Latest news with #Rematch
Engadget
8 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Engadget
Silky soccer, romancing everything and other new indie games worth checking out
Summer is finally here — at least for those of us north of the equator — and you might be planning to spend more time outdoors. Thanks to a swathe of great handheld devices, it's never been easier to play some fantastic indie games wherever you might be, so you can soak up the sun while unlocking achievements. There are a bunch of intriguing new indies you can check out right now, as well as a significant update for a certain thirst-inducing roguelite that's still in early access. I've also a few upcoming titles in this, the latest edition of our indie roundup. One of them has a Steam demo that you might end up spending several enjoyable hours with. Before we get started, a quick word of warning: Your wishlist and resolve are about to be tested as the Steam Summer Sale starts next week. I mean, good luck in advance with the bargain hunting! To view this content, you'll need to update your privacy settings. Please click here and view the "Content and social-media partners" setting to do so. I have to hold my hands up, I was skeptical about Rematch . When it was revealed that Sloclap — the team behind martial arts games Absolver and Sifu — was making an action-focused soccer game, I had some doubts that it would work. Rematch looked like the studio had taken Rocket League and retrofitted it with human characters. And with both that car soccer game and EA Sports FC 25 as competition, Sloclap was really going to have to do something special to break through. I think the studio might have just pulled that off. Rematch is entirely skill-based with no stat upgrades for your character. You control one player throughout the match, and you'll transition between attacking and defending while rotating the goalkeeper role with teammates. The action is very fluid and fast, and the controls are responsive (they'd have to be). Like in Rocket League , the ball doesn't go out of bounds. There are no fouls or offsides either. I've really enjoyed my first dozen or so games of Rematch . I came to realize that I'm more effective in a midfield/playmaker role or even as the goalkeeper than as an attacker. I haven't been able to get the hang of using the twin-stick controls to aim and shoot at the goal well enough as yet, but I've figured out a way to both help my team and have fun. There are some bugs that the developers are racing to fix and the lack of cross-play at the jump is a bit disappointing (Sloclap says it ran into some technical issues there, but getting that sorted is a top priority for the team). Still, Rematch feels like a very sticky game that I imagine many folks are going to sink dozens of hours into. It's already off to a strong start — it surpassed a million players on its first day. Rematch is out now on Steam, PS5 and Xbox Series X/S. It's on Game Pass Ultimate and PC Game Pass. To view this content, you'll need to update your privacy settings. Please click here and view the "Content and social-media partners" setting to do so. After some delays, it's finally time to date everything in Date Everything! As the title of this dating sim from Sassy Chap Games and publisher Team17 suggests, you can romance anthropomorphized versions of things around your home. There are more than 100 voice-acted characters you can woo, from the doors and wall, to a mouse trap and dust bunny behind a couch, to fire and air. Things get pretty meta, as you can also date the devs, the game itself and "your overwhelming sense of existential dread." There are multiple endings for each character and around 70,000 lines of dialogue, so there's plenty to explore here. Reviews have been generally positive, with praise for the writing and design. I can't wait to see the reactions of my seatmate when I'm playing it on my next flight. Date Everything! is out now on Nintendo Switch, PS5, Xbox Series X/S and PC. To view this content, you'll need to update your privacy settings. Please click here and view the "Content and social-media partners" setting to do so. Lost in Random was received fairly well a few years back and now a roguelite spinoff has arrived. Lost in Random: The Eternal Die is out on Steam, Nintendo Switch, PS5, Xbox Series X/S, Game Pass Ultimate and PC Game Pass. This is a run-based action game with an isometric perspective and some permanent progression. So, it's very much Hades -coded, though it gives the genre a gothic storybook spin with a dice-rolling element. To view this content, you'll need to update your privacy settings. Please click here and view the "Content and social-media partners" setting to do so. Speaking of which (and in case you missed it), the third major early access update for Hades II arrived this week. Oh, sure, there are new bosses and combat options and so on. All of that's great. But for many fans, the biggest addition this time is proper character art for Narcissus. Unsurprisingly, he's hot and he knows it. To view this content, you'll need to update your privacy settings. Please click here and view the "Content and social-media partners" setting to do so. From time