Play Jikkyou World Soccer 3 (J) Online

You weave passes between defenders who actually react, then hammer a shot that bends just enough to slip past the keeper—it’s messy, frantic soccer that somehow feels right. The menus are all in Japanese, but you’ll figure it out after a few wild slide tackles.

Developer: Konami

Genre: Sports

Released: 1998

File size: 6.26 MB

Game Overview

Jikkyou World Soccer 3 is one of those N64 soccer games that actually feels like you're controlling real players instead of stiff little polygons. The passing is crisp, the shots have weight, and the way players jostle for position actually matters—none of that arcadey, run-down-the-field-and-blast-it nonsense.

You’ve got a solid selection of international teams (though good luck figuring out the Japanese menus at first), and matches play out fast but tactical. The graphics were impressive for the time—players have distinct faces, and the animations hold up better than you’d expect. Just don’t go in expecting FIFA-level realism; this is pure late-90s Konami soccer, where slide tackles are borderline assault and every goal feels like a minor miracle.

If you’ve got a soft spot for classic sports games, this one’s a hidden gem on the N64.