Rematch can shake up the football game space

If you’re oblivious about the trends in sports games, Rematch has been a very popular title since its release less than a month ago. The game is, as good games usually are, straightforward in idea and premise: you control a footballer and aim to score more goals than your opponents in what can best be described as “Rocket League with people”. The game has seen a steady dose of hype and praise, but does it have what it takes to be a big contender in the competitive space? 

Let’s start with the basics. Rematch was created by the studio known for Sifu and Absolver, two very creative and successful games. Released in late June, the game created a barebones football experience without the many rules the great game usually has, and this proved to be a winning formula. 

Rematch has three modes, depending on the number of players per side: three, four or five. The more players, the bigger emphasis on tactics and teamwork, and fewer players means more focus on individual skill and dribbling. Players can either play as outfield players or as the keeper, and the keeper changes after each goal scored, ensuring that everyone is “forced” to play as the goalkeeper. 

The controls are also extremely easy: you can pass, lob, shoot, sprint and dribble. In the first couple of matches, you’ll definitely struggle with the button layout since it’s very different to the likes of EA FC, but once you get the hang of it, it’s all muscle memory. 

The game itself is exceptionally fun. Playing with others is rewarding, assisting with a goal might be even better than scoring a goal, and saving as the keeper also brings tons of joy. The game is easy to pick up and play, but insanely hard to master, which is why many compare it to Rocket League.

With the comparison to Rocket League comes the idea of esports. While Rematch is a competitive game (one of the two game modes is called ranked), its very early stages mean there’s not much talk about esports. Sure, you’d be blind not to see that the game was created from the ground up as an esports game, but it will take some time for everything to get rolling properly.

When the time comes for its developer to focus more on the esports segment, the game stands a very good chance of solving some of the problems EA FC and similar games have, most importantly, the fact that they’re not team sports despite Football being a team sport. In Rematch, players are a part of a team of at least three, which makes it easy for esports orgs to enter the game with a roster, not just a single player. In addition, focusing on a single player per real-world player allows individuals to shine: some will be better defenders, others will be playmakers, just like in the real world. 

The game’s low price (under €30) and simple graphics also mean that it will be available to a wide range of players. Its buy-once model is much better suited to new players than EA FC’s yearly release cycle.  We’re looking forward to seeing more of this interesting game in the future and hope it grows fast and stable!