Jumping Shell

Jumping Shell is a cute pixel game with seemingly simple gameplay: a cute little creature nestled in a shell, jumping across a few platforms. However, you'll quickly discover that each double jump releases you from the shell. And from there, things start to get crazy.

Jumping Shell Rules

You control a small creature—maybe a slug, maybe something soft—with a rather strange mechanic:

• You can jump once normally.
• If you double jump, you'll escape the shell.
• The shell will stay, and you'll turn into a more fragile version of yourself.
• Want to get back into the shell? You have to find a way to jump back into the right place at the right time.

This mechanism makes the game a puzzle of overlapping logic: “Sometimes you have to leave the shell to get through a narrow gap. But if you leave the shell in the wrong place, you can’t come back later, and you have to restart…”

Although it may sound confusing, the game is actually very addictive because each level presents a small creative puzzle. There is something very satisfying when you do the right sequence of actions and land on the exit door.

The harder it gets, the more difficult it is

This is not an action game; this is a game of thinking while acting… The later the level, the more you have to calculate:

• Should I leave the shell first or last?
• If the shell falls first, may I get it back?
• If I leave the shell, is there a platform to land on?

There are parts where you have to stack the shells in layers and bounce back and forth like playing billiards to reach the final door.

A few tips

• Don’t rush to double jump unless you are sure there is a platform to land on.
• Remember that you can carry multiple layers of shells—stacking multiple times helps increase height or cushion falls.
• If you stand in the wrong place when you get back into your shell, you'll lock yourself in, and a restart is inevitable.

Jumping Shell doesn't have a loud soundtrack. There's just the sound of jumping, the sound of shells popping, and the slight sound of wind blowing—just enough to keep you focused on each step. It doesn't force you to race against time, but it does make you try again and again. Another new game you can check out is Red Rush.