The Specimen Zero

Jump, strike, roll, repeat. Action games reduce play to a handful of moves and then throw a steady stream of problems at them. Each stage introduces an enemy type or hazard that forces you to use the moves differently. Health is tight, checkpoints are spaced just far enough apart to matter, and the stretch before a boss is where sessions tend to get loud.

• Find the keys to the doors arm yourself with ammo and weapons and make your way from chamber to room all while evading the monsters Controls WASD Move Spacebar Jump F Interact R Reload Esc Menu

1. 1Read the control hint on the first screen and practise the attack and dodge moves against the first enemy.
2. 2Stay off the edges of the arena. Getting cornered removes your escape options.
3. 3Watch each new enemy for a moment before engaging; most have a tell before they attack.
4. 4Save special attacks or power-ups for groups and bosses rather than single enemies.

• Free to play, nothing to install, no account needed
• Loads in the browser tab and opens full screen when you press Play
• Plays best with the phone turned sideways or on a wider screen
• Mouse and keyboard controls, with touch support on most devices
• Listed under Action

A session of The Specimen Zero is quick to start, sharp while it lasts, and over before it wears out its welcome. Free in a browser tab, no download, no login. It is a good way to shake off a slow afternoon and get your pulse up for a few minutes.

Suits players who want a challenge for their reflexes, mostly teens and adults. Older children with experience of platformers or fighters will also do fine. It is not designed for very young players.

Is The Specimen Zero hard?

It starts gently and climbs. The first stage is a tutorial in disguise. Later stages expect you to have learned enemy patterns, so expect to retry a few.

How do I play on a touchscreen?

An on-screen pad handles movement and buttons handle attack and jump. It is a little less precise than a keyboard, so a tablet is easier than a small phone.

Does my progress carry across devices?

No. Any saved stage lives in the browser storage of the device you played on. There is no account to sync it.