Summary
- Competitive games like League of Legends, Rainbow Six Siege, and Overwatch 2 offer experiences similar to Rocket League.
- Forza Horizon 5 is an excellent option for Rocket League fans who enjoy driving and stunt opportunities.
- Counter-Strike 2 provides a competitive experience close to Rocket League with equal gameplay elements and emphasis on skill and tactics.
Rocket League is a pretty unique game in the market, and it's a miracle that we haven't seen anything close to it in years, not even a careless clone! That makes it quite difficult to suggest something that delivers the exact same experience because there is simply nothing to scratch that very specific itch.
That being said, when Rocket League is separated into pieces, there are games that share similar aspects with each piece individually. Some of them are just as fast-paced as it, while some others require a lot of practice to master the gameplay mechanics. So, there are indeed competitive games that could lead to an overall experience like Rocket League.
8 Rainbow Six Siege
The Ultimate Tactical And Team-Based Gameplay
Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six Siege
- Released
- December 1, 2015
WHERE TO PLAY
- Developer(s)
- Ubisoft Montreal
- Franchise
- Tom Clancy
- Platform(s)
- PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, Amazon Luna, Stadia, PC
- Genre(s)
- Shooter
- OpenCritic Rating
- Strong
Those who like the tactical and team-oriented aspect of Rocket League will probably have a blast playing Rainbow Six Siege because it's a game where teamplay comes first. While having a good aim is quite important, team coordination is a much bigger deciding factor in Siege, as outsmarting the opponents is always a huge possibility thanks to operators' synergy.
Communication and having a plan before spawning on the map are the keys to success at a high level of Siege. Players must know where to open a whole, where to cover, and where to reinforce to customize the arena to their liking to oppose the attackers.
7 Forza Horizon 5
A Light-Hearted Racing For Casual Players
Forza Horizon 5
- Released
- November 9, 2021
WHERE TO PLAY
- Developer(s)
- Playground Games
- Franchise
- Forza Horizon
- Platform(s)
- PC, Xbox One, Xbox Series S, Xbox Series X
- Genre(s)
- Racing, Open-World
- OpenCritic Rating
- Mighty
Rocket League is a competitive game, but let's not forget that everything the player does inside the arena is to drive a vehicle. So, it's easy to say that Rocket League fans do love driving, and Forza Horizon 5 is one of the best arcade racings out there that comes with incredible stunt opportunities.
Forza Horizon 5: 30 Fast Cars That Handle Really Well
Forza Horizon 5 players know that the fastest cars can be hard to control sometimes, but these ones handle smoothly and can still reach high speeds.
Don't mistake casual for being easy, though! Forza Horizon 5 still requires a good amount of skills, and it comes with difficult online races and a lot of fun challenges across a massive open-world map that does need some practicing before tackling them.
6 Overwatch 2
A Fast-Paced Hero Shooter That Everyone Can Enjoy
Overwatch 2
- Released
- August 10, 2023
WHERE TO PLAY
While having a rough launch, continued updates from Blizzard eventually led Overwatch 2 to the position it deserved, though more improvements are still required to make it just as great as its predecessor, it's now a game that anybody can enjoy, even Rocket League fans!
Overwatch 2 is a hero shooter that everyone can enjoy equal to the amount of effort they put into the game. Casual players will still enjoy the game as a chaotic and fast-paced shooter, while competitive players will probably gain a bit more with team communications and synergy between heroes. And that's quite similar to how Rocket League is.
5 Madden Series
A Simulation Experience With Rich Single-Player Modes
Madden NFL 25
- Released
- August 16, 2024
WHERE TO PLAY
- Developer(s)
- EA Tiburon
- Franchise
- Madden NFL
- Platform(s)
- PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, Xbox One, PC
- Genre(s)
- Sports
- OpenCritic Rating
- Fair
While Rocket League seems to take more inspiration from soccer than American football, no one can rule out the latter entirely. And if North American players enjoy the sports aspect of the game, there is no reason for them to dislike EA's Madden series, when excluding the in-game payments!
Madden 25: 14 Fastest QBs, Ranked
Being quick in deciding and operating is a crucial factor for every quarterback.
Believe it or not, Madden is the best available option for American football, and despite having some rough years recently, Madden 25 did launch to favorable reviews from the player base. This game is just as competitive as it can be with rich single-player tournaments, something that Rocket League features as well.
4 Apex Legends
A Game About Quick Reactions
Apex Legends
- Released
- February 4, 2019
WHERE TO PLAY
- Developer(s)
- Respawn Entertainment
- Platform(s)
- PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, PC, iOS, Android, Switch
- Genre(s)
- Battle Royale, First-Person Shooter
- OpenCritic Rating
- Strong
What makes Rocket League an exciting experience is the quick pace of the game and the fact that players have a brief timeframe to react to events on the pitch. That's also what Apex Legends is about, as it's a competitive shooter born from the ashes of Titanfall.
As a battle royale, the player never knows what lies behind the next building, so they must be ready for everything. Having a good aim is the minimum to enjoy this game while knowing about every hero's abilities is also crucial. The battlefield in Apex Legends can turn into hell in the blink of an eye, just like 5v5 matches in Rocket League.
3 Valorant
A More Tactical Version Of Overwatch
Valorant
- Released
- June 2, 2020
WHERE TO PLAY
- Developer(s)
- Riot Games
- Platform(s)
- PC, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S
- Genre(s)
- Shooter
- OpenCritic Rating
- Strong
Valorant takes the idea from Overwatch and implements it in a fully competitive-focused environment, where everything has been balanced to deliver a fair and equal PvP experience. The game borrows its gunplay from the Counter-Strike series and combines it with the hero-based system of Overwatch.
While competitive-minded Rocket League players can enjoy Valorant a lot, there is not much room for casual gamers here. The advantage of Valorant over all other shooters listed here is that it features significantly fewer cheaters, just like Rocket League.
2 The Finals
A True Translation Of Rocket League Into A Shooter
The Finals
- Released
- December 8, 2023
WHERE TO PLAY
- Developer(s)
- Embark Studios
- Platform(s)
- PC, PS5, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S
- Genre(s)
- FPS
- OpenCritic Rating
- Strong
If Rocket League was supposed to be a shooter, it would probably be something like The Finals. The game perfectly uses destructible environments to add more depth to the gameplay, just like Rocket League uses the arena walls and ceiling to do so.
The Finals is a game that both casual and competitive players can enjoy. There is a high skill ceiling for competitive players though, as they need to first find the perfect team composition and then find flexible plans that can be executed based on the situation. The gameplay is chaotic, fast, and full of exciting moments.
1 EA Sports FC
An All-In-One Pack For Anyone Who Loves Soccer
EA Sports FC 25
- Released
- September 27, 2024
WHERE TO PLAY
- Developer(s)
- EA Canada, EA Romania
- Franchise
- EA Sports FC
- Platform(s)
- PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, PC
- Genre(s)
- Sports
- OpenCritic Rating
- Strong
The ultimate replacement for Rocket League is soccer itself with its own basic rules. With all its deep and unfair in-game purchases, the EA Sports FC series still delivers a near-complete package of a sports simulation for everyone who has a love for soccer.
While casual players can enjoy a variety of single-player modes with flexible difficulty levels, there are also tons of modes for competitive gamers to enjoy PvP gameplay. There is even room for teamplay with the evolution of the Pro Clubs game mode.
Rocket League
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OpenCritic Reviews
- Top Critic Avg: 87 /100 Critics Rec: 94%