Between the ages of seven and eleven, I was rarely seen without a soccer ball tethered to my feet. In my younger, arguably more delusional years, I lived with the unshakable conviction that I was the spiritual successor to David Beckham. In reality, any adult in my orbit spent their time in a state of constant, white-knuckled vigilance, terrified I would punt the ball directly into traffic or at an unsuspecting passerby.
Kick, an intriguing upcoming indie title, captures the essence of that specific childhood obsession. You step into the shoes of “The Kid,” navigating a 2D side-scrolling world on your daily trek to school. The gameplay demands that you weave through crowds, clear various urban obstacles, and—according to the developer—master the intricate physics of a ball in motion.
The core of Kick revolves around chaining tricks by calculating the perfect strike power and trajectory, all while hunting for shortcuts to shave time off your commute. The environments are impressively diverse, ranging from bustling city sidewalks and coastal boardwalks to quiet parks and shaded underpasses, the latter of which serve as ideal spots to hone your technique. As a bonus, you’ll have a loyal canine companion tagging along for the journey.
Peter Soerensen, the solo developer behind nospacelost, describes the project as a true labor of love. “I wanted to craft an experience where players could simply lose themselves,” Soerensen noted. “There’s no looming threat or high-stakes drama—just a boy, his ball, and the next trick waiting to be landed.”
This title echoes the nostalgic charm of last year’s Despelote, which placed players in the streets of Quito during the 2002 World Cup qualifiers, capturing how football can define the rhythm of a local community. While Kick appears to lean more into the mechanical joy of the sport rather than heavy narrative, it beautifully illustrates the growing trend of indie games dedicated to preserving the simple, sun-drenched wonder of youth.
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Kick will be available on Steam. A release date is yet to be confirmed.
Source: Polygon
