Balloon Pop Advance

• Tap, hold and swipe on phones and tablets
• Mouse or trackpad on a computer; arrow keys or WASD where the game asks for movement
• Press Escape or the exit button to leave the full-screen player

1. 1Find the one or two controls on the start screen. Arcade games rarely use more than a jump, a move and maybe a fire button.
2. 2Stay near the middle of the play area when you can, which leaves you room to dodge in either direction.
3. 3Pick up power-ups or multipliers when they are on your path, but ignore the ones that pull you into danger.
4. 4When you lose, look at what killed you before you restart. The same thing will come back.

• Free to play, nothing to install, no account needed
• Loads in the browser tab and opens full screen when you press Play
• Designed for a phone held upright
• Touch controls on phones and tablets, mouse and keyboard on a computer
• Listed under Arcade

Balloon Pop Advance is honest. There are no upgrades to buy and no grind, just you and your reaction time. Because it runs free in a browser tab, it is the sort of game you can open on a whim, play for five minutes, and leave without a trace.

Players who miss the directness of old cabinet games, and younger ones who have never seen a cabinet but like a dare. It suits phones well, so it is handy for anyone waiting in a queue.

Does Balloon Pop Advance need a download?

No. Press Play and it runs in the tab you already have open. There is nothing to install and no account to make.

What is a good score?

That depends entirely on the game. A better benchmark is your own last run. If you are beating it regularly, you are improving.

Can I pause mid-run?

Most arcade games here include a pause button in the player or respond to the Escape key. Switching tabs also usually pauses the game automatically.