Comparison

Backyard Soccer '98 vs CFB Simulator

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both games, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

Backyard Soccer '98

Relive the fun of youth soccer with this classic 6-on-6 game. Choose from iconic athletes, play on unique fields, and compete in leagues and tournaments with comical power-ups and bloopers. Enjoy instant play or manage your team to championship glory.

Highlights
  • 6-on-6 soccer gameplay
  • Pick-up game and League Play modes
  • 30 iconic kid athletes
  • 20 unique soccer fields
  • Comical power-ups and bloopers
  • Classic commentators
  • Penalty kick practice
Read full description

KICK BACK INTO ACTION Jump back onto the field with the 2nd game from the Backyard Sports Franchise, Backyard Soccer ‘98, now enhanced to run on modern systems. Coach your favorite Backyard athletes to the championship, play a pick-up-game on your favorite field, and listen to classic commentators Sunny Day and Earl Grey. Backyard Soccer ‘98 captures the playful spirit of youth soccer. Play 6-on-6 soccer with point-and-click controls for passing, defending and scoring! Start a pick-up game for instant play or create a coach for League Play. In League Play, select 8 kids of your choice and work your way to the top of each division. If you play well enough to qualify, you’ll compete in the “Astonishingly Shiny Cup of All Cups Tournament” against kids from all over the world! SOCCER FOR EVERYONE Play soccer like you did with friends in your neighborhood! • 30 Iconic Kid Athletes • 20 Unique Soccer Fields • Intense tie-breaking shoot-outs  • Comical Power-ups • Hilarious Bloopers • Lively commentary from Sunny Day and Earl Grey • Multiple Divisions and Tournaments To kick things off, choose a player and face Mr. Clanky for some penalty kick practice. This is where you can practice this crucial game deciding skill. THE LEGEND CONTINUES Backyard Soccer featured arguably the most iconic video game athlete of the 90s or any era - Pablo Sanchez. Play with the legend himself or choose your favorites and relive what made Backyard Soccer 1998 a cult classic.  Game Modes include: • Pick-up Game: Instant play! The computer chooses a random team for you and itself and the game starts immediately. • Friendly Match: Build a roster to play a single game against another computer controlled team in your division. • Spectator: Sit back and watch two teams of Backyard kids face off against each other in what is sure to be an exciting game of soccer. • Penalty Kicks: Practice shooting and defending penalty kicks against Mr. Clanky.  • League Play: Pick your team name, uniform colors, and players to compete in the Backyard Soccer League. Manage the team through a soccer season. The opposing teams are computer generated. If your team is in the top four by mid-season in any division, you’ll score an invite to the Off-The-Wall Indoor Invitational. If you finish a season as a top two team, you’ll move up to a stronger division. After winning the Premier Division, you’ll compete in the Astonishingly Shiny Cup of All Cups Tournament! ADDITIONAL INFORMATION At our core, we are fans first – not just of video games, but of the Backyard Sports franchise. Fans have asked for accessible and legal ways to play their original Backyard titles for years, and we are excited to deliver.

About

CFB Simulator

Build a college football dynasty by recruiting players, developing talent, and calling plays. Manage seasons, depth charts, and injuries to achieve national championships. Navigate the transfer portal and customize your coaching abilities to lead your team to victory.

Highlights
  • Recruit high school prospects
  • Develop player skills
  • Manage depth charts and injuries
  • Navigate the transfer portal
  • Customize coaching abilities
  • Detailed play-by-play simulation
  • Customizable playoff formats
Features
Read full description

