Rocket League Game Modes Explained: Rumble, Hoops and More

Rocket League's main mode is Soccar, the car soccer the game is known for, played 1v1, 2v2, 3v3 or 4v4. Beyond that, there are permanent extra modes (Hoops, Rumble, Snowday, Dropshot and Heatseeker), free-for-all modes like Knockout, and limited-time modes that rotate through the Arcade playlists. Here's how each one works.

Last checked: November 9, 2026 (Season 24).

Soccar: the standard mode

Two teams try to hit the ball into the other team's goal. A match lasts five minutes, and a tie goes to sudden-death overtime, where the next goal wins.

4v4 Quads

Quads replaced the old 4v4 Chaos playlist in Season 20 (September 2025). It plays on bigger arenas built for eight players: they're longer and wider than standard arenas but the same height. They also have more boost pads, including boost on the walls, and an extra line across the field to help teams rotate. Quads was a ranked playlist in Seasons 20 and 21 and has been Casual only since Season 22.

New to Soccar? Our beginner guide covers controls, boost and rotation.

The permanent extra modes

Hoops

Rocket League's basketball mode, added in April 2016. Instead of a goal, each team defends a basketball hoop, and you score by getting the ball into the other team's hoop. Hoops rewards controlled touches and well-timed dunks more than hard hits.

Rumble

Rumble is Soccar with random power-ups. Every so often your car receives an item, such as a grappling hook, a haymaker punch, spikes that stick the ball to your car, or a freeze that stops the ball in place. Some items help you score, while others mess with opponents' cars.

You use an item with the Use Item button, which you can find and rebind in the controls settings.

Snowday

Snowday is ice hockey with cars. The ball is replaced by a puck on an icy rink, so it slides along the ground instead of bouncing. It started as a holiday event in 2015 and became permanent in 2016 after it proved popular. Expect lots of low, sliding shots.

Dropshot

Dropshot has no goals. The floor is made of hexagonal tiles, and the ball charges up the more it's hit without touching the ground. When a charged ball lands on the opponent's side, it damages or breaks tiles. Break a hole and drop the ball through it to score.

After a goal, the floor on the side that was scored on resets, while damage on the scoring team's side stays. Dropshot was added in March 2017.

Heatseeker

In Heatseeker, the ball curves toward a goal on its own after it's hit, homing in on the opponent's net after your touch. Games are fast, since the ball is almost always heading for one goal or the other. Heatseeker became a ranked 2v2 playlist in Season 21 (December 2025).

Free-for-all modes

Knockout

Knockout has no teams and no goals. You try to knock other players into hazards around the arena, and each player has three lives. You have three moves (Attack, Block and Grab) that counter each other a bit like rock, paper, scissors. If no one has won after six minutes, the match goes into Sudden KO, where every hit is stronger and leaving the safe zone costs you a life.

Bullet Ball

Bullet Ball arrived as a limited-time mode at the start of Season 24. A fast, homing ball chases one target player and demolishes them on impact, and the last car standing wins. You survive by fighting back:

• Attack: flip forward into the ball to send it toward a new target.
• Freeze: backflip into the ball at the exact moment it hits you to stop it briefly. Afterward, whoever is closest becomes the next target.
• Grab: hold the grab button while flipping to grab another player. If you're the target, grabbing someone makes them the new target.

Since Season 24, you can also pick Bullet Ball and Knockout in Private Matches and Exhibition, so you can play them outside their event windows.

Arcade playlists and limited-time modes

Casual has two Arcade playlists that rotate through extra modes. Since 2024, they've used a dueling system: after a week, the more popular of the two modes stays and the other is swapped out for a different mode. If both modes are unpopular, both get replaced. When a limited-time mode is running, it takes one of the two slots.

Modes that have appeared in rotations and events include:

• Spike Rush: the ball sticks to your car once you touch it, and any contact with an opponent while you carry it gets you demolished.
• Split Shot: each team is split across the two halves of the field, which encourages long-range shots.
• Up to No Good: a Halloween mode where the ball is light as a balloon and the last team to touch it before it hits the ground scores.
• Gridiron: a football-style mode first played for the Super Bowl in 2021.
• Speed Demon, Rocket Labs, Beach Ball and Boomer Ball: other variations that change the arena, ball or speed.

Which modes are live changes week to week, so check the Arcade cards in the Play menu.

Ranked extra modes

Hoops, Rumble, Snowday, Dropshot and Heatseeker have had ranked playlists, but the extra-mode lineup changes between seasons. Our ranks guide explains which modes recently joined or left ranked and how ranks and season rewards work.

Offline and practice modes

• Exhibition: a quick match against bots, now including free-for-all modes.
• Season: a single-player season against computer-controlled teams.
• Free Play: you, a ball and unlimited time to practice. Online Free Play, added in Season 17, lets friends practice together in Soccar, Hoops, Snowday and Dropshot.
• Training: official and player-made Custom Training packs for shooting, saving and aerials.
• Private Matches: custom games with friends, with mutators for gravity, ball size and speed, bounciness and more. Season 24 added a mutator for how fast boost pads recharge.
• Workshop maps: player-made maps, available on PC.

Frequently asked questions

What is Rumble in Rocket League?

Rumble is Soccar with random power-ups. Every so often you receive an item, such as a grappling hook, a punch, spikes or a ball freeze, and you use it with the Use Item button. It has its own ranked playlist.

What is Heatseeker in Rocket League?

Heatseeker is a mode where the ball automatically curves toward the opponent's goal after each hit. It became a ranked 2v2 playlist in Season 21.

How does Dropshot work in Rocket League?

Dropshot has no goals. You charge the ball by hitting it without letting it touch the ground, use it to break the hexagonal tiles on the other team's side, and score by dropping it through the hole.

What is Knockout in Rocket League?

Knockout is a free-for-all mode with no goals. You knock other cars into hazards using Attack, Block and Grab, and the last player with lives left wins.

Which Rocket League modes are ranked?

Duel (1v1), Doubles (2v2) and Standard (3v3) are always ranked. Extra modes such as Hoops, Rumble, Snowday, Dropshot and 2v2 Heatseeker have had ranked playlists too, but that lineup changes between seasons, so check the Play menu.

Can you play Rocket League offline?

Yes. Exhibition, Season mode, Free Play, Training and Workshop maps all work without online matchmaking. Online modes, ranked and tournaments need an internet connection.