Pro Jank Footy
Review
AFL Jam - Tournament Edition
by William Thompson
reviewed on PC
Arriving at the business end of the season
As the Australian Rules Football season barrels towards its dramatic conclusion, footy diehards are already bracing for the long, quiet months of the off-season. While real-world players rest up and fans count down the days until next autumn, Pro Jank Footy arrives to bridge that unavoidable gap. Delivering an arcade-style, chaos-fueled interpretation of Australia's national pastime, this indie sports title trades strict tactical realism for absurdity, strategic power-ups, and deliberate mayhem.
The game presents players with a decent suite of match types designed for both quick play sessions and sustained single-player progression. For those seeking immediate action, Versus Mode delivers straightforward single-game exhibition matches against local opponents or computer-controlled teams, complemented by an Online Mode for taking the competition across the web. Single players looking for a structured campaign will find themselves spending time in Season Mode.
AFL Jam - Tournament Edition
Rather than mimicking a conventional twenty-three-round fixture complete with trade periods and complex ladder calculations, Season Mode plays out as a series of escalating gauntlets. Players work their way through a ladder of increasingly formidable opposition, treating each match as a boss fight where victory unlocks the next tier of competitors. Each match begins with players picking three starting power-ups, while the opposing squad enters with its own preset suite of team-wide boosts. Learning to read the opposition early is crucial, as identifying which specific attributes or buffs your rivals possess allows you to select counters that neutralize their strategic advantages.
Rounding out the suite are two distinct secondary modes. Watch Mode allows players to sit back and observe computer-controlled matches unfold in all their chaotic glory, functioning surprisingly well as background entertainment. On the opposite end of the spectrum is Kick to Kick Mode, which strips away competitive pressure entirely. In single-player, it operates as an open, unimpeded practice field where players can run around and master movement, handballing, and goal-kicking mechanics free from defensive pressure. When played with a friend, it transforms into a relaxed, traditional park-style kickabout where two players can ping passes to one another without the pressure of a ticking clock or a scoreboard.
Embrace the jank
Where Pro Jank Footy truly defines its identity is through its dual game styles: No Powers and All Jank. Playing with No Powers strips the experience down to a purely traditional arcade sports foundation, but opting for All Jank turns the game into a wild, strategic party brawler.
The core momentum shift in All Jank mode centers around a dynamic handicap mechanic: every time the opposition scores a goal, you are awarded a selection of special boosts to turn the tide. These power-ups vary dramatically in their targets and effects. Some provide direct positive buffs to your own squad, such as granting massive kicking distance. Others apply severe debuffs directly onto your opponents, such as turning their players slow and fat. A third class of global modifiers affects every player on the oval simultaneously, completely flipping match dynamics on a dime. Weighing these three options in the wake of a conceded goal creates a compelling risk-reward subgame within every match.
By the time a high-scoring game reaches its final quarter, the oval descends into glorious pandemonium. The visual density and operational unpredictability escalate further when magical, sentient meat pies randomly sprout legs and scamper across the turf. Snagging one of these pastry speedsters bestows an instant, completely unrevealed power-up, rewarding players brave enough to break team structure and chase down a roving pie amidst the carnage.
Despite the infectious energy of its match play, the moment-to-moment action suffers from a few balance quirks on the field. Defensive positioning and team AI often result in a heavily overcrowded forward line on your end, forcing you to navigate through dense traffic whenever you build an attack. Conversely, the opposition’s forward line frequently appears wide open. As a result, the moment the ball crosses into your defensive 50-metre zone, you are routinely left feeling on the back foot and scrambling to organize an understaffed backline against a free-flowing attack.
Hitting the (car)park
Where the game consistently shines, however, is in its environmental variety. The selectable venues offer personality and distinct visual charm. Matches can take place on a pristine, impeccably manicured stadium oval, or transition to a suburban ground in the dead of a rain-soaked winter, littered with slippery mud patches that disrupt player movement. The most memorable arena discards grass altogether, setting matches inside a shopping centre carpark where stray shopping trolleys scattered across the oval act as active physical hazards.
Pro Jank Footy achieves what it sets out to do by providing an affectionate, delightfully bizarre tribute to Aussie Rules. While AI positioning and forward line density could benefit from tighter balancing, its creative power-up system, varied venues, and accessible match formats make it a fine addition to any footy fan's off-season rotation.
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8.0
fun score
Pros
Heaps of Janky power-ups to try out, simple controls
Cons
Crowded forward lines
