90
Despelote was a bit of a personal one for me, and I can see why some players may not love it due to it being a walking simulator where you kick a ball around. But for anyone willing to give it a chance, you’ll find a snippet of pure sentiment to engage with as you put on the shoes of its developer. You see Ecuador for its authentic self as a child and witness a moment that you probably never batted an eye at before. But you leave with a fuzzy feeling, wanting to reminisce about your own memories you had as a child.
tbd
Among other things, Despelote is a meditation on the creative process, a remembered documentary on life in turn-of-the-millennium Ecuador, and a playable essay on the way sport connects to both individuals and societies. Above all that, though, it’s a game about being a kid, kicking a ball, and watching it sail into the future. It’s a marvel.
90
A silent gem. A tribute to soccer, yes, but above all to childhood, community and memory. Of course, it is not a game for everyone, as it requires patience, sensitivity and a willingness to be carried away by nostalgia, but whoever connects with its proposal will find one of the most moving experiences of the year. For those of us who believe that videogames can be art, Despelote is a confirmation. And a celebration.
5
**Despelote** is an indie game with a semi-interesting concept and graphics, but it had so much potential to be better. This game isn’t made for a general audience—it’s for a niche group who enjoy complex football gameplay paired with a very shallow **** game tells the story of a young girl living in 2000, close to the World Cup, whose national team, Pero, faces tough matches against top football countries like Argentina. The girl dreams of becoming a football player but grows up in an environment where the other kids mock her simply for being a girl who wants to play football. The story itself is engaging and has a cool idea, but translating it into an indie game ruined much of its potential. The dialogues are cute at times but often boring, and some of the static, superficial cutscenes make the experience even more **** the game had English voice acting and improved its environmental graphics, football gameplay, and first-person camera, it could have told this story in the best possible way :(
4
An empty proyect, beautiful and without deep layer.I only can recommend it as an experience.
9
классное автобиографическое высказывание. все творческие решения - от визуала до доступных механик - просты, но они6инальны и очень стильны. пару раз повествование слегка проседает в темпе, но это ладно. очень жаль, что такие проекты крайне редки
despelote
Released On:
May 1, 2025
Metascore
Generally Favorable
89
User score
Mixed or Average
6.2
My Score
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Metascore
Generally Favorable
100% Positive
18 Reviews
18 Reviews
0% Mixed
0 Reviews
0 Reviews
0% Negative
0 Reviews
0 Reviews
May 14, 2025
100
This is fascinating, formally daring stuff that, in its two-hour playtime, asks more questions about the nature of memory, simulation and identity than a dozen 100-hour epics.
May 1, 2025
95
Despelote is yet another juicy example of the ability of hyper specific stories to unlock universally human feelings, rather than the often misguided attempts to generalise settings and identities to reach more people. I want more games like this, and thankfully smart companies like Panic keep publishing them.
User score
Mixed or Average
38% Positive
39 Ratings
39 Ratings
35% Mixed
36 Ratings
36 Ratings
26% Negative
27 Ratings
27 Ratings
Aug 7, 2025
10
A personal recollection of childhood, woven through Ecuador’s national journey in the World Cup. It connects a series of dreamlike yet sincere memories, rich in emotion, linking football, childhood, and hometown through a series of interactive designs.
Jun 4, 2025
10
This game hits hard. I barely know anything about Ecuador or soccer. But everything about this demo is so natural, intimate, nostalgic, well-directed and perfectly paced. It makes you feel like you are playing through a Paolo Sorrentino's film. The best one. You won't regret giving it a try if you are into narrative adventures. Just incredible.
May 13, 2025
90
Despolote is a reminder that video games are so important to the medium of storytelling. Through gorgeous visuals and a story is elation and excitement, this unique experiences manages to keep you engaged and uplifted throughout. It won't be for everyone, but if you're a player that loves to find greatness in independent games, you're going to feel like you've scored a hat-trick with this one.
May 8, 2025
85
Despelote is one of the year’s most fascinating indie games, one I can recommend without much hesitation.
May 1, 2025
83
Despelote‘s short length will put some people off and the finicky controls could use some fine-tuning and extra settings to adjust. But if you’re even a little intrigued by trailers, the demo, or indeed this review, you’ll find a truly charming and sincere little odyssey with a sweet story to tell and a unique, engaging way of telling it.
May 16, 2025
80
Despelote tells the story of an eight-year-old boy from Quito, while Ecuador is close to achieving its first World Cup qualification. The magic of the game lies in how it manages to portray unique moments of everyday life.
May 1, 2025
80
Despelote beautifully captures the mundane but rich childhood experience of play and sport through its gentle slice-of-life narrative. Via its stellar first-person soccer mechanics, intimate scope, and outstanding hand-made visual stylings, it succeeds at capturing a personal autobiographical sense of Ecuador and the quietly affecting experiences of youth.
May 21, 2025
10
Sin ser muy futbolero a mi me ha gustado este juego de fútbol, bueno más bien es una aventura narrativa sobre el fútbol, y como los habitantes de Ecuador vivieron la clasificación al mundial de 2001, despelote con una jugabilidad única, unas físicas más que curradas, y un diseño artístico muy muy original se posiciona para mí como uno de los indies más importantes del año. Dura lo que tiene que durar (unas 2 horas), y está a muy bajo precio, más que recomendado.
Dec 16, 2025
7
Despelote is a good game, i enjoyed experiencing the life of julian growing up. the story is cool and the gameplay is simple, and i really liked the art style. the only thing holding it up for me is that it's too short and was a bit expensive for it's actual value, more like a 5$ game at most, and felt repetitive most of the time. but looking back it's still a once in life experience, not generational or great, but still.. i recommend trying it.
Feb 18, 2026
5
**Despelote** is an indie game with a semi-interesting concept and graphics, but it had so much potential to be better. This game isn’t made for a general audience—it’s for a niche group who enjoy complex football gameplay paired with a very shallow **** game tells the story of a young girl living in 2000, close to the World Cup, whose national team, Pero, faces tough matches against top football countries like Argentina. The girl dreams of becoming a football player but grows up in an environment where the other kids mock her simply for being a girl who wants to play football. The story itself is engaging and has a cool idea, but translating it into an indie game ruined much of its potential. The dialogues are cute at times but often boring, and some of the static, superficial cutscenes make the experience even more **** the game had English voice acting and improved its environmental graphics, football gameplay, and first-person camera, it could have told this story in the best possible way :(
Jan 5, 2026
4
An empty proyect, beautiful and without deep layer.I only can recommend it as an experience.
Jun 5, 2025
4
Man the first little bit of this game kicking the ball around is great and the soccer game is fun but that's about it. The story is...fine. There are worse but this game needed the gameplay to hold this up and it did not succeed in that.
SummaryDespelote is a soccer game about people. Get immersed in the streets and parks of Quito through the eyes and ears of eight year old Julián. Dribble, pass and shoot your soccer ball around town, and see what happens when you kick it someone's way. Feel the city change as Ecuador comes closer than ever to qualifying for the World Cup.
Platforms:
- PC
- PlayStation 5
- Xbox Series X
- PlayStation 4
- Xbox One
- Nintendo Switch
Initial Release Date:May 1, 2025
Developer:
- Julian Cordero
Publisher:
