Play Sensible World of Soccer '96/'97 (read notes) Online

Sensible World of Soccer '96/'97 was released as part of the MS-DOS Classic Games collection in 1996, developed by Sensible Software. It arrived during a period when football simulations were rapidly evolving, offering a more accessible and fast-paced alternative to the increasingly complex titles of the era.

You control a team of players on a top-down pitch, using simple keyboard or joystick inputs to pass, shoot, and tackle. The main objective is to outscore your opponent, either in one-off matches or across an entire season in the surprisingly detailed management mode. Signature mechanics include the one-button passing system, which automatically directs the ball to the nearest teammate, and the ability to perform overhead kicks and volleys with careful positioning. The pacing is frantic, with matches often feeling like end-to-end battles rather than tactical simulations. It feels like pure, uncomplicated football fun, even when your defenders are scrambling to clear a loose ball in the box.

Each game uses different controls, most DOS games use the keyboard arrows. Some will use the mouse , "Alt" ,"Enter" and "Space bar".