Swordtail
Swordtail is about defending a kingdom from waves of monsters while you gather resources, craft items and upgrade your gear. It suits players who like building up a character over time and want a two-player option on one computer.
What happens on the ice
You move around the map with WASD, the arrow keys, or by clicking and dragging. There is no separate attack button: you gather resources or fight monsters by walking up close to them. Escape pauses the game.
Between waves you turn what you collected into items and upgrades, then use them to hold the kingdom against the next group of monsters. A local two-player mode lets two people share one computer.
Who will like this block
Players who enjoy gathering and crafting, and anyone who wants a game that two people can play on a single computer.
Cracks in the block
- Poki may show ads around the game; this is controlled by Poki, not by this site.
- The two-player mode is for one shared computer, not for playing online with a friend.
- Poki's short blurb and its longer description describe the game differently; this page follows the longer description and the listed controls.
Keys, mouse and fingers
WASD, arrow keys, or click and drag to move; Escape to pause.
- W A S D / arrow keysMove
- Click and dragMove on touch or with the mouse
- Walk close to somethingGather a resource or attack an enemy
- EscapePause
Three small moves
- 1Gather before you fight. Resources are what you craft and upgrade with, so a short trip for materials usually pays back during the next wave.
- 2Use Escape to pause when you want to think about what to craft, rather than deciding while monsters are close.
- 3If two people are playing, split the jobs: one gathers while the other holds the line.
- 4Keep your gear upgraded a step ahead of the waves instead of saving materials unused.
Questions about Swordtail
- Is Swordtail free?
- Poki lists it as free to play in the browser.
- Can two people play together?
- Poki describes a local two-player mode on one computer.
- Does it work on a phone?
- Poki lists computer, phone and tablet, and click-and-drag movement covers touch screens.
- Why does Poki describe it two ways?
- Poki's short blurb and long description do not match. This site uses the long description, which matches the controls: defending a kingdom from monsters.
