Cloud Carver

• Arcade Alley
• Drag, arrows or WASD; Roll and Volley buttons, or Shift and Space
• Arcade
• Action
• 1 player
• Fast
• Daily

Fly into the screen, lock on to wind-up weather machines and pop the lot with one volley.

The Drizzle Foundry makes bad weather on purpose, and its wind-up machines are rolling it over four perfectly nice places. Fly a little open-cockpit skiff into the screen, low over the sea, through a copper canyon, past the windmills and up into the foundry itself. Sweep the reticle across the machines to lock on, let the volley go and watch them pop into confetti. Bigger volleys build a bigger multiplier. A pink ring shows exactly where each fizz ball will arrive, so slide out of it or roll right through. Four stages, four big silly bosses, a Night Shift that runs them all again after dark for double points, a hangar of five craft with paints and decals to earn, and a new daily sky every day.

How to play

1. Drag anywhere on the game, or on the pad under it, to fly: the craft follows your finger's motion, not your finger. Arrows or WASD fly at the same top speed.
2. Your sparks fire by themselves. Sweep the reticle over machines to lock on, up to six at once, then press Volley (Space) or let it go by itself. Bigger volleys score more and raise your multiplier, and every machine that gets away lowers it.
3. A pink ring shows where a fizz ball will arrive, and it closes as the ball comes. Slide out of it, or press Roll (Shift) to spin through. Zap beams and canyon walls show themselves first too. A bonk pops a shield pip.
4. Fly through gold rings, beat the boss at the end of each stage, and earn medals and sprockets for new craft, upgrades and decals. There is a new daily sky every day.

Every way to play is equal here: touch, mouse and keyboard all move at the same top speed. A score means the same on any device.

Tips

• Sweep, don't stop: the reticle locks whatever it passes over, so draw one line through a whole formation.
• Watch the pink rings at your height. A ring closing on your craft is a fizz ball arriving there, so slide out before it closes.
• Save Roll for when the rings box you in. It spins you through a fizz ball, and the chip next to your shields shows when it's ready.
• Every machine that gets away costs a step of multiplier. Let your sparks finish the stragglers.
• A zap beam shows as a dashed pink band at your height before it lights. Hop over it, slide round its end, or pop the coils that sent it.

Questions

Is it free?

Yes. It's free to play in your browser, with no download and no sign-up needed. Coins you earn are for fun and can never be bought.

How do I fly?

Drag anywhere on the game, or on the pad under it, and the craft follows your finger's motion. On a keyboard, arrows or WASD fly at the same top speed.

How does the lock-on work?

Sweep the reticle over machines to lock on, up to six at once. Press Volley (Space) to send the stars, or wait: they go by themselves when every lock is full or a moment after the last one.

What is the Night Shift?

The same four stages after dark: fizz balls arrive sooner, more machines throw them and every pop is worth double. It opens when you clear the Drizzle Foundry.

What are sprockets?

This game's own currency, for new craft, upgrades and decals. They come only from flying and can't be bought.

Can I play on a phone?

Yes. It's built for a phone held upright, with the controls under the game, and plays the same on a tablet or a computer.

Achievements

Earn coins for each one. Coins buy hats, outfits and more for your character.

• Wheels upBronzeFinish your first flight.10
• Sparkle sixBronzePop 6 machines with one volley.10
• Smooth sailingBronzeClear Sunny Shoals.10
• Silver liningSilverEarn a silver medal on any stage.25
• UntouchedSilverClear a stage without a single bonk.25
• Secret achievementSilverKeep playing to find it.25
• Clocked inSilverClear the Drizzle Foundry and open the Night Shift.25
• Thirty skiesGoldFly the daily sky on 30 different days.60
• Three goldsGoldEarn gold medals on 3 stages.60
• Million-point skyGoldScore 1,000,000 points in one flight.60
• Clear skiesDiamondEarn platinum medals on all four day stages.Title: Sky Sweeper150
• Confetti factoryDiamondPop 50,000 machines in all.Title: Confetti Maker150