Football games usually fall into one of two camps. They’re either massive simulations packed with licences, tactical systems and endless menus, or they’re wild arcade experiences that care more about spectacular goals than realistic passing percentages. Beat The Champions firmly plants itself in the second category.
Launching on Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, PC and Play Anywhere for £14.49, this colourful football game mixes legendary players, special abilities and frantic action into something that looks far removed from the likes of EA SPORTS FC 26 and eFootball. Whether that’s a good thing remains to be seen, but it certainly isn’t lacking confidence.
At A Glance
- Game: Beat The Champions
- Developer: Purple Tree
- Publisher: Purple Play
- Platforms: Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, PC, Play Anywhere
- Price: £14.49
- Genre: Arcade Football
Football Without The Rulebook
There are moments in every football match where players wish the referee would simply look the other way. Beat The Champions appears to embrace that idea.
One of its biggest twists is the removal of fouls outside the penalty area, creating matches that are far more aggressive and unpredictable than traditional football games. Tackles fly in, possession changes hands quickly, and matches can swing dramatically in a matter of seconds.
Add in special abilities, power moves and a focus on rhythm-based timing, and you’ve got something that feels much closer to an old-school arcade cabinet than a modern football simulator.
It may not have the polish or authenticity of EA SPORTS FC 26 – a game we recently praised as “a well crafted experience of football” – but it isn’t trying to compete on those terms. Instead, it’s aiming squarely at players looking for quick-fire fun and over-the-top action.
Legends Of Argentina Take Centre Stage
The biggest attraction here could well be the officially licensed Argentina National Team legends. Players will be able to step onto the pitch with some of the biggest names ever to wear the famous blue and white shirt, including Lionel Messi, Diego Maradona and Gabriel Batistuta.
That’s a pretty impressive lineup for a budget-priced football game.
Ready To Beat The Champions?
Beat The Champions is available right now on Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S and PC via Play Anywhere, priced at £14.49. The Xbox Store page is here.
We’ll see whether this arcade-style football challenger can earn a place alongside the genre’s biggest names once we’ve spent some time on the pitch.
