AQI 999 guide: clear Delhi's air on every day of the season
To clear the days in AQI 999, put out stubble fires early because each one feeds the smog for a minute, suck the biggest clouds on your way to and from the fires, empty the tank at the nearest smog tower before it is full, and refill water at the lake or the Yamuna. Spend your first credits on the tank and suction.
What is AQI 999?
AQI 999 is a free 3D flying game set over a stylised Delhi in smog season. It was made after Delhi recorded its most polluted first week of October in three years, with the city's average AQI at 171 and the stubble-burning season still to come. You fly a cleaning drone that sucks smog out of the sky and sprays water on the fires in the fields. The city changes with the air: at Severe it disappears into a brown haze and the music is muffled, and as you clear it the sky turns blue and the landmarks come back into view.
Controls
| Input | What it does |
|---|---|
| W / S | Fly forward and back |
| A / D | Turn |
| Space / Shift (or Q / E) | Climb and dive |
| Left mouse button or J | Suck smog |
| Right mouse button or K | Spray water |
| B or Tab | Boost |
| Esc | Pause |
On a phone held sideways, the stick on the left flies and turns, the slider beside it climbs and dives, and the SUCK, SPRAY and boost buttons sit on the right.
How does a day work?
Each day starts at sunrise with a high AQI and a target to reach by sunset, two and a half minutes later. Finish at or under the target to clear the day: under 80% of the target is two stars and under 60% is three. If the AQI ever reaches 999, it's an emergency and the day is lost. You can retry any day.
| Day | AQI at sunrise | Target |
|---|---|---|
| 1. First haze | 360 | 240 |
| 2. Morning smog | 410 | 260 |
| 3. Still air (almost no wind) | 440 | 330 |
| 4. Diwali night (crackers add smog) | 470 | 360 |
| 5. Severe | 520 | 380 |
| 6. The worst day of the year | 580 | 400 |
Smog, the tank and the towers
Hold suck while you fly into a brown cloud: it shrinks and streams into your tank, and the AQI drops with it. The tank holds a limited amount, so watch its bar. When it's full, fly to the nearest smog tower (the blue beacons; a marker on screen points the way) and hover near it until it's empty. Unloading earns credits. Don't fly a long way back with a half-empty tank: suck clouds on the way.
Stubble fires
Fires start in the fields to the north-west and puff smoke into the city for about a minute before they burn out. One fire left alone adds tens of points of AQI, so put fires out early. Hover over the burning field and hold spray. Water runs out fast: refill it by skimming low over the lake near the fields or over the Yamuna on the east side.
Wind currents
The glowing ribbons are wind currents. Fly into one and it carries you along much faster than your engine can. They carry smog too, sometimes out of the city and sometimes into it. Use them to cross the map between the fires and the towers.
Which upgrades should I buy first?
Buy the smog tank and suction first: a bigger tank means fewer trips to a tower, and stronger suction clears each cloud faster. Then the engine (speed and a longer boost) and water. The Karol Bagh tower in the west is worth it on later days because it sits close to the fires.
Frequently asked questions
Is AQI 999 free?
Yes. It runs in your browser on computers and phones, with nothing to install.
Is the game's Delhi accurate?
It is stylised. India Gate and Kartavya Path, Connaught Place, Qutub Minar, the Lotus Temple, the elevated metro and the Yamuna are there in simplified form. The drone, the towers' numbers and the days are made up.
Why does the music change?
The music runs through a filter tied to the AQI. The dirtier the air, the more muffled it sounds; clean the air and it opens up.
How do I get on the leaderboard?
Create a free account (18+). Your season score, the best score on each cleared day added up, and your best endless run are saved to the boards.
Free browser gameAQI 999Fly a cleaning drone over a stylised Delhi in smog season: suck up the smog, put out the stubble fires and ride the wind until the haze lifts and the city is sunlit again.▶ Play free
