eFootball PES 2020

eFootball PES 2020 is a realistic soccer simulation game that immerses players in the thrilling world of professional football, allowing them to control real-world teams and star players across various leagues and tournaments. Developed by PES Productions and published by Konami, it features refined gameplay mechanics, tactical depth, and modes like Career Mode for managing clubs, set in a dynamic 2D scrolling perspective that captures the excitement of matches on global pitches.

eFootball PES 2020: Review

Introduction

In the high-stakes arena of annual sports titles, where Konami’s eFootball Pro Evolution Soccer (PES) series has long sparred with EA’s dominant FIFA franchise, eFootball PES 2020 emerges as a valiant underdog’s champion moment. Released in September 2019, this installment marks a subtle but significant evolution in the PES lineage—a series that traces its roots back to the 1995 NES title Soccer and blossomed into the groundbreaking International Superstar Soccer on the SNES, captivating global audiences with its fluid on-pitch authenticity. PES has always prioritized simulation over spectacle, rewarding tactical acumen and player individuality over arcade flair. Yet, as Konami grapples with licensing woes and a shifting esports landscape, PES 2020 stands as a bittersweet zenith: a game that delivers arguably the most realistic and engaging football simulation to date, but one hampered by outdated modes, incomplete partnerships, and a half-hearted pivot to online competition. My thesis is clear: while PES 2020 excels in core gameplay, cementing its legacy as the thinking fan’s soccer sim, it ultimately underscores Konami’s faltering commitment to the series, making it a high-water mark before the franchise’s controversial pivot to free-to-play eFootball.

Development History & Context

Developed by PES Productions—a Konami subsidiary formed in 2001 specifically to helm the Pro Evolution Soccer series—and published by Konami Digital Entertainment, eFootball PES 2020 arrived during a tumultuous period for the publisher. Directed by Yoshikatsu Ogihara, the game utilized the Fox Engine, a proprietary technology originally crafted by Hideo Kojima’s team and introduced in PES 2014. This engine, known for its photorealistic player models and dynamic lighting, reached the end of its lifecycle here; PES 2020 would be its swan song, with future titles shifting to Unreal Engine (as seen in the mobile version) and eventually a full rebrand. Konami’s vision emphasized realism, informed by consultations with midfield maestro Andrés Iniesta, who contributed to new dribbling mechanics and ball physics to capture “free-flowing” football. However, technological constraints were evident: the Fox Engine, while capable of stunning stadium recreations via photogrammetry (3D scanning), struggled with broader environmental details like crowd animations and menu interfaces, which remained clunky and dated compared to FIFA’s Frostbite engine.

The 2019 gaming landscape was dominated by EA’s FIFA 19, which boasted superior licensing for leagues like the Premier League and Bundesliga, alongside polished Ultimate Team monetization. PES, meanwhile, countered with strategic partnerships: exclusive deals with Juventus (forcing FIFA to rename them “Piemonte Calcio”), Manchester United, Bayern Munich, and FC Barcelona, plus full Serie A and UEFA Euro 2020 licensing. This was Konami’s bid to reclaim relevance amid esports’ rise, renaming the series “eFootball” to signal a focus on online tournaments. Yet, broader context reveals Konami’s distractions—rumors of internal shifts toward pachinko machines and mobile revenue streams foreshadowed the series’ 2021 free-to-play overhaul. Released on PS4, Xbox One, PC, and mobile, PES 2020 targeted a global audience, with Korean commentary added after 13 years (featuring Han Jun-hee and So Jun-il), but it launched into a market where FIFA’s microtransaction-driven ecosystem overshadowed PES’s purist ethos. Development credits list 784 contributors, including key figures like Masayuki Kushi for mechanics, reflecting a dedicated but resource-strapped team pushing against Konami’s waning investment.

Narrative & Thematic Deep Dive

As a sports simulation, eFootball PES 2020 eschews traditional plotting for emergent storytelling through its career modes, yet these elements weave a compelling tapestry of ambition, rivalry, and legacy—themes central to football’s cultural narrative. The standout is Master League, revamped with story-like progression that transforms the manager’s role into a narrative linchpin. No longer a faceless avatar, you embody one of 18 selectable directors, including legends like Johan Cruyff and Diego Maradona, each with pre-set nationalities and suits (customization limited to name, nationality, and attire). Cutscenes unfold in staff meetings, training sessions, and press conferences, where player choices—via branching dialogue—impact objectives like squad morale or transfer realism. For instance, addressing a star player’s bench frustration might boost form but risk locker-room discord, echoing real managerial dilemmas like José Mourinho’s Inter Milan tenure.

