Rematch Review
I never thought a football (soccer) game would wind up being one of the most intense and rewarding competitive experiences I’ve had this year. Yet here we are with “Rematch,” Sloclap’s unexpected leap into the world of team-based sports, and honestly, they nailed it. Best known for kinetic action titles like “Sifu” (which was one of my favorite games of 2023) and “Absolver,” Sloclap has taken their deep understanding of momentum, precision, and player control and applied it to an arena-based football game that feels more like a tactical brawler wearing cleats than a traditional sports sim.
“Rematch” puts you in direct control of a single player on a team, all from a third-person perspective. This is not a FIFA-style affair where you’re micromanaging an entire squad; you’re one part of a living, moving collective, responsible for attack, defense, and even occasionally switching into the role of goalkeeper, each with its own set of controls and abilities. It’s a format that immediately sets it apart from the rest of the genre. Funny enough, it reminded me more of Rocket League, which is essentially soccer with cars. Matches feel personal, high-stakes, and emotionally charged; every great pass or missed opportunity stings because it was your decision that made it happen. The gameplay is fast, fluid, and surprisingly demanding. You’re not just dribbling and shooting; you’re mastering angles, timing interceptions, making split-second passes, and constantly communicating with teammates in the heat of the moment. Playing with friends rather than strangers online is way more recommended because communication is the key to winning matches. There’s an aim-and-shoot mechanic that gives you tight control over where the ball goes, and every mistake is brutally clear. If you whiff a pass or get outplayed, you know it was on you. That accountability makes the game both thrilling and, at times, brutally humbling.
Visually, “Rematch” brings the same artistic flair we’ve come to expect from Sloclap. The matches take place in vibrant, ever-shifting virtual arenas that reflect the style of whichever team is currently dominating. Score a goal, and suddenly you’re playing in a lush jungle or beneath the sea, complete with reactive lighting and dynamic music. It’s a brilliant way to inject visual variety into what could have been static environments, and it gives each match a real sense of evolving energy. Fans of Sloclap’s previous work will immediately recognize the studio’s signature use of elemental themes and slick, stylish presentation; it’s unmistakably their work. I also appreciated one of the button mapping options being titled “FIFU,” I see what you did there! At launch, “Rematch” includes a small handful of modes, including 3v3, 4v4, and both casual and ranked 5v5 options. There’s no pause in play, no offsides, no fouls, no throw-ins, no breaks. The ball never leaves the field, and every moment counts. The structure is stripped down to its most exhilarating core, encouraging relentless movement and nonstop tension. That said, if you’re someone who enjoys a slower-paced or more strategic version of football, this probably isn’t the game for you.
One of the most compelling aspects is how much the game leans into the social side of competition. Playing well means playing as a team, and like I said earlier, that means communicating, reading the field, and sometimes having to trust strangers to get the job done. When it works, it’s euphoric; when it doesn’t, well, let’s just say there’s potential for the typical multiplayer toxicity to creep in. So far, my experiences have been mostly positive, but I know how quickly things can sour in online games like this. Whether Sloclap can maintain a healthy community as the player base grows remains to be seen. The biggest wildcard in all of this is the game’s live service model. While the base game is a paid title, it still includes a seasonal structure with cosmetic unlocks, battle passes, and ongoing content updates. Right now, it feels fairly unobtrusive, and I haven’t seen anything particularly offensive in the monetization, but its mere presence will undoubtedly be a dealbreaker for some. That said, if it allows for long-term support, new arenas, and fresh game modes, I’m cautiously optimistic. It’s just hard to know what the future holds until we see how those systems evolve.
There are also a few rough edges. I’ve run into the occasional crash or rare moment of lag, and when they do happen, they sting a little more than usual because of how precise and responsive the game normally feels. When every interaction counts and you’ve got full control of your player, even a tiny hiccup feels like it undermines the experience. The upside is that these issues have been rare, and I expect most of them will be smoothed out over time. What might surprise me the most about “Rematch” is that I’m genuinely addicted to it despite having very minimal interest in football or even sports in general. This game takes something I’ve never connected with and makes it exciting, stylish, and mechanically satisfying in a way I didn’t expect. It’s competitive without being soulless, flashy without feeling overdone, and every match leaves me wanting just one more round. Sloclap didn’t just make a sports game. They made a deeply kinetic, highly polished multiplayer experience that just happens to involve football, and I can’t stop playing it.
8/10
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Related: Reviews by Nick Navarro
Gaming since I was given an original Nintendo as a kid. I love great storytelling and unique ingenuity. When both collide in a single game, I'm a happy gamer. Twitter/IG @NickNavarro87
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