to time, I'll start playing a demo and very quickly feel that GIF of Ralph Wiggum from The Simpsons pop into my head. You know, the one where he goes "Haha, I'm in danger!" (the GIF is actually from a crossover Family Guy episode in which characters from that show visited Springfield, fact fans). Such is the case with Ball x Pit , a game that I am already certain is going to absorb many, many hours of my life. I didn't get to the Ball x Pit demo until after Steam Next Fest ended, but it's still available until the full game goes live later this year (it's coming to Xbox Series X/S and Nintendo Switch too). After playing the demo, it's easy to see why publisher Devolver Digital dedicated the entire Summer Game Fest edition of its Devolver Direct showcase to this project from indie developer Kenny Sun and half-a-dozen collaborators. Ball x Pit is a blend of Breakout and Vampire Survivors with base-building elements. As you play the brick-breaking survival levels, you'll earn resources you can use to build out your homestead, which feeds back into the projectile chaos. It's an absorbing loop, but the real fun for me comes in the pit. Here, your character will (either manually or automatically) fire magic-infused balls at enemy tiles while avoiding their attacks and making sure the bad guys don't reach the bottom of the screen. You'll collect more projectiles and passive upgrades throughout your run. The real magic happens when you're able to fuse together a pair of balls to combine their effects. So, a ghost ball that passes through enemies instead of bouncing between them might also deliver a laser attack to other baddies in the same row or column. It's already apparent that the gameplay here will run deep. There will be a host of levels, characters and upgrades to unlock. I really can't wait for Ball x Pit to entirely ruin my productivity. To view this content, you'll need to update your privacy settings. Please click here and view the "Content and social-media partners" setting to do so. I loved the Goosebumps books and TV show as a kid, so a stealth game based on the series caught my eye. In Goosebumps: Terror in Little Creek (from PHL Collective and publisher GameMill Entertainment), you'll try to avoid monsters in a nightmarish town but if you run into any, you can defend yourself with your slingshot. This game includes puzzles and an original story with multiple endings, while the art style looks charmingly old-school. It's coming to Nintendo Switch, PS5, Xbox Series X/S and Steam on August 29. To view this content, you'll need to update your privacy settings. Please click here and view the "Content and social-media partners" setting to do so. Let's close things out for this week with the latest look at PowerWash Simulator 2 . I enjoyed the first game immensely, and the new trailer shows off some more fresh features that are coming to the sequel, which is slated to hit PC, PS5 and Xbox Series X/S later this year. This time around, you'll be able to abseil or use a scissor lift to get to grimy, hard-to-reach spots. Multi-stage jobs are also new in PowerWash Simulator 2, and there will be a public restroom (ick) to make pristine. In addition, you'll be able to buy and restore antique furniture for your home base, while your pet kitties can join you on cleaning jobs. Cute!
Time of India
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Upcoming Xbox Game Pass games in June 2025
Image via Microsoft June 2025 is shaping up to be a very promising and exciting month for Xbox Game Pass subscribers. Maybe you like hardcore shooters, sometimes remastered old-school, or indie jewels; there is something new to play. Microsoft still fulfills its promise of a diverse and huge library, and this month is no different. There are solid day-one titles, best-selling games, and an ample amount of innovative new experiences, depending on how potential players like to experience their games, whether it's on console, PC, or even on the cloud. Exciting additions to Xbox Game Pass in June 2025 The following titles are scheduled to join the Xbox Game Pass library between June 17 and July 1: FBC: Firebreak (June 17 – Cloud, PC, Xbox Series X|S): A thrilling co-op shooter set in the universe of Control, making its debut on Game Pass. Crash Bandicoot 4: It's About Time (June 17—Console, PC): Players' favorite marsupial returns with more time-bending platforming fun. Lost in Random: The Eternal Die (June 17 – All Platforms): A quirky, ambition-driven adventure that mixes storybook charm with action. Star Trucker (June 18 – Xbox Series X|S): A space-hauling sim with retro flair and unpredictable plots. Wildfrost (June 18 – Console) : A deck-building roguelike filled with frosty foes and strategic battles. Rematch (June 19—All Platforms): A unique 5v5 multiplayer football game that combines sports with action-style pacing. Volcano Princess (June 24—All Platforms): A heartwarming RPG where you raise a future ruler in a whimsical kingdom. Against the Storm (June 26—Console, Cloud): A dark fantasy city-builder with roguelike elements expected on consoles. Warcraft I, II & III Remasters (June 26—PC): The iconic strategy games are back with updated visuals and modern UI. Call