The most important secondary thing in the world will soon be on the biggest stage in the world, and earlier this June, we presented five games you must play during the World Cup that will take place in the USA, Canada, and Mexico. Of course, colleague Jurke introduced the currently relevant games that are releasing themed "updates" and news for the World Cup, and this article serves to remind us of some (mostly forgotten) classics that we played both on consoles and on our mobile devices. Some of these games are still played today, while others are simply forgotten.
UEFA Champions League 2006-2007
This game may not thematically fit into the football competition that is about to begin, but it should be mentioned in the context of forgotten football games. Namely, UEFA Champions League 2006-2007 is the official video game dedicated to the 2006/07 Champions League season. The game was developed by EA Canada, while it was globally published by Electronic Arts under its sports brand EA Sports. It was released in March 2007 – first on March 20 in North America, then on March 22 in Australia, and the following day, March 23, in Europe. A game that doesn't have much to do with the World Cup theme, but definitely makes sense as it is a cup competition featuring the best football clubs in Europe. Besides being able to play matches with the best clubs of those years, there was an interesting "mode" called "The Treble." What was very interesting is that the game puts you in the shoes of a fictional team manager that you can choose at will, where club executives expect you to have an excellent season.
From preseason, to transfer windows, and the season itself in the domestic league, all the way to winning the most prestigious club competition in the world, everything depends on the form and condition of your team. Injuries to the biggest stars and very strong teams will bring you to the "edge," and you will have to do everything necessary to maintain the prestige and pride of your club. This somewhat forgotten EA game was compatible with PlayStation 2, PSP, Xbox 360, and Windows. Those who survived will tell the tale, and this game is truly unforgettable - at least for me.
New Star Soccer
One of the classics on this list, the background of this game is actually incredible. Most of us know New Star Soccer as a mobile game that became popular worldwide in 2013, but the history of this game "pulls" roots from 2003. Originally made as a computer game for Windows, New Star Soccer has over the years become a game that expanded its versions to other software; such as Linux and Macintosh in the 2000s. However, the real "boom" occurred with the release of the mobile version of the game where the player takes control of a 16-year-old footballer who starts his career in the lowest tier of competition in the country of their choice. The uniqueness of the title is the absence of a final goal or career end, meaning that progression through the football world can continue indefinitely. Theoretically, players can play forever, developing their virtual footballer throughout their entire career.
The gameplay itself was interesting because we could manage passes into risky areas of the field through the defenses of opposing teams and score goals from long distances. The funniest part of the game is definitely the bouncing or getting involved in the net of match-fixing and the life of players off the football field. The game was so popular that it won a BAFTA award - the prestigious British Academy of Film and Television Arts award for Best Sports Game. To this day, I still have this game on Android and it is still as charming as it was 13 years ago.
Score! HERO
If New Star Soccer crawled, Score! HERO! flew. The game that was released on mobile devices in 2015. It is a game where players develop a talented footballer into a legendary hero through precise passes, shots, and scoring goals. The main goal is to build an impressive career as a football star by passing through as many as 960 challenging levels that gradually increase in difficulty and test the players' skills. Meanwhile, a sequel, Score! Hero 2, has been released, bringing new features and an even more enhanced gameplay experience.
Very similar, yet different from New Star Soccer, Score! HERO was one of the most popular mobile football games in the world. It is still an active and highly played game among people.
FIFA Street
Another EA Games game that is somewhat forgotten but still "enjoys" cult classic status among millennials is FIFA Street. FIFA Street is a sports video game developed by EA Canada (like UEFA Champions League 2006-2007) and published by Electronic Arts under the EA Sports BIG label. The game focuses on attractive street football, emphasizing tricks, skills, and spectacular moves, and players could play with the best players of that era.
The title was released in February 2005 for PlayStation 2, Xbox, and GameCube, featuring legendary Brazilian footballer Ronaldinho on the cover. The game quickly gained popularity among arcade football fans thanks to its fast pace and emphasis on individual skill.
A year later, a sequel, FIFA Street 2, was released in February 2006, further enhancing the trick system and gameplay options. Although the game did not achieve the best reactions, FIFA Street became a cult classic that we still fondly remember.
Rematch
The newest game on this list is Rematch, a football video game developed by Sloclap, released on June 19, 2025, for Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X/S. The game is played from a third-person perspective, with each player controlling only one footballer on the field and can take on the roles of a striker, defender, or goalkeeper during the match.
Unlike classic football simulations, matches are played in closed virtual arenas without fouls, offsides, and game interruptions, so the ball remains in play at all times. Upon its market release, the game offered online modes of 3 on 3, 4 on 4, and 5 on 5, including a competitive ranked mode. Thanks to its innovative approach, Rematch won the award for Best Sports Game at the 29th D.I.C.E. Awards. In September 2025, cross-play support was introduced, while an offline mode with AI teammates was announced for 2026. Rematch is the Rocket League of football and was once very popular among streamers and players, and is now awaiting a new update that will bring new content and a refresh for this online game.
