I was a little surprised when Sloclap, the maker of fighting games Absolver and Sifu, announced in 2024 that its next project was a multiplayer soccer game called Rematch. It's not what I'd call an obvious fit, but it does look to be shaping up to be a very good game, and this weekend you'll be able to get a taste of what it's like in an open beta set to start on April 18.
Rematch takes a different approach to soccer than most other videogame translations: It's a multiplayer-exclusive game in which each person controls a single player on the field. That makes teamwork and coordination essential, because even when you don't have the ball you have to maintain position and keep up with the flow of play to ensure you're ready to take advantage of any opportunity that presents itself. It's also a very streamlined take on the sport, with no offsides or fouls, which aims to keep the action flowing.
