Retro Football is a 6v6 arcade rugby game published by AZGames, released on November 10, 2026, and runs directly in your browser. Each match lasts approximately 7 minutes, divided into two halves. You call out tactics, snap the ball, and manually complete the play. The bright pixel art, the sounds of the stands, and the commentator's voice keep the game lively.
Each turn of the ball is opened with a play card containing 4 tactics. Select a card, press Space to snap, and from there all actions are controlled by one-button controls. To attack, hold Up or Down to select the receiver, look at the arrow indicating the target, and release the ball. To run with the ball, press Space at the right moment when a defender rushes in to create a hurdle. To defend, you play as a player, dive to the ball-holding defender or chase a quarterback to sack. After two halves, the team with more points wins: touchdown 8 points, field goal 3 points, safety 2 points. If tied, overtime is played until one team takes the lead.
Tactic cards change according to the situation. For first down or scoring lines under 5 yards, the game splits into two running cards. In the fourth inning or the last 20 seconds of each inning, the fourth card becomes a field goal or punt. Knowing this beforehand, you can proactively calculate when to focus on scoring. When shooting, choose an open receiver, because shooting into a crowded area will result in losing the ball. There are 8 types of defense, 4 of which are displayed each inning, from safe zone to full-field blitz. Against a team that shoots a lot, try blitz to pressure the quarterback.
The Kick Aim section in Settings has three levels. Easy shows the flight path and indicates whether the kick is in. Normal only shows the arrow. Hard only shows a short segment. Hold Easy until you get used to the double-tap rhythm. There's also a Reset Save button in Settings, located next to the Back button, so press carefully.
Franchise mode guides a team through a 17-week season. Win regional matches to advance to the playoffs, then progress through Round One, Semifinals, and the Retro Cup finals. There are 32 teams, six of which are unlocked. For every 3 wins in Quick Play or Franchise, you choose one of three random rewards: a new team or a new move. If you don't like the three options, watch an ad to change to a different set – it's completely customizable. 2-player mode uses a shared keyboard, with W, A, S, D plus G on the left and L on the right arrow keys, but these don't count towards rewards.
Retro Football packs an entire rugby match into 7 minutes, enough to make you want to play another game.
