Every game mode in Rocket League (explained)

Rocket League may be one of the more unique games that players can play, but that isn’t the only reason it’s still relevant. Sure, being able to use cars to score goals against other players may sound cool, but if that was the only thing players could do, the game’s longevity would be borderline non-existent. Fortunately, that’s where the various game modes Rocket League has come in.

Rocket League has multiple game modes players can play, and they’re largely different from one another. While they all follow the basic formula of cars meeting football, every game mode adds something unique to the table. Today, we’re here to go through every single primary game mode in Rocket League.

So, without any further ado, here’s every primary game mode in Rocket League explained.

How many game modes are in Rocket League?

Players can enjoy five primary game modes in Rocket League, each with unique twists on the main concept of the game. These modes are Soccar, Snow Day, Hoops, Rumble, and Dropshot. Here’s an explanation of each mode and what players can expect when they try them.

Soccar

Soccar is Rocket League's primary game mode. In it, two teams of flying vehicles play soccer against each other. Soccar matches range from 1v1 to 4v4, with the most popular variant being 3v3.

The objective of Soccar is simple. Players need to hit the ball into the enemy team’s goal to get points. The match is played on a rectangle-shaped field with goals on both sides, with numerous boost pads scattered across the map that players can collect to gain speed or fly in the air for aerial shots. The game focuses on ball control, positioning, and teamwork.

Each match lasts five minutes long, with the side scoring the most goals being the winner. Once the timer runs out, the match ends whenever the ball hits the ground. If both teams have the same points, the game goes into overtime, where the first team to hit a goal wins. Overtime doesn’t have a timer, so it can go on forever until someone scores. Soccar is the default game mode and is playable on almost every map in Rocket League.

Snow Day

Snow Day is like Soccar with a hockey puck instead of a ball, changing the gameplay.

Unlike the ball that bounces easily and can be launched into the sky, the puck slides across the grounds and walls because of its flat shape. This change forces players to try different strategies to control the projectile. Passing and shooting becomes easier, so players don’t have to be ready to jump up in the air.

Players can only play Snow Day winter-themed maps like DFH Stadium (Snowy). The difference in physics means the puck doesn’t go in the air, so there’s less chance of vehicles doing aerials. 

Hoops

s the name implies, Hoops has players dunking the ball into vertical hoops instead of shooting it into goalposts.

The arena in Hoops is smaller than Soccar, with lower ceilings that allow players to bounce the ball on it. Instead of goalposts, there are raised hoops that players must throw into to score. Each hoop has a basket net that blocks the ball but lets vehicles go through it so players can play defensively from inside the hoop. 

Hoops changes the atmosphere thanks to a new announcer and sound effects like a buzzer that sounds whenever someone scores and tires that squeak to copy basketball shoes. This game mode is one of the most popular game modes in Rocket League.

Official matchmaking servers only have 2v2 for this mode, but players can play it in 1v1, 3v3, and 4v4 in custom matches.

Rumble

Rumble adds a twist to the traditional Soccar game mode by introducing randomized power-ups, making it the most unpredictable mode in Rocket League.

Each player has a randomized power-up with a 10-second timer that starts after kick-off and whenever a power-up is used. Once the timer hits zero, players get a random power-up that they can activate. The game doesn't force players into using power-ups, so they can hold onto them as long as they want. Rumble’s official matchmaking playlist only has 3v3, but people can play it in 1v1, 2v2, and 4v4 in custom games. 

Here’s a list of every power-up in Rumble and what they do:

• Plunger: Pulls the ball towards the player.
• Spikes: Attach the ball to the player’s vehicle if they touch it.
• Disruptor: Forces an opponent’s vehicle to boost for a short period
• Grappling Hook: Pulls the player towards the ball until they hit it.
• Freezer: Freezes the ball wherever it is when activated.
• Tornado: There’s a tornado around the player, which sweeps up other cars and the ball.
• The Boot: Kicks an opponent’s car away from the player.
• Haymaker: Punches the ball away from the player.
• Power Hitter: Gives the player’s vehicle more strength. The ball hits much harder, and it can instantly demolish opponents.
• Swapper: Swaps positions with an opponent.
• Magnetizer: Attracts the ball towards the player.

Both teams get the same power-ups through a queue to ensure the game mode is fair in official matchmaking servers. For example, if a team gets a Freezer, Tornado, and Swapper, the opponent team will also have it. 

Dropshot

In Dropshot, Rocket League players must hit the ball onto the opponent’s floor to damage it and create small goals.

Dropshot is played in the hexagon-shaped map, Core 707, with numerous breakable floor tiles and an electrified ball. The map has two zones, one for each team, and players have to activate and break the opponent’s side floor by hitting the ball on it. The longer the ball hasn’t destroyed a tile, the stronger it gets.

When the ball is activated, it can be blue or orange, depending on what team last touched it. If the ball is blue and it hits the blue floor, nothing will happen, and vice versa. The ball has three phases in this mode.

• Phase 1: Damages a single tile.
• Phase 2: damages up to seven tiles.
• Phase 3: Damages up to 19 tiles.

Each tile requires two hits to break. When a tile breaks, it leaves a small hole in the ground for the ball to pass through. Teams must defend their floor while trying to destroy the opponent's side’s floor. Official matchmaking servers only have 3v3 in Dropshot, but players can try 1v1, 2v2, and 4v4 in custom matches.

What are the Rocket League limited-time game modes?

It should be noted that we only went through all of the Rocket League primary game modes. The biggest reason for this is that while the game also tends to add limited-time game modes, those modes go away after a set amount of time and are usually collaborations. Therefore, chances are that most, if not all of them will be gone by the time some people read this.

While Rocket League has various limited-time game modes and more will be added with future updates, below is a list of every limited-time game mode that has come to Rocket League at the time of writing.

• Dropshot Rumble
• Beach Ball
• Boomer Ball
• Heatseeker
• Haunted Heatseeker
• Heatseeker Ricochet
• Rocket Labs
• Ghost Hunt
• Winter Breakaway
• Spike Rush
• Gridiron
• Super Cube
• Tactical Rumble
• Speed Demon
• Spring Loaded
• Gotham City Rumble
• Confidential thirdwheel test
• Knockout
• Nike FC Showdown
• Eggstra Special Mode
• G-Force Frenzy

FAQs

Will Rocket League add more game modes?

Now, Rocket League adding more limited-time game modes is very likely. However, chances are that those game modes will likely be available for a limited time. This is because the primary game modes that are currently available have been around since the game came out, and the lineup is what one may say is set in stone. Epic Games likely won't want to mess with what works.