Ink Game beginner guide
Your first hours in Ink Game are about learning tells, not min-maxing. This page covers the controls, the order things happen in a run, and where your early Won should go.
Controls worth binding to muscle memory
| Action | PC | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Shift Lock | Left Ctrl / Left Alt | Toggle camera lock — near mandatory in Red Light Green Light |
| Dash | Q | Only works once unlocked via upgrades |
| Move / jump | WASD / Space | Same on all platforms; console and mobile use native layouts |
How a run flows
- Lobby → queue. Standard, Beginner, Hardcore, Voicechat and Private Server queues exist; start in Beginner servers until you know the tells.
- Red Light Green Light. Everyone crosses in three minutes; movement on red — even via emotes or mobility Powers — gets you shot.
- Vote. Survivors vote the next game. Pentathlon can replace Dalgona; later votes steer you toward an ending route.
- Mid games. Dalgona, Glass Stepping Stones, Tug of War, Mingle and friends (see all games).
- Dinner stretch. Lights Out and Last Dinner thin the herd before the finale.
- Finale. Squid Game (1v1 fists) — or one of the two alternative endings (endings guide).
Where to spend your first Won
Upgrades come in three lines — Strength, Speed and Won — bought with Won or Robux:
| Upgrade | What it does | Buy priority |
|---|---|---|
| Won (income) | Raises the Won you earn per round | First. Compounds every future run |
| Speed | Movement and action speed | Second — saves you in timed games |
| Strength | Push/knockback power and related checks | Third — matters in Tug of War and the fistfight |
Powers: grab one, understand it, then worry about tiers
You equip a single Power per run, rolled across rarities from Common to Mythic. A well-understood Common beats a Mythic you misuse — but once you know your playstyle, check the powers tier list for what to chase.
Five things that end runs early
- Moving on red because you trusted a mobility Power — it does not exempt you.
- Chipping Dalgona a fourth time (twice in Hardcore) — the cookie cracks and you are out.
- Entering a Mingle room with the wrong headcount. Exactly that number, no exceptions.
- Hesitating on Glass Stepping Stones — two minutes, then the bridge shatters.
- Forgetting the triangle in Jump Rope needs to stay centered while you counter-steep with A/D.
FAQ
Do I need Robux to progress? No. Every upgrade is buyable with Won earned in-game.
Which queue should a new player pick? Beginner servers — same games, friendlier field.
Can I play on mobile? Yes — Ink Game runs on PC, console and mobile.