Sloclap’s latest offering represents one of the most unexpected genre shifts in recent gaming memory. After establishing themselves as masters of intricate melee combat through the philosophical brawler Absolver and the revenge-fueled Sifu, the French studio has traded martial arts for the beautiful game. Rematch abandons the contemplative violence of their previous works for something equally intense but fundamentally different: arcade football that prioritizes skill expression over simulation accuracy.
The core premise strips away the traditional team management layer that defines most football games. Instead of controlling an entire squad from a tactical overview, Rematch places players directly in the cleats of a single athlete competing in 3v3, 4v4, or 5v5 matches. This intimate perspective creates an entirely different relationship with the sport, one that mirrors the intensity of actually playing rather than managing from the sidelines.
The setting reinforces this departure from convention. Matches unfold in futuristic arenas surrounded by transparent walls, creating an enclosed environment that eliminates traditional stoppages like throw-ins and corners. These sci-fi stadiums, which shift between earthbound venues and space stations, establish Rematch firmly in arcade territory rather than simulation. The six-minute match structure with a mercy rule ending games at a four-goal difference keeps the pace relentless, stripping away the methodical buildup that characterizes both real football and its video game counterparts.
This design philosophy positions Rematch as something distinct in the sports gaming landscape – accessible enough for casual players while maintaining the mechanical depth that competitive gamers demand from Sloclap’s previous work.
Reimagining Football Controls
Rematch’s control scheme feels like learning football from scratch, which is both its greatest strength and steepest barrier to entry. The third-person camera sits directly behind your player, eliminating the omniscient perspective that has defined football games for decades. This viewpoint forces players to develop the same spatial awareness required in actual football, relying on a minimap and audio cues to track teammates and opponents beyond their immediate vision.
The shooting system exemplifies this commitment to tactile control. Rather than the familiar button-and-direction inputs of FIFA or EA Sports FC, Rematch requires players to aim a reticle with the right stick while pulling the trigger to fire. This gun-like targeting system initially feels counterintuitive – your instinct when receiving a cross is to watch the ball, but scoring requires turning your player’s head toward the goal to line up the shot. The learning curve is steep, but mastering this system produces moments of genuine satisfaction when you thread a perfectly placed shot past a diving goalkeeper.
Passing demands similar precision and timing. The power system requires careful calibration – too little and your through ball gets intercepted, too much and it sails past your intended target. The enclosed pitch adds another layer of complexity, as skilled players can use wall bounces to create unexpected passing angles or set up trick shots that completely wrong-foot defenders. These physics-based interactions feel more like billiards than traditional football simulation.
The skill move repertoire, while limited, provides enough flair to separate competent players from masters. Rainbow flicks can embarrass defenders when timed correctly, but they also slow your movement enough that another opponent might close you down. The lob pushball technique – flicking the ball over a defender’s head then running onto it – requires precise spacing and timing. These moves never feel overpowered because they demand genuine skill to execute effectively.
Defensive play centers around timing and positioning rather than player attributes. Sliding tackles feel satisfyingly crunchy when they connect, but mistimed attempts leave you sprawled on the turf as opponents sprint past. The physics-based ball handling means possession isn’t guaranteed – the ball doesn’t stick to players’ feet like in simulation games, creating constant opportunities for interceptions and loose ball scrambles.
The six-minute match length creates a unique rhythm. There’s no time for patient buildup play; every possession matters. The mercy rule prevents blowouts from dragging on, but most matches stay competitive thanks to the chaotic nature of the gameplay. When everything clicks – precise passes, well-timed tackles, and clinical finishing – Rematch delivers the same adrenaline rush that made Rocket League addictive.
Revolutionary Goalkeeper Design
Rematch solves one of online football gaming’s oldest problems through its rotating goalkeeper system. Traditional football games struggle with goalkeeper assignments because few players want to spend entire matches between the posts. Rematch addresses this by automatically cycling a new player into goal after each conceded goal, ensuring no one gets stuck in the role for extended periods.
The rush keeper mechanic adds strategic depth by allowing manual goalkeeper switches at any time. This creates fascinating tactical decisions – do you bring your keeper out to support an attack, leaving your goal temporarily empty? The system works because goalkeepers gain unlimited stamina outside their penalty area, making them effective field players when needed. In 3v3 matches, this positional flexibility becomes essential as every player must contribute to both attack and defense.
