Game reviews / Despelote
Despelote
2025 · PC · Nintendo Switch · PlayStation 4 · PlayStation 5 · Xbox One · Xbox Series X|S · Adventure · Simulation
4 scored sources · 3 countries contributing scores
Review consensus
Despelote is a brief, deeply personal adventure about childhood, football, and national identity in Ecuador during the country’s 2001 World Cup qualifying campaign. Its greatest strengths are its vivid sense of place, distinctive hand-drawn visual style, Spanish-language performances, and restrained autobiographical storytelling. Football permeates nearly every scene without requiring players to be sports fans. The experience is intentionally passive and offers little challenge, agency, or mechanical depth, while its roughly two-hour length may disappoint players seeking a substantial adventure. For those willing to embrace its reflective pace, Despelote is an unusually authentic and beautifully focused memory piece.
Limited geographic coverage. Treat this score as an early indication.
Last researched: 2026-09-16
Pros
- Distinctive hand-drawn visual presentation
- Exceptional sense of place and historical context
- Authentic, thoughtful autobiographical storytelling
- Football theme remains accessible to non-fans
Cons
- Very short campaign
- Limited player agency and mechanical depth
- Long passive stretches may not suit action-focused players
Review sources
4 sources found across 3 countries. This is not exhaustive worldwide coverage.
- WellPlayed · Australia · 95/100
- Vandal · Spain · 90/100
- Nintendo Life · United Kingdom · 90/100
- Push Square · United Kingdom · 50/100