Charge is a hand game kids play at their desks, remade as a first person game.
Everyone claps twice, then everyone does their move at the same time. You can charge up, shoot someone with whatever you've charged up for, or block. Whatever you picked during the claps is what happens. You can't react to anyone, because they're all picking at the same time as you.
How a turn works
Each turn is four beats. On the first two you pick your move and who you're going after, and you can change your mind as much as you like. On the third beat it locks in. The last two beats play it out.
You target people by looking at them
There's no aiming. Whoever you're looking at when the beat locks is who you shoot at.
Everyone can see where you're looking, and you can see where they're looking. People will stare at one player and shoot another, and after a few rounds you'll start doing it too.
Charging, shooting and blocking
You need charge to use a weapon, and charging leaves you open for that turn.
The weapons go finger pistol, double pistol, energy beam, then bazooka. Nothing blocks the bazooka.
Shields have to match what's coming. The palm stops a finger pistol, the exercise book stops double pistols, the desk lid stops the energy beam. Put up the wrong one and you get hit anyway, so blocking is mostly guessing what the other person is about to do.
Playing with friends or AI
The AI kids each play differently. Some save up for the bazooka, some block a lot, one goes after whoever was charging last turn. You can learn them.
You can also make a room and invite up to three friends. It's better with people.