Game: Score! Match by First Touch

Genre: Sports

Platforms: Android, iOS 

Football video games have been around for a long time and rightly so, as it is the most popular sport on the planet. Score! Match is a reimagination of a football game on the mobile and it is a pretty addictive one.

One of the ways in which this game is unique is that, unlike other such football games, it recognises that the control schemes on a mobile have to be different. The game starts off with the winner of the toss having the ball. The game then stops and you get to pass the ball to the players around you. Passing the ball is also gesture-based where you have to draw a line with your fingers on the screen in the direction you want the ball to go. There is an ample amount of skill involved in this to get it right. If you do not pass the ball in time, the opponent will be awarded a free kick. You can also intercept other players while they are passing around the ball. When you are near the goal, you have to use the same mechanics to aim and shoot. Mind you, scoring a goal here is difficult and it can get frustrating at times when the match ends without you scoring one. In such cases, the result is declared by a penalty shootout.

Like a lot of games these days, it is betting-based and you have to put in a bet amount in game currency to enter a game. If you win, you get double and if you don't, you get zilch. Winning gives you three stars while losing will take away one. Your stars are an indication of your skill level and also allow you to bet larger amounts.

After every match, you get player cards that you can use to upgrade your player skills. This reward system is just like Clash Royale and you have to wait to unlock the rewards that you get after a match. You also get formations so that you can change your strategy. Based on player types that you have, such as Defender, Infiltrator, Producer and so on, you can keep changing their positions and, in turn, your strategy. The best part is that your friends can keep you as their player and if you score a goal in their game, you get in-game cash. This makes it a really fun game to play with friends.

You need a lot of expetise to score a goal and sometimes you may fail to score any in a match. It is then hard to watch as your opponent scores against you. The option to play the game without betting also seems to be an inconvenient addition for those who just want to practice.

VERDICT: Even though it is easy to pick up, Score! Match is hard to master, just like football should be. It is a fun and addictive way to pass your time on the smartphone. I'd give it an eight out of 10.