The Reapers: Tournament of Destiny
Two friends share one keyboard in The Reapers: Tournament of Destiny, a tiny duel game. A blue reaper and a red reaper, both with wings and scythes, square off on a plain gray field. Each fighter has only a single attack and a single parry, so matches are won by spacing and timing instead of long combos.
The game was an entry in js13kGames 2022, programmed by Kilian Arjona with pixel art and sound by Valeria Sivkova. There is no computer opponent, so grab a friend and sit side by side.
How to play The Reapers: Tournament of Destiny
Press X on the title screen. After the GET READY and FIGHT messages, both players can move. Player 1 starts on the left using S, D, X and C, and Player 2 starts on the right using H, J, B and N.
A swing has three parts: a short wind-up, a brief window where the blade can hit, and a recovery where you cannot act. Every fighter has 100 health and a clean hit removes 34, so the third hit wins the round. Two round wins claim the whole match.
Parrying during the hit window cancels the incoming swing and stuns the attacker for about two seconds. A parry that blocks nothing leaves you frozen for a moment, which is a perfect opening for your rival. When the match ends, pick REMATCH or go back to the menu.
Controls
| Action | Keyboard | Mouse | Touch |
|---|---|---|---|
| Start | X on the title screen | — | — |
| Player 1 move | S / D | — | — |
| Player 1 attack / parry | X / C | — | — |
| Player 2 move | H / J | — | — |
| Player 2 attack / parry | B / N | — | — |
| Toggle hitboxes | T | — | — |
| Rematch or menu | S or D to choose, X to confirm | — | — |
Tips
- Hover just outside your opponent's reach. They have to step forward to swing, which gives you a moment to react.
- Punish a missed swing right away. The attacker is stuck in recovery, so walk in and strike.
- Only parry when you are fairly sure a swing is coming. Mashing the parry key leaves you frozen and open.
- Watch your back near the edges. Pushing into a rival moves them back, but a fighter pinned in a corner has nowhere left to go.
- Press T in a fight to show the body and blade boxes. It is the quickest way to learn the exact reach of a swing.
If you like The Reapers: Tournament of Destiny, try these
Penalty Kick ShowdownTwo people on one keyboard works great here as well, taking turns shooting and saving in a pixel soccer shootout.
Stolen SwordSword fans can try a solo take where you drag to fling a fighter across the screen while time slows.
Questions
Can I play The Reapers: Tournament of Destiny alone?
No. The game has no AI rival, so a second player has to join you at the same keyboard.
How long is a match?
Matches are best of three rounds. Three clean hits end a round, so a full match is usually short and easy to replay.
Can I play The Reapers on a Chromebook?
Yes, as long as it has a keyboard. Each reaper is driven from the keyboard and nothing on screen responds to taps, so phones and tablets are out.
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