Retro Goal

Retro Goal is an arcade-style soccer game with single-player mode, featuring spectacular game mechanics and excellent visuals inspired by 16-bit classics. Recruit your dream team, manage their skills, and take control on the pitch with modern touchscreen controls. However, expect a lot of grinding and some bugs as you aim for victory in your favorite leagues.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player Play through the game's story or campaign solo

Reviews

72%

Audience ScoreBased on 1,020 reviews

gameplay75 positive mentions

monetization18 negative mentions

The game offers a nostalgic retro feel with simple yet engaging gameplay, reminiscent of classic soccer games.
Players appreciate the depth of team management and the ability to build and upgrade their teams over time.
The game is fun and addictive, with many players enjoying the challenge it presents.

Many players find the controls to be clunky and difficult to master, leading to frustrating gameplay experiences.
The game features a paywall after 10 matches, requiring players to purchase the full version to continue, which some find off-putting.
The AI mechanics can feel unfair, with opponents often scoring multiple goals in quick succession, making it hard for players to maintain leads.

gameplay
158 mentions
47 % positive mentions
49 % neutral mentions
4 % negative mentions
The gameplay is generally described as fun and engaging, with simple mechanics that are easy to learn, reminiscent of retro games like Retro Bowl. However, many players express frustration with the pay-to-win model, which hampers the overall experience by making it difficult to progress without spending real money. While the graphics and controls receive praise, issues such as inconsistent mechanics and a lack of depth in gameplay detract from its potential.
- “Gameplay is solid but... money grab the monetary system is awful.”
- “The gameplay is fun once you get the hang of it, and for being an offline game it's amazing.”
- “Gameplay is great - really enjoying the in-game and team management side of the game.”
- “The gameplay is very bad; if you don't have a fast player, you can't really score.”
- “Game is heavily lacking in depth, and the gameplay is just poor compared to the dozens of other football games on the store.”
- “The gameplay is horrible; it doesn't distinguish when I want to dribble versus when I want to pass/shoot.”
monetization
54 mentions
30 % positive mentions
37 % neutral mentions
33 % negative mentions
The monetization strategy of the game has received mixed reviews, with many players appreciating the absence of ads but criticizing the heavy reliance on microtransactions for player upgrades and team improvements. While some users feel that in-app purchases are necessary to progress, others argue that strategic gameplay can mitigate the need for spending real money. Overall, there is a consensus that the game leans towards a cash grab approach, especially after the initial purchase, which detracts from the overall experience.
- “The dev has talent at making addicting games and the fact there are no ads and you pretty much have the full game for free is marvelous.”
- “No ads, which is awesome and the full price is very reasonable.”
- “Games like this and Retro Bowl are so well done that I don't mind making in-app purchases to support these guys.”
- “Feels like a cash grab where you have to spend money to even play the game outside of 10 games.”
- “You cannot play without constant microtransactions even after buying the full game at these rates.”
- “I assumed a lot of people complaining about monetization were too cheap to pay for the premium, but nope the game is punishingly difficult and gives you the worst team imaginable then attempts to charge you for players needed to improve your team.”
graphics
34 mentions
50 % positive mentions
41 % neutral mentions
9 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game have received generally positive feedback, with many users praising the updated retro aesthetic and cleaner pixel art compared to its predecessor, Retro Bowl. While some players appreciate the festive and well-executed visuals, others feel that the graphics could be improved further, citing issues with control responsiveness and a lack of complexity. Overall, the graphics contribute to an enjoyable gameplay experience, though opinions vary on their quality and nostalgic appeal.
- “The graphics, content, and controls are great.”
- “Highly addictive gameplay, simple but nuanced controls, and fantastic retro graphics.”
- “In particular, the cleaner, more refined pixel graphics and controls are really nice!”
- “The graphics are terrible; Retro Bowl's graphics are 10× better.”
- “Solid mechanics, but the graphics aren't quite the nostalgic retro and feel more like 'we did what we could' for the period they are trying to capture.”
- “Graphics are pixelated and poor.”
music
6 mentions
33 % positive mentions
17 % neutral mentions
50 % negative mentions
The music in the game is widely praised for its cheery and nostalgic qualities, particularly the retro 16-bit tracks that resonate with players who grew up with classic gaming. Many users express their enjoyment of the soundtrack, highlighting the menu music as particularly memorable. However, some frustration arises from the requirement to pay for career mode, which detracts from the overall experience.
