Backyard Soccer '98

★★★★☆ 3.9
Sports
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2 Easy Steps:
  1. Click “Download”
  2. Open store page and install
Evidence & Quick Compare
Verified sources, benchmarks and filters
Rating
3.9
Category Avg
4.0
Δ vs Avg
-0.1

Additional Information

Platform
Android / iOS
Installs
10,000+
Price
Free
IAP
-
Developer
Playground Productions LLC
Size
440 MB
Updated
2025-11-15
Version
1.1.94
Android
Android 5.0+
iOS
-

Screenshots

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Description

KICK BACK INTO ACTION
Jump back onto the field with the 2nd game from the Backyard Sports Franchise, Backyard Soccer ‘98, now enhanced to run on modern systems. Coach your favorite Backyard athletes to the championship, play a pick-up-game on your favorite field, and listen to classic commentators Sunny Day and Earl Grey.

Backyard Soccer ‘98 captures the playful spirit of youth soccer. Play 6-on-6 soccer with point-and-click controls for passing, defending and scoring! Start a pick-up game for instant play or create a coach for League Play. In League Play, select 8 kids of your choice and work your way to the top of each division. If you play well enough to qualify, you’ll compete in the “Astonishingly Shiny Cup of All Cups Tournament” against kids from all over the world!

SOCCER FOR EVERYONE
Play soccer like you did with friends in your neighborhood!
• 30 Iconic Kid Athletes
• 20 Unique Soccer Fields
• Intense tie-breaking shoot-outs 
• Comical Power-ups
• Hilarious Bloopers
• Lively commentary from Sunny Day and Earl Grey
• Multiple Divisions and Tournaments
To kick things off, choose a player and face Mr. Clanky for some penalty kick practice. This is where you can practice this crucial game deciding skill.

THE LEGEND CONTINUES
Backyard Soccer featured arguably the most iconic video game athlete of the 90s or any era - Pablo Sanchez. Play with the legend himself or choose your favorites and relive what made Backyard Soccer 1998 a cult classic. 

Game Modes include:
• Pick-up Game: Instant play! The computer chooses a random team for you and itself and the game starts immediately.
• Friendly Match: Build a roster to play a single game against another computer controlled team in your division.
• Spectator: Sit back and watch two teams of Backyard kids face off against each other in what is sure to be an exciting game of soccer.
• Penalty Kicks: Practice shooting and defending penalty kicks against Mr. Clanky. 
• League Play: Pick your team name, uniform colors, and players to compete in the Backyard Soccer League. Manage the team through a soccer season. The opposing teams are computer generated. If your team is in the top four by mid-season in any division, you’ll score an invite to the Off-The-Wall Indoor Invitational. If you finish a season as a top two team, you’ll move up to a stronger division. After winning the Premier Division, you’ll compete in the Astonishingly Shiny Cup of All Cups Tournament!

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
At our core, we are fans first – not just of video games, but of the Backyard Sports franchise. Fans have asked for accessible and legal ways to play their original Backyard titles for years, and we are excited to deliver.

Gameplay Mechanics & Difficulty

Game Mechanics

Core Loop: Backyard Soccer '98 focuses on a repeatable loop of play → upgrade → progress, typical for Sports games.

Controls: Touch controls (tap / swipe). Exact mappings may vary by mode and device.

Progression: Progression usually comes from completing runs/levels, unlocking upgrades, and improving mastery over time.

Modes: Main gameplay, Optional challenges (if available)

Mechanics Demo (What you do in-game):
  • Start a run / level and learn the basic controls.
  • Use your primary actions to handle objectives and threats.
  • Pick upgrades / items to shape your build for the current run.
  • Complete the stage and use rewards to unlock longer-term progression.

Difficulty Curve

  • Early game: Generally approachable: tutorials and early content help you learn the basics.
  • Mid game: Complexity increases as enemy patterns/objectives diversify and builds matter more.
  • Late game: Challenge is typically driven by build optimization, execution consistency, and higher difficulty content (if present).
  • Skill ceiling: Moderate to high depending on Sports depth and available modes.
  • Accessibility: Look for accessibility settings (graphics, controls, difficulty) in the in-game options if provided.
  • Best for: Players who enjoy learning systems and improving efficiency over time.

FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Backyard Soccer '98 free to play?
Pricing can differ by region and platform. Check the store listing for the latest price and offers.
Does it contain ads?
Ad behavior varies by version/region. Refer to the store “Data safety / Ads” disclosures and the in-game settings.
Are there in-app purchases (IAP)?
Check the store listing for current IAP information.
Does it work offline?
Some games support offline play, but features like cloud saves, events, or ads may require internet. Try airplane mode to verify.
Why is performance different across devices?
Performance depends on chipset, RAM, OS version, graphics settings, and thermal conditions. Lower settings and close background apps for smoother play.

Pros & Cons

Pros
  • Backyard Soccer '98 offers fun sports gameplay.
  • Players rate it around 3.9/5 in the store.
  • Downloaded over 10,000 times worldwide.
  • Free to download with optional in‑app purchases.
Cons
  • Contains in‑app purchases that may speed up progression.
  • May show ads or promotional content during gameplay.
  • Requires a compatible device and storage space to run smoothly.
  • Not ideal if you are not a fan of sports games.

User Feedback & Verified Reviews

Verified Player Reviews

Verified Player ✓ Verified ★★★★☆
"Great game! Backyard Soccer '98 delivers exactly what it promises. Highly recommended!"
2026-03-06

Player Testimonials

  • "I've been playing Backyard Soccer '98 for months and it's still engaging!"
  • "The gameplay is smooth and the graphics are impressive."

Privacy, Ads & Support

Privacy & Data Collection

Data Collected:

  • Device information
  • Usage statistics
  • Game progress data

Purpose: To improve game experience and provide personalized content

Privacy Policy: View Privacy Policy

GDPR: Declared

Third-party sharing: Analytics providers (if enabled), Ad network partners (if ads enabled), Cloud service providers (for sync/hosting)

Advertising Policy

Contains Ads: No

Ad Types: No ads

Disable Ads: N/A

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