If you aren't exactly a football fan, the current global obsession with the sport might feel a bit alien. But even if you don't care for the professional game, Kick—a new sidescrolling platformer—might just win you over. It turns the act of dribbling a ball into a challenging, colorful dance that feels less like a stadium simulation and more like a precision-based platforming test.

In Kick, you step into the shoes of an average teenage boy on his way to school, with a football constantly at your feet. The controls offer a surprisingly deep set of moves to keep that ball under control. You can gently guide it while jogging, perform low-altitude lobs, launch it high above your head, execute a sliding kick, or pull off a sick windmill kick. And, because it wouldn’t be a platformer without it, you can jump.

The game is divided into levels filled with a variety of hazards. You aren't just traversing the landscape; you are managing the ball's movement through a gauntlet of signs, delivery drivers carrying boxes, and pedestrians holding umbrellas. The stakes are surprisingly high: knocking into these obstacles earns you a foul and a yellow card. Accumulate enough of these, and you’ll receive a red card, which resets you to the beginning of the level.

The Challenge of Control

Success in Kick requires a delicate rhythm. You have to ensure both your character and the ball navigate the environment's trials simultaneously. It is a satisfying, if tricky, process to gain control over an object that behaves according to the whims of its environment the moment it leaves your boot.

Beyond the primary goal of reaching the end of each level, there are coins scattered throughout the stages. Collecting these allows you to purchase different types of footballs to take with you on your journey. The game’s aesthetic is light, bright, and colorful, featuring animations that provide a bit of charm to the experience.

Quick Facts

  • Release Date: Slated for November 2026.
  • Platforms: PC.
  • Availability: A demo is currently available, and the game can be wishlisted on Steam.

While the game doesn't have an exact release date quite yet, it is currently tracking for a November launch. If you want to see if you have the coordination to master the mechanics, the demo is available now.