How to Play Popcorn Popper

Your Goal

Each level gives you an empty bucket on a hot burner. Your job is to fill it with freshly popped popcorn, right up to the green band on the meter, without letting it overflow.

Finish a level to unlock the next one. Levels start gentle and get trickier as you go.

Controls

• Press and hold anywhere on the screen to heat the kernels. On a computer you can also hold the mouse button or the Space bar.
• Let go to turn off the heat.
• Each level is a single hold, so time it carefully.
• Tap the speaker button in the top corner to turn all music and sound on or off. It works on the results screen too, and the game remembers your choice next time.
• Tap the gear on the title screen or during play to open Settings (this pauses the game). Turn Music, Sound Effects, the Tutorial Hand and Vibration (Android) on or off, or send feedback to the XOANA STUDIOS team.
• On the first levels, a friendly tutorial hand shows you when to press and hold, and points at the green band when it is time to let go.

How Popping Works

Heat builds up while you hold. At first nothing happens, then a few kernels start to pop, and soon the popping speeds up into a full frenzy.

• Popping momentum: kernels keep popping for about 0.3 seconds after you let go, so release a little before the bucket reaches the green band.
• Watch the meter: the meter on the side shows how full the bucket is, with a live percentage.
• Danger zone: near the top, the meter flashes red and pieces may start bouncing out of the bucket.

Stars, Results and Coins

• Too little: under 75% is a soft fail. You earn a couple of coins, but you will need to try again to move on.
• Overflow: going past 100% fails the round. Let go just over the line and it is an OVERFLOW! Spilling 3 pieces ends the round as SPILLED! Just tap Retry.
• Burnt popcorn: if you keep holding past the red line, the bucket keeps filling and the top of the pile turns brown, then black and smoky, then catches fire. The ceiling sprinklers switch on and put it out on the BURNT! result.
• Points: every level you pass adds to your total score. The fuller the bucket the better, plus a big bonus for a Perfect fill and extra points on harder levels.
• Coins: every passing fill earns coins, and Perfect fills earn the most, with a bonus that grows as you reach higher levels.
• The green band is extra generous in the first few levels and narrows a little at higher levels.

Store, Leaderboard and Accounts

• Earn coins with every successful fill and spend them in the Popcorn Popper Store.
• The Leaderboard shows the top 50 players by total score.
• Play as a Guest and your progress saves on this device. Sign in or sign up with a free XOANA STUDIOS account to keep your progress on all your devices and post your score to the leaderboard.

Special Levels

As you progress, new twists keep things fresh. The level banner tells you when one is active.

• Sticky Caramel (Level 16+)Caramel clumps are different sizes, so each piece fills a different amount. Watch the meter, not the count.
• Cinema Cup (Level 16+)A tall, tapered movie-theater cup that fills differently from the classic bucket.
• Butter Kernels (Level 31+)Buttery kernels heat and pop twice as fast. Shorter holds win here!
• Mix-Ups (Level 31+)Butter kernels, sticky caramel and the cinema cup team up in new ways, and the green zone gets a little tighter as you climb.

Quick Tips

1. Let go early. The last pops after release usually add a few percent.
2. Listen to the sizzle. The popping sound speeds up as the frenzy builds.
3. Count the beats. Each level has its own ideal hold time, so a Retry is a great way to learn its rhythm.
4. Mind the rim. Near the top, pieces can bounce out. Three spills ends the round.
5. Replay for Perfects. Aim for the bright green band every time for the biggest coin rewards.