How to Play Gem Grab

Game Overview

Gem Grab is a real-time multiplayer capture-the-flag game that runs entirely in your browser. Two or three elemental teams — Fire, Ice, and Storm — compete to steal each other's gems and return them to their home base.

Objective

Steal the enemy team's gem and carry it back to your base to score. Each successful capture earns your team 10 points. The team with the most points when the timer runs out wins.

Getting Started

1. Enter your name and choose a character on the home screen.
2. Create a game by selecting a map, team count, and game length, or join a game by entering a code shared by the host.
3. New players joining need approval from the game owner.
4. Only the game owner can start the match once at least two teams have players.
5. Players can also join mid-game with the owner's approval.

Leaving & Ending Games

Only the game owner (the player who created the game) can end the game and return everyone to the lobby. Other players can leave at any time using the exit button — they return to the main menu while the game continues for everyone else.

Controls

Desktop (Keyboard & Mouse)

Mobile (Touch Controls)

On touch devices, a virtual joystick appears on the right side of the screen for movement. Three action buttons on the left let you shoot, dash, and build barriers. The controls sit below the game area so they never block your view.

Elemental Teams

Each team has a unique look, projectile, and stun effect. All hits immobilise the target for 3 seconds and force them to drop any held gem. Choose your team wisely — or click a team card in the lobby to switch before the game starts.

Abilities & Items

Core Abilities

Power-ups

Power-ups spawn around the map periodically. Walk over one to pick it up.

• Speed Boost — Increases your movement speed by 1.8x for 5 seconds.
• Slow Trap — Reduces your speed by half for 5 seconds (avoid these).
• Shield — Blocks the next incoming projectile hit for 5 seconds.

Portals

Coloured portal pairs are placed across each map. Step into one to instantly teleport to its partner. There is a short cooldown before you can use the same portal again.

Terrain Zones

Maps can include special terrain zones that affect gameplay. The game host can enable or disable terrain when creating a game.

Team-Exclusive Zones

Each team has zones only they can pass through. Enemy players are blocked like a wall, and enemy projectiles ricochet off the zone and continue in a new direction.

Slow Zones

These zones affect all players equally, reducing movement speed to 50%.

• Water — Blue pools that slow anyone passing through.
• Sand — Sandy patches that drag down movement speed.

Use slow zones strategically: avoid carrying a gem through them, or lure enemies into them for an easy hit.

Maps

Tips & Strategy

1. Communicate with your team. Coordinate who attacks and who defends your gem.
2. Use portals. They can cut travel time in half when escaping with a gem.
3. Place barriers wisely. Block choke points or protect your gem's path home. You only get 40 per game.
4. Dash to escape, not just to attack. Saving your dash for a getaway when carrying a gem is often smarter than using it aggressively.
5. Exploit your team zones. Lure enemies near your exclusive terrain — they cannot follow you through it.
6. Avoid slow zones when carrying. Being slowed with a gem makes you an easy target.
7. Shoot gem carriers. A hit forces them to drop the gem, and there is a cooldown before anyone can pick it back up.
8. Watch the timer. If your team is ahead, play defensively in the final minute.

Frequently Asked Questions