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How to play Tin Rations

Tin Rations is a free browser game about opening tins and exploring the foods inside them. Start in the wooden cottage, settle at the table, and try the hand and cutting controls at your own pace. No purchase, account, or newsletter signup is needed.

Open your first tin

  1. Choose Play free and wait for the cottage to load. First visits take longer because your browser downloads the environment and models.
  2. Enter the cottage and approach the table. On a phone, hold the arrow buttons to walk and drag the room to look. Tap Sit at table. On a computer, use WASD to walk and E to sit.
  3. Tap or click Open tin once. Opening finishes automatically. Then tap Flip food once to turn out the contents.
  4. Tap the food to aim. Hold Press to lower the hand, then release to lift. Raise the hand fully before moving to another spot.

Phone and tablet controls

Walking and pressing continue while your finger stays on the button. Open tin and Flip food each need only one tap. If the hand lifts when you release Press, that is the intended control.

At the table, swipe down to lower the hand and up to raise it. Releasing a swipe lifts the hand. Move the raised hand sideways with a swipe or use the direction buttons. Tap the food to choose an exact spot. Try pressing, lifting fully, and moving to a fresh area to compare the impressions.

Rotate your phone for a wider view. Fullscreen support varies by browser; the game can also expand its view by hiding the top menu. The camera’s Pan and Up/down controls help adjust your view of the table.

Computer controls

  • WASD: walk. E: sit or leave the table. P: pantry. Escape: close menus.
  • Q / R or left / right arrows: turn. Up / down arrows: look up or down.
  • Hold O to open and F to flip during the opening sequence, or use the single-click buttons.
  • At the food, G or scrolling lowers the hand or knife. T lifts. Click a spot to aim.
  • 1, 2, and 3 select natural, side, and overhead table views.

Explore the pantry

Open Pantry to browse foods. Start with a broad surface before trying a narrow edge. Different shapes respond differently, and some models are still being improved. The Journal tracks discoveries in this browser. Sources lists the artists and source material used by the game.

You can switch hands while the hand is raised. Finger taps adds a drumming action while pressing. Watch the surface from different camera angles to see where impressions remain. These interactions are for experimenting with shape and sound, without a required score or time limit.

Sound and performance

Sound & room controls overall volume, fireplace, rain and thunder, and touch sounds. Mute all is available. Headphones are optional; start at a comfortable volume.

If the game slows down or your phone gets warm, choose a lower graphics setting and close other demanding tabs. If the scene goes blank, reload the game. Reloading may reset the current tin. Discoveries are stored in your browser, so private browsing or clearing website data can remove them.

Need help?

Email sam@tinrations.com with your device, browser, selected food, and the last action before the problem. Do not send passwords or payment details. The game has not undergone a formal accessibility audit; reports of barriers are welcome.