Starcatcher

Starcatcher is a free arcade game where you steer a glowing star through space, collecting orbs and dodging dark matter. Clear each level's star quota to move on, build combos for a bigger score, and face a boss every fifth level. It plays in your browser with a mouse or a finger.

How to play

• Move: move the mouse, or drag with your finger, and the star follows. On a touch screen the star floats a little above your finger so you can see it.
• Collect: gather enough orbs to fill the level's target. White orbs are worth 10 points, blue orbs 20 and golden orbs 50. Blue orbs appear from level 2 and golden ones from level 3.
• Avoid: from level 2, dark matter drifts across the screen. Touching it costs one of your three lives, resets your combo and gives you a couple of seconds of safety.
• Combos: collect orbs in quick succession to build a combo. The multiplier steps up to x2 at 5, x3 at 10, x4 at 20 and x5 at 30. The chain runs out if you go too long without a pickup, and it resets when you are hit.
• Pause: press Esc or P.

Power-ups

• Shield lasts 10 seconds and absorbs the next hit. It can also damage a boss.
• Magnet lasts 8 seconds and pulls nearby orbs towards you.
• Slow time lasts 6 seconds and slows the orbs and the dark matter.
• Extra life only turns up once you have lost a life.

Boss levels

Every fifth level, starting with the Nebula Guardian on level 5, a boss takes over the screen. You hurt it by collecting golden orbs, and its health bar flashes as it gets low. Keep your lives for it, because it also fires dark matter.

Tips

• Take the safe orb over the risky one early on. A long combo is worth more than any single pickup.
• Keep to open space. Corners leave you nowhere to go when dark matter arrives.
• Save a shield for the boss if you can. It turns one mistake into damage.

Questions

Is it free? Yes, with no sign-up.

Does it work on a phone? Yes. Drag to move. A tablet or computer gives you more room to see what is coming.

Are my scores saved? Your best score and a top-scores list are stored in your browser on this device.