GOALS is officially here, and the free-to-play football game is kicking things off with KSI as its first playable real-world Original.
Stepping into the ring of super popular football games like EA Sports FC 26 and Football Manager 26, we have the newly released GOALS, which is free-to-play and cross-platform. The core design of GOALS is to deliver a “pure football” experience, with almost every player uniquely generated rather than based on real people. Special technology was also developed for the game to help maintain a precise gameplay experience without rubber-banding or other connection issues.
While most of the game is made up of unique, randomly generated players with their own stats and growth, there is an exception. GOALS has an “Originals” roster that will include real-life counterparts, though each player’s stats will remain random. The first of these Originals is KSI, an influencer with a long history as a football fan. Originals is described as a place where streamers, influencers, and legends can join the game, so we will have to keep an eye out for who the next addition will be.
To address the need to keep the connection in a GOALS game as tight as possible, the development team created SENTEC, a Simulation Engine and Netcode Technology. Technical Director Torbjörn Söderman said, “[SENTEC] ensures that movement, collisions and ball interaction happen instantly and without delay for both players. No matter where you are and what you’re playing on, we’ve created a responsive, lag-free experience resulting in fluid football gameplay that allows you to execute every move precisely and confidently.”
Here is a list of GOALS’ key gameplay features.
- Competitive & Casual Play
- Test your tactical limits across Ranked, Quickplay, Knockout and Friendly matches, or test yourself in high-stakes Tournaments and Solo Tournaments (with bots)
- The Skill Zone & Practice Arena
- Solo Play vs Bots, or master complex on-pitch situations in the designated Practice Arena with Rookie, Contender and Champion Scenarios
- Dynamic Challenges
- Keep your skills sharp and your club funded with a rotating schedule of Challenges: Daily/Weekly scaled across Rookie, Contender and Champion tiers
- Team Management & Player Upgrades
- Strategically oversee your roster’s growth, upgrading unique player attributes to perfectly match your personal playstyle
- Store, Swaps and Customization:
- Define your club’s visual identity by unlocking and trading custom Kits and Celebrations through the Store and Challengers
- Utilize Swaps to trade unused lower-rated players for player packs
Andreas Thorstensson, CEO of GOALS, has said that the game was “built to reflect the glory days,” changing up the formula seen in modern football video games. He said “For years, the football gaming space has been stagnant, leaving players disillusioned by bloated licensing models and sub-par gameplay. […] We wanted to take on the challenge of competing with the biggest names in the football gaming world, and we are ready to bring players what they’ve been craving for too long.”
If you would like to see a more details including a game guide, you can find it on playgoals.com. GOALS is available now on Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 4, and PC via Steam and Epic Games Store. A companion app for managing your team and opening packs is also available on iOS and Android.
