Puck Duel
by Jamplo
Puck Duel is a fast two-player air hockey game you play in the browser. Take a half each on one device — lay the phone flat between you, or share a desk with WASD against the arrow keys — or open a room and send the link, and your friend joins from their own device. First to five goals wins, three minutes on the clock, and a level score buys a minute of sudden death. No download, no account, no waiting.
Controls
- Phone or tablet, one device
- Lay the device flat. Each player drags on their own half with one finger.
- Desktop, one device
- Green paddle: WASD. Pink paddle: arrow keys.
- Online
- Drag on your half: one finger on a phone, or hold the mouse button on a desktop. Online play is drag only, with no keyboard controls.
Tips for Puck Duel
- Hit the puck off the side walls. A banked shot is much harder to read than a straight one.
- Stay behind the puck rather than chasing it. Defending from in front leaves your goal open.
- Small, sharp movements beat big swings. Overcommitting is how most goals get conceded.
FAQ
Do I need to download anything to play?
No. Puck Duel runs in your browser on phones, tablets and desktops. There is nothing to install and no account to create.
How do two people play on one phone?
Choose "Two players, one screen", then lay the phone flat between you, like a real air hockey table. Each player drags the paddle on their own half with one finger, both at the same time.
How do I play with someone who is somewhere else?
Choose "Play online — create a room". Once the room is open, an invite button appears in the bar under the game: on a phone it opens the share sheet, on a desktop it copies the link. Whoever opens that link drops straight into your room without typing anything.
What is the room code for?
Every online room has a six-character code, shown on screen while you play. Read it out to someone sitting near you and they can pick "Join with a code" and type it in. Characters that get misread — I, L, O, 0 and 1 — never appear in a code, so there is nothing ambiguous to read out.
Can we play on a computer?
Yes. On one computer, share the keyboard: one player steers with WASD, the other with the arrow keys. Online, hold the mouse button and move, and your paddle follows the pointer on your half.
How long does a match last?
First to five goals, or the better score after three minutes. Level at full time buys one minute of sudden death, where the next goal wins. Still level after that is a draw.
What happens if my connection drops?
Your seat is held for about thirty seconds while the game reconnects. The clock keeps running, so your paddle stands still until you are back.
