Alongside

Swim with them, or find your own water.

Play free in your browser on mobile, tablet or desktop. No download needed.

Alongside is a relaxing, hand-drawn browser game where you swim as an orca alongside your family in an imagined northern Scottish sea. Inspired by nature and the bonds between killer whales, it’s a quiet experience about companionship, exploration and finding your own pace.

Follow your family’s rhythm, drift into deeper water, or call across the ocean and listen for a reply. There is no score, destination or ending.

Controls

On mobile or tablet, drag to swim and tap the on-screen controls. On desktop, use a mouse or keyboard.

• Drag, or use the arrow keys / WASD to swim. Release to glide.
• C or Call: call your family.
• F or Join them: settle alongside them.
• Hold Shift or select Power for stronger strokes.
• Escape or Pause: take a break.
• Sound is optional and starts off. Less motion reduces visual effects.

Touch, a mouse or a keyboard can be used. This is a visual swimming experience; it is not a screen-reader-playable game. Sound is synthesised, with no wildlife recordings.

An evolving experiment

I’d love to hear: was there a moment when the orcas felt like your family? What made you want to stay—or leave?

Concept, original drawing and direction by Richard Stelmach, developed with AI assistance for code and text. Explore more at Experiments.