Comparison

Backyard Soccer '98 vs FlatBall

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both games, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

Backyard Soccer '98

Relive the fun of youth soccer with this classic 6-on-6 game. Choose from iconic athletes, play on unique fields, and compete in leagues and tournaments with comical power-ups and bloopers. Enjoy instant play or manage your team to championship glory.

Highlights
  • 6-on-6 soccer gameplay
  • Pick-up game and League Play modes
  • 30 iconic kid athletes
  • 20 unique soccer fields
  • Comical power-ups and bloopers
  • Classic commentators
  • Penalty kick practice
Read full 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.

About

FlatBall

Read full description

Baseball. Reimagined on a Flat Plane. FlatBall strips away the complexity of the stadium to reveal the soul of the sport. We’ve deconstructed the familiar rhythm of baseball into a minimalist masterpiece. No noise, no clutter—just the pure geometry of the game. Experience the thrill of baseball with simple controls and minimalist 2D graphics!

Screenshots

Backyard Soccer '984 screens
FlatBall3 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is ads: Backyard Soccer '98 at none against FlatBall's shown. FlatBall's advantage is update cadence (every 6 days vs every 5 months). On price, in-app purchases, device support and iOS requirement there is nothing between them.

Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Backyard Soccer '98 ships an update every 5 months, FlatBall every 6 days. The most recent releases landed on October 28, 2026 and October 16, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard2 real differences · 8 level
Backyard Soccer '98 versus FlatBall: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterBackyard Soccer '98FlatBall
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.3 (123 ratings) — better—
Positive reviews59.5% of reviews—
Number of ratings123 — better—
Update frequencyEvery 5 monthsEvery 6 days — better
AdsNo — betterYes
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationPaid—
DevicesiPhone, iPadiPhone, iPad, iPod — better
Requires iOS16.015.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size461 MB213 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperPlayground Productions LLCTaehyeok Kang

In-app purchases

None

Backyard Soccer '98

No in-app purchases

None

FlatBall

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Backyard Soccer '98 free?
Backyard Soccer '98 is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is FlatBall free?
FlatBall is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Do Backyard Soccer '98 or FlatBall have ads?
FlatBall shows ads; Backyard Soccer '98 does not.
Which is updated more often, Backyard Soccer '98 or FlatBall?
Backyard Soccer '98 ships an update every 5 months, and FlatBall every 6 days. Most recently, Backyard Soccer '98 was updated on October 28, 2026 and FlatBall on October 16, 2026.

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