of Duty: WWII (June 30 – Console, PC): A grainy, cinematic World War II shooter joins the lineup. Little Nightmares II and Rise of the Tomb Raider (July 1 – All Platforms): Two acclaimed titles round out the month. Key highlights to be noted: Day-one releases : Two major titles— FBC: Firebreak and Rematch —are hitting Xbox Game Pass the same day they launch. That means no waiting around; you can dive in as soon as the game drops. Classical Comebacks : Strategic players are in for a treat with the remastered Warcraft trilogy. These beloved games have been given a modern upgrade, blending nostalgia with refreshed visuals and smoother UI gameplay. June 2025 delivers a compelling mix of fresh releases and treasured classics to Xbox Game Pass. Highlights range from Remedy's co-op shooter to an innovative football game, supported by strategy enthusiasts' remasters and veteran franchises like Call of Duty. Xbox Game Pass continues to strengthen its proposition by balancing exclusivity, nostalgia, and creative experimentation. Game On Season 1 kicks off with Sakshi Malik's inspiring story. Watch Episode 1 here
Forbes
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Forbes
‘Rematch' Devs Are Trying To Get Crossplay Working ASAP, Apologize For It Not Being There At Launch
Improving Rematch's slide tackle is on the to-do list for Sloclap. But first, bug fixes and ... More crossplay. Rematch, the skill-based action soccer game from Absolver and Sifu studio Sloclap, is off to a strong start. At the time of writing, it has reached more than 92,000 concurrent players on Steam alone on its launch day. It's also available on PS5 and Xbox Series X/S, as well as Game Pass Ultimate and PC Game Pass. But there's a significant feature missing from the game as things stand: crossplay. Sloclap said in a statement that it did its "utmost" to have crossplay ready by launch, but it ran into "unforeseen technical complexities which prevented us from having this feature ready in time." The studio added that it should have been more forthcoming about crossplay not being ready in time for launch. It apologized "for the inconvenience and frustration it caused to some of our players." Sloclap has been working hard to update and optimize Rematch – it deployed two patches during the early access period. But alongside fixing bugs, Sloclap says "crossplay is our absolute highest priority." The studio said: FEATURED | Frase ByForbes™ Unscramble The Anagram To Reveal The Phrase Pinpoint By Linkedin Guess The Category Queens By Linkedin Crown Each Region Crossclimb By Linkedin Unlock A Trivia Ladder "We're committed to delivering this feature swiftly, and we'll share a more precise deadline as soon as possible. We already have a basic working version from a technical standpoint, but we need to implement the relevant interfaces, before debugging and polishing it, and finally passing console certifications successfully – all this takes time but we are doing our best to move forward quickly." Here's hoping that's resolved soon. In fairness, Sloclap has a small team and this is the first time it's offering crossplay in one of its games, so this is a new challenge for it to solve. There are other, perhaps more pressing technical issues that Sloclap is trying to resolve such as the lag, stuttering and frame drops that some players are dealing with. "Our team is currently implementing performance optimizations and settings adjustments to significantly improve stability," the studio says. "Likewise, we are continuously working on improving server stability to bring you a smoother gameplay experience across the board." Along with those problems, Sloclap is tackling issues including server and client desync, crashes, game freezes after goals and menu lockouts. It plans to deploy regular hotfixes and patches in the coming weeks to attempt to resolve those, all the while adding more features. Fixing technical problems should be the top priority for Rematch, but there are some interesting features and updates in the pipeline. In the coming months, Sloclap plans to improve slide tackles, goalkeeper mechanics, dribbling and wall contact (like in Rocket League, the ball doesn't go out of bounds and is kept in play by a barrier). Test servers are on the way to help Sloclap trial new features and other updates in a live environment. Tournament and club creation systems are in the pipeline, along with more social features and a leaderboard system for players above Elite ranking. You can expect some updates for casual play too, such as more quick play modes and AI-controlled bots for you to practice with. Again, Sloclap isn't a huge studio, so it'll be quite some time before it can add all of these. You might have to wait until next year for some of them. But here's hoping the studio can at least take care of the technical issues as soon as possible. There's clearly a large audience for Rematch, and it would be nice to have a viable alternative for the likes of EA Sports FC without game-breaking bugs getting in the way. Follow my blog for coverage of video games (such as Rematch) and word games. It helps me out a lot! Follow me on Bluesky too! And make sure to subscribe to my newsletter, Pastimes!
