The best games 2015 ( 12 )

Rocket League is a vehicular soccer video game developed and published by Psyonix. The game was first released for Microsoft Windows and PlayStation 4 in July 2015, with a version for Xbox One and beta versions for OS X and Linux being released in 2016. 505 Games started distributing a physical retail version for PlayStation 4 and Xbox One in June 2016.

Described as "soccer, but with rocket-powered cars", Rocket League has one to four players assigned to each of the two teams, using rocket-powered vehicles to push a ball into their opponent's goal and score points over the course of a match. The game includes single-player and multiplayer modes which can be played both locally and online, including cross-platform play between the PlayStation 4 and Microsoft Windows versions, as well as cross-play between Xbox One and Windows versions. Later updates for the game enabled the ability to modify core rules and adding new game modes, including ones based on ice hockey and basketball.

Rocket League is a sequel to Psyonix's Supersonic Acrobatic Rocket-Powered Battle-Cars, released in 2008 for the PlayStation 3. Battle-Cars received average reviews and was not a major success, but gained a dedicated fan base. Psyonix continued to support themselves through contract development work for other studios while looking to develop a Battle-Cars sequel. Psyonix began formal development of Rocket League around 2013, refining the gameplay from Battle-Carsto address criticism and fan input. Psyonix also recognized their lack of marketing from Battle-Cars, and engaged in both social media and promotions, including offering the title as a free download for PlayStation Plusmembers on release, to market the game.

Rocket League has been critically praised, earning a number of industry awards, and saw more than six million sales and at least 18 million unique players a year after its release. Rocket League has also been adopted as an eSport, with professional players participating through ESL and Major League Gaming, along with Psyonix's own Rocket LeagueChampionship Series. Rocket League has also been criticised for its search times and unlucky situations while "pinching" the ball.