Pull back and let go to launch a swordsman through the air, slicing foes while time crawls during each aim.
Stolen Sword is an action game you play with a single finger or mouse button. A thief has run off with your swordsman’s blade, and you chase him through bamboo forests and misty lakes. There is no walking and no jump key. You aim and launch your fighter like a stone from a slingshot, cutting through anything in the path.
The best part is the pause in each move. While you hold down to aim, time slows almost to a stop, so every strike can be calm and planned.
How a dash works
Press anywhere and drag away from where you want to go, much like pulling back a slingshot. A dotted line appears showing the arc you will follow, with gravity bending it down. Let go to dash. If that path crosses an enemy, your blade slices through it.
You start each landing with two dashes. Striking an enemy always restores you to one or more dashes, so a well-planned string of hits can keep you airborne for a long time. Landing on a platform or splashing into water also tops you back up.
Enemies and hazards
Foes appear as dark symbols with a red dot. Plain red shapes are hazards that hurt you on contact. Some enemies shoot rings of red squares, some wear a curved guard that bounces you back until it wears down, and some can heal if you leave them alone. A few are linked to a core, and breaking that core brings the whole group down.
The first hit is only a warning, and some of your clothing turns red. A second one sends you back to replay the wave you were on.
Strategy notes
- Short drags are easier to control near the ground. Save long pulls for big gaps.
- Before you release, find the next target so your free dash leads straight into it.
- Use the slow motion to read where enemy shots are going.
- Hit guarded foes from a side where being knocked back is safe.
- In the lake stages, dropping into the water refills your dashes.
Why it’s worth a try
Few action games feel this relaxed and this sharp at once. The controls take seconds to learn, and the first visit even shows a moving hint for the drag. It was built by Ian Chiao for js13kGames 2020. Everything you see, from the cliffs to the fighters, is drawn by code. Four stages and short story captions give the chase a clear ending.
Controls
| Action | Mouse | Touch |
|---|---|---|
| Start the game | Click once the title appears | Tap once the title appears |
| Aim a dash (time slows while you aim) | Press and drag away from where you want to go | Touch and drag away from where you want to go |
| Dash and slash | Release the button | Lift your finger |
| Continue after a story caption | Click | Tap |
Stolen Sword FAQ
Does Stolen Sword save my progress?
Yes. The stage and wave you reached are kept in your browser, so the next visit starts where you left off. This only works on the same device and browser.
Can I play it on a phone or Chromebook?
Yes. The whole game is one drag and release, so a finger on a touchscreen works just like a mouse or trackpad. The playfield is tall and narrow, so hold a phone upright for the best view.
What is the win condition?
You chase the thief through four stages, clearing wave after wave of enemies. Each wave ends when its foes are cut down. The story moves forward with short captions between stages, and the chase ends after the last one.
What happens if I keep getting hit?
You can survive one hit, shown by part of your outfit turning red. Get hit again and that wave starts over, though not the whole stage. Take more time aiming, since the world nearly freezes while you hold.
