Analysis | Football Referee Simulator: A game for those who like to referee, but not to be refereed

Let's talk about Football Referee Simulatora game that puts you in the middle of the chaos of the football field, but without having to run like Taffarel in the 1994 penalties.

It seems that the developers (or rather, the developer, apparently it's a game created by just 1 person) They were inspired by amateur football, because here the mission is to be the referee and deal with everything that this implies.

We're not talking about being the star of the match, but rather dealing with those moments when no one wants to be you – when the fans, the players and even the stray dog ​​in the stadium want to insult you.

The game was released in 2024, and look, the idea is unique: instead of playing as the stars of Barcelona or Real Madrid, you control the referee. The idea is interesting, but I warn you, don't expect FIFA or PES graphics here. In fact, forget about graphics, we have just a mobile game interface. But don't be fooled, just like the classic Elifootthe game has its surprises, and over time it becomes addictive. If you are tired of dribbling with Messi or Ronaldo and want to feel what it is like to carry the whistle in your mouth and have to decide whether that tackle was on the ball or on the ankle, this game may be interesting for you.

Complicated decisions, not so much mechanics

The game's strong point is the simulation of decisions. If you thought referees were just guys in black running after the ball, Football Referee Simulator will show you that their lives are not easy. Every decision you make influences the course of the match, and believe me, you can feel the weight of that. But, not everything is perfect. The offside system, for example, is a bit confusing. You can't call an offside directly, only if a goal is scored. And if the attacker misses the ball? It becomes a corner kick, and the offside rule goes out the window. The translation into Portuguese doesn't help much either, with some expressions that seem to have been thrown into Google Translate without mercy.

Fun, but with room for improvement

The fun is there, but like any good indie game, it has its drawbacks. One very pertinent criticism is that the sound of the fans doesn't change much in decisive games, which takes away a bit of the immersion. It would also be nice to see the big teams playing in a way that's more in keeping with their fame. And the offsides? Sometimes they seem harder to understand than the VAR rules in the Premier League. The game also has no graphics, it's all old-school strategy style, it will take you straight back to the 80s where imagination was part of the fun, since we didn't have the graphics we have today.

Despite these issues, the game has a special charm. It's not FIFA, but it doesn't need to be. Football Referee Simulator delivers what it promises: it puts you in the shoes of a referee. If you're one of those people who like a different challenge, it's worth checking out. With a very affordable price (at the time of review, 3 reais) and an experience that you won't find elsewhere, it's a great way to kill a few hours, especially if you're tired of always being the hero of the game.

Pros:

• Addictive game system
• Efficient and fair interface
• Fair price

Cons:

• Virtually non-existent graphics
• Poor sound

Final Grade: 5/10

In the end, Football Referee Simulator It's one of those games that you didn't know you wanted until you played it. It has its flaws, it's very simple, it lacks graphics, of course, but it's somehow addictive. Who would have thought that being a referee, even a virtual one, could be so interesting? If you like football and are ready to see the game from a completely different perspective, it's worth giving it a try. And who knows, maybe in the next update or a sequel they'll improve the game? And fix that weird offside thing?