despelote

About

despelote is a single player role playing game. It was developed by Julián Cordero and was released on May 1, 2025. It received overwhelmingly positive reviews from players.

Despelote is a single-player role-playing soccer game that immerses you in the vibrant streets of Quito through the eyes of eight-year-old Julián. Dribble, pass, and kick a physics-based ball while exploring a rich, emotional story filled with humor, genuine characters, and atmospheric audio-visual elements capturing Ecuador’s spirit. Experience a masterful blend of gameplay and heartfelt narrative.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player

Skip User Reviews

95%

Audience ScoreBased on 492 reviews

story46 positive mentions

monetization3 negative mentions

Despelote beautifully captures the nostalgia of childhood and the cultural significance of football in Ecuador, providing a heartfelt and immersive experience.
The game's unique art style and sound design create a dreamlike atmosphere that enhances the storytelling and emotional depth.
The dialogue feels natural and authentic, with characters that resonate with players, making the experience relatable even for those unfamiliar with Ecuadorian culture.

The gameplay can feel limited and repetitive, with some players finding the mechanics clunky and the interactions lacking depth.
The short runtime of around two hours may leave some players wanting more content and a more substantial narrative arc.
Certain moments in the game can feel disjointed or confusing, particularly when transitioning between scenes or when the narrative breaks the fourth wall.

