Short answer: open the player profile of the running back, wide receiver or defensive back you want, then tap the green tag in the top-left corner of that screen. That player becomes your Kick Returner (KR). There is no depth chart in Retro Bowl — the tag on the player profile is the only way to pick a returner.
How to change your kick returner, step by step
- From your team’s home screen, open the Roster.
- Tap the RB, WR or DB you want to return kickoffs. Only these three positions can be tagged — quarterbacks, linemen, tight ends, linebackers and kickers cannot.
- On his player profile, tap the green tag in the top-left corner. The first time you do this the game explains: “You can only assign one kick returner.”
- To switch returners later, open the new player’s profile and tap his green tag. The tag is taken off your old returner automatically, because the game clears it from every other player on the roster.
- To have no returner at all, tap the green tag again on the current returner’s profile to untag him.
Why can’t I choose a kick returner?
Kick returns are one of the features of the Unlimited version of Retro Bowl. The game’s own description of that upgrade reads: “Unlocks Team Editor, Weather and Kick Returns, Coaching Credits x 25.” In the free version, trying to switch on Kickoff Returns in the Options menu brings up the upgrade message instead.
Two more things to check if your returner never appears:
- Kickoff Returns is switched off in Options. Turning this option off removes the KR tag from every player. Tagging a player switches the option back on.
- Your returner is injured or benched. The game skips a tagged player who is injured or resting on the bench, and it does not hand the job to someone else — tag a healthy player instead.
What the kick returner does
In the game’s words, “The kick returner receives the ball from a kick off or punt and attempts to run it up the field.” You control him on the return the same way you control any ball carrier: move up or down the field to avoid tacklers, and slow down or dive when you need to. Return touchdowns count towards the player’s game rating, and the record book keeps your Longest kick return.
Who makes the best kick returner?
Look at the ratings on each candidate’s player profile. Retro Bowl describes them like this:
- Speed — “a player’s acceleration and top speed”. The loading tips add that fast players are more likely to hurdle tackles, so speed matters most on returns.
- Strength — how hard a player hits and how many stiff arms he can do, which helps him break the first tackle.
- Stamina — how long he can run at top speed.
- Catching — how well he holds on to the ball when catching it and after taking a hit, which lowers the risk of a fumble.
A fast wide receiver or running back who is not already playing every offensive snap is a sensible pick. A defensive back works too. Keep an eye on him through the season: if he gets injured, open another player’s profile and move the green tag.
