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Rugby 22 similar games & best alternatives

Rugby 22

PC (Microsoft Windows), Xbox One, PlayStation 4, Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 5 • 2022

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Quick resume

Crouch, bind, set! Discover the true rugby experience. Play with best clubs and top nations, enjoy dynamic gameplay that stays faithful to the sport, and experience the intensity of big matches.

Global score

77/100

Genres

Simulator, Sport

Similar games

    Pros

    • Improved and realistic rugby gameplay mechanics
    • Challenging ai and tactical depth
    • Good career mode with progression and team building
    • Fair price and value compared to previous rugby games
    • Active modding community to add licenses and content

    Cons

    • Numerous bugs and glitches affecting gameplay
    • Limited licensing and missing official teams
    • Clunky animations and dated graphics
    • Weak commentary and repetitive audio
    • Limited customization and social features

    Analysis

    Less representative of its motivational profile, with noticeable differences. Motivations that often define this kind of title include Competition, Status, Story, Expression. Here, the score leans higher than usual among comparable games on Leadership. It leans lower than usual among comparable games on Fantasy, Exploration.

    How to use the graph
    Similar games map

    Each dot is a game. They are arranged from the same motivation profile as in the “Motivations” section below. Closer dots usually mean more similar reasons to play (exploration, competition, relaxation, etc.)—not that one game is “better” than another.

    • Larger dot with a light outline: the game you are viewing.
    • Colour: groups of games with comparable motivation patterns (statistical clusters).
    • Hover a dot to see the game name; click to open its page.
    • Scroll or double-click the chart to zoom out and see more games.

    Why don’t the axes read like a score? This view uses t-SNE: it only keeps who is close to whom. The scales are not “good to bad” or hours played—they separate groups on the map. Read distance between dots, not the axis numbers.

    Motivations

    • Autonomy
      3

      "Players have control over passes, kicking, set plays, and tactical decisions, though some mechanics are constrained by game systems."

    • Competence
      4

      "Game offers challenging AI, skill-based passing and tackling, and a high skill ceiling especially on harder difficulties."

    • Competition
      2

      "Includes online multiplayer and AI difficulty levels for competition, but matchmaking and online features have issues."

    • Continuation
      3

      "Players report ongoing engagement with career mode, team building, and repeated play despite bugs."

    • Cooperation
      1

      "Some multiplayer modes exist, but most gameplay and career modes are single player focused."

    • Creativity
      1

      "Limited customization options exist for teams and kits, but no player editing or deep creation tools."

    • Domination
      -3

      "Game emphasizes balanced play and tactical challenge rather than exerting superiority or trash talk."

    • Escapism
      3

      "Players use the game as a rugby simulation escape and stress relief, enjoying immersion in rugby mechanics."

    • Expectation
      -4

      "Players engage voluntarily out of rugby interest and intrinsic motivation, not obligation or pressure."

    • Experimenting
      3

      "Players explore different tactics, set plays, and team building strategies, though some routines exist."

    • Exploration
      -2

      "Game mostly features known rugby environments and teams with limited new discovery or secrets."

    • Expression
      1

      "Some team customization and kit design possible, but no deep avatar or environment personalization."

    • Fantasy
      -3

      "Focuses on realistic rugby simulation and tactics rather than imaginative or fictional elements."

    • Fellowship
      1

      "Some community and multiplayer engagement, but mostly individual play and limited social features."

    • Growth
      4

      "Players develop rugby skills, learn complex mechanics, and improve through challenging AI and modes."

    • Health
      -5

      "No physical activity or health-related gameplay elements; sedentary video game experience."

    • Idle
      -3

      "Requires focused attention and continuous engagement during matches and tactical decisions."

    • Intimacy
      -4

      "Minimal social interaction or emotional connection; mostly surface-level multiplayer or solo play."

    • Leadership
      2

      "Career mode involves some team management and strategic decision-making, but limited leadership depth."

    • Progression
      4

      "Strong progression through career mode, player collection, team upgrades, and unlocking content."

    • Relaxation
      2

      "Gameplay can be satisfying and fun but also involves tension and challenge, not purely relaxing."

    • Sensation
      1

      "Visuals and audio provide moderate sensory stimulation, though graphics and commentary are criticized."

    • Status
      0

      "Limited social recognition or status systems; some online play but no strong emphasis on visibility."

    • Story
      -4

      "No narrative or story elements; gameplay is focused on matches and career management without plot."

    • Strategy
      4

      "Strong emphasis on tactical play, set pieces, positioning, and decision-making throughout matches."

    • Thrill
      3

      "Players experience suspense and excitement from close matches, last-minute tries, and tactical plays."

    • Value
      3

      "Generally considered good value for price, especially compared to previous rugby games."

    • Violence
      2

      "Includes tackling and physical contact as core rugby elements, but not gratuitous or chaotic violence."

    • Survival
      1

      "Some resource and possession management in rucks and scrums, but low risk of failure or death."

    Where to buy

    Come talk about it on Discord!

    Last update: 29/04/2026