ClaygroundAbout Smoosh
Smoosh is a fighting game made of clay. Every hit raises the other fighter's damage number, shown as a percentage. The higher that number is, the farther your next hit sends them flying. A fighter who flies off the screen loses a life. The last fighter with lives left wins.
It's free, it runs in a browser tab, and it plays the same on a laptop with a keyboard, with a game controller, or on a phone with touch buttons. No account, no download.
How to play
- Press Quick fight. The first time, a one-minute practice comes first: move, jump twice, hit a practice fighter that stands still, and get back onto the island. You can skip it at any time.
- Keyboard: A and D (or the arrows) move. Space jumps, and you can press it again in the air to jump a second time. J attacks. K is a special move, L is a strong smash attack, and Shift holds up a shield that blocks hits.
- Controller: the stick moves, A attacks, B is a special move, X or Y jumps and the shoulder buttons hold up a shield. On a phone, drag on the left to move and use the buttons on the right.
- Hit your opponents until their damage number is high, then send them off the edge of the island. If you are sent off, jump back toward the island and grab its edge.
- Press H during a fight to show the controls, and Esc to pause.
Sculpt your own fighter
Any fighter can be yours. The fighter maker gives you a clay body around a pink skeleton: squish it, add ears or a tail, paint it, and whatever clay sits near a bone moves with it. You can also bring in a sculpt from the browser studio. Or fight as one of the eight house fighters: Mochi, Turnip, Biscuit, Pip, Fig, Pebble, Butter and Tomato.
Ways to play
- Against the computer: up to three computer fighters, with a choice of how tough they are, and best-of-three sets.
- The Tower: twelve floors of computer fighters, more of them and tougher as you climb, a boss on every fourth floor and three hearts. Your first climb of the day is the same for everyone, and a link to yours sends a friend up the very same floors.
- A friend online: press Play a friend online, then Host a game and give your friend the four-letter code. You're in the same fight on your own screens.
- A room full of people: open the games page on a big screen, host a game, and up to eight people join on their phones. The fight runs on every phone at once.
Stages
Seven clay stages, from simple to silly: Quilted Cosmos, Hatchery, Balloon Drift, Mushroom Grove, Teacup Lagoon (watch Mochi the octopus), Jam Well (ride the lifts when the jam floods) and Kiln Stadium, which changes shape as you fight.
At a glance
| Price | Free |
|---|---|
| Players | 1 against up to 3 computer fighters, or up to 8 people |
| Plays on | Any modern browser: phone, tablet, laptop or TV |
| Controls | Keyboard, game controller or touch |
| Account | None needed |
Questions people ask
Is Smoosh like Super Smash Bros.?
It's the same kind of game: a platform fighter where damage makes you fly further and you win by knocking others off the stage. It's its own small game, made of clay, and free in a browser. I wrote more about Smash-style games you can play in a browser.
Can I play Smoosh on my phone?
Yes. Drag on the left side of the screen to move, and use the buttons on the right to jump, attack, use your special move and shield.
Can I play with a friend who isn't in the room?
Yes. Press Play a friend online, then Host a game and give your friend the four-letter code. You each play on your own screen.
Can my own sculpt fight?
Yes, if you want it to. Make one in the fighter maker, or open a saved studio sculpt from the Smoosh menu. A fighter needs a head, a body, two arms and two legs; Add them for me fills in anything missing.