes can bring stress and occasional toxic player interactions, and Ultimate Team's card-collecting ecosystem can foster unhealthy comparison and spending pressure.

Imaginative

FIFA 23 is a high-fidelity sports simulator focused on replicating real-world soccer rather than encouraging creative expression. Players execute set plays and formations within strict rules. Career mode offers some strategic team-building decisions, but the game prioritizes realistic physics and licensed rosters over open-ended creativity. It's competent at what it does, but doesn't invite the kind of imaginative play found in sandbox or creative games.

Safe

ESRB rated E for Everyone with no concerning content in gameplay itself. However, the Ultimate Team mode—while technically not labeled as loot boxes in this data—operates on pack-opening mechanics that function identically to gambling systems, encouraging repeated spending to build better teams. Online play exposes kids to unmoderated opponents who can be abusive or toxic. The 'just one more match' loop is designed to maximize engagement time. These monetization and design patterns are manipulative enough to warrant concern.

Enriching

Teaches soccer rules, strategy, and team management. Career mode requires budgeting and long-term planning. Players learn about real-world teams, players, and tournaments. However, the enrichment is narrow—it's sports knowledge and hand-eye coordination, not broader cognitive or emotional growth. The Ultimate Team grind can actually teach problematic lessons about pay-to-win systems and gambling-adjacent mechanics. It's entertaining for soccer fans but doesn't offer much beyond that niche.

Parent Info

✓

Why It Might Be Great

Teaches real soccer strategy, rules, and team management through realistic gameplay
Includes both men's and women's teams, normalizing gender equality in sports
Career mode offers long-term planning and budgeting skills as you build a team
HyperMotion2 technology makes the game visually impressive and engaging for sports fans
Can spark interest in real-world soccer, geography, and international competition

⚠

What to Watch For

Ultimate Team mode operates on card-pack mechanics that function like gambling—kids open packs hoping for star players, and it's designed to encourage spending
Online matches expose kids to opponents who can be abusive, rage-quit, or send toxic messages
The 'one more match' design loop is addictive by nature—set time limits before starting
If your kid isn't already into soccer, this probably won't convert them; it's for existing fans

Conversation Starters

"What's your favorite team to play as? Why did you pick them?"
"Have you felt pressure to buy card packs in Ultimate Team? What makes you want to open them?"
"What's the most frustrating part of playing online? Have you run into any mean opponents?"
"If you were managing a real soccer team, what would you do differently than in the game?"

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