Review: REMATCH (Xbox/PC) - Sloclap Bangs it Top Bins

Let’s kick off with the obvious: “Rematch is a Rocket League clone without the high-flying cars”. Sure, there’s some truth to that - but in my opinion, SIFU developer Sloclap delivers a much deeper gameplay experience that keeps you coming back for one more game. Simply calling it “Rocket League” sells short just how good the game really is.

Rematch sticks you in a pair of boots to compete in acrobatic games of footie (or soccer). As an individual player, you’ll compete against other teams in online 3v3s, 4v4s, or 5v5s match types until one team scores four more goals than their opponent - or, if the clock runs out, a golden goal decides it in overtime.

It plays fast. Fluid. And when you're in a team that knows what it's doing, it genuinely soars - *cough pass *cough. The matches are compact and high-stakes, but there’s real depth underneath the surface chaos. You’ll be threading risky through balls, blocking edge-of-the-box screamers, or switching into goal for a last-ditch save - all in the span of six minutes. It’s as much about awareness and positioning as it is about flair, and the game rewards you for the unseen work. Passes, tackles, saves - they all earn leaderboard points, nudging players toward cooperation over selfish heroics - and please folks, no more selfish heroics, it ruins the game!

Like Rocket League, Rematch builds itself around a deceptively simple control scheme - but here, there’s an edge, something deeper. Shots are aimed with the camera, passes are manual, and the whole system feels alien at first. It’s like trying to unlearn everything modern football games like FIFA 25 (It's FC now, I know) have taught you. But once it clicks, and you’re playing 1-2s with the actual heroes of Rematch, the freedom is intoxicating. Whether your shoulders are heavy from defending for the entire team all match, running the pitch-box-arena as your team's passing merchant, or flicking the ball off the wall to self-assist an absolutely filthy bicycle kick into the top bin, there’s room to express yourself in Rematch.

The flow of play is helped by some lovely touches. Animations are crisp and responsive. A seamless goalie system lets any player don the gloves just by stepping into the box. Basic quick shout commands - pass, cross, sorry - help enough to keep matches ticking even when playing solo - saving you from actually having to talk to strangers via a mic - scary, no thanks. It feels like football reimagined as a brawler: kinetic, expressive, and just the right side of scrappy. Truth be told, I wasn't sold on Rematch when it was announced at the tail end of 2024. But now, having spent an entire week with the game, SIFU-Football makes sense to me now.

But unfortunately, it’s not without faults. Lag, and ball desync can be a persistent issue, especially in competitive Ranked queues when every match result matters to your division ranking. The lack of a ping system makes solo queueing more difficult than it needs to be, and there’s no proper offline mode outside of some minor drills, and practice arena. Customisation is fine - decent, even - leaning into a free-to-play model despite this being a paid game. There's a season pass (of course there is), a rotating shop, and even real-money legends like Ronaldinho - that you'll fork out £8/$10 for, ouch! Thankfully, none of it affects gameplay, and the free offerings are generous enough to feel fair. Still, it’s a slippery slope that’ll need careful handling.

Performance wise, on the Xbox Series X/S everything runs smoothly. I haven't run into any major bugs, or had to tackle anything terrible. Pretty smooth considering Rematch is only 5.2GB. Here’s hoping for some additional features in the coming months, like training against bots, and customisable callout wheels, as well as ironing out any matchmaking, lag, and ball desync issues. With a little more polish, Rematch could become something truly massive.

Conclusion

Despite the occasional frustration, I can’t stop playing. Rematch has that same pick-up-and-play magic that made Rocket League a phenomenon - but it feels richer, messier, and more rewarding. Sloclap has delivered something immediately special. There’s a rhythm to it - a proper learning curve, a satisfying grind, and a genuine buzz when everything aligns. Whether it’s curling in a last-second equaliser off the woodwork or teeing up a teammate for a banger, it sinks its teeth in deep - and before you know it, the hours have vanished.

How have you found Rematch? Fan of the game? Or no? Let us know in the comments.