Mossvigil

Mossvigil is a pixel-art action platformer: guide a red-haired warrior through a dark castle of linked rooms, jump and dash across ledges, fight skeletons and giants with a sword, and collect upgrades as the mini map fills in.

How to play

1. Choose New Game on the start screen with the arrow keys and Enter.
2. Move: the left and right arrow keys. The warrior walks about 110 pixels a second.
3. Jump: press Z. A jump rises about 60 pixels, so taller steps need an upgrade or another route.
4. Attack: press X to swing the sword.
5. Dash: press Shift, as the hint over the warrior’s head shows in the first hall.
6. Upgrades: pick up items on the map, then open the pause menu to equip them, as the in-game tips explain.
7. Save: save points ask whether you want to save your game.

What you see on screen

• Start screen: the MOSSVIGIL title over a mountain sunset, with New Game, Load, Options and Exit.
• Top bar: your health bar on the left and item slots on the right.
• The castle: stone halls, gothic windows and torches, with a small map in the corner.
• Tips: a stranger in the castle explains the controls in speech bubbles.

Tips

• The first room is safe: in our test three runs that stood still for 90 seconds took no damage at all.
• Swing as you go. Runs that attacked while moving fell to 3 to 10 health but refilled less often than runs that only walked, which dropped to 5 and refilled twice each.
• A plain walk and jump stops about 1,760 pixels from the start: every moving run ended up there, so look for upgrades and other routes.
• Read our metroidvania tips for the numbers behind these tips.

Frequently asked questions

What are the controls?

Arrow keys to move, Z to jump, X to attack and Shift to dash. Enter picks menu items. A gamepad also works.

How do I equip an upgrade?

Pick it up on the map, then open the pause menu and equip it there.

Can I save my progress?

Yes. Save points in the castle offer to save the game, and Load on the start screen brings it back. Saves are kept in your browser on this device.

What enemies are there?

Skeletons, archer skeletons, giants, ghosts, flying insects and a frozen commander, spread across the castle.

Can I play on a phone?

The game is built for a keyboard or a gamepad, so a computer is the better choice.

Is Mossvigil free to play?

Yes. You can play it in your browser on Yes This Game with no download and no sign-up.