Parents' Guide to

Rocket League

By Paul Semel, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 8+

Arcade-style soccer, with cars and a giant ball.

Game PlayStation 4 , Windows 2015
Rocket League Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this game.

  • Rocket League Screenshot #1
  • Rocket League Screenshot #2
  • Rocket League Screenshot #3

Community Reviews

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age 8+

Based on 20 parent reviews

mbgower
mbgower Adult
December 27, 2020
age 8+

Fun to play and watch!

Like many parents, I'm pretty fed up with how video games just retread the same ideas endlessly and rely heavily on violence. I am always seeking something that offers more. Rocket League is essentially soccer football with cars. Doesn't sound 'new', but the idea really works! Teams of 2 or 3 players are contained within a field much like a giant hockey rink, where the huge ball can't go out of bounds. Players can manipulate the cars (jump, dodge, flip) as well as rocket them (literallly) around the field. The result is an exhilarating game to both play and watch. The program has extensive training grounds to get you started, and then the league matches you up with players of similar ability for games. For that reason I've ranks it 'easy to play' but it's a very demanding game and some skill levels are incredible to watch. The graphics are amazing, and rich replay abilities make it a real pleasure just to spectate. I'm a horrible player, but have had hours of enjoyment 'coaching' my son on tactics, etc. The teams are assigned by the system based on play ability, so you are mostly playing with people you don't know. They've made good decisions on online chat (it's restricted to the actual players, and tends to have pre-set messages that keep chatter on task and positive). There are also nice features to allow you to keep on playing with team mates. There's the occasional spoil sport and foul language in the chats, but overall it is an extremely supportive team environment. Probably the most conciliatory I've seen online. I've said this is good for 8 and up. I suspect most players are much older; but the league can accommodate a wide variety of player ability. In terms of violence, I'll mention that you _can_ blow up other cars if you have a head on collision. But for the most part, it's no more violent than a real soccer match -- a lot of bumping and jostling for the ball. I highly recommend it.

This title has:

Great role models
Easy to play/use
2 people found this helpful.
sking16
sking16 Parent of 7 and 10-year-old
March 17, 2021
age 8+

one of the best

BUY IT.
1 person found this helpful.
See all 20 parent reviews

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What’s It About?

Because ROCKET LEAGUE is a sports game, there really is no story. Sure, it looks like you and your friends drove into King Kong's backyard and starting playing on the enclosed soccer field he built for himself and Godzilla, but we're just speculating. What we can tell you is that though there are tons of arenas and you can unlock new flags, paint jobs, and hats to customize your car, the only thing motivating you is the desire to win.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say (20 ):
Kids say (106 ):

If you like arcadey driving games, simple sports games, and playing against your friends, Rocket League could become your next online addiction. Essentially soccer with cars and a giant ball, this game has you drive around an enclosed arena, bumping into other players as you try to knock the ball into the goal. But in keeping with the arcade spirit, the physics are a bit on the unrealistic side, which is why your car can hop up and twist, you can drive up the sides of walls, and head-on crashes only cause you to bounce back (though, admittedly, the physics may be too unbelievable for those looking for a real athletic challenge). You also can play matches up to four-on-four, either online, via split-screen, or in a mix of the two, though the more populated matches tend to be a bit too chaotic. There's even an exhibition mode where you can play against the computer, and these matches also go up to four-on-four, though this gets old pretty quickly -- well, unless you customize your car with a pirate flag, purple boost smoke, and a sombrero. That's just funny.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about good sportsmanship. Why is it important to be a good loser? And why is it just as important to be a good winner?

  • Talk about teamwork. How will working with your teammates help you win games of Rocket League? How can you apply this to other games? Or the rest of your life?

Game Details

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