Handball 21

Handball 21 presents as a solid official handball game. While the passion behind the design is evident, I must say it still has lots of room for overall improvement. The lack of depth in the game modes can wait an iteration or two in my opinion, that is so long as the gameplay improves with each entry. As it is stands, it is not bad but it can certainly be better.

33%Game Brain Score

gameplay, graphics

32% User Score Based on 33 reviews

Critic Score 53%Based on 2 reviews

Platforms

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About

Handball 21 is a single player and multiplayer sport game. It was developed by Eko Software and was released on November 12, 2020. It received neutral reviews from critics and negative reviews from players.

Experience the intensity of one of the most complete sports! With accurately reproduced handball motions, the most lifelike players and tactics management deeply integrated into the gameplay, this is the most realistic handball simulation ever made.

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32%

Audience ScoreBased on 33 reviews

graphics3 negative mentions

The game has potential and introduces players to the sport of handball, making it more accessible.
Graphics are adequate and the menu is user-friendly, providing a decent visual experience.
Some players find the game addictive and enjoyable despite its flaws, leading to increased interest in handball.

The gameplay is unrealistic and clunky, with poor collision and animation mechanics that disrupt immersion.
The game is plagued by bugs, crashes, and unresponsive controls, making it frustrating to play.
Many players feel that the AI and overall gameplay design do not accurately represent the dynamics of real handball, leading to a boring experience.

gameplay
19 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
16%
68%
16%
The gameplay of the game has been criticized for being slow and clunky, which detracts from the fast-paced nature expected in a handball experience. While there is potential for improvement, many players find the mechanics unrealistic and lacking in situational awareness, leading to a less engaging and often boring experience. Overall, the gameplay does not meet the expectations set by other sports games like basketball or soccer.
- “Handball thrives on its fast-paced gameplay; even after goals, you can make an instant counterattack and get behind the opponent's defense while they are moving back.”
- “To achieve a good gameplay where full body contact is well executed in such a game is, in my opinion, the hardest part to achieve.”
- “The game has potential, but the gameplay still has room for improvement.”
- “First they slow down the gameplay, which is not improving the gameplay.”
- “This is actually the worst and an unacceptable part of the gameplay for a handball game that tries to be good.”
- “The gameplay is not realistic as it is in real handball leagues.”
graphics
7 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
14%
43%
43%
The graphics of the game receive mixed reviews; while some players find the character designs, arenas, and animations visually appealing, others criticize the overall quality as merely adequate and plagued by bugs. Many feel that the graphical improvements do not compensate for the lack of depth and authenticity in gameplay, leading to disappointment among fans of the genre.
- “The characters, arenas, and animations are almost perfect, and graphically I find Handball 21 pleasing to the eye.”
- “This game literally just slightly improves graphics and kills everything else.”
- “Bad customer service - horrible graphics bug which they can't seem to fix or won't fix!”
- “Ever since, the only real change was in the graphics and animation; other than that, it doesn't deliver that authentic handball sim feel we expect from a game like this.”
music
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Users have expressed frustration with the game's music, noting that it can be irritating and persistent, especially when the game becomes unresponsive, preventing them from turning it off.
- “The music is irritating and continues to play even when you can't access the options to turn it off, as the game becomes unresponsive.”
- “The soundtrack is repetitive and lacks variety, making it a chore to listen to during gameplay.”
- “The audio quality of the music is poor, which detracts from the overall experience and immersion in the game.”
replayability
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
50%
The single-player career mode enhances replayability by offering players the opportunity to progress through three distinct divisions, providing a more engaging and varied experience.
- “The single-player career is more involved, adding a lot to replayability with three divisions to climb.”
- “The single player career is more involved, adding a lot to replayability with three divisions to climb.”
optimization
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The optimization of the game has received mixed feedback, with some users praising its performance and stability, while others report occasional frame rate drops and crashes. Overall, the game runs smoothly for many, but there are notable issues that can affect the experience for some players.