Thematic depth shines in these interactions: themes of legacy emerge through “Inspire” mechanics, where star players like Lionel Messi (cover star, returning since PES 2011) galvanize teammates with runs and adaptive AI, symbolizing football’s inspirational core. Become a Legend mode, conversely, personalizes the narrative as a single player’s ascent, from youth academy trials to Ballon d’Or contention, with RPG-like progression tracking form influenced by dialogue (e.g., requesting more playtime). Here, themes of perseverance resonate—your created athlete battles injuries and form slumps, mirroring tales like Andrés Iniesta’s loyalty to Barcelona.

Matchday Mode introduces communal storytelling, pitting global players in weekly derbies (e.g., Manchester United vs. rivals), where collective stats determine virtual winners, fostering esports camaraderie but underscoring rivalry’s tribalism. Underlying these is PES’s ethos: football as meritocracy, where tactical nous trumps flash, a theme Konami champions against FIFA’s spectacle. However, flaws abound—dialogue is wordless and stiff (managers mime emotions), and modes like MyClub lack narrative hooks, reducing legends (e.g., Ronaldinho on the Legend Edition cover) to loot-box fodder. The Mesut Özil controversy, where China censored him post-Uyghur tweets, adds a darker thematic layer: football’s intersection with geopolitics, forcing Konami to excise a player from the Mandarin version. Overall, PES 2020’s “narrative” is procedural yet profound, celebrating football’s human drama while critiquing commodification through sparse, unpolished delivery.

Gameplay Mechanics & Systems

At its core, eFootball PES 2020 refines PES’s hallmark loop: tactical buildup, precise execution, and adaptive counterplay, creating a simulation that demands mastery over button-mashing. The real-time, diagonal-down perspective emphasizes direct control, with menu-driven managerial elements in offline modes. Core gameplay loops revolve around 90-minute (or shortened) matches, blending real-time action with post-game progression in Master League or MyClub.

Key innovations elevate the pitch experience. Finesse Dribbling—using the right analog stick for subtle feints—adds nuance to ball control, rewarding skill with evasive maneuvers (e.g., Messi’s close-control eluding Virgil van Dijk). Ball physics feel independent and weighted, with mishits on passes and shots introducing realism: a hurried through-ball under pressure might scuff, forcing rebounds or turnovers. Shooting mechanics deconstruct beautifully—body orientation, momentum, and player facing dictate accuracy, making volleys riskier but headed goals more viable. The “Inspire” system innovatively ties player ratings to AI behavior: high-profile stars prompt smarter runs, enhancing tactical depth (e.g., Mbappé’s 90-rated speed draws defenders, opening space).

Progression systems vary by mode. Master League’s overhaul integrates story elements with transfers, using real-world data for pricing (e.g., inflated fees for stars like Ronaldo) and dialog-driven morale boosts. Objectives, like press conference responses, influence squad dynamics, though UI remains obtuse—navigating options feels like decoding a spreadsheet. Become a Legend offers granular character growth, with skill trees for attributes (e.g., boosting dribbling via training), but it’s stagnant, lacking PES 2019’s flair.

Multiplayer shines in eFootball Pro tournaments and Matchday, supporting up to 22 online players, but legacy issues persist: inconsistent server lag and “catch-up AI” (sudden momentum shifts) frustrate. MyClub, PES’s Ultimate Team analog, innovates with “agents” for targeted signings (e.g., 80% chance of a Serie A midfielder), emphasizing strategy over packs, though loot boxes draw criticism. Flaws include referee AI (VAR absent, leading to phantom fouls) and obtuse menus—accessing tactics requires menu mazes. On higher difficulties (Superstar), AI is cleverly demanding, rewarding patience with varied plays, but COM allies often underperform (e.g., ignoring loose balls). Overall, PES 2020’s systems craft addictive loops for veterans, with 280+ hours possible in career modes, but newcomers face a steep curve due to unrefined interfaces.

