Bladevolley

About Bladevolley

Bladevolley is an online volleyball game played one on one, side on, first to five. Each player carries one board, and it does two jobs: at rest, its angle is a platform you steer to set, block and drop the ball; press HIT and it turns one full revolution into a swing.

That swing is a commitment. It starts from whatever angle you left the board at, and afterwards the blade hangs limp for a moment, so a whiffed spike is an invitation. Spike beats lob, block beats spike, lob beats block, and every rally is a run of those choices.

There is no out of bounds: long balls bounce back off the walls, so the edges of the court are part of the play. Three touches a side, and the rally winner serves.

Climb a ladder of six rivals, each with their own style and plenty to say, from a beach to an alpine lake to an arena with a crowd. Beating one unlocks the next. Or play a friend on the same screen, with a controller each or one of you on the keyboard.

Free in your browser on a phone or a desktop, with nothing to install and no account needed to play.

How to play

1. Press Start game and pick a rival. Pretty Boy is open from the start, and beating each rival unlocks the next.
2. Get under the ball and set the blade's resting angle: tilted forward it sends the ball over the net, laid back it keeps the ball on your side.
3. Press HIT to swing: one full turn of the blade from the angle you set. Jump into it for a spike, and double-jump for the steepest kill.
4. A floor touch is a point against that side, three touches a side at most, and the walls play the ball back. First to five wins.
5. Only a win scores: 1,000 for the win, plus up to 750 for the margin, up to 600 for winning fast, and up to 660 for smashes and spike kills.

Controls

On a computer

A/D or ←/→ to move, W, ↑ or Space to jump (again in the air to double-jump). Move the mouse up and down, or use Q/E, to tilt the blade; click or J to swing. Esc pauses. Gamepads work too.

On a phone

Play in landscape. Drag sideways on the left half to run and flick up to jump; slide on the right half to tilt the blade; tap HIT to swing.

Leaderboard

Sign in with a free zapjam account and your best win against each of the six rivals goes on the all-time board, added up under your handle, with your own rank and the players either side of you. Then challenge a friend to beat it. Playing never needs an account.