Fortz

Fortz is a fast local two-player action game from Colin Lane Games AB where two players control small forts on opposite sides of the same arena. Each player moves around their side, operates a turret, places defensive blocks, manages limited ammunition, and tries to reduce the opposing fort before their own position is lost.

What makes Fortz interesting is how quickly the balance changes. Focusing only on attacking usually leaves your own structure exposed, while spending too long rebuilding gives the other player time to take control of the round. I found the game easier once I started treating defense and offense as one combined system rather than two separate jobs.

Game Detail	Information
Game	Fortz
Developer	Colin Lane Games AB
Genre	Two-Player, Arcade Action
Gameplay	Local fort battles, building, aiming, level editing
Controls	Keyboard
Supported Devices	Desktop
Poki Release	March 2019
Latest Verified Update	September 2022
Current Rating	4.4
Current Votes	250K+
Players	2 local players
Level Editor	Yes
Online Matchmaking	No

The current browser listing identifies Colin Lane Games AB as the developer and confirms that Fortz is built around two-player battles on one computer.

How Fortz Works

The arena is divided into two sides.

One player controls the fort on the left.

The other controls the fort on the right.

Both players try to protect their own structure while putting pressure on the other side.

The game combines three main ideas:

• Positioning
• Fort protection
• Managing limited shots

This creates a much more active match than simply standing still and repeatedly pressing one button.

Fortz Controls

Fortz gives each player a separate set of keyboard controls.

Player 1

• W, A, D: Movement
• W and S: Adjust the turret
• D: Use the turret while controlling it
• S: Place a defensive block while on the ground

Player 2

• Up, Left, Right Arrow: Movement
• Up and Down Arrow: Adjust the turret
• Left Arrow: Use the turret while controlling it
• Down Arrow: Place a defensive block while on the ground

These controls are listed by the current Poki version.

Because some keys have different functions depending on whether your character is on the ground or operating the turret, the controls can feel unusual during the first few rounds.

It Is Built For Two Players On One Computer

Fortz is primarily a local two-player game.

Both players share the same computer and keyboard.

There is no need to create a room, invite someone through an account, or wait for matchmaking.

The current game description specifically presents Fortz as a game to play with a second person on the same computer.

That makes it different from browser games where “multiplayer” automatically means online play.

Learn Your Side Of The Keyboard First

The first few matches can feel confusing because the two players use completely different control layouts.

I would spend the opening round simply learning:

• Which keys move your character
• Which keys adjust the turret
• Which key places a block
• Which key activates your current action

Once both players stop looking down at the keyboard, the match becomes much easier to follow.

Defense Matters As Much As Attacking

Fortz lets players place blocks around their side of the arena.

These blocks help rebuild or strengthen parts of the fort during a round.

The current game description specifically mentions placing blocks to protect your fort.

This means you are not limited to watching your structure gradually disappear.

You can react.

Sometimes the best move is not another attack.

It is repairing an area that has become vulnerable inside the game.

Do Not Ignore Your Own Fort

It is easy to watch only the opposite side.

That usually causes problems.

While you are concentrating on reducing the other fort, your own side may be losing protection.

I found it useful to keep checking both halves of the screen.

Fortz shows the entire arena at once, so the information is already visible.

You just need to remember to look at it.

Limited Ammunition Changes The Rhythm

The turret cannot continue indefinitely without being replenished.

Poki specifically advises players not to forget about reloading because an empty turret cannot continue firing.

This gives each round a rhythm.

There are moments when you can put pressure on the other side.

There are also moments when you need to stop, recover, reposition, or protect your own fort.

That prevents the game from becoming one continuous stream of button presses.

Use Quiet Moments To Reset

When the other player is rebuilding or repositioning, that can be a useful moment to prepare your own side.

I found that waiting until everything became chaotic made basic tasks harder.

A brief quiet period is better used for:

• Checking your fort
• Restoring protection
• Repositioning
• Preparing for the next exchange

This keeps you from reacting too late.

Blocks Can Change The Arena

The block-placement mechanic is important because it changes the shape of your side during a match.

A round does not remain visually identical from beginning to end.

Structures gradually change as sections disappear and new blocks are placed.

That makes positioning matter.

A route that was open earlier may look different later.

Do Not Place Blocks Randomly

Having a building button does not mean every empty space needs to be filled.

Random placement can make your own side harder to understand.

I found it more useful to place blocks when they had a clear purpose inside the game.

For example, restoring a damaged section makes more sense than placing pieces simply because the button is available.

The cleaner your side remains, the easier it is to understand what still needs attention.

Fortz Uses Short Rounds

Fortz works well as a local multiplayer game because the idea is easy to understand quickly.

There is no long character progression system before the match starts.

Two players choose the arena and begin.

That makes losing one round less frustrating.

You can immediately start another and try a different approach.

Premade Levels Add Variety

The browser version includes multiple premade level layouts.

Poki specifically highlights the level-selection feature as a way to try different block arrangements.

Different layouts change:

• Starting protection
• Available movement space
• Fort height
• Positioning options

That helps stop every match from feeling identical.

