Manager's handbook

How to play Steel Arena

Two teams of six. One steel ball. An enclosed arena where the walls are part of the game. Out-score your rival over two halves, then manage your club between matches.

Controls

Touch (tablet)

  • Left thumb — touch anywhere on the left half to drop a virtual joystick and steer the highlighted player.
  • PASS / SHOOT — tap to pass to the best-placed teammate in the direction you face. Hold to charge and release for a power shot.
  • TACKLE — slide-tackle the ball carrier. While carrying the ball it becomes a quick dodge.
  • Switch — tap PASS when your team does not have the ball to control the player closest to it.
  • Pause — the button in the top-left corner.

Keyboard & mouse

WASD / Arrows
Move
Space / J
Pass · hold to shoot
K / L / Shift
Tackle · dodge
P / Esc
Pause
Mouse (right half)
Click = pass, hold = shoot
Mouse (left half)
Drag = joystick

Scoring

Goal10 pts

Throw the steel ball past the keeper into the goal mouth. Multipliers raise this to 15 or 20.

Wall star+2 pts

Hit one of the 5 stars on the top or bottom wall to light it in your colour. Stealing an opponent's star takes 2 from them.

Star row+10 pts

Light all five stars on one wall for a big bonus.

Multiplier dome×1.5 → ×2

Throw the ball through a glowing dome near midfield. Each pass through raises your goal value and resets the rival's.

Injury+10 pts

Tackles can stretcher an opponent off. Your team is awarded points and a sub comes on.

Credit coins+25 cr

Coins appear on the floor during play. Run over them to bank credits for your club.

Bounce pads

The glowing pads on the long walls electrify the ball and fire it off faster. An electric ball knocks down any rival it hits.

Walls are your friend

The arena is fully enclosed. Bank passes off the walls and chamfered corners to get around defenders.

Two halves

Each match is two timed halves with a break in between. Players tire as they sprint; stamina keeps them fresh.

Player stats

SPDSpeed — Top running speed across the arena.
PWRPower — Body-check strength and resistance to being flattened.
STAStamina — Energy reserves and resistance to injury.
THRThrowing — Velocity and range of passes and shots.
TKLTackling — Chance of winning a slide tackle.
AGIAgility — Acceleration, catching and goalkeeper reflexes.

Positions & formations

GK Goalkeeper

Guards the goal crease. Agility is everything.

DEF Defender

Breaks up attacks with brutal tackles.

MID Midfielder

Engine of the team. Links defence to attack.

FWD Forward

Fast finisher with a cannon arm.

2-2-1 Balanced — Two defenders, two midfielders and a lone striker.
2-1-2 Twin Strike — Twin forwards supported by a playmaker.
3-1-1 Iron Wall — Three defenders lock down the crease.
1-2-2 Blitz — All-out attack with a single sweeper.

The season

League

8 teams play each other home and away over 14 rounds. Win = 2 league points, draw = 1. The champion takes 3000 credits.

Earnings

Win 300, draw 150, lose 75 credits, plus 5 per point scored and 25 per coin collected.

Between matches

Train stats, treat injuries, buy and sell on the market and set your lineup. Rivals improve every season.

Play a matchBack to hub