How to Play Friday Night Funkin'

Friday Night Funkin' is easy to learn but challenging to master! This guide will teach you everything you need to know to start your musical journey.

Game Controls

Arrow Keys (Default)

← Left Arrow - Left Note
↓ Down Arrow - Down Note
↑ Up Arrow - Up Note
→ Right Arrow - Right Note

WASD Keys (Alternative)

A - Left Note
S - Down Note
W - Up Note
D - Right Note

Other Controls

ENTER - Select/Confirm
ESC - Pause/Back
+ / - - Volume Control

Gameplay Basics

1. Understanding the Screen

  • Note Highway: Notes scroll upward toward the targets
  • Target Arrows: Four arrows at the top showing where to press
  • Health Bar: Shows your performance relative to your opponent
  • Score Counter: Displays your current score
  • Combo Meter: Shows consecutive successful notes

2. Hitting Notes

Press the corresponding arrow key when a note reaches the target arrow at the top of the screen. Timing is everything!

  • Perfect (Sick): Hit exactly on time - highest points
  • Good: Hit slightly off time - decent points
  • Bad: Hit poorly timed - minimal points
  • Miss: Didn't hit or way off time - lose health

3. The Health Bar

The health bar determines the outcome of the battle:

  • Successfully hitting notes fills your side of the bar (green)
  • Missing notes or hitting poorly fills opponent's side (red)
  • If the bar goes fully red, you lose the song
  • Complete the song with health remaining to win

Game Modes

Story Mode

Progress through weeks of songs, each featuring different opponents and increasing difficulty. Each week typically has 3 songs, with the final song being the hardest.

  • Week 1: Daddy Dearest
  • Week 2: Spooky Month (Skid & Pump)
  • Week 3: Pico
  • Week 4: Mommy Mearest
  • Week 5: Senpai & Spirit
  • Week 6: Tankman
  • Week 7: Stress (Final Week)

Free Play Mode

Play any unlocked song at your chosen difficulty. Perfect for:

  • Practicing difficult songs
  • Improving your high scores
  • Trying different difficulty levels
  • Mastering specific patterns

Difficulty Levels

Easy

Fewer notes, slower speed. Great for beginners learning the mechanics.

Normal

Balanced note density and speed. The standard experience.

Hard

More notes, faster speed, complex patterns. For experienced players.

Tips & Tricks

For Beginners:

  • Start on Easy: Learn the songs and mechanics before increasing difficulty
  • Focus on Rhythm: Listen to the music, don't just watch the arrows
  • Use Headphones: Better audio helps with timing
  • Practice Regularly: Muscle memory develops over time
  • Don't Get Discouraged: Some songs are very challenging!

Advanced Techniques:

  • Pattern Recognition: Learn to recognize common note patterns
  • Finger Independence: Practice using different fingers for different arrows
  • Look Ahead: Watch notes coming up, not just at the target
  • Maintain Combo: Consistency is more important than perfection
  • Learn Songs: Knowing the music helps anticipate patterns

Common Mistakes to Avoid

  • Button Mashing: Pressing random keys hurts your score
  • Tensing Up: Stay relaxed for better accuracy
  • Ignoring Audio: The music provides crucial timing cues
  • Giving Up Too Soon: Practice makes perfect!
  • Wrong Finger Position: Keep fingers hovering over keys

Understanding the Scoring System

Your final score is based on:

  • Note Accuracy: Sicks give the most points
  • Combo Multiplier: Consecutive hits increase score
  • Completion Bonus: Finishing the song adds points
  • Difficulty Multiplier: Higher difficulties give more points

Aim for S-Rank! Perfect or near-perfect runs earn the highest ranking.

Troubleshooting

Input Lag / Delayed Notes

Solutions:

  • Close other browser tabs
  • Disable browser extensions
  • Try a different browser (Chrome recommended)
  • Check your internet connection

Audio Issues

Solutions:

  • Check your device volume
  • Try using headphones
  • Refresh the page
  • Clear browser cache

Ready to Play?

Now that you know the basics, it's time to jump in and start funkin'!