How to Play Shaftbound
Shaftbound is a precision platform adventure built around one magnificent tool: the grappling hook. Descend through thirty-six handcrafted underground shafts, swinging across hazards, building momentum off anchor points and threading your way past spikes, saws and collapsing platforms. Every stage is a physics puzzle where the perfect swing arc is the difference between a flawless run and a spike pit. Momentum management is the whole game: release at the bottom of a swing for speed, at the peak for height, and chain anchors without touching ground for the fastest times. Levels teach new physics ideas steadily — moving anchors, breakable chains, anchor-less gaps requiring pure jump skill. Generous checkpoints and instant restarts keep difficulty feeling fair. Collectibles hide in the riskiest corners for completionists. It captures the joy of grappling games in their purest form: weight, swing, release, fly.
Controls
- A / D or arrows: move
- Space / W / up: jump
- X / Shift / mouse click: fire the grappling hook
- R: restart, Esc / P: pause
Tips
- Release the hook at the swing's lowest point for maximum speed
- Chain two anchors without landing to clear trap floors
- Short hooks give control; long hooks give speed — choose deliberately