The goal
The team climbs the course together from the very bottom to the top. Obstacles come one after another: swinging hammers, fire jets, gusts of wind, conveyor belts, bounce pads, moving and vanishing platforms, stones that crumble under your feet. At the top the game shows the team’s total time and how many big falls you had, so there is always a reason for one more run.
How the chain works
- While the chain is slack you barely notice it: everyone walks, jumps and picks a line on their own.
- At 5.5 metres the chain snaps tight with a clank. From then on whoever is ahead pulls the one behind, and the one behind holds the leader back.
- If someone slips off an edge, they hang on the chain and their weight drags the others towards the drop. If one person holds on, the faller can climb back up; if nobody does, everyone goes down.
- With three or four players, the ones in the middle are linked to two neighbours and feel tugs from both sides.
Controls
| Action | Computer |
|---|---|
| Move | WASD or the arrow keys |
| Look around | mouse (click the game view first) |
| Jump | Space |
| Brace: stand your ground | hold Shift |
| Climb the chain | hold E |
| Send the team back to the bonfire | hold R for about a second |
Phones get the same moves: walking and jumping with the on-screen controls, and separate buttons for brace and climb. As long as you hold the brace button, you stay planted. Friends on phones and computers share the same room.
Bracing and stamina
Hold Shift and your character digs in and stands firm: the chain cannot drag them and the wind cannot push them. It has a cost, though. While braced you can neither walk nor jump, and a stamina bar appears and drains as you hold. When it runs out, the brace gives way. Let go and it slowly refills. Bracing only works with your feet on the ground, never in mid-air.
Climbing the chain
A player left hanging holds E and climbs along the chain towards the partner above. That partner has to be standing on solid ground, ideally braced so the chain cannot pull them to the edge. When you reach the lip, press Space to spring off the chain onto the platform.
Bonfires and regrouping
Team bonfires stand along the route. The first player to step onto a bonfire’s platform lights it for everyone, and it becomes the new checkpoint. If the chain gets tangled or the whole team has tumbled down, anyone can hold R and the full team reappears together at the last lit bonfire. Nobody has to start from the bottom again.
Maps
Zanjirband has several maps, each with its own character: steep trails over a mountain pass, a fortress with high walls, an old mine. The obstacles change from map to map, while the rules stay the same. How to get past each one is covered on the tips page.
FAQ
Can I play alone?
You can open a room and start on your own, but it is practice: there is no chain. It is handy for learning the route; the real game is for 2–4 players.
Do we restart from the bottom after a fall?
No. The team can climb back up, or hold R to return to the last lit bonfire.
Is it free? Do I need an account?
It is free and needs no account: you just type a name. There is nothing to download either; it opens in the browser. There is no in-game currency and nothing to buy.
What kind of game is Zanjirband like?
It is an original game in the spirit of chained co-op climbing games: the maps, obstacles and rules were made for GameUZB. If you have played something like it you will feel at home at once; if not, you will have it figured out by the first bonfire.
With friendsroom code and team roles
Tipshow to beat each obstacle