Fortz Has A Level Editor

One of Fortz’s strongest features is its full level editor.

The current browser description explicitly confirms that players can create custom stages in addition to using premade levels.

This gives the game more replay value than a single fixed arena.

Instead of only learning existing layouts, you can create unusual fort arrangements and then test how those layouts change the match.

Custom Levels Change The Strategy

A custom arena can completely change how a round feels.

One design may leave both forts exposed.

Another may create taller structures or unusual gaps.

That means the best approach on one level may not work as well on another.

I would play a few of the premade stages first before spending much time in the editor.

Understanding normal matches makes it easier to recognize what a custom layout is actually changing.

Keep Both Players Visible

Fortz presents the whole arena on one screen rather than using separate views.

That is useful because you can always see what the other player is doing.

The downside is that it is easy to become distracted by their movement.

I found it better to use the other player’s actions as information while still keeping most of my attention on my own position.

Local Multiplayer Changes The Experience

Playing against another person sitting beside you feels different from playing against computer-controlled opponents.

Human players change their behavior.

If something works repeatedly, the other person can adapt.

That makes rematches more interesting.

A simple tactic that succeeds in the first round may become much less useful once the other player understands it.

Is Fortz Online Multiplayer?

Fortz is multiplayer in the sense that two people play against each other, but the current browser version is designed around local multiplayer.

Both players use the same computer and keyboard.

It should therefore not be described as a normal online matchmaking game.

This distinction is useful for anyone expecting to join a remote friend over the internet.

Desktop Is The Supported Device

The current Poki listing gives:

Supported device: Desktop

That makes sense because Fortz depends on two separate keyboard layouts.

Phone and tablet support are not listed by the primary current platform.

For a Mopoga page, I would therefore keep the supported-device field as:

Desktop

rather than promising mobile compatibility.

Who Created Fortz?

Fortz was created by Colin Lane Games AB.

The current Poki listing attributes the game directly to the studio.

Poki also describes Colin Lane Games as being based in Stockholm, Sweden and connects the developer with several other popular browser games.

Other Games From Colin Lane Games AB

The current Fortz listing connects Colin Lane Games AB with titles including:

• Temple of Boom
• Big Shot Boxing
• Rowdy Wrestling
• Wrassling
• Rowdy City Wrestling
• Dunkers
• Knight Brawl
• Touchdowners
• Battle Golf
• Golf Zero
• Pylon

These games use different sports, fighting, or arcade themes, but many share simple controls and short rounds.

Fortz And Temple Of Boom

Fortz and Temple of Boom come from the same developer, but they use very different structures.

Fortz focuses on two opposing forts, local competition, building blocks, and turret control.

Temple of Boom puts more emphasis on character movement through compact action arenas.

Both are designed around quick local multiplayer sessions, but Fortz has the stronger construction and fort-management element.

Fortz And Wrassling

Wrassling is another Colin Lane game built for short, chaotic local competition.

The main difference is the type of challenge.

Wrassling is based around physics-driven character movement.

Fortz adds structures, fort management, and a level editor.

If you prefer changing the arena as you play, Fortz offers more control over the environment.

Release And Update History

The current Poki record gives:

Poki release: March 2019
Latest listed update: September 2022

These are the strongest current browser-platform dates I could verify.

Some other sites give broader estimates or later publication dates, but those usually represent when their own hosted copy appeared.

For the Mopoga details table, March 2019 is the safer current browser release date.

Current Fortz Rating

The current Poki listing gives Fortz approximately:

4.4 from more than 250,000 votes.

The exact vote total changes as more players rate it.

That figure should therefore be treated as a current platform snapshot rather than a permanent statistic.

Common Fortz Mistakes

One mistake is concentrating entirely on the opposite fort.

Another is forgetting to rebuild your own side.

Players can also become too focused on one control and forget that movement, defense, and turret management all matter.

Another common problem is waiting until a fort is already in poor condition before thinking about protection.

Finally, new players often mix up the keyboard controls because the same key can serve different functions depending on the situation.

A Better Way To Learn Fortz

Start with a premade level.

Spend the first round learning your controls.

During the next match, pay more attention to keeping your own fort stable.

Once movement and protection feel natural, start experimenting with timing and positioning.

After you understand normal stages, try the level editor.

That creates a simple learning path:

controls → positioning → defense → match awareness → custom levels

It is much easier than trying to understand every system during your first round.

Related Categories

Fortz fits naturally into:

• Two-Player Games
• Local Multiplayer Games
• Arcade Games
• Action Games
• Building Games
• Robot Games
• Desktop Games

Poki currently places it within its two-player and action-related categories.

What Makes Fortz Different?

Fortz mixes local two-player competition with a small construction system.

You are not just controlling one character.

You are also responsible for the condition of your side of the arena.

Your opponent is doing the same thing at the same time.

Then the level editor adds another layer by letting players change the battlefield itself.

That combination gives Fortz more variety than its small control scheme suggests.

It is easy to understand in a few minutes, but two players can keep changing how each round plays by adjusting their timing, protection, positioning, and chosen level.