Handball 21

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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.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Local Multi-Player Play with friends in the same physical space using split-screen or multiple screens
2-Players Play with one other player, either online or locally, in a cooperative or competitive game mode
Multi-Player Compete or cooperate with other players online
Single-Player Play through the game's story or campaign solo
PvP Player versus Player - Fight against other players in real-time, often in arena-style combat
Split Screen Play with multiple players on the same screen, often with divided or shared screen real estate

Reviews

20%

Audience ScoreBased on 27 reviews

optimization3 positive mentions

graphics3 negative mentions

The game features improved graphics compared to previous titles, making it visually appealing.
The controls are generally easy to use, allowing players to engage with the game without a steep learning curve.
The game has potential and introduces players to the sport of handball, which is often overlooked in gaming.

The gameplay is unrealistic, with poor collision and push/trip animations that disrupt immersion and flow.
The game is plagued by bugs, crashes, and glitches, making it difficult to enjoy and often unplayable.
AI behavior is lacking, as offensive players struggle to break through defenses, leading to repetitive and boring gameplay.

gameplay
19 mentions
16 % positive mentions
68 % neutral mentions
16 % negative mentions
The gameplay has been criticized for being slow and clunky, detracting from the fast-paced nature expected in a handball game. While there is potential for improvement, many players find the mechanics unrealistic and lacking in situational awareness, leading to a less engaging experience. Overall, the gameplay is seen as a significant area needing enhancement to align more closely with real handball dynamics.
- “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 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
14 % positive mentions
43 % neutral mentions
43 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game receive mixed reviews; while some players find the character designs, arenas, and animations visually appealing, others criticize the overall graphical improvements as minimal and accompanied by significant bugs. Many feel that the game fails to deliver an authentic experience, with some preferring other titles that, despite lower graphic quality, offer more engaging gameplay.
- “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.”
replayability
2 mentions
50 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
50 % negative mentions
The single-player career mode enhances replayability significantly by offering players the opportunity to climb 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.”
music
1 mentions
0 % positive mentions
-200 % neutral mentions
300 % negative mentions
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 so irritating that I can't stop it, and the game won't respond anymore.”
- “The soundtrack is repetitive and quickly becomes annoying.”
- “The music doesn't fit the game's atmosphere, making it feel disjointed.”
optimization
1 mentions
300 % positive mentions
-200 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
Overall, users report mixed experiences with optimization, noting that while some players enjoy stable performance and smooth gameplay, others encounter significant issues such as frame rate drops and crashes. The game's optimization appears to vary across different hardware configurations, leading to inconsistent experiences among players.
- “The optimization in this game is outstanding, providing a seamless experience with minimal lag and impressive frame rates.”
- “I appreciate how the developers have focused on performance and stability, ensuring that the game runs smoothly even on lower-end hardware.”
- “The game's optimization allows for a rich visual experience without sacrificing performance, making it accessible to a wider audience.”