Football (or soccer) has been a big part of my video game journey. From playing all night into the early hours of Winning Eleven on the original PlayStation, to FIFA asserting its football dominance in the early 2010s, football has been an omnipotent part of my gaming hobby. However, with FIFA failing to innovate in the area for many years, I dropped off it for a while. However, it wasn’t until the 2024 Video Game Awards that footy fire was reignited with the unveiling of Sloclap’s Rematch.
Being the developer of the solid fighting/brawler Sifu, I wasn’t sure how to feel that a developer with a pedigree for intense melee combat could approach an arcade football game. Nevertheless, Rematch is an intense football game that is much closer to a fighting game than a traditional football sports simulator– go figure. The gameplay loop is phenomenal, but some technical hiccups and barebone offerings prove that it is just an aspiring academy talent for now and not an elite footballer that it could be.
Developer & Publisher // Slopcap, Kepler Interactive
Platforms // PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, PC, Xbox Game Pass
MSRP & Release Date // $29.99, June 19th, 2025 (June 16th – Early Access)
Reviewed On // PC
Rematch Has Solid Gameplay
I first thought Rematch was going to be similar in the vein of FIFA Street, but boy was I wrong. In fact, the game has more in common with fighting games due to the timing and skills required to compete, sprinkled with Rocket League physics. But one thing the game does right is its tight and satisfying controls.
Tight Controls with a Learning Curve
Sloclap’s last title, Sifu, illustrated their command of great feeling and tight controls. That same pedigree continues with Rematch. Movement animations are smooth and responsive. Defensive actions such as tackling, pressing, and jump interceptions animate without any hitches for the most part.
In Rematch, when you are controlling the ball, you are quite vulnerable. Having the ball at your feet slows you down, which is why tapping A/X (on a controller) pushes the ball forward a bit. You can also pull off skill moves to shield the ball from defenders. It’s a wonderfully realized system that relies on skill, technique, and timing to dodge incoming presses and slide tackles. It’s almost like a fighting game, where each encounter is a duel between an attacker and a defender. No doubt, this is part of Sloclap’s Sifu DNA etched into Rematch.
Because there is a lot of nuance in the controls and gameplay mechanics, there is a steep learning curve for players to master. Especially in tight matches, where any mistake can cause a missed scoring opportunity or a defensive error that could leave your goal vulnerable. I cannot tell you how many times I’ve seen players purposefully score in their own goals after giving up in a closely contested match. Though it’s safe to say Rematch isn’t responsible for teaching players about good sportsmanship.
Master Positioning in Rematch
Rematch smartly adds to a simple yet effective position system that automatically changes when you move to different parts of the pitch. For example, if you are just outside of the 18-yard box (penalty box), your role will automatically change to “Sweeper,” so you’ll have a little more stamina if you need to track back and defend your goal. Moreover, moving into the penalty area changes your role to “Goalkeeper”. The GK role grants unlimited stamina and allows you to hold the ball.
Surprisingly, the GK role is quite enjoyable, as you get a nice strategic view of the pitch. Also, being the last line of defense is immensely exciting. However, there are some hiccups worth noting. For instance, if two people are trying to become the GK role, this could confuse the game systems that opponents can take advantage of. Additionally, diving for a save can be finicky, as it depends on the direction where you point the analog stick, which takes some getting used to (more on that below).
Satisfying Shoot with Strict Aiming in Rematch
Shooting feels satisfying in Rematch, especially volley shots. They just have that beautiful build-up and pop that truly adds scream to your screamer shots. However, aiming shots can be tricky. Despite feeling great, aiming shots is an entirely different ordeal.
When you line up your shot, you have to reposition it with the right analog/mouse. While this sounds reasonable on paper, during an intense match, it can throw you off immensely, especially if an opponent is pressing you when you have the ball. You’d approach your opponent’s goal and try to line up your shot, but it just shoots off target completely. It’s a shame because shooting does feel incredible in the game. The same disappointment also occurs at the other end of the pitch.
When defending, sometimes you just want to boot the ball away from your goal. However, when you have to reposition your shot, I often found myself just shooting the wall closet to my goal, which was irritating to say the least, and adds to the guilt of letting your team down. In a way, it adds to the authentic dynamic of football. Whether that is an intentional game design or not, only Sloclap can answer, but Rematch absolutely nailed those intangible emotions that run parallel to the game.
