ephemeral
Rate itA new sixty-second game every day, with one try and two controls.
on ephemeralgame.com
ephemeral is a different small action game each day. The controls never change (move left and move right) and neither does the length: survive sixty seconds, and the first mistake ends your run. You get one try, then see how far everyone else got.
About ephemeral
ephemeral makes a new game every day and retires it at midnight. Each one has its own mechanic, art and music, but two things stay fixed: you only use left and right, and a run lasts at most sixty seconds. One day you are a collie herding sheep through the gates in stone walls; on 18 October 2026 it was Disco Pinball, where left and right work the two flippers and the run ends when one ball drains.
The site went live on 25 September 2026 and numbers its days, so 18 October was game #24. Before playing you can try the controls on a small practice strip. Then you get one attempt at today's game: a title card and a one-line rule, a short countdown, and the first mistake ends it. Afterwards a chart shows how long every player lasted today, from zero to the sixty-second finish flag, and you can share your result.
Past games stay playable from the Past games list as often as you like, but those runs do not count. The source code is published on GitHub under the AGPL licence by f-leroux, and the music is made with Strudel. There is no sign-up and no advertising. It suits anyone who wants a minute of something new each day, on a phone or at a keyboard.
How to play ephemeral
- Open the site and try the controls if you like: left and right are all you need, as arrow keys or by holding the left or right side of a phone screen.
- Press Play today's game and read the title card and the one-line rule for today.
- Survive for sixty seconds; the first mistake ends your single try.
- See where your time sits among everyone's runs, share it if you want, and come back after midnight for a new game.
Screenshots
Tips
- Read today's rule carefully during the countdown: every day plays differently, and the same left and right can mean steering, flipping or herding.
- Use the Past games list to get used to the controls before your daily try.
- On a phone, hold rather than tap the sides of the screen when the rule says hold.
Questions
Can I play today's game more than once?
No. Each player gets one scored try at the day's game; past games can be replayed as often as you like without counting.
When does the game change?
At midnight in your own time zone, when today's game is retired and a new one takes its place.
Does ephemeral need an account or show ads?
No. It plays in the browser with no sign-up, and the page carries no ads.
Ratings and reviews
No ratings yet. Be the first to rate ephemeral.
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