v4 · updated 2026-06-09

Scale the crumbling ruins of an ancient vertical shaft in Tether Bound, a tense, physics-driven climbing game about cooperation and kinetic momentum. Controlling a dual-drone salvage unit linked by an elastic carbon-tether, you must climb a volatile, hazard-filled trench. With one drone securely anchored, you must aim, swing, and slingshot your partner through the air towards distant grip points, alternating anchors to scale the heights. But stay focused: the volcanic floor is unstable, and any misstep could snap your line and plunge you into the rising magma below.

🕹️ Controls

• D-Pad (Left/Right/Up/Down): Aim the launch vector/arc of your active free-swinging drone.
• O (Z key): Toggle Anchor Lock (anchors the flying drone and releases the previously anchored one).
• X (X key): Shorten/Retract tether cable (pulls the free drone closer to the anchor point to gather tension).

🔥 Volcanic Hazard Alert

• Tether Strain: The carbon-tether hard-stops at its limit — keep pulling against it and strain builds (flashing TNS bar + warning). Ease off or retract (X) before it snaps!
• Crumbling Grips: Green mossy ledges are stable, but orange volcanic grips crumble under your weight after 2 seconds. Anchor quickly!
• Rising Magma: The volcanic tide rises steadily from the bottom of the screen. Keep moving upwards to maintain your buffer.
• Falling Debris: Volcanic ash and falling stones knock your free drone out of its launch arc. Use the retract cable (X) to pull it out of danger.

📜 Changelog

v4 — 2026-06-09

• update file naming
• fix: eliminate false grip locks, insta-snap deaths, and unreachable rows in tether bound

v3 — 2026-05-22

• (no matching source commits – re-export, label refresh, or uncommitted tweaks)

v2 — 2026-05-22

• add label

v1 — 2026-05-22

• feat: initialize PICO-8 project “Tether Bound” with base files and initial assets
• slightly easier