Just pass the ball. Honestly, you could sum up everything I'm about to say with just those four words. I've been diving deep into Rematch, the newest football title from developer Sloclap, and it feels like a revitalizing change for a genre that's been craving one. It brilliantly captures that nostalgic feeling of playing on the school field or during those competitive Power League matches before my knees started creaking with every bend. The game masterfully delivers that personal sense of creative freedom found in the beautiful game—a core reason why football is so captivating to both play and watch. However, this individual focus often comes at the expense of teamwork.
Perhaps the solo-heavy flow of Rematch shouldn't be a shock. After all, Sloclap’s previous hit, Sifu, was entirely built on that concept. In fact, much of the 2022 martial arts roguelike has transitioned onto the football pitch. Its intricate, almost complex control schemes blur the boundaries between a sports game and an action title. I genuinely appreciate how Rematch handles in this aspect, and there’s an undeniable satisfaction in performing a rainbow flick over a defender before smashing the ball past a hapless goalkeeper who probably didn't want to be there anyway. The pinpoint accuracy you have when aiming these shots provides a tactical sharpness rarely found in other football games, including the simulation style of EA FC and the arcade chaos of Rocket League. All this sounds fantastic, and sometimes, it truly is. Yet, Rematch frequently ends up stuck in an uncomfortable space between its two primary influences.
The issues start when players forget football is a team sport, and matches devolve into contests of who can best mimic Diego Maradona’s 1986 World Cup wizardry. No, not the 'Hand of God' goal—we don't mention that one. Unfortunately, many players end up looking like the kid who showed up to school in flashy golden boots, only to trip over his own feet attempting a Ronaldinho-style elastico. All style, no substance, as the saying goes. This perfectly describes a lot of Rematch players, too. They sport outrageous hairstyles and wild kit combinations but fail to back up that flair with skilled gameplay. Don't get me wrong, I'm not demanding you be a pro—I'm certainly not one—I'm just asking you to pass the ball.
Minutes can fly by as you endlessly watch teammates try to dribble through entire defenses and take ludicrous shots from impossible angles, even when you're wide open in the box, perfectly positioned for a simple cross. I've played entire matches in Sifu, whether 3v3, 4v4, or 5v5, without receiving a single pass. Of course, when these individual efforts come off, the highlight reels quickly fill up. Acrobatics, flicks, and tricks are visually spectacular, and I wouldn't want to see those moments become rare. But such flashes of brilliance should be just that—highlights, not the default strategy for every single possession. The game may be about personal glory, but for me, true glory has always been a collective achievement.
Whether I was actually playing football, drifting between midfield and defense to create chances for a striker, or more recently in EA FC Clubs, channeling my inner Andrea Pirlo by distributing the ball from a deep-lying playmaker role, it has always been a team sport to me. Frustratingly, Rematch hasn't delivered that essential aspect of my favorite sport. Teamplay in any game is one of my absolute favorite experiences. While Sloclap's soccer game could easily feel like a finely-tuned hero-shooter version of football, with each player fulfilling a specific role within a coordinated unit, it instead feels like playing on an open role queue—like an Overwatch lobby overflowing with damage dealers. Sure, this can still be exciting, but it never truly feels like the game is operating as designed, or at least as intended.
I'm not entirely sure how to fix this issue, assuming it's a genuine problem and not just a personal gripe. Ultimately, it's up to the players to decide how they engage with a game. That said, perhaps Sloclap could further encourage teamwork by offering cosmetics or bonus XP as rewards for selfless play—things like providing assists or even rewarding players for every successful pass they make. Then again, maybe these are just the unavoidable challenges of playing a team-based game online with random people. It's hard to build genuine chemistry in just a ten-minute match.
Maybe the real solution is for me to find a group of like-minded friends to play Rematch with—my personal Xavi, Iniesta, and Busquets to share quick passes and neat triangular moves around our opponents. Honestly, though, making new friends in your 30s is tough. And since I didn't grow up training at Barcelona's La Masia academy, that dream is pretty much a non-starter. Oh well. In the meantime, please, just pass the ball. I promise I'll pass it right back to you.
