About Downshaft

What is Downshaft about?

Drop down the shaft before the spikes get you. A 3D descent game on start.ng.

The shaft is rising into a ceiling of spikes. Drop from ledge to ledge, and don't fall into the dark.

A 3D descent game for start.ng, inspired by the classic NS-Shaft.

The ledges keep rising toward a ceiling of spikes, so keep dropping down without falling into the dark.

Downshaft at a glance

• Made by Prince

• On start.ng since October 2026

• Play it in your browser at downshaft.start.ng, with nothing to download

• Categories: Platformers, Survival and 3D games

• Leaderboard: yes, ranked by Deepest floor and Time survived

• Controls: · on touch, hold the left or right side

What Downshaft says

Some of what Downshaft tells you as you play:

• “The shaft is rising into a ceiling of spikes. Drop from ledge to ledge, and don't fall into the dark.”

• “Ceiling: −4 HP, knocks you down”

• “No runs yet. Be the first down the shaft!”

• “The ceiling spikes got you.”

• “Those spikes were sharper than they looked.”

• “The shaft wins this time.”

How scoring works

Players are ranked by Deepest floor (highest first). If two players tie, Time survived (highest first) decides it. Only your best run counts. Sign in with start.ng to save yours.

Play Downshaft

Downshaft is free to play in your browser on start.ng, with nothing to download. It was made by Prince.

It is a game for people who like platformers, survival and 3d games.