Tom's Guide
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Tom's Guide
Rematch is the soccer game I didn't know I needed after EA Sports FC 25 let me down
To date, I've played some 70 hours of EA Sports FC 25. That might seem a pretty healthy playtime after around 10 months, but traditionally, at this stage in the season, I'd usually be well over the 120-hour mark in each year's new installment in the annual soccer simulation series. The fact that I'm so far off my typical pace speaks to how increasingly underwhelming I've found EA's sports juggernaut franchise. I'm a massive soccer (make that football for us Brits) fan, and the series has always been a staple of my gaming diet. But lately, it seems to be just going through the motions. In steps Rematch, a new online sports game from Sloclap. Curiously, Rematch takes a lot of cues from the new Rush mode introduced in EA Sports FC 25, which was one of the few things I really liked about the game. But Rematch takes it further, adding an increased skill element, and thrives thanks to that same fast-paced energy that propelled Rocket League into the stratosphere. After just a little time with Rematch, I'm already totally hooked. Rematch is a new online soccer game from developer Sloclap. You control a single player in matches of up to 10 players as you compete to score well-worked goals and make dramatic defensive interventions. With colorful visuals, fast-paced gameplay and a high skill ceiling, Rematch will appeal to football fans and newcomers platforms: $29 @ Steam | $29 @ Xbox Store The simplest way to describe Rematch is that it's Rocket League but with regular people instead of zippy RC cars. Now, stick with me, I know that sounds silly because that's just normal soccer, but Rematch takes plenty of aspects from the popular online car-based sports game. The arena is entirely enclosed, so you can bounce the ball off just about every surface, and while you can't sprint up vertical walls à la Rocket League, you can perform acrobatic actions that put a circus performer to shame. Played entirely online, with each player controlling an individual avatar, Rematch is available in 3v3, 4v4 and 5v5 modes. While the middle option is presented as the default, I've found 3v3s to be the most engaging, as you always feel a part of the action, and can make game-defining moments regularly. But in 3v3s, you really can't carry anybody, so you need a good team. Rematch also takes a novel approach to the goalkeeper position. Rather than having somebody stuck in nets all match, the keeper rotates after each goal scored, and you can even switch who's playing the role anytime just by quickly swapping physical positions on the field. This can also lead to a clutch scenario when you sub into the keeper role just as your opposition unleashes a shot. Not to keep circling back to Rocket League, but Rematch shines brightest during tightly contested games. I had one recent match that finished 5-4, with my team scoring a well-worked goal in Overtime to win the match. I was practically kneesliding across my living room as the net bulged. Unlike EA Sports FC, which takes a user-friendly pick-and-play approach, allowing most people to get reasonably comfortable before even half-time in their very first match, Rematch is instantly demanding of its players. Frankly, I'm still getting to grips with its various mechanics — I keep forgetting you're slower when in possession, allowing defenders to muscle me off the ball all too often — but with each new game, I feel I'm gaining a greater understanding of how to play most effectively to help my team win. Passing and shooting are really tricky to master. Sloclap has stripped away the generous auto-targeting found in EA's series, and instead asks you to deliberately aim where you're launching the ball with your foot. Has this led to me flubbing several 'should-score' chances? Of course, but the moments where I have pulled off a top-corner curler have been immensely satisfying. The skill ceiling in Rematch seems almost limitless, and I just know that pro-level players are going to put together some incredible Messi-like passages of play, making the rest of us look like Ali Dia (kudos to you, if you got that reference). But rather than this high level of mechanical complexity being off-putting, it's a huge part of the reason I desperately want to play more. In the final game of my most recent play session (which came about 45 minutes after I'd originally intended to log-off