How to play pixelwar
pixelwar is a free browser strategy game about conquering territory. Choose a starting position, build your army and balance expansion with defence. Play multiplayer or practise against bots without a download.
Start with the tutorial or solo practice
- Enter a player name in the lobby. You can play as a guest; sign in to keep account rewards.
- Open Single player. Choose a map and the number of opponents, then select Start practice.
- For step-by-step help, use Start the tutorial in the Learn to play card. On desktop, the sidebar's How to play button takes you to that card. The card is also in the Single player section on a phone.
The tutorial teaches the controls on a practice board. Two separate missions let you apply them. Regular solo practice does not award multiplayer rank points. Completing all required tutorial tasks can earn a one-time +10 rank-point reward for a signed-in account after verification.
Join multiplayer and choose your start
Choose an available match in the Multiplayer lobby. Check its mode, map and countdown. During spawn selection, click or tap a land position and change your selection if you find a better opening. Follow the displayed countdown: the selection time varies by match. Water and positions too close to other starts cannot be used exactly as selected. If you do not choose a valid position, the game assigns a starting spot.
Look for unclaimed land nearby and avoid starting surrounded by opponents. Water can limit land attacks, but an isolated start may require boats to expand.
Mouse and touch controls
| Action | Mouse | Touch |
|---|---|---|
| Inspect a target and choose an action | Click its territory | Tap its territory |
| Attack a valid target | Click its territory, then the attack icon | Tap its territory, then the attack icon |
| Move around the map | Drag | Drag |
| Zoom | Scroll the wheel | Pinch |
| Set the troop share | Click or drag the percentage bar | Tap a preset or drag the bar |
The target menu shows the actions available at that location, such as attack, boat, donation or alliance. Choose the attack icon to confirm a land attack. You cannot attack yourself or an ally.
Expand, earn troops and defend
Unclaimed land has no defending army and is usually the cheapest way to grow. A land attack needs a shared border with its target. Capturing land increases your income and Max Troops. Your reserve also earns interest, which slows as it approaches its capacity.
The percentage bar chooses how much of your current reserve to send. For example, 25% of 1,000 troops sends 250 and leaves 750 at home. Spending everything makes other borders vulnerable and reduces the reserve that earns interest.
Manage attacks and boats
Use + on an active land attack to add the selected share of your current reserve. Use × to cancel it and recover the unspent troops; troops already spent are not restored.
To cross water, select a reachable landing target and choose the boat action. Boats need a valid route from your coast. They carry troops away from your reserve and cannot be reinforced while at sea. Cancelling a boat recalls it: surviving troops return only after it sails home.
Help teammates and form alliances
Select friendly territory to donate troops when the action is available. The preview shows how many troops arrive after tax and the recipient's capacity limit. In-match alliances require acceptance and have eligibility and size limits. Your target menu explains why an action is unavailable.
For coordinated multiplayer, clans and their parties can queue together. The party leader starts the group queue. See the alliance questions and strategy guide before committing to a partner.
Understand the result
There is no fixed match time limit. A side wins when no hostile survivors remain, or a successful peace vote can end the match. The vote panel tells you whether agreement means a draw or victory for the leading side. A draw has no winner. Read how winning and peace votes work.
For your next practice, choose a map from the map guide and try keeping enough troops in reserve to defend while expanding.