GOALS vs REMATCH – Two Football Games, Worlds Apart

Two New Takes on the Beautiful Game—But They’re Not Even Playing the Same Sport

I’ve played both. And trust me—it’s like night and day. You might think we’re dealing with another Pro Evolution vs FIFA scenario here, but this is something else entirely. REMATCH and GOALS aim at the same goal (pun intended), but the way they play the game couldn’t be more different.

My Gameplay Videos

GOALS Gameplay:

REMATCH Gameplay:

Football Heroes League Gameplay:

GOALS: Clean, Fast, Free

GOALS is a free-to-play, esports-ready football game built from the ground up for responsive PvP gameplay. It’s currently in Alpha and available through Steam and Xbox Insider testing. If you miss the feel of older FIFA games—when they were more about skill and tight control—you’ll feel right at home here.

The devs made a clear choice: no fluff, no cutscenes, no “Ultimate Team” monetization. Just fast matchmaking, smooth controls, and skill-based goals. No joke—it feels like a stripped-back, no-nonsense FIFA made for competitive play.

REMATCH: Football Rewired

REMATCH doesn’t play by the usual rules. It’s a 3v3 to 5v5 football game where there are no refs, no stoppages, no offsides. Whoever enters the goal zone becomes the keeper. It’s all about fluidity, physicality, and precision timing. The movement system feels like something you’d expect from a martial arts game—think Sloclap meets street football.

The controls are different. You use the analog sticks for manual shots and curved passes. It’s hard at first, but when it clicks, it feels like no other football game on the market. If you like anime-style characters, dynamic kicks, and arcade action with depth, REMATCH might just surprise you.

What About Football Heroes League?

Let me get this out of the way: I won’t include Football Heroes League in this comparison. It’s basically Rocket League copy-pasted onto a football field. That’s not a bad thing—but comparing it to GOALS or REMATCH is like comparing Rocket League to DiRT Rally. It’s a totally different genre, meant for totally different moods. Fun? Sure. But relevant here? Not really.

What About UFL?

There’s another football game on the horizon—UFL. While I haven’t played it yet—and I don’t like to let my feelings run wild without hands-on time—it’s shaping up to be a serious contender. Built on Unreal Engine 5 with promises of fair-to-play mechanics and esports ambitions, UFL is aiming straight at the same space as GOALS.

We’ll be keeping a close eye on it and will circle back with a follow-up once the developers release a public demo or playtest. For now, here’s where you can wishlist it:

My Take

If you want something that feels like the FIFA glory days, but modernized for tight, clean online gameplay—go play GOALS. It’s fun, it’s fast, and it respects your time. But if you want something completely different—an anime-styled brawler mixed with football and a high skill ceiling—REMATCH is for you.

They both deserve attention, but they’re not trying to be the same thing. And that’s why this isn’t FIFA vs PES all over again.