FIFA Rivals: Blending the magic of Score! With Arcade mechanics

FIFA Rivals by Mythical Games blends arcade-style swipe mechanics with strategic gameplay. While engaging and innovative, aggressive monetisation and less precise controls than Score! Hero slightly dampen the experience. Still, it's a fresh, fun mobile football option for fans

A free-to-play FIFA licensed game launched in time for the Club World Cup.

Score! Hero and its various extensions have been the benchmark for mobile football games. So, when Mythical Games unveiled gameplay for its upcoming FIFA-licensed Rivals, my excitement was high. After spending nearly ten days with the game, I can confidently say the experience has been enjoyable, especially with several in-game events tying into the ongoing Club World Cup in the United States.

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Rivals integrate the signature swipe-and-draw mechanics that made Score! Hero is so distinctive. For those unfamiliar with the format: the game is played in portrait mode, and you control the action by drawing passes and shots directly on the screen. The game then animates these inputs into fluid, on-screen football sequences. Where Score! Hero focused on isolated set-pieces or moments, Rivals expands this into a full-match experience. You’re not just attacking but also defending and even controlling your goalkeeper during saves.

Matches are online, quick and competitive: the first to secure a two-goal lead wins, unless time runs out. In the case of a tie, the game moves into a three-kick penalty shootout to decide the victor.

The game rewards players based on the length of their winning streaks, encouraging consistent performance. In-match actions, like attacking or defending are executed through intuitive swipes and taps. Interestingly, the gameplay unfolds in a turn-based style, with brief pauses after each action to process outcomes, much like a messaging app. The use of the familiar three-dot “typing” animation adds a quirky touch to this mechanic.

A key gameplay element is the energy meter, which fills through successful passes, tackles, and interceptions. Once charged, this meter can be spent on powerful special moves like unstoppable shots, guaranteed interceptions, and crucial saves.

In high-skill matches, I found it wise to hold off using these abilities immediately, instead saving them to counter opponents’ special plays at pivotal moments. In many ways, Rivals feels like a blend of football and real-time strategy, borrowing elements from games like Clash Royale.

Beyond its unique mechanics, Rivals firmly embraces the live-service model, rewarding players who commit to daily grinding. However, it also leans heavily into aggressive monetization, with two separate premium passes, gated rewards, and cool down timers that echo the familiar free-to-play delay tactics we’ve seen for years. In 2025, though, these mechanics feel more outdated than ever as they simply put players off and restrict marathon gaming sessions. I also found the drawing of passes and shots less accurate and precise than Score! Hero.

Apart from these few issues, Rivals is a welcome addition to mobile football games and is worth a try if you are looking for something new that is football-based.

Sneak Peek:

Title: FIFA Rivals

Developer& Publisher: Mythical Games

Game Type: Online football team-builder with arcade and swipe mechanics

Platforms: Android and iOS

Price: Free to play with in-app purchases and ad-based bonuses

Verdict (all scores out of 10):

Innovative Gameplay: 7

Game Handling & Quality: 7.5

Value for Time: 8

Potential Progression without in-game purchases: 7.5

Overall: 7.5

What Stands Out:

• The game blends the strategic depth of an Ultimate Team-style format with the intuitive swipe mechanics that Score! Hero is known for. It rewards players willing to make creative passes and attempt risky shots.

• The progression system is well thought out – there is a lot in terms of strategy and nuance as players can tinker with team formations and preferred playstyles.

Fails to impress:

• The in-game purchases are aggressive here: everything from 2 premium tiers in the season pass to the immediate opening of packs/chests from match rewards needs to be either bought or waited upon.

• The swiping of passes and shots is not as precise as in Score, the reliance on arcade mechanics for goal scoring is too heavy.