Clockwork Alchemist: Free Online Elemental Puzzle Game
Clockwork Alchemist is a free browser puzzle game set in an abstract Victorian clockwork laboratory. You guide a small brass alchemist across a grid, pushing glowing elemental cubes of Fire, Water, Earth and Air into the central crucible. Conveyor belts keep the machinery turning, and one careless push can make Fire and Water cancel each other out.
There is nothing to download and no account to create. The game runs in any modern browser on desktop, tablet and phone, and you can play it in fullscreen with the sound on or muted.
How to Play Clockwork Alchemist
Your goal on every level is simple: get every cube into the crucible, the glowing teal bowl in the middle of the lab. Walk into a cube to push it one tile. When the last cube is absorbed, the level is complete and your move count is saved as your personal best.
- Move the alchemist one tile at a time with the keyboard or by swiping.
- Push cubes by walking into them. A cube will not move if a wall or another cube is behind it.
- Use the conveyor belts. Every time you make a move, each cube standing on a belt slides one tile in the direction of its arrows.
- Keep Fire and Water apart. If a Fire cube and a Water cube end up on neighbouring tiles, both are neutralised and the level fails. Undo the move to try again.
- Use insulation plates. A cube resting on a striped teal insulation plate is protected, so it can sit next to its opposite element safely.
- Finish in as few moves as you can. The move counter shows your best result for each lab.
Game Controls
| Action | Keyboard | Touch / mouse |
|---|---|---|
| Move and push | ↑↓←→ or WASD | Swipe on the game board |
| Undo last move | Z | Undo button |
| Restart level | R | Restart button |
| Mute / unmute sound | M | Sound button |
| Fullscreen on / off | F | Fullscreen button |
| Change level | – | Prev and Next buttons |
The Four Elements
Fire is a glowing red orb. Water is a blue droplet. Earth is a green hexagon, and Air is a pale swirl. Earth and Air are harmless to every other element. Only the Fire and Water pair reacts, so most puzzles are about routing those two safely.
Tips and Strategy for Beginners
Look at the whole board before your first push and decide which cube has the hardest route. Remember that belts move cubes after every step you take, even when you are only walking around. Keep the undo key handy: it costs nothing and lets you test an idea. If Fire and Water are close together, either move one of them into the crucible first or slide the Fire cube onto an insulation plate before passing the Water cube.
Clockwork Alchemist FAQ
Quick answers about controls, rules and playing on mobile.
Is Clockwork Alchemist free to play?
Yes. The game is completely free and runs in your browser with no download, sign-up or in-game purchases.
What are the controls?
Use the arrow keys or WASD to move and push cubes. Press Z to undo, R to restart, M to mute and F for fullscreen. On touch screens, swipe on the board to move.
What happens when Fire touches Water?
Both cubes are neutralised and the level fails. Press Undo or Restart to try again. A cube on an insulation plate is protected from this reaction.
How do the conveyor belts work?
After each move you make, every cube on a belt slides one tile in the direction the arrows point, as long as the next tile is free.
Can I play on my phone or tablet?
Yes. Swipe on the board to move, and use the on-screen buttons for undo, restart, sound and fullscreen. Playing in landscape gives you the biggest board.
Does the game save my progress?
Your best move count for each level and your sound setting are stored in your browser. Clearing site data will reset them.
