“Kick,” a healing side-scrolling adventure game developed by Swiss solo developer “nospacelost” and published by indie publisher “Shoreline Games,” will be officially released on the global PC game platform Steam on November 3.
Shoreline Games unveiled a new trailer for ‘Kick’ and officially announced the release schedule at the ‘Convergence Showcase’ held on the 8th (local time).
The new title ‘Kick’ stands out with its tranquil Japanese-style background and warm, hand-drawn 2D animation. Currently, tags emphasizing a healing atmosphere, such as ‘cute,’ ‘colorful,’ and ‘comfortable,’ are registered on the Steam store page, garnering anticipation from global indie game fans.
A child’s way to school kicking a soccer ball
The player follows the protagonist, ‘The Kid,’ on his journey from leaving home to reaching school while dribbling a soccer ball. The goal is to arrive before the school bell rings, passing through streets, beaches, shaded underpasses, and large parks.
Scenes unfold where they practice skills in the park, run after the train, and save time using familiar shortcuts.
The developer described ‘Kick’ as a game that captures the trivial yet long-lasting moments of childhood. They emphasized that they wanted to create a game that focuses on the boy, the ball, and the skills to be introduced next, without any threats or dangers.
23 levels… You can turn off the timer and enjoy it at your leisure.
Players kick, jump, and run a ball across 23 levels. Each level features unique hazards and opportunities. Levels with time limits allow you to test your skills, and if you wish, you can turn off the timer and play more leisurely.
The core of the game is skillfully handling the physics effects of a soccer ball while avoiding pedestrians and obstacles. The overseas media outlet Gamezebo reported that the developer was inspired by games like ‘OlliOlli’.
Collecting coins allows you to expand ball and flag skins and apply them to the game. There are also in-game challenges available to complete by utilizing your ball-handling skills.
The debut work of Swiss solo developer North Face Lost
North Face Lost is a Swiss one-person development studio that aims to create a comfortable gaming experience that anyone can enjoy. This new title, ‘Kick,’ is its debut work. Founder Peter Soerensen unveiled the game last April, introducing it as “a work I have poured my love into over the past few years.”
Publishing is being handled by Shoreline Games, an indie publisher that supports unique and eye-catching narrative-driven games. Keith Kawamura, CEO of Shoreline Games, stated, “The response to the game has been excellent since we first unveiled the previous trailer at the last showcase.”
This announcement is a follow-up to the announcement of the release date as ‘November’ at the same showcase last July.
Demo reviews are ‘mixed’… Demonstrated at various gaming events
‘Kick’ was showcased on IGN Live this summer, and a playable demo was released for the first time during Steam Next Fest. The release date is listed as June 15 on the Steam demo page.
Overseas media generally covered the release date announcement favorably. MonsterVine described it as a “cozy adventure,” introducing 23 levels and the option to turn off the timer. Game Tips noted the Japanese-style background and the premise of having to arrive before the school bell rings.
As of October 13, 56% of the 23 demo user reviews were positive, and the overall rating is ‘Mixed’. The developer expressed gratitude for the response to the game and demo and stated that they are looking forward to the official release.
Information related to ‘Kick’
| item | detail |
|---|---|
| Developer | nospacelost (Switzerland, solo developer) |
| Publisher | Shoreline Games |
| Genre | Side-scrolling adventure, slice of life, sports (soccer) |
| platform | PC (Steam) |
| Release date | November 3, 2026 |
| language | Supports 10 languages including Korean (Based on demo, not confirmed in full version) |
| Reactions/Evaluations | Demo user rating ‘Mixed’ (56% positive out of 23), no professional media reviews prior to official release |
| Steam Page | Shortcut |
