Review: Rematch - The Reinvention of Soccer Through Ball Trips

Rematch is a new soccer game developed by Sloclap, a studio known for titles such as Sifu and Absolver. At first glance, a studio specializing in close combats releasing a soccer game may seem strange and a huge departure from the style, but a few minutes on the pitch are enough to realize that Rematch is anything but conventional soccer. Instead of following the classic simulation formula like FIFA or eFootball, Rematch mixes street soccer, brawling, and elegant aesthetics to deliver a bold, vibrant, and highly addictive sports experience.

In this article, we'll analyze every aspect of this game that, in its first 24 hours, had more than a million players enjoying it.

Rematch eliminates the traditional rules of soccer, with no fouls, offsides, corners or breaks. The matches are always online with teams that vary between 3v3, 4v4 or 5v5, and take place in closed arenas with walls that allow for spectacular rebounds, in quick 10-minute games and "mercy rule" (4x0 ends the match). Each player controls only one athlete, in a third-person perspective, with the camera free or locked on the ball (a hidden option, but which helps a lot).

The game doesn’t try to simulate traditional soccer, but rather to reinterpret it through urban culture, artistic animation and combat with a certain depth. It’s a mix of FIFA Street with Rocket League, with a touch of Sifu's DNA.

Rematch's graphic style is impressive from the start screen. Sloclap applied all its expertise in fluid animation and stylish design. The characters look like they've come straight out of a graphic novel, with exaggerated features, clothes that reflect urban cultures and animations with lots of personality. The stadiums are varied and full of life: from Tokyo rooftops to graffitied alleys in São Paulo, each arena has its own life and personality.

The soundtrack keeps pace with electronic beats and hip-hop, alternating between adrenaline-boosting tracks and more rhythmic moments in the menus. It's an audiovisual spectacle that perfectly matches the game's idea.

The great innovation of Rematch lies in its control system, which combines traditional sports game controls with inputs closer to fighting games. Each match is played with a focus on dribbling, quick passes, physical confrontations and finishing with creative shots. Players have access to "special abilities" that can be activated at strategic moments, such as a super dribble that destabilizes opponents or a flaming shot that’s almost unstoppable.

Unlike more realistic games, Rematch doesn’t focus on simulating real football tactics. Here, character control is more agile, like an acrobatics on the field, and the physics between players is as important as positioning and passes. Understanding the timing of actions, predicting the opponent's movements, and knowing how to use skills at the right time makes all the difference.

One difference is that there are no right positions on the field; everyone can be anything. If you enter the goal area you immediately become the goalkeeper, if you leave it, you start playing normally and another player can protect your goal, giving great dynamism to the matches.

The controls are simple:

- Attack: Pass (X), Shoot (RT), Dribble (LS) and Rainbow Flick (show move).

- Defense: Slide (B) and basic tackle.

- Goalkeeper: Dive (Y) directional.

- Dynamic position system: The game automatically assigns roles (goalkeeper, defense, attack) according to the context and teamwork.

Another thing that sets Rematch apart is the playable roster. Instead of traditional teams with licensed names, the game features a set of fictional characters, each with their own history, style, and moves. There are everyone from former capoeira players to breakdancers, skateboarders, and retired boxers, all united by their love of “extreme street football.”

Each character can be evolved over time, unlocking new moves, outfits, and even skill variations. The progression system is more similar to an action RPG than a traditional football game. In addition, there’s a lot of visual customization, allowing players to assemble teams with their own looks and style.

Rematch is addictive and tactical. The ball physics are realistic, it doesn't stick to your feet, it seems to slip when running and requires you to control its trajectory. The hand-to-hand combat is reminiscent of Sifu, the ball tackles are "counterattacks" that require you to anticipate your opponent, and dribbling avoids approaches such as sliding tackles or ball grabs.

Something that’s very satisfying is the success of the plays:

- A perfect cross pass, a shot in the corner or a millimeter dive by the goalkeeper make us smile and scream, it’s pure excitement.

- With the game's graphic style, dynamic stadiums (like the jungle arena) and soundtrack (which silences after a save) immerse us in the game's atmosphere.

- It's street football in the fantasy of the sport, with pure physics, where every play is a highlight.

