Turbo Pudding
Kettlecrest dev diary: how the river surge works
No engines here: in Kettlecrest the river does the work. How a surge is timed, shaped and ridden, and why it never picks on the leader.
Kettlecrest
Ride the surge down the Long River.
Play freeOpens kettlecrest.com · plays in your browser, no download
The story
A racing game where the star is the river itself: a rolling surge wave lifts everyone it reaches, and the trick is when to ride it and when to drop in.
Every summer the Big Melt sends great rolling surges down the Long River, and the river folk ride them all the way to the sea in whatever floats. Ottilie the otter has a copper kettle and a wooden spoon for a paddle. She thinks that’s plenty.
This year there is a problem. Dame Dambury, a beaver who runs a very quiet lake resort, has built five dams across the river: no surges, no splashes, no fun. Ring the bell on each dam and the water rolls on again.
The route runs from Glacier Gate past Pinewood Rapids, Chalkstep Terraces, Millrace Town and Tangle Delta to the Sea Bell. In early access you can race the first run, Meltwater Mile.
- Length2–3 minute races
- Free to playEarly access, free
- Plays onComputer, tablet, phone
- AgeAll ages
- LanguageEnglish
What you’ll do
The surge is the star
A wave rolls down the river and lifts everyone it reaches. Hold the sweet spot on its crest, then drop in off the front for a burst of speed.
Picnic baskets
Grab what’s sticking out of the lid: a Tow Line, a Splash Pump, a Ripple Rattle that calls the river. Every trick has an answer.
Pick a hero, pick a boat
An otter in a kettle, a capybara in half a pumpkin, a hippo blacksmith in a cast-iron bathtub. Each boat turns and floats its own way.
Screenshots 4
Racing the surge down Glacier Gate. 
Pick a hero, pick a boat. 
Through the pines. 
Under the ice arch.
Game details
| Genre | River surge racing |
|---|---|
| Status | Early access: Meltwater Mile, the first run of Glacier Gate |
| Races | Two or three minutes each; six reaches to the sea are planned |
| Controls | Two buttons and one stick; auto-paddle on phones |
| Released | October 2026 |
| Developer | Turbo Pudding |
Questions
Is Kettlecrest free to play?
Yes. Kettlecrest is in early access, and its first run, Meltwater Mile, is free to play in your browser.
Do I need to download anything?
No. Kettlecrest runs in your web browser on a computer, tablet or phone. Open kettlecrest.com and press Play.
Do I need an account?
Yes, a free Turbo Pudding account. You sign in with Google or with a code sent to your e-mail, and the same account works in every Turbo Pudding game.
Who is Kettlecrest for?
Everyone. It’s easy to start for kids and has plenty to discover for grown-ups.
Who made Kettlecrest?
Kettlecrest is made by Turbo Pudding, a small studio making cozy games that open right in your browser.
From the blog
Ready to play Kettlecrest?
It opens on kettlecrest.com, right in your browser.
Play freeOpens kettlecrest.com · plays in your browser, no downloadKettlecrestPlay free