World-Building, Art & Sound

PES 2020’s “world” is a meticulously recreated football universe, from sun-baked pitches to roaring stadiums, where art and sound immerse players in global authenticity despite budgetary constraints. Settings span 19 fully licensed leagues (e.g., Serie A, Ligue 1) and competitions like the AFC Champions League, with unlicensed ones (Premier League minus partners) using generic placeholders. Stadiums, like the scanned Allianz Arena (exclusive to Bayern Munich), pulse with life: dynamic lighting shifts from day to night, turf deforms under studs, and pyrotechnics erupt for derbies. Photogrammetry yields hyper-real player models—3D-scanned for partners like Manchester United—capturing sweat-slicked faces and unique gaits (e.g., Gnabry’s loping stride). However, crowds are static and low-poly, undermining immersion; mobile versions use Unreal Engine for smoother visuals but sacrifice detail.

Art direction prioritizes realism over flash: the diagonal-down camera offers a broadcast feel, with new animations (e.g., improvised finishes, bicycle kicks) adding fluidity. Visual flaws include dated menus—blocky and unintuitive—and inconsistent player faces (e.g., Brazilian leagues with generic names). Yet, the ball’s physics create atmospheric chaos: errant bounces in rain-soaked matches evoke real drama.

Sound design elevates the experience, with a strong soundtrack blending indie tracks and football anthems, praised even in 2025 player reviews for its enduring vibe. Commentary is multilingual—Peter Drury and Jim Beglin for English, Han Jun-hee for Korean—delivering passionate calls, though repetitive and limited (Korean audio is only 148MB vs. English’s 835MB). Crowd roars swell dynamically, stadium chants (e.g., “You’ll Never Walk Alone” at Anfield, despite licensing) build tension, and on-pitch audio—cleats crunching turf, ball thuds—grounds the simulation. These elements contribute profoundly: visuals and sound forge a lived-in world, making a last-minute equalizer feel epic, though incomplete licensing (e.g., no full Premier League) fragments the global tapestry.

Reception & Legacy

Upon launch, eFootball PES 2020 garnered solid acclaim, with Metacritic scores of 82/100 (PS4/Xbox One) and 81/100 (PC), aggregated from 71 reviews praising its gameplay pinnacle. Critics like GameSpot (9/10) hailed it as a “winning formula” for refined animations and ball physics, while IGN (8.3/10) lauded on-pitch satisfaction despite “safe” modes. GamesRadar+ (4/5) called it an “exciting new era,” and PC Gamer (77/100) commended its grit but critiqued presentation. MobyGames averaged 7.4/10 from users, with 80% critic positivity; player reviews (2.9/5 average) echoed longevity, one logging 280 hours in Career Mode, calling it the “last good PES” before Konami’s F2P shift.

Commercially, it contributed to the PES franchise’s 111 million units by 2020, boosted by mobile’s 300 million downloads. Awards included Game Critics’ Best Sports Game win (2019), with nominations at Golden Joysticks and The Game Awards. Post-launch updates, like Data Pack 7 for UEFA Euro 2020 (June 2020), added value, including 55 UEFA teams and five venues, solidifying its esports role—UEFA hosted eFootball Pro tournaments.

Legacy-wise, PES 2020 influenced subtly: its exclusive licenses (Juventus, Serie A) forced FIFA adaptations, highlighting Konami’s bargaining power. It inspired community mods (e.g., option files for unlicensed teams) and mobile innovations, but exposed flaws—server issues, AI inconsistencies—that foreshadowed eFootball 2022’s backlash. As the final Fox Engine PES, it represents a peak before Konami’s pivot to F2P, influencing rivals like EA Sports FC by emphasizing simulation. Retrospectively, it’s revered as a “purist’s dream,” per 2025 reviews, but critiqued for unaddressed issues like refereeing and modes, cementing PES’s niche amid FIFA’s dominance.

Conclusion

eFootball PES 2020 encapsulates the PES series at its zenith: a masterful simulation where every pass weighs with consequence, every stadium breathes authenticity, and tactical depth rewards the dedicated. From Master League’s emergent narratives to Finesse Dribbling’s nuanced control, it delivers football’s essence—grit, inspiration, rivalry—amid Konami’s licensing triumphs and presentation pitfalls. Yet, obtuse UI, stagnant modes, and esports rebranding reveal a developer stretched thin, paving the way for the franchise’s divisive future.

In video game history, PES 2020 earns a definitive 8.5/10: a triumphant swansong for an era, proving simulation’s enduring appeal against spectacle. For historians, it’s a testament to PES’s legacy as football’s thoughtful chronicler; for players, a must-play before the series’ uncertain path. If you crave realism over flash, it’s essential—Konami may have fumbled the future, but here, they scored.