Five animals, five abilities, one small board. The frog jumps, the elephant pushes, the fox swaps places – and whoever storms and holds the opponent’s den wins. A match takes five to ten minutes.
Almost there: 5ive Paws is in its final TestFlight test and will be on the App Store for free very soon – with duels against friends and strangers, computer opponents and levels 1 to 99. An Android version is planned for later.
This is 5ive Paws
Real screenshots from the iPhone – this is what the game looks like.
Beat or be beaten
Every animal has its own ability – and its place in the food chain: the wolf hunts the fox, the fox hunts the mouse, and the mouse is the only one the elephant is afraid of. Before each match you pick five of them.
Frog
Jumps over a neighbouring piece.
Beats: nobody
Turtle
Shell: only the second hit beats it – at the earliest one turn after the first. Moves every other turn.
Beats: frog
Fox
Swaps places with a piece around it – even an opponent.
Beats: eagle, hedgehog, mouse, frog, chameleon
Elephant
Pushes a neighbouring piece away. Only the mouse can take it – or two animals surrounding it.
Beats: everyone except mouse and eagle
Mouse
Quick: moves up to two squares straight.
Beats: the elephant
Wolf
Moves straight but captures only diagonally.
Beats: fox, eagle, beaver, mouse, frog, chameleon
Eagle
Flies almost anywhere once per match – just not into the opponent’s back two rows.
Beats: turtle, skunk, mouse, frog, chameleon
Hedgehog
Spines: whoever takes it falls as well.
Beats: mouse, frog
Beaver
Builds a dam that blocks a square for three turns.
Beats: nobody
Chameleon
Copies the ability of one of its own animals next to it.
Beats: nobody
Skunk
All opponents around it skip their next turn.
Beats: mouse, frog
New animals
More animals bring new tactics – but they are never stronger than the basic ones.
Small board, big plans
Quick to explain, yet every match plays out differently – because every team is different and you never quite know what you are facing. The first test matches show: after five or six games you get the hang of it – and you won’t want to stop.
Hidden animals
Your opponent’s animals are just question marks – until they act or are attacked. Do you strike, or is that his wolf?
Who beats whom?
Not every animal can take every other. Tap an animal and the board instantly shows its prey, its enemies and everything it can do right now.
Four action points
Each turn has four points, and an animal may act twice. But once it has moved it cannot attack any more – combos instead of charges.
Storm the den
Whoever enters the opponent’s den has to hold out there for a whole turn. Hunters defeat the intruder, everyone else throws it out.
Counter set-up
Whoever starts gets the first move. In return, the other player sets up only after seeing the opponent’s line-up.
Five to ten minutes
A match fits into any break. After 15 turns per player at the latest, the winner is decided.
Live or turn by turn
In a live duel you play at the same time with 60 seconds per turn; in a ghost duel everyone moves whenever they have time. Against friends via player code, against strangers at your level or against the computer.
No pay-to-win
5ive Paws is free. All you can buy is looks: themes at 99 cents each – with costumes for the animals, boards and animations. Tactics decide who wins.
Five animals, one goal: the den
The board has 5 × 7 squares. Each player places their animals face down in their back two rows. Each turn you have four action points: moving one square or using an ability costs one each. Points from duels and matches against the computer add up: they take you from level 1 to 99, and the computer always plays at your level.
Stormed the opponent’s den and held it for a turn.
Captured all of the opponent’s animals.
More animals on the board after 15 turns each.
Same number of animals after 15 turns – for both.
Pick a team
Choose five animals that work well together: hunters, defenders or tricksters.
Move and defeat
One square straight, each animal at most twice per turn. You can only attack your prey – and only from a standstill, not on the run.
Use abilities
Jump, swap, push, fly, build dams, stink: tap an animal and the board shows every target with its effect.
Defend your den
If an opponent stands in your den, your hunters defeat it and everyone else throws it out. Whoever throws it out moves in – and has to leave again next turn.