It’s 2001 in Quito, Ecuador, and the capital city is abuzz: the country’s national football team is on the verge of qualifying for its first-ever World Cup. In the adventure game Despelote, you experience this magical time through the eyes of 8-year-old superfan Julián – and realise how a simple soccer ball can become a way to connect with your community.

Dribble down streets, nudge the ball to neighbours and watch little moments unfold: kids start a pick-up game, a passerby scolds you for being too loud… and is that your mum calling you for dinner? Narrated by developer Julián Cordero (who based the game on his own childhood), Despelote is a heartfelt slice of life that might make you nostalgic for simpler times – or fill you with an urge to go outside and play.

What we love: The poetic presentation. Julián’s neighbourhood is brought to life with photographs of Quito rendered through lo-fi duotone filters, while people appear as simple black-and-white drawings – a nod to how childhood memories are often more about how things felt than how they looked. Unscripted street chatter recorded in Quito breathes life into the world (listen closely to catch all sorts of interesting stories) and storefront TVs play grainy video of the actual football matches that captured the country’s imagination.

Quick tip: If you’re trying to hit something with the ball – maybe bottles perched on a wall or the old man who keeps yelling at you – stand still and take your time. Carefully shift left or right to align Julián’s leg with the target and give your kick just a little more power than you think you’ll need.

Meet the creator: The game comes from a small but passionate team of Ecuadorian game developers led by Cordero and artist-composer Sebastián Valbuena. It was published by Portland-based Panic, which also released the indie hits Firewatch, Thank Goodness You’re Here and Untitled Goose Game.