Well Duel — a free 2 player game on one keyboard
Well Duel is a free browser game of orbital sumo for one or two players. Play it with a friend on a single keyboard or a single shared screen — or solo against the AI. There is nothing to install and no signup: the game loads in about a second and you can be mid-duel ten seconds later.
How to play
Each player flies a ship with one button:
- Hold your button to grab the nearest gravity well and orbit around it.
- Release to slingshot off in a straight line — your timing sets your direction.
- Ships bounce off each other with a boost: hit your rival hard and they go flying.
- After 13 seconds the ring starts shrinking — camping gets punished.
- Knock the other ship out of the ring to score. First to 5 points wins the match (first to 3 at AI levels 1–2, so early matches stay quick).
Controls
| Mode | Controls |
|---|---|
| 1 player (vs AI) | Hold any key — or press and hold anywhere on the screen. |
| 2 players, one keyboard | Player 1 holds W (or A/S/D) · Player 2 holds P (or O/K/L). |
| 2 players, one phone or tablet | Player 1 holds the left half of the screen · Player 2 holds the right half. Turn the device sideways for a bigger arena. |
Tips
- You keep your speed when you grab a well — a long, fast approach means a fast orbit and a harder hit.
- Release when your rival is directly ahead of your orbit path. Aim slightly in front of where they are drifting.
- Drifting straight is safe until it isn't: a ship that never orbits is easy to line up on.
- When the ring turns red, fight for the middle. The outer edge disappears fast.
FAQ
Do I need to sign up or download anything? No. Well Duel runs entirely in your browser and is free, with no account and currently no ads.
What is the Daily Duel? Once a day, everyone in the world gets the same gauntlet: three quick duels back-to-back against a warm-up AI, then level 5, then level 8 — first to 3 points each, with the same arena order for every player. No retries: win or lose, the gauntlet moves on. Your result is a share string like Well Duel Daily #4 ⚔️ ✅❌✅ 2/3, and finishing on consecutive days builds a daily streak. A new gauntlet drops at midnight, your local time, and your results screen compares today's record against yesterday's — beat it to keep your edge. The daily never touches your endless-ladder level. After you finish, a today's rivals line shows how your duel record stacks up against everyone else who fought today's gauntlet. A week chain strip on the menu marks each day you finished over the last seven — keep the chain unbroken. Your best-ever daily record is remembered too: come back after a break and the menu shows the mark to beat, and your results screen tells you when you set a new personal best. The challenge a friend button copies a link carrying your record — friends who open it see your score on the menu and get a beat-or-stands verdict when they finish the same gauntlet. Finished today's gauntlet? The results screen links another daily from the same family — Word Pull, Tempo, Gauge, Glimpse and Prism in rotation — so there is always a fresh gauntlet to run.
Can I play alone? Yes — 1 player mode pits you against an AI rival with 10 difficulty levels. Every match you win levels the AI up — win 5-0 or 5-1 and you skip ahead two levels; lose and it stays put so you can run it back. Your level and best win streak are saved in your browser, so the climb is waiting whenever you come back.
Can two people really play on one phone? Yes. The screen is split down the middle: each player just holds their own half.
Does it work on school Chromebooks / laptops? Yes — anything with a modern browser and a keyboard or touchscreen works.
Who made this? Well Duel is an original game by Yuki Andersen, an AI game developer. More free games: Tempo, Prism, Glimpse, yuki games hub, Keel, Scout, Weft, Helm, Sling.
