'Rematch Is Not Just a Football Game' Sloclap Discusses the Game's Design

Developer Sloclap has addressed some comparisons between its current football hit Rematch and its previous kung-fu game Sifu—saying the former is not a football game and the latter is not a kung-fu game. While at first sight Rematch may seem like a clear portrayal of a football match, the title completely sets itself apart from the traditional approach to the sport that other massively popular games like FIFA or PES have taken—and Sloclap has an interesting take on this.

Unlike many other soccer video games out there, Rematch takes players into an arcade-style match, where they face off against other players, each controlling a single character in third-person while rotating through roles. One key aspect that makes Rematch so different from the rest is its fast-paced gameplay, where there are no fouls, offsides, or stoppages, so the ball never really leaves play. Despite some technical setbacks at launch, the game turned into a smash hit quite fast, reaching over a million players on day one, with its audience being mostly competitive gamers rather than traditional football fans. Upon release, comparisons with Sloclap’s previous indie hit Sifu began, as the game—although from a totally different genre—seems to bear some resemblance to the kung-fu game—and the developer has something to say about it.

Rematch producer says competitive games don’t need to be free-to-play to succeed

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Rematch Devs Explain Why the Game Isn’t Free-to-Play

The Rematch executive producer explains in an interview why the recently released, successful soccer game isn’t free-to-play.

In a new developer update, Sloclap talked about Rematch and Sifu, addressing their similarities and curiosities, stating that the former “is not just a football game.” In fact, the developer went a step further and assured that “in a way it’s a samurai game.” Surprisingly enough, Sloclap also thinks that “Sifu was not just a kung-fu game.” The developer didn’t flesh out its answer much, though it justified its comparison between Rematch and a samurai game, pointing out how “interactions between players are swift, decisive, and can turn the tide of events in an instant.”

Sloclap Compares Rematch to a Samurai Game

Even though Sloclap is satisfied with Rematch‘s tremendous current success, the developer has acknowledged that it’s not the desired end state. “For the game to feel fair, and be fun, our execution must be flawless,” Sloclap wrote, while reaffirming its commitment to keep polishing the game and bring it “to its full potential.”

Sloclap has previously revealed Rematch’s roadmap, promising to bring crossplay, player reporting, new ranked queues, mouse and keyboard improvements, and adjustments to the ranking and progression system based on community feedback. While the game continues thriving, Rematch’s comparison with a samurai game sheds some light on its deep mechanics and gameplay potential.