Stolen Sword
In Stolen Sword you guide a swordsman who is hunting down the thief that took his blade, using nothing but one finger. There is no walk key and no jump button. You pull back, a dotted arc shows your path, and you let go to fly through the air and cut through anything in the way.
Ian Chiao made it for js13kGames 2020, with every tree, cliff and fighter drawn in code. Time almost stops while you aim, which gives the action a calm, thoughtful pace. A mouse or a touch screen is all you need.
How to play Stolen Sword
Click or tap once the title has faded in. Enemies appear as dark symbols with a red dot, while solid red shapes are hazards you should never touch. Your first visit shows a short hint on how to drag.
Press anywhere and drag in the direction opposite to where you want to go. The dotted line bends with gravity, and releasing launches the dash. If the path crosses an enemy, your blade slices it. On the ground you have two dashes, and landing a hit always refills you to one or more, so a good chain can keep you airborne.
Some foes shoot rings of red squares, some carry a guard that knocks you back until it wears down, and a few slowly recover health. After your first hit, red patches show on your clothes as a warning. Take another and that wave restarts from its beginning. The journey covers four stages, joined by short story captions.
Controls
| Action | Keyboard | Mouse | Touch |
|---|---|---|---|
| Start | — | Click after the title appears | Tap after the title appears |
| Aim a dash (time slows) | — | Press and drag away from the target | Touch and drag away from the target |
| Dash and slash | — | Release | Lift your finger |
| Advance story text | — | Click | Tap |
Tips
- Start with short pulls. A long drag gives a powerful dash, but short ones are much easier to control near the ground.
- Before you release, check where the next enemy sits so the hit flows straight into another dash.
- Take your time while aiming. The world barely moves during the drag, so watch where incoming shots are headed.
- Hit guarded enemies from an angle where the knockback will not throw you into red hazards.
- In the lake stages, splashing into the water refills your dashes, so use it as a reset when a chain falls apart.
If you like Stolen Sword, try these
Norman the NecromancerArcing aimed attacks and short levels carry over, with skeletons raised from the fallen villagers.
The Reapers: Tournament of DestinyBlade combat shrinks to a single attack and parry in this two-player duel on one keyboard.
Questions
Does Stolen Sword save my progress?
Yes. Your browser notes the stage and wave you reached, so a later visit on the same device puts you back in the fight.
Why does my sword bounce off some enemies?
Those enemies wear a guard that shoves you back until they are down to their final hit. Each strike still counts, so keep hitting until it breaks.
Which way should I hold my phone?
Upright. The play area is tall and narrow, and the drag controls are built for a single finger.
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