story
133 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
35%
63%
2%
The story of "Despelote" is a deeply personal and nostalgic exploration of childhood and community set against the backdrop of Ecuador's 2001 World Cup qualification. While some players found the narrative compelling and relatable, capturing universal themes of growing up and the emotional weight of football, others felt it lacked clarity and engagement, with disjointed storytelling and pacing issues. Overall, the game is praised for its unique artistic presentation and ability to evoke strong emotions, making it a memorable experience for those who connect with its themes.
- “The atmosphere of Ecuador during the beginning of the century is just exceptional, and the best part is, no matter where you're from, you can relate to this story.”
- “Despelote is a charming story about nostalgia, childhood, identity, and, of course, football.”
- “It does something magical; it feels like the perfect mix of movie and game - the gameplay is intuitive, engaging, and fun, and you never really lose momentum in the story - there are always things to do and conversations to hear.”
- “I couldn't help but feel completely detached from the story after this point.”
- “I could not bear to finish the story because it wasn't really interesting or told in a captivating way.”
- “The story fragments are too disconnected from each other to make you feel invested in the characters.”
graphics
76 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
39%
57%
4%
The graphics of the game have been widely praised for their unique and striking art style, which effectively conveys nostalgia and immersion, enhancing the emotional depth of the narrative. Players appreciate the combination of abstract and photorealistic elements, alongside a vibrant color palette that brings the game's themes to life. Overall, the visuals are described as innovative and integral to the storytelling experience, making it a standout feature of the game.
- “Amazing immersion, great graphics, it all really brought the sensations and colors to the spot.”
- “The art style is one of a kind.”
- “The fuzzy, dreamlike visuals and audio so effectively do their job to mirror hazy and fuzzy nostalgic memories of our protagonist during different stages of his life, with his love for football as the core thread tying everything together.”
- “The art style is really annoying, like someone gave a bunch of drugs to my computer; sometimes it's a fever dream, sometimes just a little kid's drawing.”
- “The art style is pretty alright, mind you, just the story didn't really interest me whatsoever and the gameplay is nonexistent.”
- “Visually, it's nice, as you can see, it has two-color 3D graphics, but the characters and interactive objects are hand-drawn and animated.”
gameplay
69 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
29%
67%
4%
The gameplay in this game is primarily focused on exploration and light interaction, with a simple mechanic centered around kicking a soccer ball and engaging in conversations. While some players found the controls a bit clunky and the gameplay limited, many appreciated its narrative-driven approach, emphasizing emotional experiences over complex mechanics. Overall, it offers a unique blend of storytelling and gameplay that resonates with those who enjoy narrative-focused games, despite its brevity and simplicity.
- “The gameplay is simple, but fun and appropriate given the length of the game.”
- “The gameplay is inventive and fun with every kick of the ball.”
- “It does something magical; it feels like the perfect mix of movie and game - the gameplay is intuitive, engaging and fun, and you never really lose momentum in the story - there are always things to do and conversations to hear.”
- “I'd say there's around two hours of actual gameplay, and you are given the impression of choice in some situations, only to be forced to do what the game wants to continue.”
- “Gameplay wise there are two different ways you play football, one being something like a top-down NES game; the other one being the annoying sibling of FIFA, which does not have any deep football mechanics except run and shoot.”
- “The gameplay is limited to short sections where you can move freely, but interactions are minimal.”
emotional
53 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The emotional aspect of the game is widely praised for its heartfelt storytelling and nostalgic themes, evoking deep feelings of warmth and reflection on childhood memories. Players describe it as a touching exploration of personal and cultural experiences, often leading to moments of genuine emotional resonance, including tears. The game's ability to connect players to their own pasts while presenting a relatable narrative about youth, dreams, and national pride is highlighted as a significant achievement.
- “A masterclass in storytelling and emotional reflection which should be admired for its use of video games as an immersive and interactive medium, as well as for its idealistic approach to appreciating the past.”
- “What an absolutely beautiful and unexpectedly emotional game!”
- “Not many games can balance telling a heartfelt story while allowing players to express some semblance of themselves through the mechanics, and I've found Despelote navigates that beautifully in crafting this memory of place and time with as much life and love as possible.”
music
35 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
57%
34%
9%
The music in the game has been widely praised for its ability to evoke nostalgia and set a captivating tone that enhances the overall experience. Reviewers highlighted the soothing soundtrack, unique audio design, and how the music complements the visuals and storytelling, creating a memorable atmosphere. Many expressed a desire for the soundtrack's release, indicating its significant impact on their enjoyment of the game.
- “The art and music, as well as a lot of the camera work, do so much to set a specific tone here that I think is captured really well.”
- “The audio and music of this game are absolutely phenomenal.”
- “The soundtrack is lovely and masterfully sets the mood of living the childhood of a kid who loves soccer.”
- “Although I appreciate the art style and music, there is literally no 'game' here.”
- “Some of the dialogue is intentionally disorienting, and many scenes are carried by a longing, nostalgic acoustic guitar soundtrack.”
- “I'm waiting for the soundtrack to release... like... I need it... I was pretty sad when I finished the game.”
atmosphere
18 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
56%
27%
17%
The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its vivid portrayal of early 2000s Ecuador, capturing the essence of childhood and community through striking art style and immersive storytelling. Players appreciate the nostalgic and relatable experience it offers, although some note that the impact may vary for those unfamiliar with the cultural context. Overall, the game's atmosphere is described as beautiful, human, and captivating, enhancing the overall experience despite occasional pacing issues.
- “Beyond playing football in different parts of the game, the overall atmosphere and the stories you hear from those around you are what really make this experience so worthwhile.”
- “The atmosphere of Ecuador during the beginning of the century is just exceptional, and the best part is, no matter where you're from, you can relate to this story.”
- “Pure magic in world design, atmosphere, music, and tone.”
- “While that may seem like a simple and boring setting, the game manages to captivate the atmosphere and life of the young boy so well that you feel like you experienced it at least partially yourself.”
- “It manages to draw you into its atmosphere and make you feel nostalgic about your childhood and football-related memories in a way only watching old football clips on YouTube does for me.”
- “People who can understand what it means to be captivated by a sport and are familiar with the cultural atmosphere of early 2000s Latin America may find the game impactful, but for anyone outside that experience, it might not deliver the same impact and could fall short of expectations.”
humor
12 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is described as warm, relatable, and deeply human, often stemming from childhood memories and interactions that evoke both laughter and emotional depth. Players appreciate the cleverness of the dialogue and scenarios, which blend humor with poignant moments, creating a rich narrative experience. Overall, the game successfully balances its comedic elements with a bittersweet undertone, making it both entertaining and reflective.
- “Despelote is a rare kind of narrative game—quiet, grounded, funny, and deeply human—built not around dramatic twists or mechanical showmanship, but around memory, place, and childhood perspective.”
- “Has made me laugh and smile more than any game this year.”
- “Full of plenty of warm, funny, and human interactions, this game feels like a big blanket.”
monetization
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The monetization strategy of the game has been criticized as an over-hyped cash grab, with users noting that even nostalgic visuals are overshadowed by intrusive advertisements, such as one appearing before a key moment in the gameplay. This approach detracts from the overall experience, leaving a bittersweet impression.
- “But even then, it's just an over-hyped cash grab.”
- “It's kind of funny and bittersweet that the only snippet the developers could find of Ecuador’s decisive goal against Uruguay with local commentary had an advertisement playing right before the buildup to the goal.”
stability
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game experiences occasional bugs that may require players to restart sections, but overall, stability is generally satisfactory.
- “It is buggy sometimes.”
- “Once I had to restart a section two times because it was a little buggy, but otherwise everything is good!”