Catapult Keep

Arcade · 1 player

How to play

The Black Cap bandits have raised fort after fort, from the forest to the desert to the glacier. All you have is one catapult and a handful of shots. Hit the towers in the right spot, bring the stacks crashing down and topple every bandit across 30 levels in 3 worlds.

1. 1Drag back from anywhere on the screen with your finger or mouse: the further you pull, the harder it throws, flying opposite to your pull.
2. 2Let go and the catapult arm swings. In the first levels a dotted line shows where the shot will go.
3. 3Topple every bandit to win the level. Every unused shot gives a big bonus, and every piece you break scores points.
4. 4Some shots have a special power: tap the screen while they fly. Grapeshot splits in three, the fire keg explodes, the bounce ball speeds up. The iron ball smashes through stone.
5. 5Wood breaks easily, stone is tough, ice and glass shatter at the first hit. Red flame barrels explode and wreck everything around them.
6. 6Out of shots? Try again right away: the restart button is at the top right.

About Catapult Keep

Catapult Keep is a physics puzzle built around finding the right balance between launch angle and power. Every level puts a differently designed fortress in front of you: some rise on thin wooden posts, some hide behind thick stone walls, and some are made of ice and glass that shatter on the first hit. The way to topple the bandits is rarely to aim at the busiest spot; it is usually to find the load-bearing piece and let gravity handle the rest.

The variety of ammunition gives the game its depth. Alongside the plain stone you get scatter shot that splits into three, a fire barrel that explodes on impact, a bouncing ball that speeds up mid-flight, and an iron ball that punches straight through stone. The order of shots in each level is fixed, so it pays to plan your sequence before the first throw. At the end of a level your score earns up to three stars, and because every shot you have left over is worth a large bonus, finishing with fewer throws is the key to a perfect rating.

The journey starts in the forest and continues through the desert and onto the glacier. Unlocked levels, stars and best scores are kept in this browser, so you can return to an earlier stage at any time to complete its stars. It appeals to players of any age who enjoy experimenting and watching the results unfold.

Strategy and tips

• Study the structure first: breaking the wooden supports underneath is the cheapest way to drop heavy stone blocks onto the bandits.
• Hitting a stone wall with a plain stone is usually wasted effort; save the iron ball for bandits sheltering behind stone.
• Send the fire barrel close to the red flaming barrels, since one blast can set off another and clear a wide area.
• Aim scatter shot high on a tower and split it near the top so all three pieces rain onto thin posts and ice blocks.
• Trigger the bouncing ball's speed boost when it is fairly close to the target so its path does not drift too far.
• After a miss, avoid changing angle and power completely; small corrections toward the same point give more consistent results.
• Bandits can also fall on their own a moment later, so if a structure is wobbling, wait for it to settle before your next shot.

Frequently asked questions

How many levels are there?

There are 30 levels spread across three worlds: forest, desert and glacier.

How are stars awarded?

Finishing a level earns one to three stars based on your score. The big bonus for each unused shot is the most effective route to three stars.

Will I lose my progress?

No. Unlocked levels, stars and level scores are stored in this browser.

How do I aim on a phone?

Press anywhere on the screen and drag your finger back; the further you pull, the stronger the throw.