Penalty Rivals — Play Free Online

Penalty Rivals strips football down to the one moment everybody remembers: the spot kick. There is no pitch to run across and no team to manage. You take a shot, then you defend one, and the score decides everything. A match is quick, which makes it an easy game to pick up between longer sessions.

If you landed on this site for Doodle Jump, the appeal is similar. Both games run on one idea, and the skill is timing and nerve rather than memorising a lot of rules. A shootout can swing on a single attempt, so there is always a reason to ask for a rematch.

How to play

The page lists the controls as the arrow keys or WASD to move, the mouse to aim and select, and tap or swipe on a phone. In practice a penalty game is about choosing where to put the ball when you shoot, and which way to commit when you defend. Use the on-screen prompts at the start of a match to see exactly which input does what, because the build can differ slightly between keyboard and touch.

Rounds alternate between attacking and defending, and the side that scores more over the set of kicks wins. A tied set usually goes to extra kicks, so a single mistake near the end can cost the match.

Tips

• Do not always aim for the same corner. A keeper, whether the computer or a friend, will start guessing once you form a habit.
• When you defend, commit to a side early instead of hovering in the middle. A half-hearted dive saves nothing.
• Stay calm after a miss. The next kick is what counts, and rushing it is the quickest way to give away a second one.
• On a phone, play with a steady grip and make your swipes clean and deliberate, since a sloppy swipe can send the ball somewhere you did not intend.

Similar games on Doodle Jump

Bouncy Basketball is the closest neighbour in the sports section, and it is also a short, physics-flavoured contest that you can play for a few minutes. Helix Jump and Bird Jumper are better if you want a solo score chase instead of a head-to-head, while Doodle Jump itself is the one to try when you want an endless climb with no opponent at all.

Penalty Rivals suits short sessions, a quick challenge against a friend on the same device, or a break from platformers. It loads in the browser with nothing to install, so you can be taking your first kick within seconds.