I’ve long been aware of the Captain Tsubasa series, but if I’m being honest, it’s one franchise that’s largely passed me by. I never played the previous game, I haven’t sat down to watch the anime, and as someone who’s far from being the world’s biggest soccer fan, it wasn’t exactly something that had been sitting at the top of my gaming wishlist. That said, when I first watched the trailer for Captain Tsubasa 2: World Fighters, something about it immediately caught my attention. It wasn’t trying to be a realistic football simulator. Instead, it embraced the dramatic storytelling, explosive action and larger than life spectacle that some of the best sports anime are known for. The over the top special moves, intense rivalries and sheer energy on display made it look like a sports game unlike anything else, and that was enough to make me curious.
Recently, Bandai Namco gave me the opportunity to go hands-on with an early build of the game, letting me sample several of its major modes and get a feel for what this sequel is bringing to the pitch.
For those unfamiliar with the series like I was, Captain Tsubasa 2: World Fighters builds upon the foundation of its predecessor by expanding the scale considerably. This time around, players will compete against a larger roster of national teams while taking control of an expanded lineup of playable characters, each equipped with their own signature techniques and spectacular special moves. The game draws from the World Youth storyline of the Captain Tsubasa series, giving players the chance to relive iconic moments while also creating stories of their own through its various gameplay modes.
One of the biggest additions this time is the ability to create your own custom player. Rather than simply controlling the established cast, you’re now able to build your own football star from scratch, gradually developing your own playstyle as you progress through the game. Whether you prefer playing as an attacking striker, a creative midfielder or a defensive powerhouse, the game gives you room to shape your character accordingly. Perhaps the most surprising addition is the ability to play as a goalkeeper for the first time, opening up an entirely new perspective on the action and adding even more variety to how matches can unfold.
During my hands-on session, I was able to spend some time experimenting with the game’s customisation systems. The character creator offered a respectable amount of flexibility, allowing me to put together my own player without too much fuss. More importantly, the art style translated beautifully to custom characters. Rather than looking like awkward additions standing beside the established cast, my created player genuinely looked like they belonged in the Captain Tsubasa universe. The game’s visual style remains remarkably faithful to the anime, and even player created characters fit seamlessly alongside the official roster. I also had the opportunity to tinker with team compositions, seeing how line-ups can be adjusted and customised before heading into matches.
My first stop was the Practice mode, which proved to be a smart introduction to the game’s mechanics. Since I was completely new to the series, I appreciated having the opportunity to slowly learn the controls without immediately being thrown into a competitive match. Practice walked me through passing, dribbling, shooting and positioning while gradually introducing some of the game’s more advanced mechanics. There’s definitely more going on beneath the surface than simply running down the field and taking shots at goal.
Once I had a basic understanding of how everything worked, I jumped into the offline Match mode. Here I played several exhibition matches against various national teams, giving me the opportunity to experience different stadiums and see a wider range of playable characters in action. During my preview time I only faced off against CPU opponents, but local multiplayer is also available for those wanting to challenge a friend.
Finally, I was able to sample a portion of the game’s Story mode, playing through segments inspired by the World Youth Arc. During this section I faced both the Thailand Youth and China Youth teams, which offered a nice glimpse into how the narrative and gameplay come together. Rather than feeling like disconnected matches, there was a sense of progression and escalating stakes that helped capture the dramatic tone the series seems to be known for.
As for the gameplay itself, Captain Tsubasa 2: World Fighters sits somewhere between arcade sports action and anime spectacle. At its core, you’re still playing football, moving the ball up the field through passing, positioning and creating scoring opportunities. However, everything is dialled up several notches. Every tackle feels dramatic, every shot carries weight and every possession has the potential to erupt into a cinematic clash.
The real highlight comes once players begin unleashing the game’s signature special abilities. Super Moves transform ordinary shots, passes and defensive plays into extravagant anime sequences complete with flashy animations and impossible levels of power. As matches progress and the pressure builds, Miracle Moves become available, acting as game changing techniques capable of completely shifting momentum at crucial moments. These sequences inject an enormous amount of excitement into the match, making each breakthrough feel genuinely rewarding. Even someone like me, who doesn’t usually gravitate towards football games, couldn’t help but get caught up in the spectacle once these abilities started flying across the field.
Despite the exaggerated presentation, there still appears to be a solid layer of strategy underneath. Managing possession, creating space, deciding when to spend resources on powerful techniques and building team chemistry all seem to play important roles in securing victory. It’s not simply about spamming flashy attacks, but rather knowing the right moment to unleash them.
Visually, the game left a strong first impression. Character models closely resemble their anime counterparts, with expressive faces and dynamic animations that bring every dramatic moment to life. The presentation consistently captures that unmistakable anime energy, from exaggerated reactions to explosive finishing moves. As mentioned earlier, I was particularly impressed with how well the custom created players fit into this visual style, avoiding the awkward mismatch that can sometimes happen in games with player creators.
Although my time with the preview build was fairly limited, it certainly succeeded in making me interested in seeing more. Having gone into the session with very little knowledge of Captain Tsubasa, I walked away with a much better appreciation for why the series has maintained such a passionate following over the years. There’s an infectious energy to the matches that makes every goal feel like the deciding moment of a championship final.
With the full release arriving next month, I’m looking forward to diving deeper into everything the game has to offer. I want to continue developing my custom player, experiment with building the ultimate team and, perhaps most intriguingly, spend some time playing as the goalkeeper to see how dramatically it changes the flow of each match. If the rest of the game builds upon what I experienced during this preview, Captain Tsubasa 2: World Fighters could end up being an enjoyable surprise for both longtime fans and newcomers alike.
Captain Tsubasa 2: World Fighters launches August 28 2026 on PS5, Xbox Series X| S, Nintendo Switch and PC.
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