Handball 17 is a sports simulation game that recreates professional handball matches with official teams and authentic mechanics. Released for PC, it centers on the 2017 season and lets players control every aspect of the sport using real moves and strategies from the pitch.
Gameplay
The core loop revolves around fast-paced matches where players execute precise throws, defensive positioning, and tactical plays. Redesigned controls make it straightforward to perform actions such as spin shots, hip shots, feints, and combination sequences. Matches flow continuously without unnecessary interruptions, emphasizing quick transitions between offense and defense.
Dynamic artificial intelligence governs both teammates and opponents, adapting to player choices and maintaining realistic team behaviors across different difficulty settings. Several levels of difficulty allow newcomers to learn the basics while challenging experienced players with tighter timing and smarter opposition. All 82 official teams from the 2017 season appear with accurate rosters, ensuring every match reflects the actual leagues involved.
Game Modes
Single-player options include Season mode, where participants select a league and compete through a full campaign of matches. Career mode extends this further by tracking individual player progression across multiple seasons with performance-based development.
Multiplayer support covers both local matches against another person on the same system and online sessions for competitive play. These modes maintain the same core rules and move sets, allowing direct comparison of skills in head-to-head formats. No additional custom rulesets or variants appear beyond the standard handball structure.
Teams and Leagues
The game includes every squad from the LIDL STARLIGUE and PROLIGUE in France, the DKB Handball Bundesliga along with its second division in Germany, and the Liga ASOBAL in Spain. Rosters match the 2017 season exactly, covering player names, positions, and team identities without alterations. This focus on licensed content creates authentic rivalries and league standings that mirror real-world competitions of that year.
Is It Worth Playing?
Handball 17 suits players who want a dedicated simulation of the sport rather than a broader arcade experience. Its strength lies in the combination of official 2017 teams, varied single-player campaigns through Season and Career modes, and accessible yet deep controls that reward practice with advanced techniques. Multiplayer options add replay value for those seeking local or online competition. The title remains available on PC for anyone interested in handball tactics and realistic match flow, particularly fans of European leagues represented in the roster. No ongoing updates or seasonal content have been added since launch, so the experience stays fixed to its original 2017 content.
