There are about as many soccer sims as there are blades of grass in a stadium, so how do you make a genre this familiar feel fresh again? Swiss developer nospacelost had an idea—and the result is the newly announced skill game Kick.

I don’t know if you feel the same, but hardly any "realistic" soccer sim really works for me. That’s probably why I still have the most fun with ancient, pixelated football games from a top-down view. When there’s less realism, there’s often more fun too.

Maybe solo developer nospacelost felt something similar when he started kicking around the idea for Kick (Steam page). The end result has nothing to do with top-down perspectives or actual matches, but as an inventive "soccer sidescroller," it looks just as committed to pure fun.

In Kick, you’re dribbling against the clock

Kick follows a teenager called "The Kid" on his morning walk to school. At the heart of the game is physics-based dribbling, as you guide a soccer ball through levels that scroll from right to left—across city streets, construction sites, train stations, and parks. That means plenty of hazards for both the kid and his ball, which you’ll dodge by kicking, jumping, and running.

But obstacles aren’t the ball-kicking kid’s only problem: he also has to get to school on time. So you can’t hang around forever in any given level, and chances are the game will only get tougher as you go. The timer can only be switched off in a few select locations, which gives it a pretty important role.

A total of 23 levels have been confirmed so far, and beating them unlocks ball skins as well as different flags. These are purely cosmetic items you can use to decorate The Kid’s room or simply "play soccer in style." What exactly the room is there for—whether it acts as a hub area, for example—still isn’t clear.

Too Cute, Honestly

What almost grabs me as much as Kick’s core gameplay is its visual style and overall vibe. Kick is going for a cozy feel without any real threats, but with a seriously high cuddle factor. And I don’t just mean the strong anime influence. No, I also mean The Kid’s companion, a fluffy dog.

Here too, it’s still up in the air whether the animal sidekick actually matters in gameplay terms. The trailer released alongside the announcement (see below) at least suggests the little guy gets involved from time to time. In one short scene, he’s even rolling along a second soccer ball.

Sadly, I’ve got one last bit of bad news: Kick is one of far too many games announced without an actual release date. The press release didn’t even give me a rough release window. So right now, who knows when The Kid will finally get the ball rolling.