Rematch offers a good variety of modes for different player styles:

- Career Mode (Street Rising): a single-player mode that mixes narrative with tournaments. You create a character and start them from the local courts to international competitions.

- Online Multiplayer: This is where Rematch really shines. You can form teams with friends or play ranked matches. The competition here is fierce, and matchmaking has been fast and stable since launch.

- Weekly Events: With rule modifiers and exclusive rewards, the game promotes continuous player interest.

- Creative Mode: Allows you to customize arenas, rules and even create local championships with your own conditions and ideas.

I missed an 11v11 mode, the game would be more frenetic and fast, but I understand that this wasn’t the proposal of Rematch. It focuses on intensity and style, and in this aspect it delivers everything with excellence.

Running on Unreal Engine 5, Rematch performs solidly on both consoles and PC. The frame rate is stable (60 fps on most devices), even with multiple characters on screen, stunning visual effects, and particles flying everywhere.

At launch, there were some reported visual bugs and clipping issues with certain collision movements, but Sloclap has already released patches that have resolved most of the issues. The promise is continued support with monthly updates, new characters, and seasonal content, something that the game, with its competitive potential, deserves.

Rematch shines in PvP. Online matches are tense, unpredictable, and full of extraordinary moments. Sloclap has done well to implement a fair matchmaking system and balanced rewards, which keeps players engaged and competing. The game has everything it needs to earn an eSports title, especially with its league system and the promise of official tournaments sponsored by Kepler Interactive.

Unfortunately, Rematch isn’t all joy, it was released with serious technical flaws:

- Synchronization: Ball and players teleport, ghost goals are validated, ball approaches ignored.

- Inconsistent Goalkeeper: Dives failed for no reason, the direction was also faulty, and the reading of shots was very random.

- Crucial Absences: The absence of Cross-play (promised soon), and offline modes such as training with bots will only come in future updates, something that discourages those who like to play alone.

In addition:

- Toxic Communication: Quick chats like "Good Game!" become weapons of sarcasm, and voice chats end up being extremely annoying. Since matches are always generated randomly, you can be playing with a great group that communicates well and wants to have fun and in the next match be with another group that just screams, complaints and curses all the time. I spent most of the games with the chat disabled for this reason.

- Protagonist Players: One of the biggest problems in Rematch is that players, instead of prioritizing collective play and passing the ball to teammates in better conditions, prefer to risk individual plays, constantly looking for the protagonism and the finish. This attitude harms the team's performance, missing clearer goal opportunities and, most of the time, leads to loss of possession of the ball and the match.

Sloclap opted for a paid model ($16) with:

- Cosmetics: Skins (e.g.: Ronaldinho for $5), clothes, accessories.

- Battle Pass: 100 levels, with free and premium versions ($7). Complete, rewards currency for the next pass.

Pros: ZERO pay-to-win, loot boxes, or competitive advantages. However, the content is scarce: only online multiplayer modes, no campaign, tournaments or substantial solo options. For an AA game, this base feels unfinished, and I fear the game’ll suffer from this in the future.

The high demand from players is mainly due to Game Pass, but a question remains: What about when the game leaves the service, will the player rate remain high, or will they have to do like Rocket League, which started out as a paid game and had to migrate to free-to-play to avoid dying?

Pros:

- Fans of Rocket League or Sifu who are looking for something new will love this game.

- Casual players who enjoyed FIFA Street and aren't afraid of the learning curve.

- Teams of friends (when cross-play arrives).

Cons:

- It isn’t a replacement for EA FC or eFootball.

- If you hate online instability or grinding for cosmetics.

- If you’re looking for single-player.

Rematch isn’t for those looking for traditional football experiences. If you’re looking for something more realistic, with licensed teams, authentic championships and tactical simulation, this may not be the game for you. However, for those who want something new, with an arcade spirit, tactical combat, stylish visuals and gameplay unlike anything else on the market, Rematch is one of the most original and fun experiences of the year.

It’s a football game reinvented by the creative hands of a studio that understands how to transform movement, impact and style into a language of its own. When it works, it offers unparalleled satisfaction, capturing the essence of the sport with innovation. However, technical issues and limited content still leave the experience lacking.

With patches, cross-play and new game modes, Rematch could become a cult game. Until then, it’s an ambitious project that, like a young star, needs to mature under pressure.