Temple of Boom

What happens in play

You fight enemies in arenas set inside ancient temples. The weapons Poki names are shotguns and rocket launchers, and the aim is to shoot, dodge and stay alive. Movement matters as much as shooting, because the game includes a double jump.

A single player uses the arrow keys for movement: Up jumps (and double jumps), Left and Right move, Down picks up a weapon. Z shoots and X switches weapon. The game also supports two players on the same keyboard. Player 1 then uses W to jump, A and D to move, S to pick up, C to shoot and V to switch; Player 2 uses the arrow keys with K to shoot and L to switch.

Poki lists solo play, a 1v1 mode and co-op with a friend. If you want to try the two-player side, agree on who takes which half of the keyboard before you start.

The arenas are compact, so most of your decisions are about position. Staying on a platform with a clear line to enemies lets you shoot from safety, while dropping down is a way to reach a weapon at the price of exposure. The double jump gives you a second chance to adjust in the air.

Weapons change the way a fight feels. A shotgun invites you to get close, and a rocket launcher rewards distance and anticipation. Poki lists both, along with the Down key to pick up a weapon and X or V to switch, so a good habit is to carry two and swap as the situation changes.

Because Poki lists solo, 1v1 and co-op, the same arenas feel different depending on who is in them. Co-op is about sharing space and covering each other, and 1v1 is about reading someone who is trying to read you.

Keys

Up / W

Jump, press again for double jump

Left / Right (A / D)

Move

Down / S

Pick up weapon

Z / C

Shoot (1P / 2P first player)

X / V

Switch weapon

K, L

Player 2: shoot, switch weapon

Shoot your way through temple arenas, alone or with a friend.

Practical pointers

• Use the double jump to cross gaps and to dodge, not only to climb.
• Pick up a weapon as soon as it is safe; running the arena without one is risky.
• Learn which key switches your weapon before you need it in a fight.
• For two players, split the keyboard clearly: one hand area each, so keys are not pressed by accident.
• Practise the switch key in a quiet moment so it is automatic later.
• In co-op, call out when you pick up a weapon so your partner knows what you have.

Who gets the most from it

Players who want quick action with simple controls, and friends who can share a keyboard for co-op or 1v1.

What may put you off

The controls use many keys, which makes it a desktop game first even though Poki lists phones and tablets.

Poki may show ads before or between rounds.

Two players on one keyboard can feel cramped.

Questions about Temple of Boom

Neighbours in the box

• MurderAnother action game, with one button instead of a whole keyboard.
• Carnado Stunt CarAlso supports two players on one computer.