Goalkeeper controls strip away simulation complexity in favor of directional diving. You choose left or right and hope your timing aligns with the shot, creating moments that feel more like reactions than calculated saves. The physics can be inconsistent – soft shots sometimes slip through your grasp while thunderous efforts magically stick to your gloves – but the unpredictability adds tension to every save attempt.
Team coordination becomes paramount in this system. Unlike traditional football games where individual skill can carry mediocre teams, Rematch demands collective effort. Ball hogs who refuse to pass find themselves quickly dispossessed, while teams that share possession and create space for teammates consistently outperform collections of individual stars. The different match formats require distinct approaches – 3v3 demands mistake-free play with every player covering vast areas, while 5v5 becomes a frenetic scramble where positioning and quick decision-making separate winners from losers.
Communication challenges emerge when playing with random teammates. The game lacks robust ping systems or voice chat integration, making it difficult to coordinate complex plays with strangers. Players who understand basic football principles – creating triangular passing options, making runs into space, tracking back defensively – will naturally rise through the rankings, while those focused solely on individual glory will struggle regardless of their mechanical skill.
The rotating goalkeeper system also creates behavioral quirks that can frustrate serious players. Some goalkeepers abandon their posts to attempt skill moves or join attacks at inappropriate moments, leading to easy goals for opponents. Others seem oblivious to the rush keeper mechanics, staying glued to their goal line even when their team desperately needs an extra attacker. These issues tend to diminish in ranked play as players develop better game sense, but they can make casual matches feel chaotic and unpredictable.
Technical Struggles Mar the Experience
Rematch’s technical foundation shows concerning cracks that undermine its competitive aspirations. Server desync issues plague defensive play, causing tackles to register visually but fail to actually dispossess opponents. Players frequently experience phantom interceptions where they appear to win the ball cleanly, only to watch it teleport back to their opponent’s feet moments later. These problems aren’t rare occurrences – they happen multiple times per match, creating frustration when precise timing gets negated by network instability.
Goalkeeper glitches prove even more problematic. Saves that clearly connect with the ball sometimes result in goals due to physics inconsistencies, while shots that appear destined for the net occasionally warp into the keeper’s hands. The ball physics engine struggles with wall interactions, periodically freezing the ball in place and bringing matches to awkward standstills as players cluster around the immobile sphere.
Matchmaking presents its own challenges. Queue times for ranked matches stretch uncomfortably long, particularly during off-peak hours. The system occasionally fails to cancel properly when requested, forcing players into unwanted matches. Cross-platform functionality exists but feels incomplete – friends lists don’t sync properly between platforms, making it difficult to organize matches with specific teammates.
The absence of key social features becomes apparent quickly. Players can’t form parties with compatible teammates discovered through matchmaking, preventing the natural team-building that occurs in other competitive games. There’s no way to instantly rematch with a group that worked well together, cutting short those magical moments when strangers gel into an effective unit. These omissions feel particularly glaring given the game’s emphasis on teamwork and coordination.
Performance optimization varies significantly across platforms. PC players report occasional crashes to desktop, while console versions sometimes suffer from frame rate drops during intense moments. The game lacks basic quality-of-life features like replay saving or detailed statistics tracking, limiting players’ ability to analyze and improve their performance.
Sloclap has shown responsiveness to critical bugs, fixing game-breaking issues like the immobile ball glitch relatively quickly. However, the underlying network problems that affect competitive integrity remain largely unaddressed. For a game positioning itself as a competitive esports contender, these technical shortcomings represent serious obstacles to long-term success.
Monetization Raises Eyebrows
Rematch employs a monetization strategy that feels at odds with its premium pricing. The game costs $20 upfront but operates like a free-to-play title in terms of cosmetic sales and battle pass progression. Players earn XP through matches to unlock basic customization options, but the most desirable items require either extensive grinding or direct purchase with real money.
The cosmetic variety shows genuine artistic merit. Character customization includes diverse hairstyles, tattoos, clothing options, and accessories that reflect the game’s stylized art direction. The painterly visual style gives these options real personality, making players feel distinct on the pitch. However, the most appealing cosmetics remain locked behind premium currency purchases.
