When I first heard about MFL, I skimmed past the posts and didn’t bother to take a closer look. Not because I wasn’t intrigued – I was – but because I had a few hang-ups that made me think it wasn’t the game for me.

Fast forward to today and I’m running three clubs, managing 70+ players, and thinking about formations in the shower. So here’s what nearly put me off – and why none of it turned out to be a problem at all.

1. “It’s not real players…”

I’ve played FPL, Football Manager, Sorare, Football Index, and pretty much every other fantasy football game you can think of – I thought I needed real names and faces to feel connected to a game. Why on earth would I play a game with ‘fake’ players?

Turns out, that doesn’t matter.

Within days of starting MFL, I was weirdly attached to my made-up striker who couldn’t finish a sentence, let alone a chance. You build a sense of identity with your squad surprisingly fast – and honestly, it’s even more satisfying because they’re yours. No bandwagons, no obvious picks, just pure club-building.

Plus, it makes business sense for MFL. No licensing headaches = more flexibility for the game to grow and evolve (and less money leaving the ecosystem to pay the licensing fees). And it gives MFL – and us as users – way more creative freedom to play around with.

So yeah, if you’re looking for a fantasy football fix, MFL isn’t going to scratch that itch. But if you’re looking for an engaging football manager style game, with a great community around it, the ‘fake’ players are no barrier at all.

2. “I don’t want to lose more money…”

After losing money on a few Web3 projects, and being a survivor of the UK’s biggest ever failure in gambling history (Football Index), I was nervous about putting more of my hard-earned cash into a football ‘game’.

But MFL isn’t like that.

Firstly, unlike any of the other things I’ve been involved in recently, MFL isn’t promising to make you money. There is no ‘get rich quick’ vibe around this at all – it’s not an investment. It’s a game, pure entertainment. Simple as that.

But there are costs. You can buy a club for around $80, or even cheaper if you start as an Agent. There’s no pressure to spend beyond what you’re comfortable with and a lot of people get by in the game by loaning players from other Agents rather than buying them outright. I’ve put in quite a bit since I started – mainly because I’ve genuinely enjoyed the ride – but I see it as an entertainment cost, like going to the cinema or a night out.

And unlike Football Manager, there’s a potential to make some of it back. You can sell rewards, trade players, and I know I could cash out my clubs any time if I wanted to.

Still: only spend what you can afford to lose. MFL is a game. Keep it fun.

3. “I won’t have the time…”

I’ve lost weeks of my life to Football Manager and I can be pretty obsessive with games in general. I didn’t want another game stealing my sleep.

Actually, MFL is not quite like that.

You can be as casual or obsessive as you like. Some days I spend a couple of minutes setting line-ups. Other days I’m deep in the weeds scouting prospects, testing tactics in friendlies, or tinkering with formations I’ll probably abandon anyway.

Crucially, you don’t have to watch matches live – outcomes are pre-determined when you view the game, which means MFL fits around your life, not the other way round. Plus, season breaks give you a bit of breathing room and a chance to switch off if you want to.

It’s worth saying that MFL is still a relatively new game – we’re nowhere near its final form yet and they’ve still got plenty of features to add – but at the moment at least, it’s not the time-drain I worried it might be.

---

If you’re curious about MFL, now’s a great time to get involved – Season 7 is just around the corner and there are usually sign up bonuses around the launch of the new season.

Don’t forget that if you sign up using my link (or any link) we’ll both get a bonus when you start. Make sure you check out my beginner’s guide too.

And if you’ve got concerns about MFL that aren’t covered above, let me know. Like any game, it won’t be for everyone but it’s honestly the most engaging game I’ve played in a long time, even at this early stage. Whether you want to run a club, scout wonderkids, or just dip your toe in and see what happens, there’s something for you.