Kite Fight is a free browser game based on patang baazi, the kite fights of Indian rooftops. Steer your kite, cross strings with rival kites and cut them loose before they cut you. It needs no download or sign up, works on phones and computers, and keeps working offline once loaded.
Inspired by: Patang baazi, the kite fighting of Makar Sankranti and Indian summers.
How to play Kite Fight
- Move your kite with the mouse, your finger or the arrow keys. Your string runs from the rooftop at the bottom.
- When your string crosses a rival string, a ring appears. Green shows how close you are to cutting them, red shows how close they are to cutting you.
- Move your kite quickly across the sky to saw faster. Hold Tug for an extra pull, but it uses up your tug bar.
- When a rival string snaps, you score points and hear Kai po che. More rivals join as you go.
- Watch for gusts of wind that push every kite sideways. If your string is cut, the game ends.
Controls
- Keyboard: Arrow keys or WASD steer the kite. Hold Space to tug. P or Esc pauses.
- Mouse: Move the mouse and the kite follows it. Hold Space to tug.
- Touch screen: Drag your finger on the screen to steer. Hold the Tug button to pull harder.
Tips to score higher
- Do not sit still when strings cross. A moving kite saws much faster than a still one.
- Save the tug bar for the moment a ring is more than half full on both sides.
- Rivals who fly straight at you are attacking. Move away or cross them quickly and win the fight.
- Gusts push your kite too. Steer into the wind early to keep your string where you want it.
The story behind Kite Fight
Kite flying has been loved in India for centuries, and kite fights are most famous around Makar Sankranti in January, when skies in Gujarat, Rajasthan and Delhi fill with colour. Fighters coat their string with a sharp mix called manja, and the aim is to cut other kites by crossing their strings. When a rival kite is cut, children and grown ups shout Kai po che, which means I have cut it. In Delhi, many families still spend hot summer evenings and festival days on the roof with a spool and a patang. This game brings that rooftop rush to your screen.
Questions players ask
Is Kite Fight free to play?
Yes. It is free, with no sign up, no download and no in-game purchases.
What does Kai po che mean?
It is a happy shout used in Gujarati and Hindi that means I have cut it. People call it out when they cut a rival kite.
How do I cut a rival kite?
Cross your string with theirs and move your kite quickly. The green ring fills as you saw through, and a cut happens when it is full.
What is the Tug button?
It makes you saw faster for a short time. It uses a bar that slowly fills up again when you let go.
Can I play it on my phone?
Yes. Drag your finger to fly and hold the Tug button. It also works offline after the page has loaded.