How to play Brassneck

Moving and fighting

• Drag anywhere on the screen to walk; the stick follows your thumb. On a computer use WASD or the arrow keys, or click and drag.
• Your instruments fire by themselves, on their own notes in the tune. The bass drum booms on the big beats, the spoons clatter on the off-beats, the tambourine throws on the backbeat.
• Pests hurt when they touch you. You have 100 health; a Flask of Tea and Bags of Chips are the only ways to heal.
• Pests drop pennies. Walk over them to pick them up: they are your score and they fill your level bar. Uncollected pennies roll slowly towards you.

The band

• Bass Drum: a heavy boom-ball at the nearest pest. Spoons: a quick clatter towards the nearest pest. Tambourine: a ring that flies out and comes back.
• Tuba: oom blasts around your feet and leaves a sticky brass puddle; pah puffs pests away. Kazoo: plays the tune, every note a seeking bolt.
• Accordion: plays the chords, every squeeze a shoving wave. Triangle: lightning that leaps between pests. Swanee Whistle: a shell that lands a beat later and bursts.
• Each level-up offers three cards: a new instrument (up to five), a level for one you have (up to level 5), or a piece of Busker's Kit (up to five).
• Every instrument has a partner kit. Max the instrument and carry its partner and the next level-up offers its evolution, such as Big Bertha or the Kazoo Choir.

Busker's Kit

• Stick of Rock (damage), Megaphone (size and reach), Sheet Music (more shots), Metronome (busier rhythms), Lucky Heather (double-damage hits).
• Wellies (speed), Brolly (less damage taken), Flask of Tea (slow healing), Flat Cap (wider penny pull, some pennies land doubled), Seaside Echo (notes repeat a beat later).

The crowd and the drop

Seeing off pests fills the Crowd meter. When it is full the band builds for one bar, then drops: a blast that clears most of the prom and pulls every penny to you. That is an Encore, worth 25p. Each one needs a bigger crowd than the last.

Pests and bosses

• Pigeons wander in by the dozen. Wasps come in fast clouds. Seagulls stop, stare and then swoop in a straight line. Crabs are slow little tanks. Rain clouds hang back and rain on the beat.
• Noise Wardens carry a clipboard. A yellow ring round one means a shush is coming: step out of it, or your whole band goes quiet for a bar.
• The Gull King lands at 2:30, points where he will dive, then dives, and brings friends. Councillor Hush arrives at 5:00 and drops red Noise Abatement Orders. Outplay him before last orders at 7:00 to win the night.

Scoring

Your score is your takings: every penny you collect, plus 25p per Encore. Outplay Councillor Hush for an extra £5 and 3p for every point of health left. Everyone plays the same night, so the daily leaderboard is fair.

Tips

• Keep moving in wide loops: pests follow you, and a loop brings them into your attacks in a bunch.
• When a seagull stops and stares, step sideways.
• Two or three strong instruments beat five weak ones. Aim for one evolution by the Gull King.
• Save a full Crowd meter for when the prom is packed: the drop comes on the next downbeat.

Frequently asked questions

Is it the same night for everyone?

Yes. Everyone gets the same tune, the same starting instrument and the same pests at the same times, and the same level-up rolls for the same choices. Your path and picks make the difference.

Do I need sound on?

It is much better with sound. The music is built from your band: each instrument you pick up adds its part, so every gig is a different song. You can still play muted.

Can I play more than once?

Your first gig each day counts. After it you can replay tonight unranked, play past nights from the calendar, or try free play with any instrument you have unlocked.

What if my phone rings mid-gig?

The game pauses when you switch away. If the page closes, open it again the same day and carry on from where you were.

Is Brassneck free?

Yes. It is free, runs in your browser and needs no account.