PIXELPUCK

Defending in PixelPuck

Stay between the puck and your net. Switch to a closer skater when the play moves away, then decide whether to keep skating, check the carrier, or dive into a shot.

Without the puck

Three right-side gestures

Use the left side to steer. These right-side actions apply when your team does not have possession.

Read the complete controls guide
Tap
Select the available teammate nearest the puck.
Flick sideways
Attempt a check on a nearby opponent.
Flick down
Attempt a diving block toward the puck.

Make the flick quick. A slow drag will not start a defensive action. Lift your thumb after the flick. Aim mostly sideways for a check and mostly down for a dive.

01 / Stay near the play

Switch to the puck, then steer

A right tap selects the available skater nearest the puck. It does not cycle through the team. If you already control the nearest skater, another tap keeps that skater selected.

Switch when a pass or loose puck leaves another teammate closer. Check where the selection ring moves before steering. A skater who is diving or knocked down is skipped.

Choose a stillYour net
Two blue skaters defend against a red puck carrier. The farther blue skater has the selection ring.Before the tap
1. Find the gapFull size
The selection ring has moved to the blue teammate nearer the red puck carrier.Right tap
2. Select the nearer skaterFull size
The closer blue teammate is selected to follow the play while the other blue skater stays farther away.After the switch
3. Steer from hereFull size
  1. Find the gap

    The selected skater is farther from the red puck carrier. Another blue teammate is closer.

  2. Select the nearer skater

    One tap moves the selection ring to the available teammate nearest the puck.

  3. Steer from here

    Your next steering input applies to this teammate. Judge the gap again before trying a check.

Watch the switching clip3 sec · Silent

The selected blue skater starts farther from the puck. A right tap moves the selection ring to the closer blue teammate. The next left-side input steers that teammate toward the play.

Open MP4

Real development build captures. These drills use staged positions and automated touch input. Blue is your team. Red is the opponent. The numbered pointers are website annotations.

02 / Choose your action

Keep your skates or commit

Start by covering the route to your net. A check or dive can interrupt a play, but each takes time to finish. Look at the space you will leave behind.

Left side / Steer

Stay in position

Use it when you still have room to stay between the carrier and your net. Follow the play without rushing straight at the puck.

What you give up is immediate pressure on the carrier. You keep the ability to turn, but momentum still carries you while you change direction.

Choose a stillYour net
The blue defender stands between the red puck carrier and the goal on the right.Position
1. Cover the route to goalFull size
The red puck carrier moves up the rink with open ice between the carrier and the upright blue defender.Action
2. Keep room to respondFull size
The blue defender remains on their skates after the red carrier changes position.Next move
3. Stay ready to turnFull size
  1. Cover the route to goal

    Blue is on the goal side of the puck. There is room to watch where the carrier goes next.

  2. Keep room to respond

    As red moves up, stay upright and follow the change. Closing every gap can pull you away from your net.

  3. Stay ready to turn

    There is no check or dive to finish. You can keep steering, while allowing for your skating momentum.

Watch the positioning clip3.5 sec · Silent

Blue starts between the red carrier and the net on the right. Red moves up the rink. Blue stays upright and keeps room between them instead of committing to a check or dive.

Open MP4

Right side / Flick sideways

Check when you can reach the carrier

Use it when an opponent with the puck is close. Flick left or right toward the opponent. The gesture can also target an opponent contesting a nearby loose puck.

The commitment is a shoulder check with less freedom to turn. A miss adds a short recovery with extra drag and slower turning. You cannot immediately check again.

Choose a stillYour net
A blue defender faces a nearby red skater who has the puck.Position
1. Close enough to attemptFull size
Blue extends into a shoulder check while the red puck carrier moves away.Action
2. Commit to the checkFull size
The blue skater finishes a missed check behind the red puck carrier.Recovery
3. Recover after the missFull size
  1. Close enough to attempt

    The red puck carrier is nearby. A sideways flick can start a check from here.

  2. Commit to the check

    Blue begins the shoulder motion, but red moves up and away. Starting the check does not secure contact.

  3. Recover after the miss

    Blue has missed. Turning is restricted for a short recovery, giving the carrier room to escape.

Watch the checking clip1.9 sec · Silent

Blue attempts a check after a horizontal right flick. Red skates upward and escapes the contact. Blue finishes the shoulder motion and recovers while red keeps the puck.

Open MP4

Contact does not promise possession. Speed and player ratings affect the impact. A check can stagger the carrier, knock them down, or miss. Even a loose puck still needs to be collected.

Right side / Flick down

Dive across a shot’s path

Use it when you can get into the path of the puck. Flick down to start the dive. The skater dives toward the puck’s position at that moment, not toward the bottom of the screen.

The commitment is a crouch, push, slide, and recovery. You cannot steer the prone slide, pick up the puck, or check during the dive. Get your position right before you commit.

Choose a stillYour net
Blue faces the red puck carrier across an open shooting lane toward the right goal.Position
1. Line up with the puckFull size
The blue defender slides left on the ice as a shot approaches from the red skater.Action
2. Slide into the shotFull size
Blue rises from the diving block while the deflected puck travels away from the goal.Recovery
3. Get up and follow itFull size
  1. Line up with the puck

    Blue is between the carrier and the net. The downward flick will send blue toward the puck on the left.

  2. Slide into the shot

    Blue is stretched out on the ice. The slide can block the puck, but you cannot turn it to follow a new lane.

  3. Get up and follow it

    The puck has deflected away. Blue must finish getting up before skating after it or picking it up.

Watch the shot block clip2.4 sec · Silent

With red in possession, a downward right flick sends blue diving toward the puck on the left. The incoming shot hits the diving skater and deflects away. Blue gets back onto their skates as the puck stays loose.

Open MP4

Follow the rebound. A block can deflect the puck without giving your team possession. Your next steering input is kept for recovery. A cooldown also prevents an immediate second dive.

03 / Know your skater

Ratings change the result

Good timing still matters. These attributes affect what happens after you choose an action.

Strength
Higher Strength adds force to checks and helps a skater resist contact. Skating speed and the opponent’s movement still affect the hit.
Balance
Higher Balance helps with turning and resistance to knockdowns. It shortens recovery from a missed check and helps the skater regain control after a dive.
Stamina
Low stamina reduces skating speed. Leave yourself room to follow the play instead of relying on a late chase. Stamina drains during time on the ice.
Read about player development

Try it in a match

Practice one choice at a time

Use a few defensive possessions to learn the timing. Start with your position, then add the actions.

  1. Find the nearer teammate. When the opponent has the puck, tap on the right. Watch which skater gets the selection ring.
  2. Stay between the puck and your net. Steer on the left and follow one change of direction before closing in.
  3. Try one nearby check. Flick sideways toward the carrier. Notice the recovery if the opponent gets past you.
  4. Try one shot block. Move into the puck’s path and flick down. Wait for the skater to get up, then follow where the puck went.

Work on changing direction in the skating and dekes guide.

See how these choices fit a match in the gameplay overview.

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 testing

Opens your email app.