KIDS⁢ in IOS

A game of crowds.

Walkthrough, Guilds, Tips on this special game

Our Site Score

88/100

KIDS is an experience that is hard to categorize but impossible to forget. It’s an experimental project about crowds—how they move, how they follow, and how they exclude. The minimalist black-and-white art style is striking, making every interaction feel like you're playing through a living piece of graphic design.

There is no 'losing' in KIDS. You simply interact with the masses, pushing them down holes, making them walk in circles, or watching them flow like water. It’s short, taking only about 15-30 minutes to complete, but it leaves you thinking about social dynamics long after you put your phone down. It’s less of a game and more of a playable poem.

Reviewed on: Wed Feb 25 2026
Dinsun Avatar

Dinsun Review

Calling this a 'game' is generous. It’s an interactive short film, a piece of performance art on your phone. The minimalist black-and-white aesthetic is striking, I'll give it that. Watching the little characters swarm, fall, and merge is hypnotic in a strange, clinical way. It makes you think about conformity and the individual—concepts I appreciate in my media.

But as an interactive experience? It’s hollow. You can finish the entire thing in 15 minutes. There’s no challenge, no real choice, and zero replayability. It’s a 'one-and-done' curiosity. While I respect the artistic intent, I struggle to justify the price tag for what essentially feels like a glorified screensaver. Interesting, but ultimately unsubstantial.

Overall Stats

Pros & Cons

  • Unique, striking visual style
  • Thought-provoking themes
  • Smooth, fluid animations
  • Extremely short (15-30 mins)
  • Very limited interactivity
  • Zero replay value

Technical Report

Performance: Flawless performance; perfectly suited for touch interaction.

Accessibility:
  • Simple tap/drag interface

Audience Fit

Buy if: You enjoy experimental art and minimalist design.

Skip if: You want a game with goals, levels, or traditional mechanics.

Similar Games:
  • Plug & Play
  • Everything

Reviewer Context

  • Reviewer: Dinsun, critical veteran gamer
  • Hardware: iPhone 15 Pro
  • Playtime: 1 hours
  • Status: Finished twice

The Game

Available on: iPhone, iPad, iPod

Version 1.2.0Mon Aug 11 2025

bug fixes


KIDS allows you to move with and against crowds until everyone is gone.

KIDS is a short interactive animation drawn by Michael Frei and coded by Mario von Rickenbach, their second collaboration after the award-winning project PLUG & PLAY.

Play time: between 15 – 30 minutes. Works on all iOS devices newer than 2015.


Requires iOS 13.0 or later. Compatible with iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch.

KIDS allows you to move with and against crowds until everyone is gone.

KIDS is a short interactive animation drawn by Michael Frei and coded by Mario von Rickenbach, their second collaboration after the award-winning project PLUG & PLAY.

Play time: between 15 – 30 minutes. Works on all iOS devices newer than 2015.


Ratings & Reviews

3.4 out of 5 with 256 Counts
Age Rating 9+

Screenshots

KIDS⁢ screenshot 1KIDS⁢ screenshot 2KIDS⁢ screenshot 3KIDS⁢ screenshot 4KIDS⁢ screenshot 5KIDS⁢ screenshot 6KIDS⁢ screenshot 7KIDS⁢ screenshot 8KIDS⁢ screenshot 9KIDS⁢ screenshot 10KIDS⁢ screenshot 11KIDS⁢ screenshot 12KIDS⁢ screenshot 13KIDS⁢ screenshot 14KIDS⁢ screenshot 15KIDS⁢ screenshot 16

KIDS is a short, hand-drawn animation-based game that explores the behavior of crowds. Developed by Michael Frei and Mario von Rickenbach, the game invites you to interact with large groups of characters in abstract environments. Push them, follow them, or lead them—KIDS is a meditative and slightly surreal look at social influence.

Features

1

Unique hand-drawn art style

2

Experimental physics-based movement

3

Thought-provoking social commentary

4

Short, immersive experience

Tips

Promotion Videos

KIDS Trailer

Related Videos

News on this game

YouTube Kids will now look and act much more like YouTube

YouTube has been a hotbed of changes recently, and Google developers have added new features like multiplayer support in Playables and a...

Android Police - Sun Feb 16 2025

Playables are now on YouTube

Playables are a fun, interactive way to experience YouTube — with lightweight, entertaining games like Angry Birds Showdown, Words of Wonders,...

YouTube Official Blog - Fri Aug 16 2024

What to play: ‘Kids’ captures the anxiety and confusion of human interaction

"Kids" from Playables is a minimalist but haunting game about the emotions involved in interacting with strangers.

Los Angeles Times - Fri Aug 16 2019

Playables and Double Fine Creation ‘Kids’ Now Available for PC, Mobile

“Kids,” a joint effort from Playables and Double Fine Presents, launched Tuesday for $2.99 for mobile and PC, according to a press release.

Variety - Fri Aug 16 2019

Time Flies Review: Fly To Time

In our Time Flies review, learn how this fly-sized title from Playables and Panic encourages you to make every second count.

The Punished Backlog - Thu Sep 25 2025

The strange and surreal Kids is part game, part short film

Kids is a surreal, experimental video game developed Michael Frei and Mario von Rickenbach, that explores crowd dynamics in an interactive...

The Verge - Fri Aug 16 2019

On the Radar: ‘Grid Zero,’ Instagram’s ‘Close Friends’ and YouTube’s ‘Playables’

What are "grid zero" and "close friends" on Instagram? And how will YouTube new "Playables" affect teen's screen time?

Plugged In - Fri Aug 16 2024

YouTube’s Playables to be discontinued on March 28

Playables on YouTube allowed users to play games on the web and through the YouTube app on Android and iOS.

MobileSyrup - Sun Jun 16 2024

New Double Fine interactive animation title Kids out now on PC and Mobile

Double Fine and Playables have today launched their multimedia interactive animation title Kids on PC and Mobile devices.

GodisaGeek.com - Fri Aug 16 2019

Time Flies bugs Switch owners today

Swatter you waiting for?

GoNintendo - Thu Sep 25 2025

Gameplays

Q&A

KIDS is a short experience, typically taking about 20 minutes to complete from start to finish.

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