All docs
On this page
The world is the pixel world at the top of the home page. You can also open it on its own at /world/. Everything in it is also on the website, so you never have to play to get a file.
Starting
Wait for the world to load, then press Enter, or tap or click the world. That gives you control and starts the sound, unless you turned sound off last time. There's no timer: you can stand and look for as long as you like.
Keyboard and mouse
| Keys | Does |
|---|---|
| A D or ← → | Walk left and right |
| W, ↑ or Space | Jump. Hold it to jump higher, and press it again in the air to jump a second time |
| S or ↓, then jump | Drop down through a thin platform |
| J or left click | Swing the sword |
| K, Shift or right click | Dash |
| Q and R | Two special moves |
| E or Enter | Use the nearest thing. A small key sign shows above anything you can use |
| M, or the speaker at the top right | Sound on or off |
| Scroll down | Go to the website. The world pauses and its sound fades until you scroll back up |
Phone and tablet
On a touch screen, buttons appear over the world:
- bottom left: walk left and right, and a down button;
- bottom right: jump, attack, dash, and the two special moves (Q and R);
- a use button (E), which shows only when something usable is nearby.
Swipe up on the world to scroll down to the website.
Using things
Press E near a door, an artwork, a document, a desk or a donation box. Things that show content open a panel. The documentation, downloads and donation panels show the same pages as the website. Esc, the close button, or a click outside the panel takes you back to the world. While a panel is open, Tab stays inside it.
Some things stay changed once you cut them with the sword. A cut cord or rope stays cut in your save; there's no undo except starting over.
Saving
The world saves by itself, in this browser. It remembers:
- the shrines you've rested at, and the lamps they light;
- cords and ropes you've cut, levers you've pulled and doors you've opened;
- your sound choice.
Where you start when you come back:
- If you reload within 3 minutes, you carry on where you were.
- If you come back after 3 minutes or more, you start at the dock again. Everything you opened stays open.
Nothing about payments or donations is ever saved, and none of it changes the world.
Your save belongs to this browser on this device. Another browser or device starts fresh. In a private window, or when the browser blocks storage, the save lasts only for that visit.
Starting over
Open dex.place/world/?fresh. It forgets your save, but keeps your sound choice.
Reduced motion
If your device is set to reduce motion, the world skips or strongly damps its screen shakes.