About Side Kick
Side Kick is a small car-soccer game seen from the side. You drive a chunky orange car on the left of a little stadium and try to knock a big, bouncy ball into the goal on the right. A blue car, controlled by the computer, defends that goal and attacks yours. There are no accounts, no ranks and no unlocks: a match lasts a couple of minutes and then you can start another.
A match ends when one side scores 3 goals, or when the 2:00 timer runs out and one side is ahead. If it is tied at the buzzer the next goal wins. After every goal there is a short slow-motion replay of the last few seconds. Tap or press any key to skip it.
How it works
The ground is flat, and the ball bounces off the side walls above the goals and off an invisible ceiling high above the screen. A small arrow at the top shows where the ball is when it flies out of view. Each goal has a crossbar that the ball can bounce off.
Your car drives left and right, jumps, and can jump a second time in the air. While you are in the air, left and right rotate the car instead of driving. Double-jump while holding a direction and you get a quick dash that flips the car that way, which is useful for hard shots. Boost pushes the car in the direction its nose points, in the air too, so tilting the nose up and boosting lifts you toward a high ball. The boost meter only refills while you are on the ground.
The car and the ball collide as solid shapes, so the angle of the car matters. A nose-up flip sends the ball upward. If your car lands on its roof it rights itself after about half a second. Cars bump each other with a springy bounce.
Keyboard: A/D or the arrow keys to drive and tilt, W, Up or Space to jump, Shift or K to boost. Space or Enter starts a new match. On touch screens, use the ◀ and ▶ buttons, JUMP and BOOST. Easy and Normal are chosen on the start screen. Easy gives the computer a slow start and slower reactions, and Normal makes it quicker. If the computer is ahead by two goals it eases off a little.
Tips
- Get under and slightly behind the ball, then drive through it toward the goal.
- Save boost for aerials and long chases. Tap it rather than holding it.
- Jump just before the ball arrives, then tilt the nose back to meet it.
- Do not chase too far past the ball. A car on the wrong side of the ball cannot defend.
- Near the end of a match, remember the golden goal: one mistake can decide it.
Questions
Can I play with the keyboard on a phone?
The on-screen buttons appear on touch devices automatically. On a computer the keyboard is used and the buttons are hidden.
How do I share my score?
When a match ends, press Copy result. It copies a line with the final score and the order of the goals, which you can paste anywhere.
Where is the mute button?
It is the round button in the bottom-right corner of the game window.
Last updated November 3, 2026
