Show HN: Beakdown – a game inspired by Joust/Skirmish

7/28/2026 at 11:14:04 PM

I spent many hours playing Joust/Skirmish with my brother on our BBC B. This is a very nice interpretation. The mobile controls are good. One tiny nitpick, and to be honest I don’t know how you’d solve this for mobile, is that on the original you had 3 controls - left, right and flap. On this version there is just flap left and flap right, which completely makes sense for mobile. I miss the ability to hover though, which with the direction agnostic flap on the original you can do, it not on this one. Apart from that, great.

by smartBean

7/28/2026 at 11:29:46 PM

Thank you! Yeah on desktop there are three controls but I don't know how I could solve for this on mobile... Any ideas welcome

by novlrdotcom

7/29/2026 at 2:22:10 AM

Wouldn't on screen controls of the three options at the bottom work.. ? At least on my phone there was a big empty space by the bottom.

by jmpavlec

7/29/2026 at 7:12:58 PM

I ended up adding controls for the sound effects and music at the bottom of the screen (so it's not empty anymore). Appreciate the feedback :)

by novlrdotcom

7/29/2026 at 2:35:22 AM

Yeah true good point

by novlrdotcom

7/28/2026 at 8:32:43 PM

Hey this game was fun - I kept on trying to use the UP button to jump instead of Space, but I think that's more of a user error issue as I realised it says it on the landing page. It was also a little counterintuitive to land on the other birds instead of trying to hit them with my horn/beak :D

I think it's good to have some sort of sound option, but with a toggle that's easy to switch off - could just be sound effects instead of music. Kind of need the sound to be relatively good and matching the game otherwise it can be more annoying than not.

by JohnJohnson123

7/28/2026 at 9:23:18 PM

Actually if you're still there (or anyone else reading), what kind of music do you think would suit the game? I'm thinking of adding sound effects plus music and making them two separate toggles the players can choose to have on or off.

by novlrdotcom

7/28/2026 at 10:19:16 PM

I'm not too sure on the music - but Flappy Bird is probably a good inspiration for some of the sound effects! I'd make the music not relatively low key/not too intense

by JohnJohnson123

7/29/2026 at 7:11:47 PM

Hey mate - I've added sound effects and music - would love to get your take on it!

beakdown.fun

by novlrdotcom

7/28/2026 at 11:30:34 PM

Nice one! I'll follow that thread and create some music similar to that - appreciate it

by novlrdotcom

7/28/2026 at 9:15:47 PM

Nice feedback, perfect!! Thanks so much

by novlrdotcom

7/28/2026 at 9:11:04 PM

The cardinals that just stay at the top are OP.

by sparrish

7/28/2026 at 9:15:13 PM

Takes a bit of skill to kill em - try dropping down to the bottom - they'll follow you - then get on top of them while they still have downward momentum.

Or take out all the blues first and see if you get lucky with an invincibility star.

by novlrdotcom

7/28/2026 at 11:21:57 PM

I enjoyed the old school joust vibe.

by TheGrandPriza

7/28/2026 at 11:29:56 PM

Thanks!

by novlrdotcom

7/28/2026 at 10:12:11 PM

Cool game!!

by Clayrune

7/28/2026 at 11:30:56 PM

Thanks!!

by novlrdotcom

7/29/2026 at 6:14:51 AM

Played this for a solid 10 minutes very addictive lol nice work!

by dinuka_jay

7/29/2026 at 7:12:11 PM

Nice one! Appreciate the support :)

by novlrdotcom