Games Like Retro Bowl — 7 Football Games to Play Next (2026)

Last updated October 2026. Prices and ratings are from each game's store listing at the time of writing and may change.

Retro Bowl hooked millions of players with fast arcade passing and a light team-management layer. If you have played through a few dynasties and want something new, the right next game depends on which half of Retro Bowl you loved: the on-field action or the roster building. Here are seven worth trying.

1. BS Football

Best for: players who loved Retro Bowl's roster building and want a lot more of it.
Price: Free (optional Premium) · Platform: Any browser, desktop or mobile

BS Football is a full football general manager simulator. You scout prospects through a three-tier system, run a seven-round draft, sign players under a hard cap with dead money, trade with 31 AI front offices, and build a dynasty over many seasons. You do not control players on the field, but you can call plays live with Call the Play. No download, and no account needed to start.

2. Retro Bowl College

Best for: more Retro Bowl, at the college level.
Platform: Mobile

New Star Games' follow-up keeps Retro Bowl's arcade feel and adds 250 college programs, conference play, bowl games, and a playoff. Instead of a salary cap you manage a scholarship fund, and your players graduate into a pro draft.

3. Pocket GM 3: Football Sim

Best for: a polished, paid GM sim on iPhone.
Price: $2.99 · Platform: iPhone (also Apple silicon Macs) · App Store rating: 4.9 from about 4,400 ratings

A highly rated mobile management game from solo developer Jonathan Howell. You draft, trade, and sign free agents, hire coaches, scouts, and physios with their own traits and schemes, and watch games play out play by play. It also supports custom and community-made rosters.

4. Ultimate Pro Football GM

Best for: mobile players who want franchise business management.
Price: Free with in-app purchases · Platform: iPhone · App Store rating: 4.5 from about 9,100 ratings

Beyond drafting and trades, you handle finances, sponsors, ticket prices, and facility upgrades. It includes a coach mode with offensive play calling and an online PVP league.

5. Football GM

Best for: customization fans.
Price: Free · Platform: Browser

The long-running open-source football GM sim. Its interface is dense and table-heavy, but it offers deep customization, custom leagues, and God Mode.

6. Franchise Football: Pro GM

Best for: players who like collecting players and opening packs.
Price: Free with in-app purchases · Platform: iPhone · App Store rating: 4.6 from about 3,600 ratings

A card-collection take on team building: earn and open player packs, build playbooks, and chase the Franchise Bowl. The listing notes loot boxes and ads, so it suits players who enjoy that loop.

7. Front Office Football Nine

Best for: hardcore sim players on Windows.
Price: $29.99 on Steam · Platform: Windows

The deepest text-based football management sim around, with detailed game planning, custom playbooks, and multiplayer leagues of up to 32 human GMs. No arcade play at all, and a steep learning curve.

Quick Comparison

Game	Price	Platform	Style
BS Football	Free	Browser	Deep GM sim
Retro Bowl College	See app store	Mobile	Arcade + light management
Pocket GM 3	$2.99	iPhone	GM sim
Ultimate Pro Football GM	Free + IAP	iPhone	GM + business
Football GM	Free	Browser	GM sim, highly customizable
Franchise Football: Pro GM	Free + IAP	iPhone	Card collection
Front Office Football Nine	$29.99	Windows	Text sim

How to Choose

• Want more on-field action? Retro Bowl College.
• Want much deeper team building, free? BS Football.
• Want a paid, polished iPhone GM game? Pocket GM 3.
• Want the deepest possible sim? Front Office Football Nine.

Several of the mobile games above also have Android versions. Check Google Play for current availability.

Try BS Football Free in Your Browser