UFL soft launch first impression: The competition eFootball and FC Mobile needed

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Story Highlights

  • UFL Mobile soft-launches on Android, bringing a skill-first football experience to mobile.
  • Gameplay feels smooth and responsive with strong visuals and premium presentation.
  • Some fundamentals like skill moves, slide tackles, and collisions need refinement.

Okay, so I finally got my hands on UFL, the new mobile football game, after its soft launch! Honestly, it’s been a while since a mobile football game really grabbed my attention. This is my first chance to check out what Strikerz Inc. and XTEN LIMITED have been working on, and it’s exactly what they promised – a game focused on skill, not just button mashing. It’s officially called UFL – Football Game 2026, and right now it’s available in a few places like India and Indonesia. I’m excited to see how it develops!

After years of anticipation on PC and consoles, the arrival of UFL on mobile – even in this early, limited release – is a welcome change for players looking for something new. I’ve been playing it, and here are my initial thoughts after getting some hands-on time.

A gameplay with good visuals is a solid start

I started playing UFL Mobile expecting a typical early-access game, but I was really impressed with how good the gameplay actually is – especially for a soft launch. I’ve spent a lot of time trying out all the different features, and it’s been a great experience on my Xiaomi 15 Ultra, which has a Snapdragon 8 Elite processor.

The game runs incredibly smoothly, with fluid animations and fast transitions. What really stood out was how natural the player controls feel – responsive buttons register quickly, and passes generally go where you aim. There’s no frustrating lag, which keeps the gameplay enjoyable.

UFL Mobile looks great! The graphics are really well done, and I highly recommend playing with the High graphics setting, high resolution, and 60 FPS for the best experience. Don’t forget to download the HD textures too – they significantly improve how players and the field look.

The game looks great with higher graphics settings, even on powerful phones, without causing performance issues. The stadiums and team uniforms are visually appealing, and it feels more like a console football game than most mobile games. The camera angles are also fantastic, and I especially recommend trying to play with player number 2!

This has a few fundamentals missing, but fixable

I’m really struggling to understand how skill moves work in UFL Mobile. I’ve tried everything I can think of, but I can’t seem to get them to work. It’s possible I’m overlooking something simple, or maybe they haven’t been fully added to the game yet. I’m wondering if they’ll become available as I improve my player’s rank. If anyone knows how to do skill moves properly, please share your tips!

The way the ball moves in the game is decent, but it doesn’t quite feel right. It’s noticeably different from games like eFootball and FC Mobile, and sometimes that difference isn’t a good thing. Shots, particularly when finishing, often feel either too strong or have an unnatural curve, as if the ball is always trying to do something flashy.

As a big gamer, I’ve been noticing lately that a lot of games seem to be missing that sweet spot – the realistic, down-to-earth look and feel. It might not bother everyone, but having played a bunch of these titles, it’s definitely something I pick up on and it can sometimes break my immersion.

Overall, the defensive gameplay feels pretty good. However, I did encounter a few confusing moments trying to find certain features. Specifically, I couldn’t find a way to slide tackle, and I’m not sure if that option even exists. I also didn’t see any controls for quickly pressing two buttons together for defensive actions. Considering this is an early version of the game, these defensive tools seem important and are definitely missed when playing.

Right now, the way players bump into each other is the biggest problem with the game. When defenders go for the ball, the collisions often look unnatural and chaotic – almost like a clumsy playground scuffle. Players just bounce off each other in a way that feels unrealistic and a bit awkward.

The UI might be the crispest of them all

Honestly, the user interface in this mobile football game is the best I’ve ever seen. From the second you start playing, everything just feels really smooth and high-quality. It’s super easy to get around because they didn’t overload the screen with stuff. The menus load instantly, the transitions are quick, and the whole layout just makes sense – it’s really well designed.

Everything about the design – the fonts, layout, animations, and overall presentation – is exceptionally well done. Honestly, it’s impressive! FC Mobile should take note. The audio is also fantastic; the menu music creates a perfect atmosphere and feels high-quality without being repetitive or irritating.

Final Thoughts

Okay, so UFL Mobile isn’t perfect yet, but honestly, it’s already really fun to play! The controls feel great, it runs smoothly, and it looks good too. That’s a fantastic base to build on, and I’m really hoping it takes off. We need more options for a great football experience on mobile, and competition is the only way to get there. I’m rooting for this game, and I think a lot of us are!

I think KONAMI’s eFootball currently offers the best mobile soccer experience. However, they might be getting too comfortable being in the lead, and could benefit from stronger competition to inspire new ideas. While FC Mobile and Dream League Soccer are good games, I don’t think their gameplay is as polished.

From what I’ve seen, UFL has real potential to compete with games like eFootball. If they add more game modes and avoid relying too heavily on loot boxes, and especially if they include a great Manager Club Mode or a Player Mode – even if it requires some effort to unlock things – it could be very successful.

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2026-01-30 11:42