Rocket League

Rocket League is a sports and action video game developed by Psyonix, released on July 7, 2015. It combines soccer with rocket-powered vehicles, offering an experience that mixes acrobatic driving and competitive strategy.

It is available on PC, PlayStation, Xbox, Nintendo Switch, macOS, and Linux, and since 2020 it has been free-to-play after the acquisition of Psyonix by Epic Games. With a community of more than 57 million players and multiple awards, it has become a reference within sports and esports video games.

Gameplay

Rocket League is a hybrid of arcade soccer and vehicular chaos. The objective is to hit a giant ball with rocket-powered vehicles to score goals in the opponent's net.

• Match duration: 5 minutes.
• Formats: 1v1, 2v2, 3v3, and 4v4.
• Tiebreaker: Overtime with golden goal.

The gameplay is characterized by realistic physics, accessible controls, and a high skill ceiling, allowing for simple moves as well as advanced techniques such as aerial acrobatics or dribbling.

 

Game Modes

Rocket League includes several official and community modes:

1. Soccar: The classic vehicular soccer.
2. Snow Day: Variant with a hockey puck.
3. Hoops: Inspired by basketball, with hoops instead of goals.
4. Rumble: Random power-ups every 10 seconds.
5. Dropshot: Players must damage the opponent’s floor to score.
6. Limited Modes: Heatseeker, Gridiron, and Knockout.
7. Offline Season: League against bots.
8. Mutators: Custom rules (gravity, ball speed, size).
9. Community Maps: Available on Steam Workshop.

 

Mechanics

The main mechanics that define the game are:

• Boost: Speed boost that allows acceleration or flying.
• Aerials: Hitting the ball in the air with jump and boost.
• Dribbling: Close control of the ball on top of the car.
• Flicks: Flips to shoot the ball with power.
• Rotation: Switching roles in team play (attack, defense, boost).
• 50/50s: Ball disputes in direct collisions.
• Fast Aerials: Reaching the ball in the air faster than the rival.
• Flip Resets & Ceiling Shots: Advanced techniques for professionals.

They are practiced in Freeplay or with custom training packs.

 

Customization

In Rocket League, vehicles are the players’ “avatars.” Each car has a hitbox that influences its usage:

• Octane: The most used, balanced.
• Dominus: Strong for powerful shots.
• Fennec: Compact, popular among professionals.
• Licensed Cars: Batmobile, Fast & Furious, and more.

Customization includes bodies, wheels, goal explosions, and trails, without affecting performance beyond the hitbox.

Economy

The free-to-play model is supported by cosmetics and progression:

• Rocket Pass: Battle pass with items and bonuses.
• Item Shop & Esports Shop: Items in exchange for credits (premium currency).
• Trading: Removed in December 2023 by Epic Games.
• Competitive Ranks: From Bronze to Supersonic Legend.
• Events & Challenges: Temporary items and free rewards.

Rocket League remains relevant nearly a decade after its release. Its combination of simple yet deep gameplay, variety of modes, and a strong esports scene ensures it continues to attract both casual and competitive players.

Steam

Epic Games