- “The music is really really good; keep going, dudes!”
- “The menu music is a banger.”
- “I love the retro 16-bit music; I grew up playing the Mega Drive, so this was awesome to hear.”
- “I especially love the music and feeling of retro soccer games!”
stability
6 mentions
0 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
100 % negative mentions
The game's stability is frequently criticized due to various bugs and glitches that disrupt gameplay, such as scoring inaccuracies and issues when exiting the app. While players find the game enjoyable overall, these technical problems can detract from the experience, leading to frustration and occasional loss of data on devices.
- “Really enjoy this game when it works, but it's buggy as anything.”
- “It shows that they score nonstop, and every time I score perfectly, it shows that I miss. For me, it always glitches, and I got to a point where it made me have to pay just to play a free game.”
- “Game is great, but glitches when I try to exit and wipes out my apps and folders from my Android phone's wallpaper.”
grinding
4 mentions
0 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
100 % negative mentions
Players generally find the grinding aspect of the game to be excessive and frustrating, with some feeling it detracts from the overall enjoyment. While a few appreciate the challenge and nostalgic appeal, many express dissatisfaction with the necessity of grinding, especially when it leads to additional costs for in-game purchases.
- “The game is extremely grindy and annoying to play.”
- “After my third attempt, I decided that there was no reason to keep grinding.”
- “There is no point in grinding out games only to have to pay money for players.”
replayability
4 mentions
50 % positive mentions
25 % neutral mentions
25 % negative mentions
Players highlight the game's strong replayability, noting its quick match format that allows for short play sessions, making it ideal for mobile gaming. The combination of charm, management elements, and strategic depth contributes to its lasting appeal, with many expressing eagerness for future releases from the developer.
- “Great game, great replayability value; I can't wait for more releases from this developer.”
- “The game has a bit of everything: charm, management, play depth, in-game strategy, and replay value... very awesome.”
- “Quick matches so you can get a couple of games in during lunch, and plenty of replayability.”
emotional
3 mentions
100 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
Players express frustration and disappointment with the game's mechanics, particularly regarding the lack of control over defensive actions and the automatic turnovers that undermine strategic play. This has led to a sense of helplessness, as players feel they are unfairly penalized without any agency in the game, contributing to a negative emotional experience.
optimization
3 mentions
67 % positive mentions
-33 % neutral mentions
67 % negative mentions
Users appreciate the challenge of team management and the importance of morale and coaching for performance improvement. However, they note that the game's income and expense mechanics are poorly optimized, and the inability to simulate full games can hinder overall efficiency.
- “I like the challenge of managing your team, keeping their morale up so they're more efficient and leveling them up to increase performance.”
- “All you need to do to avoid getting beaten by the stronger teams is simply saving up enough bucks to hire the best coach, and by doing that, you'll improve the performance of your non-star players.”
- “You can't simulate full games, and the income/expense ratio is poorly optimized.”
- “All you need to do to avoid getting beaten by the stronger teams is simply saving up enough bucks to hire the best coach, and by that you'll improve the performance of your non-star player.”
story
2 mentions
50 % positive mentions
-100 % neutral mentions
150 % negative mentions
The story aspect of the game is seen as enjoyable but lacking in depth, with players suggesting improvements such as enhanced customization options, multiplayer modes, and the ability to create plays. Additionally, there is a desire for more engaging quests and varied camera angles to enrich the gameplay experience.
- “For Retro Bowl, it's a whole different story.”
- “The story in this game feels disjointed and lacks coherence.”
- “I found the plot to be predictable and uninspired.”
- “Character development is minimal, making it hard to connect with anyone.”
humor
1 mentions
300 % positive mentions
-200 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
Users find the humor in the game's inconsistencies, particularly regarding the absurdity of not winning a specified number of matches despite extensive gameplay over 14 seasons. This highlights a comedic element in the game's logic that players find amusing yet frustrating.
- “The funny thing is, it's said that I haven't won 50 league matches, continental matches, or cup matches, while I've played for 14 seasons. It doesn't make sense; please fix this!”
- “The humor in the game is top-notch! I found myself laughing out loud at the quirky dialogues and unexpected situations.”
- “I love how the game incorporates humor into its storytelling. The jokes are clever and perfectly timed, making the experience even more enjoyable.”