Balance ability and stamina
A stronger player may be tired. Low stamina slows a skater down, so compare their condition with a rested reserve. Line 2 supplies substitutes during a match. The reserve bench is separate.
How the roster and lineups workPixelPuck franchise mode
Play 5-on-5 hockey and manage the club between games. Pick your lineup, bring in new players, and decide where to spend your Club Funds as one season leads into the next.
Inside the game
Between games
Your club dashboard brings together the next opponent, standings, and fan support. Open the roster to change your lines or visit the facilities before playing again.
Current development build. Example club: Vancouver Walruses.
Taking over
The opening story and your first season
The opening story puts you in charge of a club with one regular season game left. The first 15 games already have results. You play the final game with the team you inherit.
After that introduction, the opening draft helps you start shaping the roster. Your first full season begins with a fresh 16-game schedule.
Play eight home games and eight away games. If your club qualifies for the playoffs, four single game rounds stand between you and the Pixel Cup. A loss ends your run.
Read the season format and playoff qualification rules.
An older save can keep its longer schedule until that season ends. The next season uses the current 16-game format.
A season at your club
From the lineup to the next draft
Return to the club between games. Choose a stage to see its screen.
- Set the lineup
Compare ratings and stamina before picking your two lines and bench. Rest a tired skater or give a reserve a place on the ice.
Read about rosters and lineups - Play the match
Control your team against computer opponents in 5-on-5 hockey, with a goalie at each end. Your result becomes part of the club’s season.
See how matches play - Develop the club
Games earn player XP. At a level-up, choose an attribute to improve within that player’s potential. Invest in staff and facilities to support growth and recovery.
Read about club facilities - Plan the next season
Review expiring contracts, decide who stays, and draft rookies for the next roster. A new schedule gives the club another season to build on.
Read about drafting and scouting
Development captures. Vancouver Walruses is an example club with sample results and players.
Your decisions
Roster and spending decisions
Club Funds
The money you spend on signings, staff, and facility upgrades. Matches earn funds that you can put back into the club.
Salary cap
The limit on player salaries, shown as Team Cap when signing. A healthy wallet does not create more cap space. Check both before adding a player.
Recruit for the next opening
Draft a rookie with room to grow or look for a free agent who can help now. Scouting improves the information you have about ability and potential. New signings join the reserve bench.
When a player’s contract expires, decide whether to extend it or let them go. Review the offered salary against your Team Cap.
How drafting and scouting workChoose what the club needs
A trainer helps players earn XP. Medical staff help them recover stamina. Scouts improve player information, while marketing helps grow fan support.
Compare a staff hire with a facility upgrade before spending Club Funds. Staff contracts run out. You can renew or replace them, and interim staff cover an empty role.
What facility upgrades changeChange the team’s appearance
Choose home and away uniforms in Team Style. Customize your home rink with arena themes, seating, boards, and ice designs. Your home games use the rink you have made.
See uniform and equipment choicesAnother season
Keep building on the same club
A new season resets the competition. It keeps the club you have been developing.
What carries forward
- Player development carries forward, with age-related changes in the offseason.
- Your Club Funds, purchased facilities, and team appearance stay with the club.
- Season history and club career records preserve what you have achieved.
- Player and staff contracts continue for their remaining years.
What changes
- Players age and can decline or retire. Contracts lose a year, and expiring deals need a decision.
- A new draft brings a new group of prospects.
- The schedule changes, and standings and season statistics start again.
- Your next lineup reflects the players you kept and the signings you made.
See what the club history records
Your progress stays on your device. Franchise changes and completed match results are saved locally. Read about save slots and recovery.
Before you play
Do I control the matches?
Yes. You control your team on the ice against computer opponents. Franchise mode includes playing the matches as well as managing the club.
Does franchise mode work offline?
Yes. Matches and franchise mode work offline, and progress is saved on your device. You need an internet connection to install or update the game. The privacy policy explains local saves and optional diagnostics.
Release and testing
PixelPuck is in development for iPhone. There is no public App Store release date yet. You can email the developer about future testing opportunities. Android is planned, with no release date announced.
Email about testingOpens your email app.