Sociable Soccer 25 review: A fun, arcade-style break from realism and competition

Developed by Tower Studios and Amuzo Games, Sociable Soccer 25 is the latest entry to the series. The developers have once again outdone themselves by creating another fun football game. If you’re familiar with Tower Studios’ previous offerings, you probably already have a good idea of their capabilities. Meanwhile, the folks at Amuzo Games have also made a name for themselves by working with big shots like PlayStation Studios, LEGO, Disney, WB, and others.

To the developers' credit, making the big jump from iOS arcades to PC games is certainly a brave and admirable endeavor. Especially, in a market that has been dominated by the likes of EA and Konami for a long time, Sociable Soccer 25 may just be the breath of fresh air we needed. Tower Studios has already impressed football lovers by releasing Sociable Soccer 24, and now they’re back with another edition that players can enjoy. Now, let's break it down.

Sociable Soccer 25: A fun and quirky arcade football experience

Firstly, Sociable Soccer 25 can run flawlessly on almost any system out there. As a result, however, players can’t expect high-end visuals like other football sims available in the market. So, if they seek enhanced realism, they should look elsewhere.

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Sociable Soccer's UI is pretty simple (Image via Tower Studios)

The game's UI is exceptionally simple and user-friendly. All the menu options are clearly visible, and the player cards have different designs according to their rarity. As a result, getting accustomed to the UI barely takes any time.

Coming back to the in-game visuals, most models here are low-poly and bear no resemblance to real-life players. However, that won’t really be an issue, as the gameplay is pretty immersive and does a fine job at keeping players busy; but more on that in the following segment.

Gameplay review

Sociable Soccer 25 gameplay (Image via Tower Studios)

The gameplay remains a pivotal concern for any arcade or football simulation lover. Frankly, having spent most of my time enjoying the offerings of EA FC 25 and eFootball, I was skeptical about whether I would enjoy Sociable Soccer 25.

After experiencing realistic player models, complex skill moves, and real-world strategies in other football sims, I didn't expect this game to hold my attention for long. Surprisingly enough, I ended up spending a lot of hours in its quirky and fast-paced setting.

As someone who generally prefers a slower and more tactical approach in football, I'll admit — this arcade-ey style can be a decent alternative. The gameplay might feel clunky at first, but it’ll be a cakewalk to score bangers from outside the box once players get a feel for the mechanics. Moreover, I didn't face any crash issues, and the framerate was quite stable during my playthrough.

However, I'd recommend that players always opt for a controller. The controls in Sociable Soccer 25 are unconventional with the keyboard as it uses the Z, X, C, and V keybinds instead of the general ones found in most football games. Naturally, many might have a hard time getting accustomed to the default keyboard controls.

Game modes review

Sociable Soccer 25 certainly surprised me with its numerous game modes. Usually, these arcade-style games don't offer too many options in this regard. However, this one let me take my dream team out for a spin both offline against the AI and online against real players.

Several game modes on Sociable Soccer (Image via Tower Studios)

That said, the ping wasn’t satisfactory for the online PvP mode, at least for me. I would definitely appreciate the developers adding more stable servers for this particular mode. However, your luck might vary depending on the region.

The Career mode can definitely keep one occupied for quite some time. Much like EA FC, gamers must select a team from any domestic league and lead them through various seasons towards victory. However, there’s a slight twist — they cannot start the matchups with renowned faces right off the bat. Instead, they must begin the journey with low-rated players and gradually train them to hit their true potential. Honestly, I enjoyed this mode the most.

The World mode appears to have almost all licensed international teams. There is a wide array of tournaments to choose from, including the Nations Cup, Club Tournaments, Region-wise Domestic leagues, and others. However, it seems like the developers weren’t so successful in licensing at the domestic level, as some clubs have made-up names.

Lastly, the Friendly mode is where players can have all the fun with their friends. I can safely vouch for that, given how much I enjoyed it — especially the two-player mode.

In conclusion

The overall gameplay is fun, and the simple UI design makes it easier for casual as well as veteran gamers to get used to Sociable Soccer 25. Players won’t be disappointed if they give this a shot, although the graphics aren't anything to write home about. As discussed, the player models might feel clunky at first, but as you get used to them, it's easy to make them do your bidding on the virtual pitch. To sum it up, Sociable Soccer 25 might not be the best overall soccer game in the market, but it would be a great option for anyone who wants a casual and fun experience with their friends.

Sociable Soccer 25 review: