Even Keel

A physics balancing game with ten difficulty steps: drag weights onto a beam that is already leaning, then hold it level. The weights change order every day.

Controls

Touch and drag, or click and drag with a mouse

Time limit

40 seconds

Score

Clear time, lower is better

Type

Puzzle

How to play Even Keel

1. The beam starts with a 3 on one side, so it is already leaning.
2. Nothing can sit on the bump over the pivot. Over it the drop line turns red, and letting go sends the weight back.
3. Drag the next weight up from the bottom and let go above the beam. It drops straight down and stays where it lands.
4. The more weight on one side, and the further out it sits, the more the beam leans. The gauge at the top shows the tilt.
5. In the amber zone the weights start sliding downhill, which makes it lean more. In the red zone it tips over and the run ends.
6. Once all the weights are on, the needle has to sit in the narrow green zone for a moment. If the beam settles anywhere else, the run ends: weights can’t be moved once they’re down. Difficulty 5 has seven weights and a hold of 1.5 seconds.
7. You start on difficulty 3 of 10. Clear a difficulty to unlock the next: more and heavier weights, a narrower green zone held for longer, and sliding a little sooner. Pick any unlocked difficulty with the arrows on the start card.

Tips

• A weight twice as far from the middle pulls twice as hard, so a small one far out can balance a big one close in.
• Wait for the beam to stop swinging before you drop the next one. It overshoots a little.
• The weights still to come are shown at the bottom right. Plan for the last one: it can’t go in the middle, so leave the beam leaning just enough for it to fix.
• Everyone gets the same weights and starting load all day, and new ones at midnight UTC. “Practice a new layout” deals a fresh set any time, off the leaderboard. Every one can be balanced.