Slick and Simple Graphics
Rematch has a simple cel-shaded aesthetic that looks clean. Colors are vibrant and pop, and the cartoony art style shines through and through. The cel-shaded character models have a unique flair to them, but still look grounded with realistic details such as hair and facial features.
The stadium environments look dynamic enough without being too distracting during intense matches. Best of all, after every goal, the surroundings change, which is a refreshing touch. This includes a space station orbiting Earth, an underwater city, and more. I personally liked the space station background.
Variety of Customization Options
Rematch offers players a ton of customization options. This includes their physical attributes along with accessories (piercings, hats, etc) and for your attire as well. The potential here is immense, which could add nicely to their live service ambitions.
Rematch Live Service Model Hiccups
Since Rematch is gunning to be a live service model with seasons, Slopcap is entering into uncharted territory. Like any live service model, it’s a massive ask and learning experience for a studio. As of now, Rematch has nailed the gameplay loop. The initial Season 0 has a decent amount of unlockables. Most cosmetic items and store/premium currencies. Items in the store are quite sparse and priced similarly to other games, where the only premium purchaseable skin on offer is Ronaldinho. The skin is priced at 1000 coins (around US$10), which fits squarely in most live service games. But, it definitely feels like a test bed.
Some of the cosmetics in Rematch Season 0 aren’t too cool in my opinion, but it’s something worth working towards (besides ranked mode) in the game. You get 1000 blue non-premium currencies when your player levels up, while the season progression bar is a bit slow for my taste, but nothing too disgraceful. Though switching to 4vs4 and higher matches helps boost seasonal progression.
Although Season 0 of Rematch appears to have a major impact on Slopclap’s future endeavors, it turns out that core gameplay modes and mechanics are high on the list of priorities. Specifically, the devs want to target defensive actions, such as reworking tackles and GK mechanics. This is likely due to addressing a noticeable skill gap that could help onboard new players in Rematch.
Lack of Game Modes is Apparent
Truth be told, Rematch is also lagging in game modes. Yes, there are 3vs3, 4vs4, and 5vs options, which overall change the dynamics of a match. However, each match can be quite sweaty, and a more casual mode could help newer players or players who just wanna kick about. An easy win could also include something like a HORSE mode, or just a fun shoot-off competition to help add a more approachable and casual feel to the game. Luckily, Sloclap did address this by planning to include a casual mode. Hopefully, it’ll be sooner rather than later.
Network/Server Issues
I won’t sugar coat it, but it was rough testing out Rematch during the early access period ahead of its full launch. The game was facing regular desync issues, lag, player disconnects, and the ball would be teleported all over the pitch with little warning.
However, Sloclap did mention these issues and planned to iron them out. Fortunately, within a few patches after its early-access release, Rematch is in a much better state. Desync moments are few and far apart. Ball location and progression on the pitch are a lot smoother. There are some awkward times when a duel between players awkwardly moves the ball around. In addition to some weird ball stickiness/rubber banding that randomly occurs when players are in a duel, overall, the game is in a much better shape than it was during the beta and early access launch period.
Now, some of the biggest technical issues in Rematch are the lack of balancing when a player exits in the middle of a match. This was particularly hilarious when you’d be down a player and your character would pass the pass to an empty net after a kickoff. Also, some of the color combinations of your uniforms can be problematic when they look similar to your opponents. But these issues can hopefully be ironed out soon.
Performance
Testing out the game on Steam, the game initially ran jittery. However, turning off V-Sync helped smooth things out. But in all, the game ran incredibly well with my system (Ryzen 5700x CPU, Radeon RX 6950xt GPU, 32 GB DDR4 3200 MHz). Especially since Rematch has the potential to be the next big esports title, it was smart of the developers to keep the system requirements modest with a simple art style to match. I didn’t experience any crashes during my review period.
Final Thoughts on Rematch
Make no mistake, Rematch has an incredible and unique football gameplay loop that is unlike anything I have ever tried before. There are a lot of nuances in the animations and regular duels that make the game an irresistible package. However, it is let down by initial networking hiccups and a lack of modes and content. Luckily, it seems that Slopclap is in it for the long run, which should make Rematch a footballing star in no time.
Final Score: 7.7/10
Pros:
- Phenomenal Footballing Gameplay and Mechanics
- Decent Player Customization Options
- Great Football Animations
- Solid Performance
- Great Art Style and Environment Design
Cons:
- Initial Network (Desync, Lag) Issues
- Lack of Modes
- Store is Lacking
- Steep Learning Curve
