Original browser game · v1.2.1
Signal Drift.
A little planet. A moving signal. Run beneath satellite swarms and keep your phone connected in this free, single-player arcade game by Dr. Praveen Kumar M.
Released · 10 unlocked levels · 90 seconds per run · Desktop and mobile
Click inside the game to use the keyboard. For the largest play area, choose full view. Music starts after you begin; use the sound button to mute it.
How to play
You are the orange runner holding a phone. Satellites move overhead while their glowing coverage zones travel across the planet. Follow any swarm’s green core to earn points and recharge your battery. A run ends after 90 seconds or when the phone battery runs out.
- Move: use WASD or arrow keys, click or tap a destination on the globe, or drag the mobile thumbstick.
- Sprint: hold Space or the Sprint button to move faster at an extra battery cost.
- Pause: use the pause button, P, or Escape. Opening the field guide also pauses your run.
| Signal | Position | Points | Battery |
|---|---|---|---|
| Green | Inside a swarm’s core | 60 per second × combo | Recharges |
| Yellow | Near a core | 18 per second | Slow drain |
| Red | Out of coverage | 0 | Fast drain |
Stay continuously in green for four seconds to earn a 2× multiplier, and eight seconds to reach 3×. Leaving green resets that streak. Sprint in short bursts: it uses extra battery even when your signal is strong.
Switch swarms. Earn a bonus.
After connecting to one swarm, leave its green core and hold a different swarm’s green signal for one continuous second to earn 400 bonus points. Your first connection does not earn a hop bonus, and leaving then re-entering the same connected core does not count.
A four-second cooldown separates bonuses. A genuine trip from Aurora to Solstice and back can earn two bonuses when both switches qualify. Overlapping coverage alone cannot repeatedly award points.
Choose from 10 levels
Every level is available from the start. Higher levels have smaller coverage zones and faster satellites, with more swarms opening different routes. Each level is a separate 90-second run with its own saved best score and completion indicator.
| Level | Name | Difficulty | Swarms |
|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | Open Skies | Gentle | 2 |
| 02 | Slow Orbit | Gentle | 2 |
| 03 | Twin Trails | Easy | 2 |
| 04 | Signal Crossing | Easy | 2 |
| 05 | Three’s Company | Medium | 3 |
| 06 | Crosswind | Medium | 3 |
| 07 | Tight Circles | Hard | 3 |
| 08 | Orbital Rush | Hard | 4 |
| 09 | Needle Thread | Expert | 4 |
| 10 | Last Signal | Expert | 4 |
Computer-controlled rivals
Milo is a beginner; Nova is intermediate. Both AI runners have delayed reactions, pauses, and imperfect navigation. They earn points through the same game simulation. There are no live human opponents or online leaderboards in this version.
About the game
Signal Drift is a personal game concept by Dr. Praveen Kumar M, developed with AI-assisted programming. Its globe artwork, runner, spacecraft, and synthesized soundtrack were created for this project. Satellite coverage is an arcade abstraction, not a simulation of a real telecommunications network.
The game is free to play in a modern browser with JavaScript enabled. It needs no game login. Best scores, completion records, the selected level, and your sound preference are saved in this browser; they do not sync across devices. Clearing browser storage resets that progress.
Release history
v1.2.1 · Visible version badges and consistent release metadata.
v1.2 · Public release
- A public release on this website, with a new arcade identity and custom typography.
- Ten selectable levels with increasing difficulty.
- 400-point swarm-hop bonuses with visible feedback.
- Beginner and intermediate AI rivals.
- Per-level best scores, replay, and next-level navigation.
Game disclaimer
Signal Drift is a fictional arcade game for entertainment. The globe and landforms are stylized, simplified illustrations and are not to scale. They are not an authoritative map and do not express a position on territorial boundaries, sovereignty, or jurisdiction.
Satellites, orbits, coverage zones, signal strength, and battery behavior are game mechanics. They do not represent real satellite locations, telecommunications coverage, or service performance, and do not measure your device’s actual signal or battery. Do not rely on the game for navigation or connectivity decisions.
Nova and Milo are computer-controlled opponents. Scores and rankings reflect the game simulation; this version has no live human opponents or online leaderboard.
This is an independent personal creative project. No endorsement, sponsorship, or approval by a satellite operator, telecommunications provider, government, or employer is implied. The Declaration of independence also applies to this game.