It’s fair to say that the FIFA/EA FC series has dominated the virtual football genre, pretty much eliminating all of the competition in its pursuit of the top spot.
As a fan of football games since the 1980s, I miss the variety of the classic footy titles like Sensible Soccer, International Superstar Soccer and Dino Dini’s. It felt like barely a week went by without a new football game hitting the shelves, something that’s sadly missing in a world where EA is the only game in town.
If you are sick of EA FC or simply fancy an alternative, then the good news is that there’s finally an alternative, as a new football game called Rematch makes its debut on PS5, Xbox Series X|S and Steam.
Rematch is developed by Sloclap, which is the same studio behind the superb beat-em-up Sifu and Absolver.
The game is much more of an arcade-style experience, featuring 5-v-5 matches, rush goalkeepers and no fouls. The only drawback is that it’s an online-only affair.
While it’s a complete departure from the studio’s previous releases, the early reviews for Rematch are very positive.
The game has a Mostly Positive rating on Steam and a 77% score on Metacritic. Gamesradar compares it favourably to Rocket League, saying the “just-one-more-game pull is magnetic”.
Rematch is available for £19.99 on PS5, or £20.99 on Steam and Xbox Series X|S. Alternatively, Xbox users can play the game as part of Game Pass.
Rematch developer Sloclap describes the game as a “perspective on football”.
“Designed from the ground up as an online multiplayer experience, Rematch offers split-second gameplay response that always feels fair,” reads the official description.
“Just like real football, winning requires both accuracy, fast reactions as well as flawless team collaboration.”
The game will feature seasonal gameplay, complete with new game modes and other events.