Inazuma Eleven SD is a free-to-play sports mobile video game that allows you to collect all of the beloved characters of the Inazuma Eleven franchise and create your own soccer dream team with them. Developed by Level-5, Inazuma Eleven SD is the 16th title in the long line of the popular soccer-themed game series and is also a major crossover for all of Inazuma Eleven’s stories. This game uses ohajiki-like gameplay wherein you pull and flick the 3D characters on the screen to pass and shoot the ball. Ohajiki is a Japanese marble game about slingshotting techniques and may remind you of Angry Birds.

Kick it up a notch

Inazuma Eleven is a soccer-themed media franchise created by Level-5 back in 2008, which follows the story of the Raimon Jr. High School football team and its climb to glory. It gained popularity and eventually spawned several games for various platforms, as well as manga and anime adaptations. There are three main plotlines, one is Inazuma Eleven, which features the story of the goalkeeper Mamoru Endou. There is also Inazuma Eleven GO, which is set 10 years after the first story and features midfielder, Tenma Matsukaze. Lastly, Inazuma Eleven: Ares or Inazuma Eleven: Heroes’ Great Road is an alternate sequel and features forward, Asuto Inamori. 

All three stories haven’t fully crossed over in one game, though, but fortunately, Inazuma Eleven SD fixes this—allowing you to team up players across the three stories with its gacha system. Inazuma Eleven SD’s battle system is a 5-vs-5 soccer team, with one reserve player on each team and a coach and manager to give additional stats. Similar to air hockey and slingshots, you have to flick your chosen character to pass or shoot the ball. 

In essence, this game employs a turn-based strategy since you can choose what action to take when you pass the ball. Each character—in their adorable mini-figurine avatar self—has their signature moves and battle lines during matches, and you can even decorate a diorama with your chosen players. Inazuma Eleven SD also offers an original story mode and an online PvP mode, so this is surely a game you can stay with for a while.