How to Play PopRocks

PopRocks is a rhythm game about timing, music, and popcorn. Kernels rise from the bottom of the screen in sync with the beat. Your goal is to press the correct key when the timing ring closes in on the kernel. Pop them in rhythm to build combos, climb multipliers, and expand the music.

Quick Start

Kernels float up in three lanes: left, centre, and right.

 

Each kernel shows a timing ring near the top of its flight.  

The ring collapses toward the centre, aiming for a small red dot inside.

Press the correct key as the ring closes in. The closer you are to the red dot, the higher your accuracy and score.

The arrows at the top of each lane are guides only. They tell you which key to press. They are not timing markers. 

Controls

Esc or Tab pauses the game

Left Arrow or A pops the left lane

Right Arrow or D pops the right lane

Up Arrow or W or Down Arrow or S pops the centre lane

Choose whichever centre key feels most comfortable and stick with it

Accuracy Levels

Every pop is judged in one of three ways.

Perfect means you hit right as the ring closes into the red dot. This gives the highest points and combo strength.

Good means you pressed close to the red dot but not exact. The kernel still pops but fewer points are awarded.

Miss means you were too early or too late. The kernel burns, falls back down, and your combo breaks.

Singles, Doubles, and Triples

Single kernels require one matching key.

Double kernels require two matching keys pressed at the same time.

Triple kernels require all three keys pressed together.

Timing must be simultaneous. If you hit only part of a pair or triple, any missed kernels will burn.

Combos, Multipliers, and Music

 

Every successful pop adds to your combo.
As your combo grows, the score multiplier climbs from x1 up to x5.

Each multiplier also adds musical content. You will hear ascending arpeggios that climb the scale as you reach higher multipliers. The x5 multiplier plays an extended motif that resolves the sequence.

All of these sounds are tempo locked and key matched to the song, so the track expands as you play well.

Missing a pop breaks the combo and drops the multiplier

Feedback

Perfect Pops make the kernel burst brightly with a strong sound effect.
Good Pops make the kernel pop with a softer effect and fewer points.
Misses make the kernel burn and fall with smoke, showing a red X.

Trust both the collapsing ring and the beat of the music. The closer to the centre, the better the result.

Leaderboard

When the song ends you can enter your score on the leaderboard. If you enter the same name again, your new highest score will replace the old one.

Credits

Game programming, design, and some art by Fresh (me)

Music, SFX, some UI art by Shabs

Background elements and landscape art by NisshokuTamashi

Some SFX and UI icons are by Kenney Assets