With the World Cup fever running rampant across the world, it almost feels prophetic that Konami launched eFootball Kick-Off! right before the tournament’s inauguration. Not only that, but they did so as a Nintendo Switch 2 exclusive, the first Konami game in a Nintendo system in 13 years, back when eFootball was called Pro Evolution Soccer.
Such an important context and rare platform release needed to have a game such as Kick-Off be a massive event and a game exuding soccer like there is no tomorrow. And even though I had a blast hat-tricking the rival team into oblivion, I’m afraid to say that that wasn’t the case.
It’s all in the feel, baby
Arguably, the strongest aspect of the game is how soccer is played on the field. It feels buttery smooth, with players feeling as responsive as ever, the ball having amazing physics, and an arcade-like feeling that makes it extraordinarily approachable for Nintendo fans looking to take a dip into the Konami version of the sport. Easy Controls are a testament to that, as players, most likely children, will have automatic passes and even slow-down shooting sprinkled on top.
And even though that is the most important aspect of a soccer game, eFootball Kick-Off! has little more to offer. Game modes are limited to a handful, with World Tour being the standout among the others. This is a sort of career-meets-manager mode, in the sense that you craft a team of players while playing tournaments across the world.
So long as you win matches, you’ll be granted new players you can sign, as well as four different currencies you’ll get to spend to get the best players in the game, including legends such as Roberto Carlos or Carles Puyol. But other than that, you’re left alone doing regular matches (11v11 or 6v6, which is nice), playing a bit online, an International Cup (a non-licensed World Cup), and a couple of mini-games that get really old, really fast.
While some players seem borderline cartoony, I wouldn’t say that the game looks bad. In fact, it looks quite decent, which is a major point of contention given eFootball’s track record. Thankfully, it also performs well. eFootball Kick-Off! runs at a steady 60 fps, which is quite a feat. Why? Because the other major game on the Switch 2, EA Sports FC 26, runs at a disappointing locked 30 fps. That’s a huge advantage for Nintendo players who want to pick up a fast-paced, modernized soccer experience.
All is not perfect on the field
eFootball Kick-Off!’s sound design makes me feel as if I were watching in the stadium, creating an overwhelming sense of frustration with my team, who, again, failed to qualify for the World Cup. However, I can’t say the same thing about the commentary, which is extremely repetitive. I would’ve preferred more lines to keep match immersion at its peak. If I have to hear that the opposing coach is losing his mind, I will lose mine instead.
Again, I would have appreciated more modes in Kick-Off. For example, the regular eFootball has Dream Team, which is a much more in-depth, albeit more microtransaction-heavy mode — as well as eFootball League, Campaigns, and Challenges. Meanwhile, while I appreciate Kick-Off’s simplicity, the game often feels like an eFootball Lite, or even an eFootball demo, due to the lack of gameplay diversity.
Finally, while I know licensing limitations have always been a thing with Konami soccer games, I would have loved to see bigger teams beyond the likes of FC Barcelona and Manchester United. It is a bit nitpicky, for sure, but these things matter, especially for novice soccer video game players.
Verdict
Overall, eFootball Kick-Off! is a barebones soccer experience. This can be a good thing for some, as a plug-and-play game that offers a very good starting point for those seeking to experience soccer for the first time, potentially drawn to it by the FIFA World Cup 2026.
However, if you’re a Pro Evolution Soccer/Winning Eleven veteran, then this will most likely fail to scratch that itch on the Switch 2, as it gives you few excuses to pick it up once you’ve tried everything it has to offer — a feat achievable in one or two sittings.
