Getting into the same session as someone you know — rather than being dropped in with strangers — is the part of Rocket League Sideswipe that people actually search for. Here is the whole process, start to finish.
Before you start
You each need your own copy on your own phone. Rocket League Sideswipe is on both the App Store and Google Play, so it does not matter which of you is on iPhone and which is on Android.
It is free to download, so there is no reason for one of you to hold off and watch over the other's shoulder.
Step by step
- Install it on both phones. Do this before you sit down to play — first-launch downloads are always bigger than you expect.
- Add each other as friends or join a private race. This is the step that connects the two of you rather than putting you in a public lobby.
- Line up and race head-to-head.
- Stay on a call while you set up the first time. Working out one game's friend system together takes five minutes; doing it over text takes half an hour.
When you cannot find each other
- Make sure you are both fully signed in, not playing as a guest — guest accounts are the most common reason a friend request never arrives.
- Check you have both got the app updated. A version gap can hide one of you from the other.
- Have the person creating the session send the invite rather than both of you searching at once.
- Restart the app on both phones before assuming something is broken.
Making Rocket League Sideswipe work as a couple thing
Once the setup is done, the question becomes whether you keep playing. Rocket League Sideswipe is competitive in the friendly, rematch-me way, and that shapes how to fit it into a week.
- Race each other or team up in quick, exciting matches.
- Short rounds are perfect for a playful showdown.
- A friendly rivalry that always ends in a rematch.
The couples who keep a game going are almost always the ones who attached it to something — after dinner, on the commute, before bed. The game matters less than the slot.
Similar games worth having installed
- Mario Kart Tour — Mario Kart Tour puts the beloved kart racer on mobile with familiar characters, courses and plenty of item-throwing mayhem.
- Asphalt 9: Legends — Asphalt 9: Legends is a stunning arcade racer packed with supercars, nitro boosts and dramatic stunts.
- KartRider Rush+ — KartRider Rush+ is a free, cute kart racer built around satisfying drifting and lots of modes.
More of the same kind on our category page.
Where to go next
A tip from running this list: pair a competitive game with a calm one. Our Flower Garden is the calm half of ours — a shared garden that waits for you.
- Is Rocket League Sideswipe Cross-Platform? iPhone & Android
- Is Rocket League Sideswipe Multiplayer? How to Play It Together
- How to Play 2 Player Games: The Challenge With Friends
- How to Play 8 Ball Pool With Friends
- Our full list of the best mobile couple games
Frequently asked questions
- How do I play Rocket League Sideswipe with my partner?
- Install Rocket League Sideswipe on both phones, add each other as friends or join a private race, then start a session together. The friend step is what keeps you out of a public lobby.
- Can you play Rocket League Sideswipe with friends as well as your partner?
- Yes — the same friend system that connects the two of you works for a wider group, so Rocket League Sideswipe scales up on the nights you want company.
- Why can't my partner see me in Rocket League Sideswipe?
- Usually one of you is signed in as a guest, or one copy of the app is out of date. Sign in properly on both phones, update both, then send the invite from one side rather than searching from both.
- Do we need to be in the same room to play Rocket League Sideswipe?
- No. Rocket League Sideswipe plays online, so the two of you can be anywhere as long as you both have a connection.
