Design Risk Score
Estimated15/100
3 mechanics flagged
Why this score
- Loot Boxes+12
Randomised paid containers — gambling-like mechanics, cosmetic outcomes.
Why this counts
Loot boxes have been regulated or banned in Belgium and the Netherlands as gambling products. Research has found correlations between loot box spending and problem gambling symptom severity (Zendle & Cairns, 2018).
- Belgium & Netherlands gambling regulators — loot boxes classified as gambling (2018)
- Zendle & Cairns, PLOS ONE — loot boxes linked to problem gambling (2018)
- ESRB 'In-Game Purchases (Includes Random Items)' interactive element (2020)
- Microtransactions+2
In-game purchases sells cosmetic items only — no gameplay advantage.
- Paid DLC+1
1 paid add-on beyond the base game.
Points reflect severity, not just presence — cosmetic-only purchases score far lower than pay-for-power. Total: 15/100. This game was scored from its Steam store listing, so its mechanics are an estimate. How scoring works →
Joy Index
50/100
Good
Community score: 50/100
Joy is the share of players who recommend it on Steam, published as-is.
Verdict
Mindful
Enjoy mindfully
Some mild monetization exists, but the core game offers genuine value. Stay aware of spending triggers.
- Set a monthly cosmetics budget
- Ignore FOMO event pressure
- Focus on what you genuinely enjoy
Where to buy
Price & availability
Cheapest it’s ever beenBest price now
$13.99−80%
at Epic Game Store→
Lowest ever
$13.99
at EA Store · 6/11/2026
Real recorded prices & subscription data via IsThereAnyDeal.
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More like this
Similar games, with how each one scores.
EA SPORTS FC™ 26: your questions, answered
Estimated from store data- Is EA SPORTS FC™ 26 pay to win?
- No. EA SPORTS FC™ 26's real-money purchases don't sell gameplay power — Sifter found no pay-to-win mechanics.
- Does EA SPORTS FC™ 26 have loot boxes or gacha?
- Yes. EA SPORTS FC™ 26 includes loot boxes — paid randomised rewards, which Sifter weighs heavily in the grade.
- Does EA SPORTS FC™ 26 have microtransactions?
- Yes. EA SPORTS FC™ 26 has in-game purchases (an in-game store). They buy cosmetic items only — no gameplay advantage.
- How aggressively is EA SPORTS FC™ 26 monetised?
- Sifter grades EA SPORTS FC™ 26 B — 15/100 on the Design Risk scale, where a higher number means more aggressive monetisation. 3 mechanics were flagged. The grade is computed from a public checklist, not opinion.
- Does EA SPORTS FC™ 26 respect your time?
- EA SPORTS FC™ 26 scores 100/100 on Sifter's Time Respect scale — no energy system, daily-login streaks, or limited-time events designed to pull you back.
Mods
Upload a mod →Detected Design Patterns
Paid containers with randomised contents; item value varies by rarity.
Players report
Community-reported mechanics from players who own EA SPORTS FC™ 26. Shown separately — this never changes EA SPORTS FC™ 26’s Design Risk grade.
Own this game? Connect your Steam library to report a mechanic Sifter missed.
Time Respect
EstimatedNo time-coercive mechanics detected — this game lets you play on your own schedule.
Ownership
This game is yours to keep
- Plays offline — no server dependency, so it can't be switched off remotely.
- Steam lists third-party DRM for this game: "EA online activation and EA app software installation and background use required. Denuvo Anti-tamper". It's extra copy-protection on top of Steam that can hurt performance and stops working if its activation servers are retired.
Whether you keep what you paid for is its own question, separate from the score. How Sifter measures games →
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