Murder

The fact sheet

Genre

Casual

Developer

[DEVELOPER: TO BE CONFIRMED]

Devices

Computer, phone, tablet

Input

Space: charge and strike (as the assassin) or look back (as the king)

Session

Round by round; a round ends with the strike

Account

Not required to start on Poki

Suitability

Cartoon violence: the round ends in a strike

Poki update

July 2022

How the game works, step by step

A round gives you one of two roles. As the assassin you have to reach the king and strike; as the king you have the one move that can catch an assassin out, a look back over your shoulder.

Both roles sit on the same key. Space charges the strike and sends it, and for the king the same key turns you around. There is nothing else to learn, which is why a round is over in seconds either way.

The whole game is reading the moment. Strike too early and the king sees you coming; wait too long and the chance is gone.

The key legend

Route tips for your first run

• Everything is on one key, so the only thing to practise is when you press it.
• As the assassin, move with the crowd rather than straight at the king; a direct approach is the easiest thing to spot.
• As the king, do not look back on a rhythm. A predictable turn is a gift to the assassin.
• A charged strike is not a faster strike. Judge the distance first.
• Rounds are short, so treat a lost one as a read on the other side rather than a mistake.

Who it works for

Players who want a game they can understand in one sentence and a round they can finish in under a minute. It suits short sittings and an immediate rematch.

Downsides to check first

• One key means one idea; after the first few rounds there is little to learn beyond reading your opponent.
• A round can end before it has really started if the timing goes wrong, which is either the joke or the frustration, depending on the day.
• Poki shows ads around the game and sometimes before it starts; they are Poki's, not ours.

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Questions about Murder