How to play Drink the Ocean comes down to one loop: sip the sea through a straw, squeeze the water into salt, and spend the salt on upgrades. You can play Drink the Ocean free in your browser right now, and this page covers the steps, the controls and the parts that confuse new players. Everything here is about the Pinidi Studio browser build that runs on this site.
How to Play Drink the Ocean in 4 Steps
You stand in a blocky first-person world holding a straw, with a whole sea to empty. The game repeats four actions.
- Drink. Walk to the water's edge and drink through the straw. Each gulp fills your belly and lowers the sea a little.
- Press. When your belly is full, walk under the PRESS. It squeezes the water out of you and turns it into salt.
- Shop. Salt is the currency. Step onto the blue SHOP pad and spend it on upgrades.
- Repeat. Better gear means each trip drains more sea, so you keep going until the water is gone. That is the whole idea of how to play Drink the Ocean, and the rest is learning the details below.
As the level falls, the sea uncovers a shipwreck, then a whale skeleton, then a sunken city. The Drink the Ocean ending guide covers what waits at the bottom.
Drink the Ocean Controls on PC
On a computer you use the keyboard and mouse. The game is played in landscape.
| Input | What it does |
|---|---|
| W, A, S, D | Move |
| Mouse | Look around |
| Left click | Drink through the straw |
| Space | Jump |
| 1, 2, 3 | Switch tools |
| T | Go home |
| E | Open the Sky Duck's gifts |
| P | Settings |
| Tab | Free the mouse |
If the mouse cursor is stuck inside the game and you want to click something on the page, press Tab to release it.
Playing on a Phone or Tablet
The game is listed for Android and iOS as well as PC. On a touch screen you hold the DRINK button to drink, and the game expects landscape, so turn the device sideways. Mana's original game is different here: it is designed for desktop only. For more on the two versions, see where to play Drink the Ocean.
Drinking With a Straw: What Fills Your Belly
Every sip goes into your belly, and your belly only holds so much. Once it is full, drinking more does nothing useful until you have pressed it out. A bigger belly lets you hold more water between trips, while extra straws add drinking capacity. The full list is in the Drink the Ocean upgrades guide.
Salt, the PRESS and the SHOP
Salt only comes from the PRESS, so pressing is how you earn. Spend it at the SHOP pad whenever you have enough. Exact prices and the number of upgrade levels are not published yet, so the game itself is the best place to see what each purchase costs. Once you want to go faster, the Drink the Ocean tips page has ideas.
The Sky Duck and Achievements
A mysterious Sky Duck hands out boons, which are gifts that help your run. Press E to open them. What each boon does is not published yet. Achievements track your progress along the way, so you can see how far you have come.
When the ocean is empty down to the plug, you can pull it and start a new, stronger ocean. Looking for something similar to try next? Browse games like Drink the Ocean, or see every page in our Drink the Ocean guides.
How to Play Drink the Ocean FAQ
Is Drink the Ocean free?
Yes. The browser build on this site is free to play, with no download. Playgama lists it as free on PC, Android and iOS.
Does Drink the Ocean work on phones?
Yes, this build is listed for Android and iOS. Hold the DRINK button to drink and play in landscape. Mana's original is desktop only.
How do you get salt?
Drink until your belly is full, then stand under the PRESS. It turns the water into salt, which you spend at the blue SHOP pad.
Does progress save?
Progress is stored by the game in your browser, so keep playing in the same browser. Clearing your browser data can lose it.
Is Drink the Ocean multiplayer?
This build is single player. Mana's original is a different game and supports co-op for one to four players.