Play Tide Pool online
Tide Pool is an original tide-pool arcade game: play Pip the hermit crab, gathering pearls stranded on the sand before the tide comes back in.
Pearls keep washing up across the pool. White pearls score 100 points, golden pearls 300, and quick successive pickups build a chain bonus.
Every few seconds a wave sweeps in from the left. The only shelter is a rock — hug one close while the wave passes, or lose a life.
Collect 12 pearls within 120 seconds to win; 3 wave hits or timeout ends the run.
How to control Tide Pool
- Move: Arrow keys / WASD
- Steer: mouse hold or touch drag toward pointer
- R: restart, M: mute
How to play
- 1
Move Pip the hermit crab with Arrow keys / WASD, or steer by holding the mouse / dragging on touch.
- 2
Touch pearls to collect them: white pearls 100 points, golden pearls 300, plus a chain bonus for quick successive pickups.
- 3
When a wave sweeps in from the left, hug a rock to shelter; caught in the open, you lose a life.
- 4
Collect 12 pearls within 120 seconds to win; 3 wave hits or timeout ends the run.
Tips for a better run
When the wave warning flashes, head for the nearest rock early — the wave is faster than the crab.
You are safe only while actually touching a rock, so stay pressed against it until the wave has fully passed.
Chain pickups within 4 seconds of each other for up to +100 bonus per pearl.
Golden pearls are worth triple, but never chase one across open sand while a wave is coming.
Frequently asked questions
How do I move the crab?
Move with Arrow keys / WASD, or drag on touch / hold the mouse to steer toward the pointer. The crab follows your input direction.
How do I score?
Touch a pearl to collect it: white pearls are worth 100 points, golden pearls 300. Collecting pearls quickly in a row adds a chain bonus of up to +100 per pearl.
How do I survive the waves?
Every few seconds a wave sweeps from left to right. Stand touching a rock (hug it close) while the wave passes and you are safe; caught in the open, you lose a life.
How do I win?
Collect 12 pearls within 120 seconds to win. Losing all 3 lives or running out of time ends the run.
