Speedball Review

Speedball is a game that is probably best remembered amongst us older gamers. The original title is a classic, and this reimagined version attempts to capture the goodness from the past and recreate it. Think of a game that fuses handball and hockey, but adds a brutal twist. The game is now available on Xbox Series X|S, featuring Xbox Play Anywhere. This gives you the option to pick up and play on Console, PC or Handheld. The question is, how does it stack up in this modern era?

Gameplay

At its core, Speedball remains exactly what long-time fans remember: a violent, high-speed arena sport where scoring goals is only half the battle. The other half is beating the crap out of your opponents.

Matches are short, chaotic bursts of action, and the controls are snappy enough that you can dive straight in without a tutorial. Passing, tackling, and shooting all feel responsive on the Series X controller, and the game’s trademark “flow state” — that moment where you’re chaining hits, ricocheting the ball off multipliers, and steamrolling toward the goal is satisfying.

Local multiplayer is where Speedball truly hits its stride. The moment you drop into a match with a friend, the game’s frantic pace and hard‑hitting tackles become twice as entertaining. Controls are instantly accessible, letting newcomers get stuck in while still giving seasoned players room to dominate with smart passes and brutal takedowns. Each five‑minute match is a burst of pure arcade energy, fast, loud, and competitive. It’s the kind of couch multiplayer that keeps you saying “one more game,” and it easily stands out as the most enjoyable way to experience the sport’s chaotic charm.

Online Multiplayer

My main excitement going into playing Speedball was becoming competent and then heading online to play against real players. Unfortunately, this area of the game is a little barebones. Now I have no complaints about the matches themselves. I found a game fairly quickly, and the gameplay was smooth, with stable performance and no lag.

There are a couple of options when it comes to online multiplayer. You can play an exhibition match against random opponents, or you can set up a league to play with friends. With these limited options, there is a lack of longevity here. Online matches don’t have any sense of progression. There are no rankings, no cosmetic unlocks or anything to really play for other than winning the game. It could really do with something to add a competitive edge to the game; the servers will die off pretty quickly.

Visuals & Audio

The visuals in Speedball deliver a sharp, modernised take on the series’ classic top‑down chaos. Arenas burst with colour and personality, from hazard‑packed layouts to the metallic shine of player armour, all presented with crisp clarity on Xbox Series X. Animations are fast, exaggerated, and deliberately over-the-top — wall runs, flips, and bone‑rattling tackles all pop. It’s not aiming to be a technical showcase, but it nails the sport‑meets‑mayhem aesthetic perfectly, giving every match a clean, readable, and stylish sense of impact.

The audio design in Speedball leans fully into the sport’s brutality. Every tackle lands with a satisfying crunch, every ricochet off the arena walls rings out with sharp clarity, and the constant hum of the crowd adds a layer of tension to each match. The soundtrack mixes retro‑inspired synths with a modern punch, giving the action a driving rhythm without overwhelming the chaos on screen. It’s not the most varied audio package out there, but it nails the atmosphere, loud, energetic, and perfectly tuned to the game’s fast‑paced mayhem.

Final Thoughts

Speedball on Xbox Series X is a faithful revival of a true cult classic. It is fast, frantic and fantastic fun. It retains the arcade-style vibe of the originals whilst bringing a modern, fresh feel to the gameplay experience. The online modes could do with some hard work, but for the most part, I had a great time.  If you grew up with the original or just want to try something out of the ordinary, then I would recommend giving this one a go. Especially if you’re into alternative sports, and whilst this one doesn’t exist in real life, it is so fun to get to grips with and play. If you purchasing this you can buy a copy on Xbox Series X|S HERE.