Build your college football dynasty in the most immersive and strategic CFB simulation available. Recruit stars, develop players, call plays, and chase national championships. Every decision shapes your legacy. COACH: Start at any school and turn it into a powerhouse. Manage seasons, depth charts, injuries, and long-term growth as you build a program that rises and stays at the top. RECRUIT: Scout high school prospects, uncover hidden gems, build relationships, and battle rival programs for top talent. Recruit high school players using scouting, interest tracking, and scholarship offers. TRANSFER PORTAL: Navigate the modern era of college football by recruiting proven players to fill roster gaps. Retain your stars, replace departures, and reshape your roster every offseason. COACH PROGRESSION: Choose your coaching background and upgrade your abilities through a detailed skill tree. Earn XP from season goals and unlock perks that improve recruiting, development, and on-field performance. GAME SIMULATION: Experience detailed play-by-play action as your team competes for conference titles and playoff berths. Track stats, adjust depth charts, manage fatigue, and handle injuries throughout the season. PLAYOFF SYSTEM: Compete in customizable playoff formats, including 4, 8, 12, and 16-team brackets. Win your conference and fight through intense postseason matchups on the road to the national championship. SOCIAL MEDIA FEED: Follow the college football world through an in-game social feed that reacts to wins, losses, commitments, and transfers. Post as your coach to build your personal brand. CUSTOM LEAGUES: Create your own conference structure or use the built-in college football layout. Import your own teams and design the league you want to compete in. Start your dynasty today. Build your team. Run the league. Make history.

Screenshots

Backyard Soccer '984 screens
CFB Simulator4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: CFB Simulator at 4.8 against Backyard Soccer '98's 4.3. CFB Simulator also leads on update cadence (every 4 days vs every 5 months) and review sentiment (80% vs 60%). Backyard Soccer '98's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 5) and iOS requirement (16.0 vs 18.0). On price, ads and device support there is nothing between them.

Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. CFB Simulator sells 5 one-off in-app purchases. Backyard Soccer '98 asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

CFB Simulator holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 4.3. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: CFB Simulator has 995 ratings behind it against 126, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 60% of Backyard Soccer '98's written reviews are positive against 80% of CFB Simulator's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Backyard Soccer '98 ships an update every 5 months, CFB Simulator every 4 days. Both last shipped on November 8, 2026.

Scorecard7 real differences · 3 level
Backyard Soccer '98 versus CFB Simulator: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterBackyard Soccer '98CFB Simulator
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.3 (126 ratings)4.8 (995 ratings) — better
Positive reviews59.5% of reviews80.0% of reviews — better
Number of ratings126995 — better
Update frequencyEvery 5 monthsEvery 4 days — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
MonetizationPaidFree with in-app purchases — better
DevicesiPhone, iPadiPhone, iPad
Requires iOS16.0 — better18.0
Further details — not scored
Size461 MB45 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperPlayground Productions LLCMani Foroughi

Customer experience

Backyard Soccer '98

All ratings115 ratings
Positive81.7%
Neutral4.3%
Negative13.9%
Written reviews42 reviews
Positive59.5%
Neutral9.5%
Negative31.0%

CFB Simulator

All ratings943 ratings
Positive95.9%
Neutral2.3%
Negative1.8%
Written reviews125 reviews
Positive80.0%
Neutral11.2%
Negative8.8%

In-app purchases

None

Backyard Soccer '98

No in-app purchases

5 purchases

CFB Simulator

One-time5
  • 1 Checkpoint Token$0.99
  • 5 Checkpoint Tokens$2.99
  • Sanctions Scenario$2.99
Show 2 more
  • Rebuild the Program Scenario$2.99
  • God Mode$3.99

Questions

Is Backyard Soccer '98 free?
Backyard Soccer '98 is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is CFB Simulator free?
CFB Simulator is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Backyard Soccer '98 or CFB Simulator?
CFB Simulator is rated higher. Backyard Soccer '98 averages 4.3 out of 5 from 126 ratings, while CFB Simulator averages 4.8 from 995 ratings.
Do Backyard Soccer '98 or CFB Simulator have ads?
Neither Backyard Soccer '98 nor CFB Simulator shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Backyard Soccer '98 or CFB Simulator?
Backyard Soccer '98 ships an update every 5 months, and CFB Simulator every 4 days. Most recently, Backyard Soccer '98 was updated on November 8, 2026 and CFB Simulator on November 8, 2026.

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