About PICO-BALL
PICO-BALL is a cute pixel 2 player game, also playable solo, that blends tennis, volleyball, squash and wallball into one sport. It stars Jelpi, a famous little adventurer, and opens with a short story about how Jelpi came to invent the game.
There's only one rule to learn. If the ball bounces twice on your side, the point goes to the other side. Everything else is about keeping the ball alive on your end and making it bounce twice on theirs.
You can play solo or with a friend on the same keyboard, and a session takes a few minutes. That makes it easy to play PICO-BALL online for a quick match.
How to Play PICO-BALL
- Click the game screen so it takes your keyboard input.
- Play solo, or bring in a second player on the same keyboard.
- Player two moves with E, S, D and F instead of W, A, S and D, so it works on many keyboard layouts.
- Keep the ball from bouncing twice on your side, and try to make it bounce twice on theirs.
- Open the pause menu and go to game settings if you want controls that suit a controller or the Z and X keys.
What to Expect in PICO-BALL
PICO-BALL is bright, cute and quick. The cast of tiny pixel creatures and the story intro give it more charm than a plain sports game, and rounds are short enough to fit a few matches into a break.
It's at its best as a 2 player game, with two people crowded around one keyboard arguing over whether that ball bounced twice. Solo play works too if you want to learn the angles first. PICO-BALL free play here needs nothing but a keyboard.
Tips for PICO-BALL
- Agree on keys before you start. Player two uses ESDF, not WASD.
- Aim for spots your opponent cannot reach before the second bounce.
- If you're on a controller, change the controls in game settings from the pause menu first.
- The game works with only the arrow keys for each player, but a quick visit to the settings can make it more comfortable.
- Play solo for a round or two before challenging a friend, so you know how the ball moves.
Who Made PICO-BALL
PICO-BALL was made by PlayerTheMaker, who released it on itch.io. It was made in PICO-8. FunClicker embeds the creator's own version so you can play it here without downloading anything. We did not make the game, and the credit for its design, code, and art belongs to its creator. You can find the original on the PICO-BALL page on itch.io.
FAQ
Is PICO-BALL free?
Yes. PICO-BALL is free to play here, with nothing to buy and no account to make. It runs in the browser window above, so you can watch the short story intro and get to your first match within a minute or two.
How do you play PICO-BALL?
Hit the ball back and forth and keep it from bouncing twice on your side, since two bounces hands the point to the other player. Click the game screen first. Player two moves with E, S, D and F, and the pause menu has settings for controllers and the Z and X keys.
Can two people play PICO-BALL on one keyboard?
Yes. Two people share one keyboard, with player two on E, S, D and F. You can also play solo. If someone would rather use a controller, open the pause menu and adjust the game settings so the controls feel right for everyone.
Who made PICO-BALL?
PICO-BALL was made by PlayerTheMaker in PICO-8 and released on itch.io. FunClicker embeds the creator's own web version, and the original page on itch.io has the downloadable builds plus notes on setting up controllers for two players.
Can I play PICO-BALL on a Chromebook or phone?
A Chromebook works well, since PICO-BALL runs in the browser and plays on a keyboard. For two players, a full-size keyboard gives you both more room. Phones are a weak fit because the game is built around keys, so a laptop or desktop is best.
Is PICO-BALL unblocked at school?
Getting PICO-BALL unblocked at school depends on the network. The game runs in an ordinary browser tab with nothing to download or install, but each school filters sites its own way, and that filter decides whether it opens. We do not control it.
What sports is PICO-BALL based on?
It blends tennis, volleyball, squash and wallball into one sport. One shared rule holds it together: when the ball bounces twice on one side, the opponent wins the point. That single rule is all you need to start playing, and the rest comes from feel.
Who is Jelpi in PICO-BALL?
Jelpi is the star of PICO-BALL, a world-famous little adventurer with plenty of daring feats to their name. The game opens with a short story that explains how Jelpi ended up inventing this sport, and then hands the court over to you.
