Player Guide
Learn The Game Fast
Use these pages to understand the core loop, make better tactical and transfer decisions, and get answers quickly while you play. The same guides, FAQ, and changelog also live in-career under Club → Office → Guide & Changelog.
Retro Manager is a season-long career: you run a club in a four-division league with promotion, relegation, a cup, and optional friendlies and continental knockouts. Between match days you pick lineups, scout and bid for players, hire staff, tune training, and read the inbox. On match day the engine simulates minute-by-minute with live commentary — you can change formation, play style, and subs as the match runs, or flash to full time when you are short on time.
Start here
- Start or load a career, complete your starting XI, then play your first fixture.
- Read the game guide for match-day and transfer habits that pay off over a season.
- Check the FAQ when something in the UI or progression feels unclear.
- Browse the full feature list to see everything the sim models (staff, stadium, assistant, PWA install, and more).
Table of contents
- Match flow & tactics
When to change shape, how half-time talks work, and how to read momentum without chasing the scoreline only.
- Transfers & contracts
Windows, scouting depth, wage discipline, and deadline-week chaos — all covered in the game guide transfer section.
- Database editor
Custom names, kits, crests, JSON import/export, and Workshop mods — for the Steam full edition.
- Database JSON builder
Build downloadable club, player, and country-rules JSON templates for the Global Database Editor.
- Staff, fitness, and morale
DoF, GK Coach, Youth Coach, scout caps, and open seats after season end — plus physio, assistant modes, and board confidence in the FAQ.
- Finances & infrastructure
Gate receipts, sponsorship, stadium projects: the shipped systems list is on the full features page.
- Beginner walkthrough
If you want ordered steps from first click to first cup run, start with How to Play.
Game Guide
Getting started, calendar, match day, transfers, Office, World, board, settings, saves, and tips — aligned with the Steam new-player guide.
Database editor guide
Global vs save scope, teams, players, competitions, JSON import/export, IDs, Workshop, and backups — Steam full edition.
Database JSON builder
Download blank or filled global database templates by club, division, country, or all countries — for Database Editor import only.
FAQ
Quick answers to common gameplay, progression, and UI questions.