Bringing eFootball Kick-Off to the Nintendo Switch 2 feels like a return to form. Konami has a long history with Nintendo consoles, starting with Konami Hyper Soccer on the NES and continuing with the well-loved International Superstar Soccer (ISS) on the SNES and N64. ISS later became Pro Evolution Soccer (PES), which was once a top sports game before it switched to the free-to-play eFootball in 2021.
For me, PES has always been the best football game series. It feels like the franchise has moved away from what made it great over the years. So, seeing this new release makes me hopeful that it’s a big step forward, especially if they bring back the PES name and a proper Master League mode.
The Anti-Live Service Approach
Konami isn’t giving Switch 2 players a weaker version of eFootball, unlike how EA has handled FIFA’s “Legacy Editions” on Nintendo consoles in the past. Instead, Konami is providing a totally different experience. While the main eFootball game on other systems is built around online play and grinding, eFootball Kick-Off is the opposite. It’s designed almost entirely for offline play, acting as a spiritual successor to the old-school football games that focused on single-player experiences.
The World Tour Mode
This new version’s best feature is World Tour, a big new mode only on Switch 2. It should make old PES fans feel nostalgic right away.
It starts you off with the classic default Master League team, the one with everyday players like Castolo and Minanda that fans love.
You move around a world map divided into groups of five clubs from different regions, like Asian Leagues. When you beat a team, you can sign one of their players to make your squad better over time.
By winning games, you earn coins based on player position, like coins for forwards or midfielders. When you finish a regional group, you can buy legendary players like David Beckham, Adriano (such a star), and Dennis Bergkamp from a shop. This lets you build a dream team without needing to play online.
Even though it doesn’t have the in-depth management and training of the real Master League, World Tour gives you a good way to progress in single-player. It’s a game loop that the franchise has been missing for five years.
Tournament Play and Couch Co-Op
The game also includes an International Cup mode for offline play. This mode comes set up with the actual groups for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, so you can start playing with teams like Scotland or England right away. However, you can also change the groups however you like.
A big part of eFootball Kick-Off is how well it works as a social game. You can play with one to four players locally, and it even has a GameShare feature. What’s great is that both the World Tour and International Cup modes can be played completely in co-op. Plus, there are lots of assist options for each player, making it easy for friends of any skill level to join in and play together on the couch.
On the Pitch: Smooth 60fps Gameplay
eFootball first came out in 2021 and people made fun of it because it was so bad. But after five years of updates, the game has changed a lot. Now, the basic gameplay on the Switch 2 is actually really good.
When it comes to performance, other soccer games on the Switch 2 aim for 30 frames per second. eFootball Kick-Off, though, runs at a smooth 60 frames per second, whether you’re playing on the TV or holding the console. Sometimes it hiccups a little, but passing the ball feels smooth and the controls are very responsive.
There are some unique features, too. Konami added speech bubbles that look like they’re from a comic book. Players will show these when they want the ball or are trying to encourage each other. It’s a fun addition, but you can turn it off if you prefer.
As for the sound, the main commentary by Peter Drury is fine. However, Jim Beglin’s co-commentary sounds unnatural and has weird pauses in the middle of sentences. You’ll probably want to go into the game settings and turn off the commentary altogether.
EA Vs Konami
When you think about eFootball you have to talk about the competitor, EA Sports FC. EA Sports FC is still the best when it comes to licenses how the game looks and all the different game modes they have. But eFootball is better in two ways: it runs smoother and it is cheaper.
You can buy eFootball Kick-Off for a low price of £15.99 which is great for people who do not play football games all the time. If you do not want to spend a lot of money on things in EAs Ultimate Team and you just want a simple football game that is fun to play on the train or with your friends at home then eFootball is a great choice.
A Note on Online Play: If you want to buy eFootball to play with people online be careful. The online part of the game is very basic you can only play matches ranked matches or matches with your friends.. Because eFootball does not let players on different systems play together there will not be many people playing online on the Switch 2. So you should only buy eFootball if you want to play it by yourself or with friends who’re, in the same room.
Conclusion
eFootball Kick-Off is a clever, budget-conscious pivot from Konami. It may not be the definitive live-service port that online enthusiasts wanted, but as a standalone, offline, single-player and co-op football game, it hits the target. If you value smooth 60fps gameplay and nostalgic single-player progression over licensing bloat, this is a pitch worth stepping onto.
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