Parents' Guide to FIFA 17

Most annual sports games don't often impress because of the short nine-month (or so) development cycle. But while there's still some room for improvement, FIFA 17 is extraordinarily fun. With the gorgeous graphics, tweaked controls, new attack options, and, especially, the new story mode, this is the best soccer game on the planet. Just as NBA 2K's MyCareer has been the gold standard for a story mode within a sports game, FIFA 17's the Journey adds some purpose and emotion to this soccer sim. For the first time ever in this franchise, you play as Alex Hunter, a young and promising prospect who made it to the English Premier League. You can choose to play on any club in the league, alongside some of the best players, and make decisions on and off the pitch that change the story, including sacrifices you might need to make. There's a role-playing game (RPG)-like element, too, as you increase your skills over time.

All across the game, player and ball movements have been improved, along with artificial intelligence (AI), new attacking techniques, and more. FUT, or FIFA Ultimate Team, is back and better than ever. The mode tests your team-building skills as you choose the best fit for each position and then compete with them. While the character models and animation look great, some player's faces -- when trying to convey emotion in the Journey mode -- don't look so good. Plus, while the voice talent is great, some key characters have dialogue, while others don't. FIFA 17 also doesn't allow for a lot of player customization. But feature for feature, and factoring in the new story mode and higher production values, FIFA 17 is most definitely worth the cash among football fans.