The team at Sloclap has done something very special with Rematch. First off, they have pivoted to create something completely different and unique after their two previous games, Absolver and Sifu — which both focused on martial arts. Still, I can feel the DNA of those previous titles within this online arcade soccer game.

Rematch’s big accomplishment — other than being a super fun and awesome game — is that it has shown the industry that online multiplayer games can succeed in our current gaming landscape. The secret formula isn’t to copy-and-paste what is already working elsewhere, but instead to create something new that players didn’t even know they needed or wanted. And that is exactly what they have done.

Side Quest*
When Concord came out last year, and quickly disappeared,
it was another iteration in a crowded market — the multiplayer
first-person hero shooter market. I played Concord’s Beta and
I had a good time, but it just made me think about going back
to Overwatch if I needed my first-person hero shooter fix.

Rematch has sustained a high player count ever since the closed and open beta periods. Even after releasing at $30-50, they sold over one million copies in twenty-four hours. People are loving this game and Sloclap is currently working on some major fixes from adding crossplay to more modes and social features.

Working Together

The magic of this game comes in the form of teamwork. Rematch currently offers 3v3, 4v4, or 5v5 arcade-style futbol/soccer. Players rotate positions after goals are scored, meaning everyone will play as goalkeeper at some point — as long as goals are scored.

What I’ve learned after a couple of hours is that matches are won when players cooperate and stick to their positions. If you try to be an all-star and ignore your teammates, you will most likely fail — and let down your mates. I’ve been selfish a couple of times and gone for the impossible goal, only to realize that my nearby teammate would have easily scored if I had just fed them the ball. You play and you learn.

When working as one cohesive unit and things go right (goal scored), it does feel like a success to everyone. As when things go wrong, but we are working together, it is a team failure. Every goal scored feels like a big moment.

When it comes to 3v3 or 5v5 mode, the game feels completely different. 3v3 matches are more fast-paced, there are more shots on goal, and more breakaways. These tend to be higher scoring matches. 5v5 matches are a bit slower. This is more like a real-life soccer sim with so many players on the pitch. There’s more concentration on passing and defensive tactics.

What Comes Next?

I’m so happy for Sloclap and their current success with Rematch. I just hope the game’s momentum will continue. I know they plan on adding new modes, features, and content, but I’m curious to see if this game has the staying power of something like Rocket League or Fall Guys — which I’m still playing so many years later.

There is an in-game season pass, which I’m still trying to figure out. They already have a collaboration with Puma, so I can see them continuing down the collaboration and sponsorship road. How long until we see Sabrina Carpenter and Stormtroopers in Rematch (a la Fortnite)?

I’m having a great time with these short matches. I finally made it into ranked matches, which are only offered as 5v5 currently. Rematch has become my perfect pre- and post- gaming session game. One of those games you play when you first boot up your console or right before bed. I can see myself jumping in and out of Rematch for years to come, as long as Sloclap can sustain the game.