One thing is clear when you start playing Football Manager 2014 - you won’t be stopping any time soon.

The notoriously addictive management simulation is back and what quickly becomes apparent after taking your seat in the dugout is that the 2014 installment is an improvement on last year’s effort.

There no wholesale changes to be found here, but when you’re working with the most realistic, immersive and exciting football management series on the planet, there really is no need for a complete overhaul.

Football Manager 2014

Sports Interactive and Sega haven’t tried to re-invent the wheel, merely addressing some of the problems from the previous edition.

Everything seems a little bit more user-friendly, with your inbox colour-coded to help filter out what you want to read. This is not a major change but just one of a number of minor tweaks implemented that collectively create a better experience.

Interactions, be it with players, agents, journalists, your staff or other managers, have become an increasingly integral part of the Football Manager series in recent versions. This trend continues here and your influence as a manager in the game spreads far and wide.

Football Manager 2014

Responses to questions can range from calm and measured to a full on Kevin Keegan-style rant. Players are not afraid to question your decisions either, requesting showdown talks to thrash out their futures.

So-called ‘player-power’ that has become a part of football culture in the modern game is in evidence here, while the world of agents has also become a major part of the game. Convincing them you are the right boss for their client is half of the battle when making a signing.

We all know Harry Redknapp doesn’t shy away from the press, however the constant interaction may also prove too much for some gamers. It all adds to the immersiveness of Football Manager 2014 but on occasion the persistent questioning seems over the top.

Football Manager 2014

The match engine works well, although if you are looking for the full Sky Sports style presentation found in FIFA, then you had better look elsewhere. Veterans of the series though will be more than happy and often prefer the classic 2D engine.

Play Football Manager 2014 for a full day and you’ve barely scratched the surface. This is a commitment as much as it is a gaming experience. You are investing time and effort into building not just a team, but a club. A scouting network, feeder teams, backroom staff.

Newcomers to the series might find this level of detail overwhelming at first, but stick with it and they will soon discover why the series has developed such a strong following. There is very little else out there that can keep you glued to a chair and a computer screen than FM.