Sloclap’s new on-line third-person PVP soccer recreation, Rematch, is likely one of the finest video games I’ve performed this 12 months and certainly one of my favourite on-line aggressive video games I’ve performed in a very long time. I wasn’t anticipating that in any respect.

I’m not a soccer fan. I discover the game boring to look at. I’ve by no means favored any soccer video video games. I outright hated EA’s FIFA collection any time I used to be compelled to play it for a couple of minutes. I didn’t even love Rocket League. And but, I stayed up till 2 a.m. over the weekend taking part in a soccer recreation. And I did it once more the subsequent evening. That’s as a result of Rematch, out now, is not like every other soccer recreation I’ve performed or seen. It captures the very best elements of the game whereas excising the junk. The result’s superb.

Most fashionable soccer video games are performed from a high-up perspective, and also you’re requested to regulate your complete crew unexpectedly. In these video games, you aren’t actually taking part in soccer, however as an alternative controlling a match from afar like a bizarre soccer god. For followers of the game, like my brother, this may be enjoyable sufficient. However Rematch, out now on Xbox, PS5, and PC, could be very, very completely different. In Rematch, you management one participant all through the entire match. The digicam is situated straight behind you, and each different participant on the pitch (I Googled that) is managed by one other participant.

Those modifications alone are sufficient to make Rematch stand out from FIFA and comparable soccer video games. (No, I received’t name it soccer.) However that alone is just not why I preserve taking part in the colourful and stylized Rematch. No, what has me hooked is the way it performs.

Transferring, sliding, taking pictures, blocking, and passing in Rematch really feel fantastic. Every part is snappy and responsive. When my brother costs up the center and I’m being attacked by two gamers, I can effortlessly hit one button to slide the ball behind me, maneuver previous the defenders, and cross it to my bro with out even wanting. Different instances, a protracted cross can be hurled to me and I can run as much as it and bicycle kick it into the objective, including a little bit of bend to the shot earlier than it goes in.

All of this feels nice, and when you’ve discovered the controls, it’s a blast. Fortunately, the opening tutorial offers you simply sufficient of the fundamentals that you just’ll be set to carry your individual on-line. As you play extra, you’ll be taught extra methods to mix the controls and methods you had been taught into extra difficult and spectacular strikes. For instance, you possibly can flick the ball over your head and kick it in midair, aiming to not rating however to bounce it off the wall above the objective, hopefully throwing off the goalie within the course of and organising a teammate to complete the shot.

Oh, proper, the wall across the discipline. I forgot to say that. See, the soccer in Rematch isn’t regular soccer. There aren’t any yellow or purple playing cards. No penalties. As an alternative, the sport of soccer has been distilled down into its easiest type. Two targets, a pitch, a number of gamers, and the power for goalies to the touch the ball with their fingers. That’s it. And round you is a huge clear wall that stops balls from flying out of bounds. (This wall additionally modifications throughout the match by way of fancy AR-tech to show wild settings, like being in area or in a jungle.) You should use this wall to bounce passes off at bizarre angles, too.

When taking part in Rematch, I virtually felt like a child taking part in basketball on a small court docket within the park with my buddies. We didn’t observe many of the guidelines. No, as an alternative we simply performed a pure type of basketball that was centered on being enjoyable and exicting, letting us do wild shit and make actually dumb errors. Rematch recaptures that feeling of taking part in a sport in its purest, easiest type. And it’s exhilarating.

Rematch can also be stuffed with sensible, tiny design selections that preserve matches flowing. If a crew goes up 4 targets, the sport ends resulting from a mercy rule. No dragged-out matches towards a lot better groups. There are 4 choices to speak, and if you happen to spam any of them, like saying “Thanks” or “Sorry” an excessive amount of, you’ll be blocked from utilizing them for a bit. Anybody might be the goalie, simply drop again to the objective and if you happen to’re alone, you change into the goalie, supplying you with elevated stamina and the power to catch and maintain the ball. Don’t wish to be the goalie, stroll away. Easy as that.

There aren’t any stats to handle, perks to unlock, playing cards to earn, or something like that. There’s a fundamental battle cross system, but it surely’s simply cosmetics like new shirts and socks. The remainder of the sport is lean and centered. If Rematch’s builders got down to make a soccer recreation that’s badass, tremendous quick, and really enjoyable, that can also be straightforward to select up play, whereas having a ton of depth for many who are keen to sink dozens of hours into it, properly, job properly completed. Rematch is the very best soccer recreation I’ve ever performed. And it’s among the best video games of 2025 to date.

.