Sloclap's Soccer Game Rematch Aims to Make Players Feel Like Athletes

Developer Sloclap’s newest project, Rematch, aims to give soccer fans a completely new experience with its fast-paced, stylish 5v5 format. The studio behind Absolver and Sifu raised a few eyebrows when the game’s trailer was released, as many had expected another combat-focused title. Despite this, the project seems to have retained some of Sifu‘s qualities and hopes to appeal to a wide range of gamers.

In a recent interview with Game Rant, Sloclap’s Creative Director Pierre Tarno discussed some of Rematch’s core mechanics. He talked about how the indie game steers clear of fantasy elements despite its bombastic, over-the-top action. Although the game will certainly appeal to soccer fans, Tarno also pointed out that even people who don’t usually watch soccer or play soccer games will likely have a lot of fun playing Rematch.

Rematch‘s trailer showed off a blend of striking visuals, with an art style similar to the one in Sifu, combined with stylish, flashy soccer on the pitch. Big, bombastic strikes at goal, with a huge scoreboard at either end of the pitch, are reminiscent of the competitive arcade-style vehicle soccer game Rocket League. However, despite these comparisons, Tarno was quick to point out that Rematch does not lean heavily into fantasy elements, instead walking a line between arcade-style action and realism. He said:

”It’s important to note that there are no fantasy elements in Rematch—we’re aiming for an experience that feels both credible and epic. There’s a key difference between credibility and realism: we’re not trying to create a realistic football simulation. Instead, our choices are driven by the game’s feel and the depth of mechanics. One of the core pillars of development was to make players feel like an amazing athlete.”

Rematch isn’t Just For Soccer Fans

The soccer genre has been dominated for decades by the FIFA series and EA FC. A new, alternative soccer title could appeal strongly to those growing tired of EA FC‘s annual iterations, which usually offer minor graphical and gameplay improvements rather than completely new mechanics or modes. Despite this, Tarno was keen to stress that Sloclap is not only looking at existing soccer fans as its target demographic, explaining:

”It’s worth noting that while football fans will enjoy Rematch, you don’t need to be one to have fun. In fact, even within our team, several developers aren’t hardcore football fans, but they still love playing Rematch! At its heart, Rematch is about the joy of playing football with friends. We’re excited to see players team up and have fun together.”

Rematch is certainly an interesting new direction for a studio that hasn’t dabbled with sports titles up to this point. The studio deserves credit for choosing not to play it safe, and instead working on a project the team is clearly passionate about. Sloclap’s dedication to fluid player movement and immersion promises a fresh new take on a soccer game that friends can enjoy together when Rematch is released later this year.

Rematch is set to release for PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X|S in the Summer of 2025. Players can register for the beta here.

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