On June 26, 1992, my love of football began. It was the first time I ever watched someone kick a ball, and from watching Denmark beat Germany 2-0 in the Euro final, I became obsessed. I played football, breathed football, lived football. I went to watch my beloved Derby County, collected the Merlin Premier League stickers, and put hundreds of hours into International Superstar Soccer, Sensible Soccer, and those glorious FIFA games on the Mega Drive. Nutmeg! reminded me of those early days of one of my greatest passions, and I love it.
Football was pure back then. No VAR. No headlines clouded by financial fair play. Seldom talk about the millions of pounds ruining the game. Just two teams fighting it out in a Saturday afternoon until the final whistle. Nutmeg! is such an interesting game. It has a specific demographic in mind, but its systems are open to all. It might not appeal to younger players, but it does a lot to make managing a team throughout the 80s and 90s exciting via its deckbuilding mechanics and addictive, simple management style.
Nutmeg! sees you choosing one of four teams from Division Four at the beginning of the 80s. From there, players take control over everything. Scouting; team management; training; finances; stadium upgrades; and more. Every season you have various challenges to complete. Doing so unlocks ‘Kit,’ which can be used to jump ship and manage another team if you wish. Managers can stay with the same club. Alternatively, you can find employment elsewhere. Do what you like, but be prepared to knuckle down and fight for every victory.
Everything plays out from your desk. The visual style harkens back to a Roy of the Rovers aesthetic. It’s also very of its time, with a rotary phone and teletext on the television. Sticker albums and a worn chalkboard for tactics. During every month, you get to scout and buy players to bolster your team. There’s also the option to sell merchandise, call various people for guidance, and keep tabs on other clubs biting at your heels in the division rankings. Managing every aspect of your club is important, but success on matchday is what it’s all about.
Every month, you’ll broadcast one match and delegate the rest. During delegation, matches will be simulated depending on your pre-set training, chosen formation and tactics, and squad choices. Win, draw, and loss percentages are displayed, giving you an idea of how things will play out. When broadcasting, that’s when the deckbuilding comes into play. The whistle blows and each run starts for either your team or the oppositions. Different events occur, such as goal kicks, long balls, one-on-one encounters, shots, and more.
Each even has a success percentage. Cards can be played to improve these percentages. If you fail an event, a new run begins. Time skips to each new event, meaning matches rarely last longer than five minutes. However, each broadcasted game is intense. It’s thoroughly confusing at first, but once the key mechanics are understood, it’s a lot of fun trying to change the outcome of each press against the opposition. Making key substitutions at half time can also prevent injuries. It may not feel like you have a lot of control over what’s happening, but learning the nuances of gameplay open your eyes to the bigger picture.
There are mini-challenges each month that earn you new cards. Cards can then be combined to create better opportunities during broadcasted matches. There’s plenty of depth if you’re willing to invest your time. Games are the most fun part of Nutmeg! The admin side of things was my least enjoyable part, but it’s by no means dull. Finding a rhythm, improving your side, and hitting your goals provides tons of satisfaction. It’s addictive, and always kept me hooked throughout each season.
Non-football fans will likely ignore Nutmeg! Fans of the modern game who never witnessed its earlier days may also choose to avoid. However, Sumo Digital has built a strong gameplay system that anybody can dive in and find enjoyment. It looks great, and while some of the backroom tasks get a bit repetitive, matchdays are always exciting. There’s a lot to love with this football deck-builder. Seeing those footballers from my childhood in my squad never got old, and only made me love the sport even more than I already do.
