Recoil

About Recoil

Recoil is a browser-based physics puzzle-platformer created by indie developer Martin Magni, the designer behind Mekorama and the Fancade game collection. Unlike a normal platformer, your character can't walk or jump — the only way to move is by firing a weapon, using its recoil to launch yourself across each level. Play spans 100+ levels split into level packs, unlocking a new weapon roughly every ten stages — starting with a basic rifle and expanding to a shotgun, minigun, sniper, laser, bow, magnet, revolver, fists, and a charge weapon — each with its own recoil strength and quirks. The goal on every stage is simple to state and hard to execute: pop every pink virus blob while dodging instant-kill spikes, using precise shot angles instead of movement keys. This page hosts the free, no-download HTML5 build for instant play on desktop or mobile.

How to play Recoil

1. Aim with your mouse cursor on desktop, or your finger on mobile — you'll launch in the opposite direction when you fire.
2. Click or tap to shoot; the recoil from the shot is what propels your character across the level.
3. Pop every pink virus blob on the stage to clear it.
4. Avoid touching spikes and other hazards — contact ends the attempt instantly.
5. Unlock a new weapon roughly every 10 levels and relearn its unique recoil strength before relying on it.
6. Plan your trajectory before firing — you can't walk, jump, or brake between shots.

Controls

• Desktop: Aim with the mouse cursor and left-click (or click-and-hold on weapons that support it) to fire. Firing pushes your character in the opposite direction of the shot, which is your only means of movement — there are no walk or jump keys.
• Mobile / tablet: Aim by touching the direction you want to shoot away from, then tap (or hold, depending on the weapon) to fire. The touchscreen controls mirror the desktop click-to-fire mechanic.

Recoil tips & strategy

• Think a full route ahead before you fire — you can't change direction mid-air except by firing again, so plan the shot before you take it.
• When a new weapon unlocks, take one low-risk test shot to feel its recoil strength before attempting a precise or hazardous line.
• On limited-ammo weapons like the revolver, save shots for essential movement or kills rather than exploratory ones.
• Use walls and level geometry to redirect momentum when you're boxed into a tight corner.
• You don't need to fly directly into a virus blob — most weapons can pop enemies from a distance, so aim for a clean landing over a risky direct hit.
• If a level feels impossible with your current angle, back up mentally to the last safe platform and re-approach with a different weapon or firing rhythm.

What makes Recoil fun

A physics-driven, one-mechanic puzzle-platformer: your character has no walk or jump button and moves purely off weapon recoil, so every shot is also a movement decision. Ten distinct unlockable weapons (rifle, shotgun, minigun, sniper, laser, bow, magnet, revolver, fists, and a charge weapon) each push and fire differently, forcing you to relearn momentum with every unlock. 100+ levels ramp from simple single-shot puzzles to tight, spike-filled precision runs. Enemies are pink virus blobs that must be popped to clear a stage, while spikes end an attempt on contact. The build is free, ad-supported HTML5, playable instantly with no login, and works with mouse-and-click on desktop or tap controls on mobile.