Cubies

If you’ve ever watched a tiny cube bounce through a colorful obstacle course and thought, “I wish I could do that,” Cubies is for you. It’s a puzzle-platformer where you guide a little block through increasingly tricky levels, collecting smaller cubes (the “cubies”) and reaching the exit. The twist? Every level introduces something new—elevators, invisible walkways, blocks that vanish the moment you step on them. Simple enough to pick up in ten seconds, but later stages will have you staring at the screen, muttering, “Okay, how do I even get that one?”

The game balances frustration and satisfaction well. You’ll fail a jump, miss a cubie, or get stuck on a disappearing platform, but levels are short enough that you can retry immediately without feeling punished. When you finally grab that last cubie and slide into the goal, it feels earned. There’s also a local 1v1 mode that turns the whole thing into a chaotic race to claim territory. It’s the kind of game where you play “just one more level” until an hour disappears.

How to Play

The goal in each level is straightforward: collect every cubie scattered around the map, then reach the glowing exit. Cubies are usually placed on platforms, behind obstacles, or in spots that require a bit of backtracking. You don’t have to collect them in any order, but you can’t finish without grabbing all of them.

Desktop controls:

• Move: W, A, S, D or the arrow keys.
• Jump: Up arrow or W (the game handles jumping automatically when you move off a ledge, but you can also press up to jump manually).
• No other buttons needed—everything is movement-based.

Mobile controls:
On a phone or tablet, you get a virtual joystick on the left side of the screen. Tap and drag to move your cube. The game is designed with touch in mind, so the joystick is responsive and doesn’t feel floaty. The only downside is that precise jumps can be a little trickier on a small screen, but most levels are forgiving enough.

The game doesn’t have a tutorial text—it just drops you into the first level and lets you figure it out. That’s fine, because the first few stages are basically a gentle introduction. You’ll learn the rhythm of moving, jumping, and collecting before the real puzzles kick in.

Game Modes

Cubies has two main modes: Story Mode (or Adventure Mode, as the game calls it) and 1v1 Mode.

Story Mode is the single-player campaign. It’s a series of levels that introduce new mechanics one at a time. Early on, you’re just moving across flat platforms and collecting cubies. Then you hit the elevator levels—platforms that move up and down, requiring you to time your jumps. Later, invisible paths appear: you can’t see them, but your cube’s shadow gives away where the ground is. Disappearing blocks add another layer of tension—step on them and they vanish after a second, so you have to keep moving. The difficulty ramps up steadily, but it never feels unfair. There are checkpoints? Not exactly—each level is short enough that dying just sends you back to the start of that level, not the beginning of the whole game.

1v1 Mode is a local multiplayer mode for two players. You and a friend share the same screen, each controlling a cube. The goal is to claim the most territory by standing on tiles and turning them your color. It’s a bit like a simplified version of Splatoon’s turf war, but with cubes. The arena is small, and matches are fast—usually under a minute. It’s chaotic and fun, especially if you’re both aggressive. The only catch is that you need to be on the same device, so it’s perfect for couch play but not online.

Tips and Strategies

After playing through a good chunk of the levels, a few things become clear:

• Watch your shadow on invisible paths. When you’re walking on an invisible platform, your cube’s shadow is your only visual cue. The shadow will appear flat and solid when you’re over a platform, and it will stretch or disappear when you’re about to fall. Train your eyes to look at the ground, not your cube.

• Don’t rush on disappearing blocks. It’s tempting to sprint across them, but they vanish after a fixed time. If you run, you might trigger a block too early and then have to wait for it to respawn. Instead, pause for a split second before stepping onto a new block. That way you give the previous ones time to reappear behind you.

• Use the elevators as moving platforms, not just lifts. In levels with elevators, you can jump off them mid-ride to reach higher ledges. Don’t just ride them to the top—experiment with jumping sideways or backward while the elevator is moving.

• Collect cubies in a loop, not a straight line. Many levels are designed so that if you just run forward, you’ll miss cubies that are tucked away in corners or behind walls. Before you start moving, scan the level layout. Plan a route that circles back to the exit rather than a direct path.

• In 1v1 mode, focus on the center first. The middle of the arena usually has the most tiles. If you claim the center early, you can then push outward. Don’t waste time chasing your opponent into corners—just paint the high-traffic areas.

Common Mistakes

New players tend to make the same errors, and they’re easy to fix once you know what to look for.

Over-jumping. The game’s jump is pretty generous, but you don’t need to jump everywhere. On flat ground, just walking is faster and safer. Jumping unnecessarily can send you off a platform or into a pit. Only jump when you need to clear a gap or reach a higher platform.

Ignoring the shadow on invisible paths. This is the biggest trap. Players see a gap and assume they need to jump, but the invisible platform is right there. They jump over it and fall. Or they walk straight off the edge because they didn’t notice the shadow. Always check the ground shadow before moving.

Trying to collect all cubies in one pass without looking ahead. Some cubies are placed in dead ends or require you to backtrack. If you rush, you’ll miss one and have to go back anyway. Take a few seconds to memorize the layout.

Forgetting that disappearing blocks respawn. When a block vanishes, it comes back after a few seconds. Don’t panic and jump randomly—just wait for it to reappear. The timing is consistent.

In 1v1 mode, chasing the opponent instead of painting tiles. The goal is territory, not kills. You can’t eliminate the other player. So running after them is a waste of time. Focus on covering unclaimed tiles.

FAQ

Is Cubies free to play?
Yes, it’s completely free in your browser. No downloads, no paywalls. There are no ads that interrupt gameplay either—just a short ad before the game loads sometimes.

Can I play Cubies on my phone?
Absolutely. It works on both desktop and mobile browsers. The mobile controls are a virtual joystick, and the game adapts to the screen size. It’s a bit harder on a small screen for precise jumps, but still playable.

Does Cubies have an online multiplayer mode?
No, the 1v1 mode is local only. You need to be on the same device. There’s no online matchmaking.

How many levels are there?
The game doesn’t display a level counter, but it feels like around 30–40 levels in story mode. The difficulty increases gradually, and new mechanics keep appearing until the final stages.

Who made Cubies?
The game was developed by Venturous, the same team behind Gobdun and a few other browser games. They seem to specialize in simple, polished puzzle-platformers.

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Cubies doesn’t try to reinvent the wheel. It’s a straightforward puzzle-platformer that knows exactly what it wants to be: a short, satisfying challenge you can play in bursts. The 1v1 mode is a nice bonus, even if it’s local-only. If you’re looking for something to kill ten minutes without a huge commitment, give it a shot. Just don’t blame me when you’re still playing an hour later.