The lack of licences for top-tier leagues remains a disheartening sticking point, but PES continues to make brilliant strides on the pitch, building on what was already an incredibly satisfying game of football to produce one of the greatest playing football games of all time. It might be lacking off the pitch, but put it on the field against the competition and a famous giant killing wouldn't be all that surprising.

PES 2019 is by far and away the best football sim money can buy, boasting an enviable level of depth and authenticity FIFA simply can’t hope to match. While the sheer variety of game modes ensures players will be enjoying Konami’s latest for months to come. The biggest drawback is clearly the lack of official licences. Which, unfortunately, will make it exceedingly difficult for PES to win over any but FIFA’s most lukewarm fans.

Great new animations, magical moments, improved pass/receiving mechanics, and a lot more, makes for another great year of PES. It could have had more league licenses though.

The perfect football sim for playing your mates or tackling online but major AI flaw renders the offline experience boring and uninspiring.

PES 2019 is great at really understanding soccer and making it feel like a real game. The controls are tight, the unpredictability is amazing and it feels like a very solid experience. The only thing that is bothering us are the other players and referees.

The gameplay seems real football, but online modes and contents in general are too stuck with the past.

The most important aspects - how it looks and the feel of play - are top-drawer, but this only makes the surrounding drabness even more disappointing, and ensures that PES will remain the preferred choice of contrarians only.