In a sea of giant games, Rematch’s simplicity is a gift

Rematch: A Breath of Fresh Air in Multiplayer Soccer

There’s something refreshing about Rematch, the new multiplayer soccer game from Sifu developer Sloclap. If you’re looking for a game that’s fun, easy to pick up, and beautifully straightforward, this is it. But there’s one word I wouldn’t use to describe it: ambitious. Now, that’s not a negative critique; in fact, it’s one of the things I love most about it.

In a world filled with over-complicated games that try to do a million things at once, Rematch strips everything down to the basics, and honestly, that’s a big part of its charm. It’s an online multiplayer soccer game where teams of three to five players (depending on the playlist) compete in six-minute matches. The rules? Simple. You’re on a walled-off pitch, passing, blocking, and shooting to score goals. The team with the most goals at the end wins. That’s it. No gimmicks, no crazy power-ups, no flying cars—just soccer.

So, What Makes Rematch So Enjoyable?

At first glance, it might seem like there isn’t much to Rematch. But the more I play, the more I realize there’s a lot of depth hiding beneath its simple premise. As you get into the game, you start discovering little tricks and techniques that make the game far more complex than it initially appears.

For example, I can kick the ball away from me strategically if I know an opponent is about to try a slide tackle. It’s a simple maneuver, but it adds a level of finesse that’s really satisfying to pull off. I can also perform a rainbow flick to outsmart opponents, or bounce the ball off a wall to set up a teammate for a clean shot on goal. These aren’t flashy moves, but they add subtle complexity and push you to keep improving your skills.

Simplicity with Depth: The Beauty of Rematch

What really stands out to me about Rematch is how it strikes the perfect balance between simplicity and depth. If you’re just here to play casually, you can jump in and enjoy the basic fun of kicking the ball around and scoring goals without worrying about learning advanced moves. But for players who want to get more into it, there’s plenty to master.

It’s a philosophy that reminds me of those classic NES sports games like Golf and Baseball from the 1980s. Nintendo’s early sports games were super simple—just pick up the controller and play—but they had a certain charm that made them easy to enjoy and hard to put down. Later, we saw this philosophy carry over with Wii Sports, which boiled sports like Tennis down to their core, focusing on the pure joy of playing. Rematch carries that same spirit, offering a game that’s accessible but still full of layers for players who want to dive deeper.

No Need for Flashy Gimmicks: Just Straightforward Fun

In today’s gaming landscape, where nearly every game seems to add over-the-top mechanics and gimmicks to get noticed, Rematch stands out because it knows exactly what it is—and doesn’t try to be anything else. There’s no need for crazy special moves or complex mechanics like you’d find in games like Rocket League. Rematch focuses on what makes soccer fun at its core: passing, shooting, defending, and teamwork.

I’ve found myself returning to Rematch again and again, and I couldn’t help but think about other games that have the same feeling of simplicity. Games like Videoverse and Venba are among my top picks for 2023 because they don’t try to overcomplicate things. They embrace the idea of focusing on a clear creative vision, and they execute it flawlessly. In the same way, Rematch feels like a game that doesn’t take 100 shots and miss half of them—it lines up a few carefully aimed ones and knocks them right into the goal. It doesn’t need to be extravagant to be enjoyable.

Ambition vs. Restraint: A Personal Reflection

Thinking about Rematch also led me to reflect on how we view ambition in games today. Over the years, the word ambitious has been used as a synonym for “great” in gaming, often applied to huge, sprawling titles like Elden Ring or Baldur’s Gate 3. These games are massive, with countless systems and layers of complexity, and while they’re praised for their grand vision, ambition can sometimes feel overwhelming.

I remember my mixed feelings about Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, a game that many praised for its ambition. While I appreciated its scope, I found myself frustrated by its clutter and messiness. For me, I realized that ambition isn’t always what I value most in a game. What I appreciate more are games that focus on one thing and do it really well, without trying to overwhelm the player with too much. That’s why Rematch resonates with me so much—it’s focused, elegant, and doesn’t try to be more than it needs to be.

Rematch: A Refined, Joyful Experience

At its core, Rematch isn’t trying to reinvent the wheel—it’s simply refining the basics of multiplayer soccer and making it accessible and fun. Whether you’re a seasoned gamer or a casual player, you can pick it up and immediately enjoy the experience. For me, that’s what makes it so special.

Sloclap could have made this a more complex game, adding tons of extra features or mechanics to cater to a broader audience, but instead, they chose to keep it simple and focused. And that’s exactly what makes Rematch so captivating.

FAQ: Everything You Need to Know About Rematch

Q1: What is Rematch?

• Rematch is an online multiplayer soccer game where teams of three to five players compete in six-minute matches. The objective is to score as many goals as possible, using basic soccer mechanics like passing, blocking, and shooting. The game’s simplicity is its strength, offering easy-to-understand gameplay with plenty of room for mastery.

Q2: What makes Rematch different from other soccer games?

• Unlike many modern sports games that add flashy gimmicks or power-ups, Rematch focuses on the fundamentals of soccer. There are no distractions—just pure soccer fun with simple mechanics that anyone can enjoy.

Q3: Is there a learning curve?

• While the game is easy to pick up and play, there are subtle mechanics like rainbow flicks and bounce passes off walls that add depth for players who want to master more advanced techniques.

Q4: Can I play Rematch casually?

• Absolutely! Rematch is designed to be fun for both casual players and those looking to dive deeper. If you just want to kick the ball around and have fun, it’s simple and approachable. But if you want to get more competitive, the game offers plenty of nuances to master.

Q5: What’s the focus of Rematch’s gameplay?

• The focus of Rematch is on simple soccer mechanics: passing, shooting, and defending. It’s all about teamwork, strategy, and fun, without the complexity found in other multiplayer games.

Q6: Can I play Rematch on different platforms?

• Yes, Rematch is available on multiple platforms, including PS5, Xbox Series X/S, and PC.

Conclusion: Why Rematch Is a Game Worth Playing

If you’re tired of the overcomplicated, overly ambitious games that seem to dominate the gaming landscape, Rematch offers a refreshing alternative. It’s simple, elegant, and fun, and it proves that you don’t need a ton of flashy gimmicks or complex systems to create a game that’s enjoyable. Whether you’re playing for five minutes or five hours, Rematch offers a pure, unadulterated soccer experience that’s easy to jump into and hard to put down. In a world full of complicated, sprawling games, Rematch shines by focusing on what really matters: having fun.