Last updated 29 October 2026
Stuck? Write to me
I'm Scott, and I make Alderhoard myself. If you'd like to play with a particular joystick or controller, if a key or button won't do what it should, or if anything else here gets in your way, write to me at [email protected]. Tell me what computer and browser you're using and what happened.
Inside the game, Feedback / Requests on the bar under the screen sends me a note too.
Everything in Alderhoard runs on four arrow keys and the space bar. Most problems come down to those five keys, the sound, or the browser. The help is grouped below.
Keys and controls
The keys do nothing
Click once on the game screen. The browser only sends keys to the part of the page you last clicked, so a click anywhere else on the page takes the keys away from the game.
My arrow keys are tiny, worn out or missing
Plenty of laptops have cramped arrow keys. Mine do. You can turn the number pad into arrow keys with a free program, and switch it back whenever you like.
- Windows: install Microsoft's free PowerToys, open its Keyboard Manager, choose Remap a key, and point each number pad key at an arrow: 8 to Up, 2 to Down, 4 to Left, 6 to Right. Turn Keyboard Manager off when you want your numbers back.
- I use a different layout on my own laptop: 2 is Up, 0 is Left, the period key is Down and Enter is Right. It makes an upside-down T along the bottom of the number pad, the same shape as normal arrow keys.
- Mac: the free Karabiner-Elements does the same job. Use its Simple Modifications tab.
- Or plug in a keyboard. Any USB keyboard or separate number pad works the moment it's plugged in.
Joysticks
Alderhoard doesn't read joysticks or gamepads directly yet. A small free program can turn a stick's moves into arrow keys and its fire button into the space bar, and then it works like a keyboard.
- A modern Atari stick: the CX40+ wireless joystick is a remake of the classic Atari stick, and its AtariAge Store listing says it connects to a PC with the USB-C adapter in the box.
- Windows or Linux: AntiMicroX is free. Plug the stick in, open AntiMicroX, set Up, Down, Left and Right to the arrow keys and the fire button to Space.
- Windows: JoyToKey does the same thing.
- If you'd like Alderhoard to work with your stick or pad without any extra program, write to me and tell me which one you have.
Sound
- No sound at all: click the game screen or press a key first. Browsers keep a page silent until you've done one or the other.
- It went quiet in the middle: the M key mutes the game. Press M again.
- Too loud, too quiet, or one kind only: press TAB for Options & Settings. There are five volume sliders: village music, village ambience, village sounds, game music and game sounds.
- Check that the browser tab itself isn't muted (a crossed-out speaker on the tab) and that your computer's volume is up.
Screen and speed
- Full screen: press ALT and ENTER together, and the same again to come back.
- Choppy or slow: plug the laptop in, since battery saving can slow a browser down, and close other busy tabs.
- Make sure your browser is allowed to use the graphics chip. In Chrome it's under Settings, System, Use graphics acceleration when available. In Edge it's under Settings, System and performance, with the same name. Restart the browser after you switch it on.
- Too small or too big: zoom the page with CTRL and the plus or minus key (on a Mac, Command).
Saving your progress
- Your progress is kept in the browser on your own computer, not on a server. Use SAVE GAME and LOAD GAME on the bar under the screen to keep a copy and bring it back.
- A private or incognito window forgets everything when it closes, and so does clearing your browser's data for the site. Play in a normal window to keep your progress.
- The same progress won't follow you to another computer or another browser.
- Open in two tabs at once? Playing in two tabs? on the bar explains what happens to your gold and progress.
- Levels you build in the Waka level builder are kept in your own folder when you sign in with Google.
Phones, tablets and browsers
- Alderhoard is made for a computer with a keyboard. On a phone or tablet you'll see a card that says so.
- It's built and tested in Chrome and Edge. Other up-to-date browsers should work. If something looks wrong in yours, write to me and tell me which one.