because I just kept saying 'one more game'), I managed to bag my first hat-trick, and it felt like a culmination of all the skills I'd picked up in my time with Rematch so far. However, I've certainly not mastered the game; I'm definitely still a lower-league player. Like pretty much all online games released in the current era of gaming, Rematch's launch isn't the finish line; it's really just the kick-off. Sloclap is promising a string of future updates, alongside the usual live service accoutrements like a Battle Pass and various licensed collaborations. The game has even launched with a team-up with soccer icon Ronaldinho. I'm super excited to see where Rematch goes in the future, and I'm greatly enthused by the fact that it's starting from such a strong base already. If Slocap can keep adding to the core they've built — I would love an offline mode with AI bots to further sharpen my skills in a less high-pressure environment — then Rematch could have the staying power to stick around for several seasons to come. So, if you're also feeling a bit underwhelmed by the latest EA Sports FC release and want a new spin on virtual soccer, don't skip Rematch. It's only just beginning its online journey, but it's got all the ingredients to be a long-reigning champion, and might just be the closest a video game has ever come to replicating the sheer thrill of scoring a match-winning goal in real life. (Or at least what I imagine it feels like, my IRL soccer skills are seriously shoddy.) Of course, even in the world of Rematch, my shots remain more likely to miss the mark than find the back of the net, but don't worry, as soon as I'm finished here, I'm heading back to the pitch to keep practicing.
Engadget
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Engadget
June's Game Pass additions include Remedy co-op shooter FBC: Firebreak
Microsoft's Game Pass is having a very impressive 2025 where the quality and cadence of releases is concerned, and things are showing no signs of slowing down as we settle into the summer months. Highlights of the June lineup include co-op FPS FBC: Firebreak , which joins the service today, Sloclap's highly-anticipated soccer game, Rematch , and a trio of Warcraft remasters. Let's start with probably the most significant addition. Back in May, Engadget's Jessica Conditt got to play Remedy's FBC: Firebreak and was tentatively optimistic about what is a pretty major genre-shift for the studio known for single-player games such as Alan Wake and Control ( Firebreak is set in the same location as the latter). The important building blocks of a great co-operative shooter were there, and the hope is that Remedy has polished up the experience ahead of launch. FBC: Firebreak also joins PS Plus today as a day one release for both platforms, which should hopefully help get it off the ground. To view this content, you'll need to update your privacy settings. Please click here and view the "Content and social-media partners" setting to do so. Also joining today is Lost in Random: The Eternal Die , a roguelite spin-off of 2021's Lost in Random , that has more than a hint of Hades about it judging by screenshots and fast-paced gameplay clips we've seen in the runup to launch. Another notable Game Pass additions arrives on June 19. Rematch is a soccer game that eschews the more sim-like approach of EA Sports FC in favor of an arcade-style spin on the world's most popular sport. Matches are 5v5, and you only control one player on your team. There are no offsides, no fouls and no breaks in play, so referees won't bail you out when something doesn't go your way. Rematch is the latest game from the Paris-based indie studio Sloclap, who made the incredibly stylish kung fu game, Sifu . It's no surprise, then, that Rematch 's almost impressionist aesthetic is just as easy on the eye. To view this content, you'll need to update your privacy settings. Please click here and view the "Content and social-media partners" setting to do so. It's also a big month for Game Pass' ever-growing catalogue of Activision Blizzard games, with the remastered versions of Warcraft I and Warcraft II , as well as Warcraft III: Reforged all being added on June 26. Call of Duty: WWII joins them on June 30. As we head into July, Game Pass subscribers can download or stream Little Nightmares II and Rise of the Tomb Raider , which returns to Microsoft's service ahead of the game's 10th anniversary in November. You can check out the full list of announcements here.
