Onebra

The flags at Old Mill were snapping to the right, Henrik had just put his arrow in the red, and the duel was level. You aimed off a little to the left, waited for the sight to settle at full draw, and let go. The arrow drifted with the breeze and landed in the gold. That is Windline Archery: a calm 3D target game built on reading the wind.

Q: How do I shoot?
A: Press and hold anywhere to draw; the ring around the sight fills in about a second. Keep holding, drag to aim, then release. Aim is steadiest just after full draw; hold too long and the sight starts to wobble.

Q: What does the wind do?
A: Flags along the range and a gauge on the screen show its strength and direction. A wind blowing to the right carries the arrow right, so you hold off to the left. The stronger the taste and the longer the distance, the more you need to allow.

Q: Do I have to allow for arrow drop as well?
A: With sight pins switched on, the red pin already compensates for the drop, which leaves the wind to you. The option is located in Settings.

Q: How is a shot scored?
A: Gold scores 10 and 9, red 8 and 7, blue 6 and 5, black 4 and 3, and white 2 and 1. The tiny inner ring is the X.

Q: What is the Royal Tour?
A: Eight head-to-head rounds across the valley, from Meadow Butts at 18 meters to the Royal Lodge at 70 meters, where Sir Aldous Wren is waiting. You and your rival shoot six arrows each and the higher total wins; a tie goes to a shoot-off. Average 9 or more per arrow to earn three stars.

Q: Is there more than the tour?
A: The Fairground has a target that slides from side to side at 30 meters. You get ten arrows, you lead each shot, and 70 or more wins a trophy. The Practice Range lets you choose any distance from 18 to 90 meters, with unlimited arrows and no score kept.

Q: What can I collect?
A: Tour duels and the Fairground pay out in marks, which you spend at the Bowyer's Lodge on five bows, from the Ash Longbow to the Gilded Royal, and five fletching colors such as Kingfisher and Raven. The Trophy Tower holds twelve trophies, including Robin Hood for three 10s in a row and Ice Veins for winning a shoot-off.

Q: Do I need a connection or an account?
A: Neither. The whole valley works without signal or login, carries no advertising and has no shop that takes real money. Marks are earned only by shooting, and the screens adapt to phones and tablets.

Q: Where does it all take place?
A: On an illustrated valley map. The Royal Tour, the Fairground, the Practice Range, the Bowyer's Lodge and the Trophy Tower are landmarks you tap to visit, with clouds, birds and a windmill turning behind them.

Q: Why does each duel feel different?
A: Because the wind changes after every pair of arrows. In a tour duel you read a fresh breeze for each shot, and from Pine Ridge onwards the gusts grow strong enough that the Gale Reader trophy, for a 9 or better in wind of 5 m/s or more, becomes a real test of nerve.