Somehow, Cyberpunk 2077 and The Witcher came together to inspire an indie platformer. Created by first-time developer Peter Soerensen, Kick is a side-scroller soccer game with anime-style art.

The game’s direct inspiration was Roach Race, an arcade mini-game in Cyberpunk 2077 where players control Geralt’s horse, Roach. It was similar to a side-scroller that inspired Soerensen's imagination.

"I didn't know how to make and animate 3D models, but I knew how to draw a little bit, so I drew a 2D character and locked the camera to a side-scrolling view in that 3D environment," Soerensen explained. "That’s how that came about. But I kept the background 3D because it felt better for immersion into the world."

Interestingly, the soccer theme was somewhat accidental. After being inspired by Cyberpunk 2077, the developer began experimenting with animating the game.

"In the first iteration, there was a soccer ball that was just an obstacle to avoid," Soerensen said. "During testing, when I ran into the ball, it would bounce in front of me, which pushed it forward, and it looked like I was dribbling the ball. That visual inspired what Kick is now."

Now, Kick is set to debut on Steam for PC players to enjoy. An official release date has yet to be announced. Here's what the developer had to say about his experience making it.

“I learned how to make games in my spare time”: The story behind Kick’s development

Kick is all about nostalgia and soccer. The game is set in a recognizable Japanese background. It also takes you through several zones such as beaches, construction sites, and more.

The Cyberpunk 2077-inspired game owes its visual style to anime series such as Captain Tsubasa and Kickers, as cited by Soerensen.

The developer, frustrated with his job, decided to learn Unreal Engine 5 in his free time.

"In 2023, I bought a PC to dabble in Unreal Engine because I hated my job at the time, and I didn’t see a future or career for myself in it," Soerensen said. "Really, I was just at a point where I had nothing to lose, so I learned how to make games in my spare time."

However, it's not all about the positive side of making a game. As a solo developer, Soerensen also struggles with limitations.

"I have put in the work and have gone through a lot of frustration and headaches to make the things I really want in the game work," Soerensen added.

Kick is his Soerensen's project as a solo developer, and can be wishlisted on Steam now.

What are your thoughts? Let us know in the comments.

Read more at Gaming Community by Max Level.

Written by

Prit Chauhan

Edited by

Shubhi Rathore