The most anime game of Soccer you will ever see
Inazuma Eleven: Victory Road is one of those games that immediately made me realize I was stepping into a long-running series with a very confident identity. This was my first time with Inazuma Eleven, and I’m not even a football (Soccer) fan, so I went in with cautious curiosity rather than hype. What I didn’t expect was how much time the game would spend setting the table before it ever asked me to actually play the sport it features.
Victory Road takes its time. And then some more time. The opening stretch of the campaign is packed with story, character introductions, world-building, and tutorials that seem determined to make sure you understand every emotional beat before a ball is ever kicked. As a newcomer, this felt especially noticeable. I kept waiting for that first real match, assuming it had to be just around the corner, only to be met with more dialogue and setup. For players jumping in for quick football action, this slow burn is going to be a hurdle.
MSRP: $69.99
Platforms: Xbox (reviewed), PlayStation, Switch, PC
Price I’d Pay: $69.99
That said, once the football finally begins, things click in a way I honestly didn’t expect, especially considering I’m not a soccer fan. Victory Road leans hard into its RPG roots, and matches feel more like tactical encounters than traditional sports games. Positioning, special moves, team composition, and resource management all matter, and the over-the-top anime flair gives every play a sense of drama. It’s less about realism and more about spectacle, and that approach made the sport far more enjoyable for me than I anticipated.
The characters do a lot of heavy lifting here. The game spends so long introducing them that, by the time matches start, I actually cared about the outcomes and how each of them did. Rivalries feel personal, victories feel earned, and losses sting just enough to push you forward. While the pacing early on is undeniably slow, the payoff is that matches later in the campaign feel meaningful rather than disposable.
Visually, Victory Road looks great on Xbox. The anime-inspired art style pops, character animations are expressive, and the special techniques are gloriously excessive. Performance was smooth throughout my time, and the presentation does a solid job of making each match feel like a big moment. The soundtrack backs it all up with energetic tracks that sell the intensity, even during longer sessions.
From a first-time perspective, Victory Road is welcoming but not gentle. It assumes you’re willing to invest time before seeing returns. Fans of the series will likely appreciate how much care is put into the setup. New players like myself may find that opening stretch a little daunting, especially if football isn’t already your thing.
As a whole though, Inazuma Eleven: Victory Road surprised me. Despite the slow start and my lack of interest in the sport itself, I ended up enjoying the experience far more than expected. It’s a stylish, character-driven RPG that just happens to revolve around football, and once it gets going, it’s hard not to get swept up in its enthusiasm. Just be prepared to wait a while before you actually hit the pitch. For those willing to stick it out, the journey is worth it.
Review copy of game provided by publisher.
