Plankton Ascent
Plankton Ascent is a cell evolution game that plays in the browser on phones, tablets and computers, for one player.
Steer a small plankton cell through tide pools and swim through the nutrients that defeated shapes leave behind. Each full growth bar lets you choose where to grow: stingers in front, spitters on the sides, or flagella and ink sacs at the tail. A hit costs your newest part; clear four pools to face the Great Diatom.
How to play
- Swim with WASD or the arrows. The cell turns to the nearest shape; front parts fire that wayOn a touch screen: Drag anywhere to swim. The cell turns to the nearest shape; front parts fire that way
- Swim through the golden nutrients to fill the growth bar
- Choose where to grow: front, sides or tail. Your shape is your build
The game shows these steps as you play, the first time.
Controls
- Steer with WASD / arrows or drag anywhere
- Grow: Front, Sides or Tail (1 2 3)
- Map: tap a glowing pool
- Esc pauses
Tips
- Every part makes the next one dearer: the growth bar needs 10 nutrients plus 6 for each part you have, so early growth comes fast and late growth slowly.
- Tail parts alternate: the first is a flagellum for speed, the second an ink sac that leaves a slowing cloud behind you, the third a flagellum again.
- A hit removes whichever part you grew last, down to the single stinger you start with, so the order you grow in decides what you can afford to lose.
Which pool should you clear first?
The map shows each pool's shapes before you choose. Swarm pools hold drifters and darters, Gunners pools add square shooters, and Splitters pools hold hexagons that break in two when defeated. Each pool is harder than the last, so the mixes you find easiest are worth taking early.
How do you reach the Great Diatom?
Clear four of the six tide pools. After each one you may only move to a pool beside it, and once four are done the deep centre pool opens on the map. The Diatom waits there alone, and defeating it counts as a fifth pool cleared.
About this game
Made by Sucia in Houston, Texas. Built with AI assistance, designed and tested by Sucia. Last updated October 5, 2026. It plays in the browser on phones, tablets and computers, with no download and no sign-in; your best scores and progress stay in this browser on this device. Without a pass, every game is free for 5 minutes a game and 30 minutes a day; an Arcade pass removes the limit. How Sucia makes and tests its games.
Also by Sucia
Sucia Studio, a video editor for streamers, runs on Windows and Linux: record, cut long VODs by transcript and make Shorts. YouEdit, a video editing service for stream recordings, turns a recording into a YouTube video, Shorts, titles and the upload text, quoted in credits before it is made. Streaming on Twitch, Kick or YouTube? Sucia Live makes highlight videos and Shorts from your VOD.
Rate Plankton Ascent
Not enough ratings yet.
Play a round, then rate it here. One rating per device; nothing about you is kept.
More wave survival games
