eFootball makers KONAMI have brought in KICK BUDS playtest live, and it was definitely out of the blue. This is a party royale-style football game, and it is a new attempt. Jumping in from the US region, I spent some time trying to get a feel for what the game offers, and honestly, it’s a mixed bag right now. Let’s start with the playtest itself, because that’s where the experience already begins to fall apart.
For a playtest that’s live across multiple regions, the experience feels surprisingly underwhelming. Matchmaking is slow, like, really slow, and even when you do find a game, it doesn’t always go through cleanly. There were multiple instances where it would almost connect, reach the ready screen, and then just drop back.
Connection issues pop up more often than you’d like, and overall, it feels like there just aren’t enough players in the pool. I understand this is a playtest, but when you’re pushing something this big, the basics like matchmaking stability and server reliability should feel a lot more solid than this.
Two modes, but only one is actually playable correctly
There are two modes available: Party Royale and Soccer Royale. Party Royale is the main one right now, structured across three rounds. The core idea is simple: score goals and qualify.
In the first round, 6 out of 8 players move forward, usually based on who hits a certain goal count first. As you progress, rounds mix things up a bit with different objectives while still revolving around football mechanics.
Soccer Royale, on the other hand, is supposed to be a trio-based mode, because the other two, Solo and Duo, are locked in this playtest. That’s fine. But you ask me what the problem is? I couldn’t get a single match. Not one. So for now, it might as well not exist from a testing perspective.
On paper, combining football with party royale chaos actually sounds like a great idea. And to be fair, there are moments where you see the potential: balls spawning everywhere, players scrambling, and you trying to steal goals from the opponents, it should be fun.
But the execution just doesn’t hold up. The football-focused gameplay itself feels surprisingly dull. Once the initial chaos settles, there’s not much depth or excitement left. The kicking mechanics alone aren’t strong enough to carry the experience, and right now, they feel almost too basic to stay engaging over multiple rounds.
Controls and movement feel off with the visuals not poppy enough
This is probably one of the biggest issues. Controls feel average at best, and even that might be generous. Movement feels a bit weird, inputs don’t always feel satisfying, and there’s a noticeable lack of feedback when you interact with the ball or other players.
Yes, the game is supposed to be chaotic, but there’s a difference between the fun and the chaos and the game being unpolished. Right now, it leans more toward the latter. The lack of responsiveness and control takes away from what should’ve been the most enjoyable part of the game.
I have a few complaints with the visuals, too. The character designs are simple and fine for the style, but the overall presentation lacks the attractiveness you’d expect. Colors could’ve been more vibrant, environments feel a bit flat, and the camera sits too close and low at times, which feels a little odd.
Final Thoughts
KICK BUDS has a clear idea: mix football with party royale chaos and create something fresh with the already popular genre. And honestly, that idea works. The problem is that everything around it needs serious refinement.
The fundamentals, controls, movement, matchmaking, and overall gameplay feel like they need to come together much better. Right now, it feels like the game hasn’t fully figured out how to balance “kicking a ball” with “party chaos,” and that disconnect shows.
I can understand why they haven’t pushed the exclusive party royale experience. There are already plenty of names in the market: Fall Guys, Sonic Rumble, Stumble Guys, and Eggy Party, to name a few, and adding another one, especially if it doesn’t reach their level.
What this title now needs is tighter controls, more satisfying core mechanics, more stable matchmaking, which I’m sure it’ll get, and a stronger sense of fun in its gameplay loop. Because in a game like this, if the gameplay isn’t enjoyable, the concept alone won’t carry it.
There’s potential here, no doubt. But it’s going to take a lot more polish and clarity in direction for KICK BUDS actually to stand out and, more importantly, stay fun.
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