The whole idea of Kicks is to keep the player's new shoes clean. The game plays in first person, but with the view locked on player's feet. The game utilizes a two joystick set up, as the left foot is controlled with the left joystick and the right foot is controlled with the right joystick. Players must avoid obstacles such as dirt, mud, and careless people in order to keep their kicks clean. The game uses a meter ranging from "fresh" to "nasty" that acts similar to a health bar. Water is extremely important in this game, as dirty water will lower the fresh meter, but clean water will only temporarily lower it, but regenerate the meter as the shoes dry. This allows for a strategic health system. Each stage is accompanied by a different character and a different set of shoes. This allows for the gameplay to vary dramatically throughout the game. Some stages may feature an athlete in sneakers avoiding mud, while others may feature a preppy girl in high heels avoiding dropped items at a shopping mall The gameplay can completely change depending on what pair of shoes the player is put in. For example, if forced into the shoes of a skateboarder, the player will no longer be walking on the ground, but using their feet to maneuver the skateboard. The simplistic set up will make the game fun and accessible to anyone who has ever been curious as to what it would be like to walk in someone else's shoes.