Licensed player skins represent the monetization system at its most aggressive. Ronaldinho serves as the launch example – an iconic footballer skin that costs 1,000 in-game coins or approximately $8 in real money. This creates a concerning precedent where beloved football legends become premium purchases in a game players already paid to access. The FOMO-driven approach, with limited-time availability for certain items, mirrors the worst aspects of mobile game monetization.
The battle pass structure offers both free and premium tiers, but the free rewards feel deliberately sparse to encourage upgrades. Premium pass holders gain access to exclusive cosmetics and faster progression, creating a two-tiered experience that feels inappropriate for a premium game. This system works in free-to-play titles because players accept monetization as the price of entry, but Rematch asks for both upfront payment and ongoing microtransaction revenue.
One positive aspect of the progression system is its refusal to affect gameplay balance. All players compete on equal footing regardless of spending – there are no stat boosts, superior equipment, or gameplay advantages tied to purchases. This maintains competitive integrity even as it limits monetization potential.
The pricing structure reveals disconnect between developer expectations and market realities. Individual cosmetic items cost nearly half the game’s base price, while complete player skins approach the cost of entirely separate games. This aggressive approach risks alienating players who might otherwise support the game through reasonable cosmetic purchases.
Limited Content Raises Questions
Rematch launches with a surprisingly narrow content offering that raises questions about its long-term viability. The game provides only quick play and ranked multiplayer modes, with no single-player content beyond basic training exercises. This bare-bones approach works for some competitive games, but it leaves casual players with limited options when they want to practice skills or take a break from intense multiplayer matches.
The absence of AI opponents or offline modes feels particularly limiting. Players can’t hone their skills against computer-controlled teams or experiment with new techniques without jumping directly into human competition. The training area offers basic ball juggling and shooting practice, but it can’t replicate the complex scenarios that arise during actual matches. This creates a steep learning curve for newcomers who must develop skills under the pressure of live competition.
Sloclap has promised additional content including tournaments, leaderboards, and new game modes, but these features remain vague commitments without specific timelines. The developer’s track record with Sifu shows they can support games post-launch, but their previous titles required different types of ongoing content than a competitive multiplayer game demands.
The skill ceiling concerns extend beyond technical issues to fundamental game design. While Rematch offers depth in terms of team coordination and tactical understanding, individual mechanical skill expression feels more limited than successful competitive games provide. The control scheme creates initial complexity, but experienced players quickly discover that the gap between competent and elite performance is smaller than games like Rocket League or Counter-Strike offer.
Community building tools remain practically nonexistent. Players can’t create custom lobbies, organize tournaments, or establish persistent team structures. The ranking system displays only your current rank without showing progression paths or detailed statistics that help players understand their improvement areas. These features are essential for fostering the dedicated communities that sustain competitive games long-term.
The early access feeling permeates many aspects of the experience. Basic interface elements feel unpolished, tutorial systems lack depth, and fundamental features like detailed settings menus remain underdeveloped. While the core gameplay shows promise, the surrounding systems feel rushed to market rather than carefully crafted.
Rematch occupies an interesting but precarious position in the sports gaming landscape. It offers genuine innovation in football game design and delivers moments of exceptional excitement when everything clicks. However, technical issues, limited content, and questionable monetization choices prevent it from achieving its ambitious goals.
The game feels like a compelling proof of concept that needed additional development time to reach its full potential. For patient players willing to overlook current shortcomings, Rematch provides a unique football experience worth exploring. For those seeking a polished competitive game ready for serious investment, it might be wise to wait for substantial improvements before taking the field.
The Review
Rematch
Rematch presents innovative ideas that could reshape arcade football gaming, but launches in a frustratingly unfinished state. The unique third-person perspective and goalkeeper rotation system create genuinely fresh experiences, yet technical problems and sparse content undermine competitive aspirations. Sloclap's bold genre pivot shows promise but needed more development time to deliver on its ambitious vision.
PROS
- Innovative third-person football perspective
- Creative goalkeeper rotation system
- Satisfying skill-based shooting mechanics
- Strong visual art style
- Level playing field (no pay-to-win mechanics)
CONS
- Limited content at launch
- Aggressive monetization for premium game
- Technical bugs affecting competitive integrity
- Missing basic social features
