Sometimes the best game concepts are the simplest ones. Solo developer nospacelost and indie publisher Shoreline Games have just announced Kick for Steam — a slice-of-life, anime-inspired side-scroller where you play as a kid dribbling a soccer ball to school. That’s the whole premise, and honestly? It looks delightful.
Just a Kid, a Ball, and the Whole World as a Playground
Kick is a side-scrolling physics game built around the pure, nostalgic joy of messing around with a soccer ball when you should probably be somewhere else. You’re racing the school bell, weaving through pedestrians, dodging obstacles, and pulling off tricks along the way — all while your canine companion tags along for the ride.
The ball physics are the heart of it. Kicking at the right angle, managing momentum, and landing tricks exactly how you planned is the core challenge. It’s accessible enough to pick up instantly, but there’s clearly a skill ceiling for players who want to master every level.
The route to school takes you through a genuinely varied slice of everyday life — bustling streets, scenic beaches, shaded underpasses, and sprawling parks. There are shortcuts to discover, trains to catch, and plenty of small moments that give the whole thing that warm, animated-Saturday-morning energy.
A Flexible Experience for Every Kind of Player
Kick has 23 levels, each with their own hazards and layout, and select levels include timers that push you to sharpen your skills and beat the clock. If you’d rather just vibe and explore, you can turn the timers off entirely for a more laid-back run. Either way, there are coins to collect, in-game challenges to complete, and a growing wardrobe of ball skins and displayable flags to unlock along the way.
From the People Behind It
Shoreline Games CEO Keith Kawamura said the simplicity of the concept is exactly what drew them to it, noting that the nostalgia of kicking a ball around is something most people can instantly connect with. Developer Peter Soerensen, who has been building Kick over the past few years, described it as a game where there’s no threat, no danger — just a boy, his ball, and whatever trick comes next.
That kind of intentional, low-stakes design is rarer than it should be, and it’s exactly what makes Kick stand out in a crowded indie space.
Wishlist It Now
Kick is heading to Steam, and you can add it to your wishlist now. No release date has been announced just yet, but based on what’s been shown, it’s already shaping up to be one of the cozier additions to the side-scroller genre this year.