Bounce Back
Bounce Back hands you one weapon, a boomerang, and asks you to carve a path through ten levels of slimes, hopping beasts and shielded guards. Every throw has to come back, so you spend as much time catching as attacking. Frank Force made it for the js13k contest, where the whole game had to fit in 13 kilobytes.
Rocks, bushes and sand patches land in new spots each run, so no two trips feel the same. You aim with the mouse and move with the keyboard, so a laptop with a mouse works best.
How to play Bounce Back
You begin on a small island with a swirling portal. Step in to reach the first level. Defeat every enemy on the level and a new portal appears, taking you one step deeper. The tenth level ends with a boss fight.
Click to fling the boomerang toward your crosshair. It arcs out and flies back, and you catch it by touching it. If it drops to the ground, walk over and pick it up, since you cannot throw until it is back. Smashing bushes and rocks can shake loose coins and hearts.
You start with three hearts and lose half of one each time an enemy reaches you. When they run out, hit Escape and you are sent back to the starting island. Shops along the way sell healing, more heart slots and extra boomerangs.
Controls
| Action | Keyboard | Mouse | Touch |
|---|---|---|---|
| Move | W A S D | — | — |
| Aim | — | Move the crosshair | — |
| Throw the boomerang | — | Left click | — |
| Dash (safe from damage) | Space or Shift | — | — |
| Back to the island after a loss or a win | Escape | — | — |
Tips
- Use the dash as a dodge, not just for speed. You take no damage while it lasts, so dash straight through a crowd when you are cornered.
- Break every bush on your way through a room. The drops add up, and coins are what buy extra hearts later.
- Shield carriers block hits from the front. Walk around until you can throw at their side or back.
- Big slimes split into smaller ones when they fall. Step back after the final hit so the pieces cannot box you in.
- Throw from a distance and keep moving while the boomerang is out. Standing still waiting for the catch is when most hits land.
If you like Bounce Back, try these
Stolen SwordAngles matter in this action game too, where you drag and release to launch a swordsman while time crawls.
Brough DungeonShort runs through random floors suit you? This one goes turn by turn, so every step gives monsters a step.
Questions
Does Bounce Back keep my coins after I lose?
Yes. Coins are stored in your browser, so you return to the island with the same purse after a game over. The deepest level you have reached and your best time are kept too.
Do I have to restart from level 1 every run?
Not always. Once you have gone past the first level, a second portal on the island lets you jump to the deepest level you have reached.
Can I play Bounce Back on a tablet?
It is not built for touch. Movement uses the keyboard and aiming uses a mouse, and there are no on-screen buttons.
More like this: all adventure games · every game A–Z
