The Heavy Key
A pixel-art puzzle platformer where you cannot jump while carrying the key, so you aim and throw it across the gaps instead.
Official site bytestorm104.itch.io, verified Nov 3, 2026. The developer's own itch.io page (ByteStorm104), linked from its official AI Browser Game Jam 5 submission page.
Where to play
Every platform this game is on. Links are checked against official sources; we never host or mirror games.
- Play free — itch.ioitch.ioReleasedFree
Plays in the browser on itch.io. No download.
Browser (no download) · Official link verified Nov 3, 2026.
About The Heavy Key
A 2D pixel-art puzzle platformer set in a dungeon. Every key has weight: you can pick it up, drop it, aim and throw it across dangerous gaps, but you cannot jump while carrying it. Throw the key to reach pressure plates and matching locks, avoid lasers and spikes, and get it to the exit; checkpoints let you restart a section. The v1.2 “The Nest” update of 31 Oct 2026 added five levels, for 20 levels in four chapters, along with flying monsters that patrol fixed paths and can be stunned by a thrown key, and chests that the key opens on touch. The developer, Arsalan Alam (ByteStorm104), says Claude AI (free version) was used only for code generation and game design, not for the assets or sound effects; the art and audio come from free third-party packs. Free in the browser on itch.io, with keyboard controls; it was entered in AI Browser Game Jam 5.
How it was built
Partially verifiedThe AI Browser Game Jam 5 submission says the developer used Claude AI (free version) to make the game, only for code generation and game design, not for the assets or sound effects. The itch.io AI disclosure ticks Code and Text; the page credits game design and development to the developer and the art and music to free asset packs.
Made for AI Browser Game Jam 5 (theme: Torch). Per the entrant, Claude (free version) generated the code and helped with the game design; the assets and sound effects were not made with AI. The page credits the art to the Dungeon Free Asset Pack and the music and sound to Free Retro Platformer Music, used under their respective licences, and credits design and development to the developer. The browser build is plain JavaScript split into level, rendering, audio and core scripts. The developer added five levels in a v1.2 update two days after release.
- Engine / framework
- None (vanilla JavaScript)
- Languages
- JavaScript
- Team size
- Not disclosed
- Initial build time
- Not disclosed
- Development time
- Not disclosed
- Development cost
- Not disclosed
- AI-written code
- Not disclosed
“I used Claude AI (free version) for making this game , only code generation and game design , not assets and sound effects.”Verification notes: AI use from the AI Tools Used answer on the official AI Browser Game Jam 5 submission page, re-read on 5 Nov 2026. The answer says Claude was used for “code generation and game design”; it does not say how much of the code, so no AI code share is recorded. The itch.io page has no AI text beyond its AI disclosure (AI Assisted, Code, Text). The developer's name, the third-party asset credits, the controls and the v1.2 changelog come from the itch.io page; the asset packs' licences were not checked. Publication (29 Oct 2026, 03:22 UTC) and last update (31 Oct 2026, 07:50 UTC) from the itch.io page, whose title currently reads “The Heavy Key (Update New Levels)”. In comments the developer says more levels will be added every week. The browser build makes no calls to AI services. Team size is not stated. Jam voting was still open on 5 Nov 2026 (5 ratings so far), so no placement is recorded; itch.io shows no public rating. The game was not played.
Development history
Published on itch.io (03:22 UTC) and submitted to AI Browser Game Jam 5 (theme: Torch).
v1.2 “The Nest” update adds levels 16–20 (20 levels in four chapters), flying monsters and chests.
Developeritch.ioAI Browser Game Jam 5 submissions close; voting was still in progress on 5 Nov 2026.
Officialitch.io (Focaccai)
Game performance
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itch.io
Free in the browser (HTML5); keyboard controls.
Not publicly available: itch.io rating, Gross revenue.
Reviews & rankings
Not yet reviewed by our editors.
Not currently ranked.
Sources
| Source | Type | Published | Accessed |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Heavy Key (Update New Levels) by ByteStorm104 itch.io | Store page | Oct 29, 2026 | Nov 3, 2026 |
| Rate The Heavy Key (Update New Levels) for AI Browser Game Jam 5 itch.io (AI Browser Game Jam 5, hosted by Focaccai) | Official site | Not confirmed | Nov 3, 2026 |
| AI Browser Game Jam 5 itch.io (Focaccai) | Official site | Not confirmed | Nov 3, 2026 |
| Official game page (language check) ByteStorm104 | Official site | Not confirmed | Nov 3, 2026 |
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